PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pelle Paniikki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zander Murie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paniikki comes to the cage accompanied by N'sync - Bye Bye Bye. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Paniikki
vs
Murie

165 cm
35
155 lbs
21 - 24 - 0

178 cm
26
155 lbs
6 - 9 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pelle Paniikki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zander Murie!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murie wants to clinch up but Paniikki keeps it at a distance.
Paniikki has been working on his boxing with his coaches at CEC Underdark in the buildup to the fight.
Murie lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Murie throws a looping overhand right but Paniikki ducks down to avoid it.
Murie misses with a hook. Paniikki ducked under it nicely.

Murie pushes Paniikki up against the cage in a clinch.
Murie lands a nice shot to the body.
Murie swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Paniikki is trying to pull guard but Murie turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Murie lands a right hand.
Paniikki is trying to pull guard but Murie turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Paniikki drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pelle Paniikki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murie makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Murie presses Paniikki against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Murie misses with a short punch on the inside.
Murie misses with a hook to the ribs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paniikki is looking for a takedown.

Paniikki successfully pulls guard.
Murie tries to stand but Paniikki is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Murie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Paniikki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Murie has managed to get both his arms back between Paniikki's legs - danger averted.

Murie decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Murie scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Murie darts in and clinches Paniikki up against the cage.
Murie is pressed up against the cage. Paniikki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Murie down to the mat. Murie avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Zander Murie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice uppercut lands for Murie. That snapped Paniikki's head back.
Good shot there by Murie.
Murie is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Left hook, right uppercut from Murie.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Paniikki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Murie is fending him off so far but Paniikki persists. Nope, Murie circles away and we're back to standing.
Murie stuffs the takedown attempt from Paniikki. Paniikki gets slowly back to his feet.
Murie scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Paniikki moves out of range of the body kick from Murie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murie is looking to clinch.

Murie forces Paniikki back against the cage and clinches.
Paniikki tries to pull guard but Murie holds him up against the cage and eventually Paniikki drops back down to his feet.
Paniikki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Murie lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Paniikki backwards.
Murie throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Paniikkis head.
Paniikki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Murie smiles and moves away.
Paniikki changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Murie tries to avoid it but Paniikki manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Murie to the ground. Murie escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Paniikki keeps the fight on the outside.
Murie misses with a body shot.
Murie is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Paniikki.
Paniikki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Murie lands a nice looking body kick.
Murie lands with an overhand left.
Paniikki blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murie is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Paniikki.

Murie clinches.
Paniikki tries to pull guard but Murie won't allow it.
Paniikki tries to pull guard but Murie won't allow it.
Murie tries to work over Paniikki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short left from Murie.
Nice body punch from Murie - that landed with a thud.
Murie misses with a body punch.

Paniikki gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Murie wants to get back to his feet.
Paniikki wants to pass to mount but Murie is defending the position.

Paniikki is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Paniikki seems to be looking for submissions.
Paniikki works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Paniikki is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Murie can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Murie is trying to stand.

Paniikki looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Murie bucks up and throws Paniikki to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Paniikki moves out of range as Murie strikes.
Murie lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Paniikki slips under a jab from Murie.
Paniikki tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Murie defends well and Paniikki ends up having to push Murie into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Paniikki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A shot in the inside from Murie.
Murie misses with a punch on the inside.
Murie gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Paniikki.
Murie can't find room to land a body shot as Paniikki controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zander Murie dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Paniikki tries to score a power double leg takedown but Murie sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Paniikki somewhat.
Paniikki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Murie.

Murie clinches with his opponent.
Murie with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Paniikki fails to pull guard.
Paniikki blocks an uppercut.
Murie misses with a hook to the ribs.
A right handed body shot lands from Murie.
Paniikki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Murie misses with a punch on the inside.
Murie misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Murie.
Paniikki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Murie misses with a hook from the clinch.
Murie can't find room to land a body shot as Paniikki controls the action.
Paniikki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Murie smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pelle Paniikki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paniikki looks for a takedown but Murie sprawls well.

Murie fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Paniikki, pushing him back against the cage.
Murie working aggressively here.
Murie lands a hook to the side of the head.
Murie is leaning against Paniikki and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Still in the clinch, Murie scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short right from Murie on the inside.
Paniikki tries to pull guard but Murie won't allow it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Murie.
Paniikki's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Paniikki is rocked!
Murie stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Paniikki tries to pull guard but Murie holds him up against the cage and eventually Paniikki drops back down to his feet.
Good body shot from Murie.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Murie misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki is trying to pull guard but Murie turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Paniikki tries to pull guard but Murie won't allow it.
Murie can't find room to land a body shot as Paniikki controls the action.
Murie digs a right hand underneath Paniikki's ribcage. Paniikki let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Murie lands a nice uppercut.
Paniikki is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Murie pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Murie lands with a right to the head.
Paniikki jumps guard but Murie turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Murie working Paniikki over with knees to the body.
Zander Murie seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short body shot lands from Murie as the two fighters clinch.
Murie misses with a body punch.
Murie misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Paniikki.
Paniikki blocking some punches.
Murie swings wildly with an uppercut but Paniikki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Paniikki jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Murie walks away with a smile on his face. Paniikki gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Paniikki blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murie keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Murie throws a lazy right hand but Paniikki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A punch combination from Murie misses.
Murie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Murie gets caught napping as Paniikki dives in and scores a takedown. Murie manages to retain guard.
Paniikki prevents Murie from getting back to his feet.
Paniikki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Murie wants to stand up but Paniikki is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Paniikki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Paniikki won't allow Murie to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murie swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Paniikki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Paniikki tries to free his leg and advance position but Murie is retaining full guard.
Murie wants to stand but Paniikki is controlling the position.
Paniikki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murie is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Paniikki is controlling him.
Pelle Paniikki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Murie scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Zander Murie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Murie rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Paniikki moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Murie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zander Murie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Murie throws a jab when Paniikki was well out of range.
Zander Murie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Murie clinches with his opponent.
Paniikki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Murie just stands there and leans against the cage.
Murie goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Murie has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. So far he's outscoring his opponent in the clinch so it seems to have been worthwhile.
Paniikki is looking to take this one to the mat.
Murie struggles to land a body shot inside as Paniikki controls his hands.
Murie misses with a punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Murie.
Paniikki's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Paniikki is trying to pull guard but Murie has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pelle Paniikki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murie working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Murie creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Paniikki.
Murie lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Murie fails to land.
Murie misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murie tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Murie misses with a hook from the clinch.
Paniikki is trying to pull guard but Murie turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Paniikki goes for a takedown attempt but Murie pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Murie takes a swing at Paniikki's ribcage but misses.
Murie thows a body shot but no joy.
Paniikki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Paniikki walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Murie takes the fight into the clinch.
Paniikki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Paniikki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Murie smiles and moves away.
Paniikki tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Murie defends well and Paniikki ends up having to push Murie into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murie connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Pelle Paniikki has been cut.
Murie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Paniikki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Murie just stands there and leans against the cage.
Paniikki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Murie just stands there and leans against the cage.
Murie digs a right hand underneath Paniikki's ribcage. Paniikki let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A hook to the body from Murie.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murie lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Paniikki backwards.
Murie misses with a punch on the inside.
Murie throws a head punch that misses.
Murie lands a shoulder strike.
Paniikki's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Oh Paniikki is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Murie throws a head punch that misses.
Paniikki fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Murie lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Paniikki or not.
Murie is pressed up against the cage. Paniikki has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Murie down to the mat. Murie avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Murie lunges at Paniikki with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Paniikki's hand.
Murie goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Murie has managed to clinch.
Murie lands a left hand that snaps the head of Paniikki backwards.
Murie lands a big right hand that drops Paniikki! The killer instinct kicks in and Murie finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by Murie!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zander Murie!