PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pelle Paniikki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Romita (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paniikki comes to the cage accompanied by N'sync - Bye Bye Bye. Romita has chosen Rollin' Like A Boss as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Paniikki
vs
Romita

165 cm
29
155 lbs
16 - 20 - 0

165 cm
24
150 lbs
5 - 5 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

CEC Nutrition Q160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pelle Paniikki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Frank Romita!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paniikki shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Romita sprawls well. Romita wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Paniikki gets slowly back to his feet.
Paniikki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Romita but Romita pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Romita gets a takedown into half guard.

Paniikki looking for submissions off his back.

Paniikki looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Romita is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Paniikki actively working from the bottom here.

Romita wants to work for an arm triangle but Paniikki is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Paniikki actively working from the bottom here.

Paniikki is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Romita pulls his head out easily.
Romita wants to free his trapped foot but Paniikki is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Paniikki works his way to full guard. Good work.
Romita wants to control from the top but Paniikki keeps moving.

Paniikki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Romita thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romita trying to control the position from guard on top but Paniikki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Paniikki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Romita defends well.

Romita got a little sloppy there for a moment and Paniikki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Romita has managed to get both his arms back between Paniikki's legs - danger averted.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Paniikki looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Romita has picked Paniikki up and slammed him! Paniikki can't keep hold of the triangle and Romita manages to pass to side control!

Romita wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Paniikki, who protects the arm well.
Paniikki is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Paniikki is working hard here to advance position.

Romita is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Paniikki is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Romita is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Romita throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Romita trying to control the action but Paniikki is working from the bottom.

Paniikki is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Romita pulls his head out easily.

Paniikki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Romita is working for a kimura but Paniikki is defending it quite comfortably.
Paniikki is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romita is keen to just control but Paniikki is a slippery customer.
Romita works his way into full mount!
Paniikki keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Romita working for a guillotine from mount but Paniikki is in no mood to give up.
Paniikki is desperately trying to improve his position but Romita has a good base and remains in mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paniikki is squirming around, avoiding Romita's attempts to control the action.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Paniikki is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pelle Paniikki will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Romita scores with a takedown into Paniikki's guard.

Paniikki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Romita defends well.

Paniikki is looking for a triangle but Romita pushes his legs off easily.

Paniikki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Romita throwing strikes from guard but Paniikki blocks nicely.
Paniikki keeping full guard, as Romita tries to pass.
Romita is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Romita wants to control from the top but Paniikki keeps moving.

Paniikki is looking for a triangle but Romita pushes his legs off easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Paniikki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romita slips nicely into half guard.

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

Paniikki actively working from the bottom here.
Romita passes to side control.
Paniikki sneaks back into half guard.
Paniikki gets full guard.
Romita stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Paniikki swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Romita doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Romita manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Romita stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Romita scores with a takedown into Paniikki's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Paniikki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Romita drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Romita jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Romita throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Paniikki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Paniikki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Romita tries to free his leg and advance position but Paniikki is retaining full guard.
Romita wants to control from the top but Paniikki keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki has his foot on Romita's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Romita works his way back into a safe position though.

Paniikki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Paniikki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Paniikki working for a triangle but Romita defends it easily.
Romita must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Romita thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Paniikki has his foot on Romita's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Romita works his way back into a safe position though.
Pelle Paniikki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Paniikki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Romita trying to control but Paniikki is working from the bottom.

Paniikki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Paniikki had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Romita defends it easily.
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!
Romita trying to control but Paniikki is working from the bottom.
Romita wants to pass the guard but Paniikki is keeping the position.

Paniikki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Paniikki keeping moving, preventing Romita from controlling successfully.

Paniikki has his foot on Romita's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Romita works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Romita is looking to work some ground and pound but Paniikki has wrist control.

Romita drops back, looking for a kneebar! Paniikki looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Paniikki looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Paniikki!

Paniikki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Romita is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pelle Paniikki dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Romita shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Paniikki napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Romita swings around for an armbar but Paniikki sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Romita's guard.

Paniikki has gone for a leg lock! Romita slips out almost immediately though and dives into Paniikki's guard.

Paniikki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Romita can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Paniikki keeping moving, preventing Romita from controlling successfully.
Paniikki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Romita trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Paniikki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Romita defends well.
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 keeping full guard, as Romita tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romita throwing strikes from guard but Paniikki blocks nicely.

Paniikki looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Romita passes into half guard.

Paniikki is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Romita pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Romita looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Romita is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Paniikki has managed to free his arm - good work.

Romita seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paniikki gets back to full guard.

Paniikki working for a triangle but Romita defends it easily.
Romita wants to control from the top but Paniikki keeps moving.

Romita avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Paniikki is looking for a triangle but Romita pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romita trying to control the position from guard on top but Paniikki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Romita advances position into side control!

Romita tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Paniikki is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Romita is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Paniikki defends it well.
Paniikki is trying to get back to full guard.

Romita is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Romita wants to work for an arm triangle but Paniikki is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Paniikki works his way to full guard. Good work.
Romita trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Paniikki manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

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 drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Romita manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Paniikki has Romita in his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Frank Romita.
I think Paniikki 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Frank Romita!
Post fight, Frank Romita took to the microphone: 'I was annoyed when they decided it was a draw in the first fight. I deserved this win and I'm a much better fighter than Raymond Matice. Matice is just a punk ass b**** who likes to talk trash.'.