PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Wangjannoi Payakaroon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jussi Apila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Payakaroon comes to the cage accompanied by Sompong Nong Somchai. Wangjannoi Payakaroon could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jussi Apila's chin.

Payakaroon
vs
Apila

170 cm
20
158 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

182 cm
26
162 lbs
8 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wangjannoi Payakaroon!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jussi Apila!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Apila shoots in looking for a takedown. Payakaroon tries to sprawl out of it but Apila keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Payakaroon manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Apila throws a right and a left that both miss.
Payakaroon tries a head kick but it misses.
Apila gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Payakaroon.
Jussi Apila seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Apila throws a body punch but Payakaroon moves out of range.
Apila throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Apila throws a hook but Payakaroon avoids it easily.
Apila throws a series of punches but Payakaroon moves out of range.
A clash of legs there as Apila blocks the low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payakaroon fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Apila is out of range.
Apila throws a body punch but Payakaroon moves out of range.
Apila throws a body punch but Payakaroon moves out of range.
Payakaroon ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Apila scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Payakaroon regains full guard. Nicely done.
Apila throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Payakaroon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Payakaroon has control of Apila's left arm, preventing Apila from doing any damage.
Payakaroon utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Payakaroon is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apila thows a big elbow that misses.
Apila throwing strikes from guard but Payakaroon blocks nicely.
Payakaroon utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Payakaroon wants to sweep but no luck.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Apila closes this distance looking for a takedown but Payakaroon circles away.
Apila swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Apila misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Apila misses.
Apila throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Apila avoids a kick to the body.
Payakaroon getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Apila lands a body shot.
Wangjannoi Payakaroon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Apila misses the shot to the body.
Payakaroon moves away from the strike by Apila.
A jab from Apila finds it's way through Payakaroon's defenses.
Payakaroon tries to land a front kick but Apila steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Payakaroon there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Payakaroon chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Apila waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Payakaroon.
Apila sizes up Payakaroon with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Apila throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Apila throws a hook to the side of Payakaroon's head but Payakaroon sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Apila scores with a nice head shot.
A swing and a miss from Payakaroon.
Apila tries to bum rush Payakaroon with a series of wild strikes but Payakaroon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jussi Apila dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Payakaroon tries a head kick but it misses.
Payakaroon throws a wild body kick that Apila sees coming a mile off.
Payakaroon takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
An inside leg kick lands from Payakaroon.
Payakaroon is looking to land body kicks.
Payakaroon throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Payakaroon throws a solid leg kick but Apila takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Payakaroon.
Apila misses with a looping left.
Apila throws a body punch but Payakaroon moves out of range.
Apila swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apila lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Apila is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Payakaroon defending well as Apila loads up on a big left hand.
Apila just misses with a punch to the body.
Apila takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Apila connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Payakaroon momentarily.
Payakaroon moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Apila misses with a wild body shot.
Payakaroon slips under a jab from Apila.
Payakaroon throws a leg kick which misses Apila's front leg but catches the back leg as Apila tries to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apila takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Apila misses with an uppercut. Payakaroon saw that one coming.
Payakaroon throws the kick towards the body but Apila avoids it.
Apila shoots in but no luck this time.
Payakaroon uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Apila.
Apila throws the left hand but Payakaroon avoids the punch easily.
Apila takes a swing at Payakaroon's ribcage but misses.
Payakaroon keeps Apila at a distance using the push kick.
Apila is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Payakaroon paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

It looks like Jussi Apila has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Apila.
Apila throws a jab when Payakaroon was well out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Payakaroon.
Payakaroon connects with a body shot.
Apila chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Payakaroon can pounce on him.
Apila throws a lazy right hand but Payakaroon sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A head kick misses from Payakaroon.
Payakaroon lands with a nice body kick.
Wangjannoi Payakaroon is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payakaroon takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Apila looks to land a right hand but Payakaroon moved out of range.
Payakaroon tries to land a front kick but Apila steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Payakaroon does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Horrible takedown by Apila or perhaps it was just good defense by Payakaroon which made him look bad.
Apila misses with an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Payakaroon delivers a nice body kick.
A good leg kick by Payakaroon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wangjannoi Payakaroon dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jussi Apila's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Payakaroon chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Apila misses with a shot to the body
and Payakaroon counters with a nice leg kick.
Payakaroon goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Apila swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Apila's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Apila swings away with a body shot that misses
and Payakaroon makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Apila misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Apila takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Payakaroon throws a wild body kick that Apila sees coming a mile off.
Apila thows a body shot but no joy.
Good standup being displayed there by Payakaroon as he connects with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payakaroon turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Apila lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Apila misses the shot to the body.
Payakaroon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Apila rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Payakaroon moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Apila misses with a jab to the body
and Payakaroon counters with an outside leg kick.
Apila throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Payakaroon throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Payakaroon misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apila throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Payakaroon finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Payakaroon misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Apila misses with a body shot.
Payakaroon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Payakaroon dodges the punch combination from Apila.
Payakaroon throws a leg kick but Apila sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Payakaroon throws a body kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payakaroon drops his hands momentarily and Apila takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Payakaroon avoids the body shot from Apila.
Apila waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Payakaroon.
Apila blocks a head kick by Payakaroon.
Payakaroon misses with a head kick.
Apila is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Payakaroon.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Payakaroon, right into the meat.
Payakaroon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Payakaroon bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Payakaroon goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Apila misses with a body shot
and Payakaroon counters with a low kick, right behind Apila 's knee.
Apila throws out a loose jab but Payakaroon uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wangjannoi Payakaroon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Apila misses with a jab to the body
and Payakaroon counters with an inside leg kick.
Apila shoots for a double leg takedown but Payakaroon sprawls well. He's pushed Apila's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Payakaroon uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Apila.
Payakaroon throws a chopping leg kick but Apila manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Apila avoids the head kick by Payakaroon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wangjannoi Payakaroon clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Jussi Apila's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Payakaroon explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
A head kick misses from Payakaroon.
Payakaroon throws a body kick that misses.
Payakaroon throws a half hearted mid kick.
Payakaroon looks for the body kick but Apila saw that one coming.
Apila misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Payakaroon counters with a nice body kick.
Apila has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Payakaroon.
Apila misses with a body shot
and Payakaroon counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Apila is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Apila chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Payakaroon can pounce on him.
Payakaroon walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Apila checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apila throws a body punch but Payakaroon moves out of range.
Apila catches Payakaroon with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Payakaroon throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Apila's head.

Apila is rocked!
Payakaroon throws a series of punches but Apila avoids them all with ease.
Payakaroon throws a leg kick but Apila moved away.
A punch lands to the side of Apila 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Apila is still on wobbly legs! Can Payakaroon finish him?
Apila checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Apila seems to have recovered his senses.
Payakaroon is looking to land body kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apila scores with a hook to the body. Payakaroon takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Payakaroon misses with a low kick as Apila jumps back.
Apila throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Payakaroon counters with a good, hard body kick but Apila shrugs it off.
Apila moves out of range as Payakaroon strikes.
Payakaroon tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Apila is able to avoid easily.
Apila throws the left hand but Payakaroon avoids the punch easily.
Apila slips a straight right by Payakaroon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apila checks a leg kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Payakaroon. Apila shrugs it off though.
Apila throws a jab when Payakaroon was well out of range.
A low kick from Apila misses
and Payakaroon counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Payakaroon connects with a high kick.
Apila lands a body shot.
Apila falls off balance throwing a combination
and Payakaroon counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payakaroon throws a front kick aimed at Apila's knee but Apila avoids it well.
Apila misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Payakaroon.
Payakaroon walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Apila checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Apila misses with a wild body shot.
Payakaroon slips under a jab from Apila.
Apila swings for the body but Payakaroon moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Apila throws out a loose jab but Payakaroon uses good head movement to avoid it.
Payakaroon thows a leg kick but Apila checks it
and Apila counters with a left to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wangjannoi Payakaroon had his way with Jussi Apila in that round.
The cut man is working on Jussi Apila's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Apila scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Apila connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A slapping leg kick lands for Payakaroon.
Apila comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Apila throws a sloppy body shot
and Payakaroon counters with a nice low kick that buckles Apila's knee momentarily.
Apila scores with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Apila. Payakaroon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Apila swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Payakaroon counters with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apila takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Apila thows a left - swing and a miss!
Payakaroon buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Payakaroon cracks the inside of Apila's front leg.
Apila is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Payakaroon displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Apila.
Apila moves out of range as Payakaroon throws a body kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Payakaroon.
Jussi Apila has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apila walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Apila fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Payakaroon lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Apila circles away quickly and effectively.
Apila misses with a jab to the body
and Payakaroon counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Payakaroon throws a leg kick which misses Apila's front leg but catches the back leg as Apila tries to avoid it.
Apila tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Payakaroon tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payakaroon ducks under a wild hook from Apila.
Apila misses with a jab to the body
and Payakaroon counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Apila swings away with a body shot that misses
and Payakaroon counters with a body kick that stops Apila in his tracks momentarily.
Payakaroon throws a series of punches but Apila moves out of range.
Wangjannoi Payakaroon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Payakaroon scores with a kick to the body.
Apila chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Payakaroon can pounce on him.
Apila throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Apila throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Payakaroon counters with a solid body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payakaroon goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Apila misses with a body punch
and Payakaroon makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Payakaroon lands with a thumping leg kick.
Apila misses with a combination
and Payakaroon counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Apila looks to score with a jab to the body but Payakaroon is just out of range.
Payakaroon gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Apila cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Apila misses with a hook.
Payakaroon fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Apila.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wangjannoi Payakaroon showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Payakaroon 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 49:46
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 49:46
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wangjannoi Payakaroon!
Wangjannoi Payakaroon retains his lightweight title!