PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jussi Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hasse Skenben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Skenben comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Sworn Enemy - We Hate kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Virtanen
vs
Skenben

170 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jussi Virtanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hasse Skenben!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Virtanen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Skenben's guard.
Skenben wants to hit a switch here but Virtanen passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Skenben there!
Virtanen content just to control the position here.
Virtanen wants to get back to his feet but Skenben is holding on tight.
Skenben really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Virtanen throwing strikes here but Skenben is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Virtanen controlling his opponent.
Skenben really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Virtanen has hold of Skenben's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Skenben manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Skenben is wriggling around trying to escape.
Virtanen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Skenben is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Skenben is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Skenben wants to control but Virtanen is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skenben tries to reverse the position but Virtanen maintains control.
Skenben taking shots to the head.
Skenben gets back to half guard.

Skenben looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Skenben is trying to get back to full guard.

Skenben actively working from the bottom here.
Skenben looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skenben is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Well, if Virtanen is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Skenben wants to get back to full guard.
Skenben trying to control but Virtanen postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Virtanen fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Skenben keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Virtanen tries for a takedown but Skenben sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jussi Virtanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skenben misses with a low kick.
Virtanen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Virtanen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Skenben swivels and escapes.
A solid leg kick lands there for Skenben.

Skenben drives through and clinches with Virtanen against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Skenben.
A right hook to the body lands for Skenben.
Skenben leaning his opponent against the cage.
Skenben trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hasse Skenben will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Virtanen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Skenben is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Virtanen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Skenben doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Virtanen.
Skenben is not content to let Virtanen control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Skenben looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Skenben looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Skenben tries to get to full guard but Virtanen has control of the leg.
Virtanen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Virtanen is trying to work for a kimura but Skenben is defending well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Skenben misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Virtanen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Skenben but Skenben pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Virtanen moves away from the strike by Skenben.
Virtanen shoots in but Skenben avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Skenben works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Virtanen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Skenben misses with an uppercut.
Virtanen fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jussi Virtanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Virtanen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Virtanen shoots in for a double leg but Skenben sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Virtanen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hasse Skenben seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Virtanen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Skenben's waist but Skenben gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Virtanen off to one side.
Skenben throws a low kick but Virtanen avoids it.
Virtanen fails to land the takedown.
Skenben throws out a loose jab but Virtanen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Virtanen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Skenben misses with a jab, cross combination.
Skenben tries to clinch there but Virtanen circles away.
Virtanen fails with the takedown.
Skenben takes a swing at Virtanen's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Virtanen closes the distance and clinches up with Skenben, looking for a takedown. Virtanen pushes Skenben against the cage but Skenben circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Virtanen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Skenben but Skenben pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Skenben fails in his attempt to clinch.
Virtanen shoots for a takedown but Skenben saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A punch combination from Skenben misses.
Skenben throws a hook but Virtanen avoids it easily.
Skenben is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Virtanen.
Skenben tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Virtanen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Skenben gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jussi Virtanen will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Virtanen shoots in but no luck this time.
No joy there for Skenben, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Virtanen has a takedown stuffed.
Skenben fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Skenben bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Virtanen's head.
Virtanen avoids the body shot from Skenben.
Virtanen looks for a takedown but Skenben sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jussi Virtanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skenben jabs at Virtanen's body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Virtanen takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Virtanen defending well as Skenben loads up on a big left hand.
Virtanen swats away the attempt to clinch by Skenben.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen shoots for a takedown but Skenben saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Skenben cracks Virtanen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Virtanen keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Skenben throws a big shot that misses.
Skenben misses with an uppercut.
Virtanen shoots in looking for a takedown. Skenben tries to sprawl out of it but Virtanen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Skenben manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Virtanen shoots in and drives through. Skenben sprawls well.
Virtanen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Skenben circles away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Skenben.
Skenben works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen shoots in for a takedown but Skenben shows good takedown defense.
Virtanen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Skenben as he jumps to the side.

Virtanen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Skenben to the mat! Skenben manages to get full guard.

Skenben is looking for a triangle but Virtanen pushes his legs off easily.
Virtanen trying to control but Skenben is working from the bottom.
Skenben looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Skenben escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Virtanen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Skenben has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Virtanen is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Skenben.
Skenben tries to improve position but can't.
Virtanen happy to just control the position for now.
Skenben tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Virtanen wants to stand but Skenben has his arm trapped.
Virtanen wants to control but Skenben is keeping him busy.
Skenben wants to control but Virtanen postures up.
Virtanen gets to mount! Skenben was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Skenben regains half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hasse Skenben comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Skenben has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jussi Virtanen!