PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pentti Pentele (ranked 168 p4p, 152 weight class) and Dick Pawlik (ranked 23 p4p, 18 weight class). Pentele's entrance music is Dreams of Retribution. A fine choice. Pawlik has chosen John Butler - Ocean as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Pentele
vs
Pawlik

174 cm
30
158
17 - 9 - 0

172 cm
27
166
12 - 5 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Money Inc. (160Q with Proof ) 165$
Altitude Clothing

Altitude Clothing
Conviction

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 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pentti Pentele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Dick Pawlik!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pawlik moves out of range of the body kick.
Pentele lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Pentele swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Pawlik.
Pentele lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Pentele throws a wild body kick that Pawlik sees coming a mile off.
Pawlik drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Pentele defends it well.
Pawlik misses with a takedown attempt
and Pentele counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Pentele tests Pawlik's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pentele throws a shot from downtown. Pawlik moves away and avoids it.
Pawlik connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Pentele's hands.
Pentele misses the shot to the body.
Pentele thows a leg kick but Pawlik checks it

so Pawlik counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pawlik postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pawlik has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pawlik working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pentele preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pawlik prevents Pentele from getting back to his feet.
Pawlik scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pawlik accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pentele is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Malmi Aitta that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Pawlik is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pawlik stops Pentele from standing up.
Pawlik engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Pawlik throws a big elbow that misses.
Pawlik throws a big elbow that misses.
Pentele wants to stand up but Pawlik is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pentele trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Pawlik is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Pentele is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Pawlik presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Pentele lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Pawlik.
Pawlik has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pentele tries to work over Pawlik's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pawlik blocks a body shot from Pentele.
Pawlik lands a right hand.
Pawlik blocks a body shot from Pentele.
Pawlik is looking to take this one to the mat.
Pentele can't find room to land a body shot as Pawlik controls the action.
Pentele swings wildly with an uppercut but Pawlik uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pentele lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Pentele fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pentele struggles to land a body shot inside as Pawlik controls his hands.
Pentele lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pentele lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Pawlik escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pawlik throws a jab when Pentele was well out of range.
Pentele throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pawlik feints the counter takedown.
Pawlik throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A thudding body kick lands there by Pentele!
Pentele with a hook.
Pawlik looks to land a left hand but Pentele moved out of range nicely.
Pentti Pentele seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pawlik tests Pentele's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pawlik dips to his left and cracks Pentele with an uppercut!
Pentele motions for Pawlik to come forward. Pentele throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Pentele throws a hook to the side of Pawlik's head but Pawlik sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pentele throws a body shot but no joy.
Pentele lands with a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pawlik on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Pawlik closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pentele to the mat! Pentele manages to get full guard.
Pentele is looking to stand up but Pawlik isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Pawlik controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Pentele has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Pawlik is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Pentele tries to throw a body punch but Pawlik avoids it by throwing Pentele back against the cage.
Pentele misses with a body punch.
Pawlik's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pentti Pentele dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pawlik takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pentele wants to slow Pawlik down by chopping away at his legs.
Pawlik uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pentele.
Pentele throws a sloppy head kick and Pawlik moves out of range easily.
Pentele bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Pawlik moves away from the strike by Pentele.
Pentele takes a jab right on the kisser.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pentele fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Pawlik checks it well.
Pawlik avoids the body shot from Pentele.
Pawlik is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Pentele lands a jab to the head.
Pentele misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pawlik feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Penteles jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Pawlik ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pentele. Pawlik does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pentele rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pawlik moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pawlik.
Pentele is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pawlik can do to turn this around?
A big right from Pawlik misses.
Pentele swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Pentti Pentele is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pawlik connects with a good right hand that stumbles Pentele. Pentele circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Pentele lands a really nice looking cross but Pawlik seems unphased.
Pawlik shoots in for a takedown but Pentele shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pentele misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pawlik shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Pawlik connects with a nice short shot to Pentele's temple.

Pawlik seems to be looking for submissions.
Pentele is trying to stand.

Pentele kicks Pawlik off and gets back to his feet.
Pawlik blocks the body kick.
Pawlik changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Pawlik scores with a punch to the head.
Pawlik dips to his left and cracks Pentele with an uppercut!
Pentele looks for the body kick but Pawlik saw that one coming.
Pentele tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Pentele.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pawlik tests Pentele's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pentele scores with a decent looking hook.
Pentele misses the body punch

and Pawlik counters with a nice double leg into side control. Pentele won't be happy with that.

Pentele throws Pawlik to one side and escapes!
Pentele scores with a jab.
Pentele ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pawlik moves away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Pawlik closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Pentele quickly recovers to half guard.
Pawlik thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pentele's head.

Pentele makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Pawlik fails to land with a series of punches.
Pentele misses with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Pentele.
Pentele moves forwards but Pawlik connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Pentele lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pawlik circles away quickly and effectively.
Pentele scores with a three punch combo!
Pawlik takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Pentele misses with a body shot.
Pawlik drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Pentele defends it well.
Pentele takes a swing at Pawlik's ribcage but misses.
Pentele lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pawlik circles away quickly and effectively.
Pentele tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pawlik might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Pawlik gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Pentele counters with a nice uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pentti Pentele dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A swing and a miss from Pawlik.
Pentele was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Pentele connects with a nice looking jab.
Pawlik on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Pawlik closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Pentele is trying to stand.
Pawlik working the head and body with strikes.
Pawlik wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pentele keeps working.
Pawlik takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Pawlik working his ground and pound in the gym.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pawlik tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pentele knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Pentele pushes Pawlik off looking to stand but Pawlik dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pawlik winds up and cracks Pentele with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Pentele is looking to escape.
Pawlik trying to control the action but Pentele is working from the bottom.
Pentele tries to kick Pawlik off but Pawlik keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Pawlik performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Pentele manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Pawlik keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Pawlik's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pentele throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pentele. Pawlik does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pentti Pentele is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pawlik throws a lazy right hand but Pentele sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pentele appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

Pawlik shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Pawlik is taking a breather. Pentele says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Pawlik prevents Pentele from standing back up.
Pentele scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Pawlik manages to mount him!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pawlik scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Pentele is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Pawlik cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Pawlik lands a big shot there that rocks Pentele but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pentele trying desperately to get to his feet.
Pawlik lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Pawlik working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Pawlik is landing with some decent strikes but Pentele is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Pawlik landing strikes from the mount.

Pentele is rocked!
Pawlik wants to control the pace but Pentele is squirming around nicely.
Pentele in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Pawlik lands a big elbow.
Oh Pentele is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pawlik lands a heavy elbow.
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!
Pawlik landing punches.
Pentele is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Pawlik sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pentele wants to get back to his feet.
Dick Pawlik has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pentele seems to have got his legs back now.
Pawlik scoring with strikes but Pentele is staying in there.
Pawlik controlling from mount.
Pentele wants to try and get back to his feet.
Pawlik working the ground and pound effectively.
Pawlik scoring with strikes but Pentele is staying in there.
Pentele is trying to stand up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dick Pawlik comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pentele has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pentti Pentele!
After winning the bout, Pentti Pentele thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.