PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ernesto Valerio (ranked 2359 p4p, 2585 weight class) and Lasse Virinen (ranked 114 p4p, 125 weight class). Valerio comes to the cage accompanied by God is a DJ - Faithless. The crowd seem to be enjoying Virinen's choice of entrance music: Rumble. This should be a great matchup!

Valerio
vs
Virinen

190 cm
24
207
4 - 3 - 0

188 cm
27
205
5 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ernesto Valerio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lasse Virinen!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valerio misses with a body shot
and Virinen counters with a nice uppercut.
Virinen catches Valerio with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Valerio checks a leg kick.
Valerio takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Valerio displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Virinen throws out the jab.
Valerio on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Valerio misses the jab.
Valerio takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Virinen scores with a leg kick.
Valerio looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Virinen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Valerio under the eye.
Virinen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Valerio scores with a hook to the body. Virinen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Valerio moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Valerio jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A big left from Virinen misses.
Valerio with a jab.
Valerio gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Valerio moves away.
Valerio throws a hook to the side of Virinen's head but Virinen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Virinen loads up on a big right hand but Valerio slips the punch.
Valerio cracks Virinen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Virinen misses with the combination.
Valerio thows a left - swing and a miss!
Valerio misses with a jab to the body
and Virinen counters with a straight right hand.
Valerio cracks Virinen with a good jab.
Valerio swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Virinen counters with a two punch combo.
Valerio swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Virinen counters with a thumping low kick.
Valerio ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Valerio ducks under a wild hook from Virinen.
Valerio misses with a wild body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Valerio throws a body punch but Virinen moves out of range.
Virinen appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Virinen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Valerios jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Valerio's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Virinen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Valerio scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virinen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Virinen lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Valerio has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Valerio and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Virinen!
Virinen's corner calls for a 1-2. Virinen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Valerio moves away from the strike by Virinen.
Virinen lands with a good body shot.
Valerio throws a body shot but no joy.
Virinen with a nice calf kick.
Valerio's corner calls for a 1-2. Valerio obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Virinen scores with a jab. Valerio acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Valerio misses with a looping right.
Virinen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Valerio scores with a punch to the head.
Virinen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Valerio.
Virinen misses with a straight right.
A jab from Valerio misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virinen slips a straight right by Valerio.
A slow jab from Valerio misses its intended target.
Valerio sizes up Virinen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Valerio misses with a series of wild punches.
Virinen appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Valerio moves out of range of the body kick from Virinen.
Valerio lands with a nice body punch.
Valerio walks into a jab.
Virinen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Valerio.
Virinen connects with a solid leg kick.
Virinen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Valerio throws a right hand that misses
and Virinen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Valerio misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Virinen.
Virinen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Valerio.
Virinen throws a low kick but Valerio avoids it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Virinen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valerio misses with a looping left.
Valerio stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Virinen.
Valerio uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Virinen.
Valerio misses the shot to the body.
Valerio tries to move into range but Virinen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Virinen moves away from the strike by Valerio.
Virinen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Valerio throws out the jab.
Valerio lands with a cross.
Virinen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Valerio.
Virinen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Valerio jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A nice side step and Virinen releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Valerio avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Virinen misses with a looping right.
Virinen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Virinen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Valerio.
Virinen misses with a series of wild punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lasse Virinen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Valerio throws out a loose jab but Virinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valerio connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Virinen's hands.
Virinen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Valerio walks into a left hand.
Valerio throws a lazy right hand but Virinen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Valerio is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Valerio scores with a sloppy right hand. Virinen should have avoided that one.
Valerio thows a left - swing and a miss!
Virinen throws a looping overhand right but Valerio ducks down to avoid it.
Valerio bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Valerio might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Valerio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fighters circle momentarily. Virinen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Valerio has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Valerio keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice shot lands for Virinen.
Virinen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Valerio misses with a hook. Virinen ducked under it nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big right from Valerio misses.
Valerio looks to score with a jab to the body but Virinen is just out of range.
A little jabbing left from Virinen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valerio pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Valerio smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Some bone on bone action there as Valerio checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Valerio swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Valerio takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Virinen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Virinen scores with a jab to the head.
Valerio avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Valerio was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Virinen throws a jab but it's blocked by Valerio.
Valerio swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Virinen staying out of range there.
Virinen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jab, jab by Virinen - just one landing.
Virinen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Virinen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Valerio to counter with a crisp jab.
Valerio fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Virinen manages to avoid it.
Valerio moves out of range of the strikes.
Valerio misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Virinen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick from Virinen, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Virinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Valerio.
Valerio ducks under a wild hook from Virinen.
Virinen connects with a body shot that sends Valerio's belly button to the back.
Virinen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Valerio.
Virinen throws a low kick, looking for Valerio's leg but Valerio calmly moves out of range.
Valerio takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Virinen lands with a nice body punch.
Valerio ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Virinen moves away.
Lasse Virinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valerio takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Valerio throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Virinen scores with a nice head shot.
Valerio misses the shot to the body.
Valerio misses with an uppercut. Virinen saw that one coming.
Virinen throws a fast counter high kick but Valerio manages to duck under it in time.
Lasse Virinen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Valerio misses with a hook to the body
and Virinen counters with a nice low kick that buckles Valerio's knee momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Virinen.
Valerio missing with a left hand there. Virinen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Virinen misses with a straight left.
Virinen is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Virinen loads up on a big right hand but Valerio slips the punch.
Virinen tests Valerio's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Valerio wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Virinen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Valerio drops his hands momentarily and Virinen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Virinen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Virinen connects with a right hand. Valerio shakes it off.
Valerio misses with a hook
and Virinen counters with a nice body kick.
Virinen misses with a straight right.
Valerio throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters circle momentarily. Virinen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valerio looks to score with a jab to the body but Virinen is just out of range.
Valerio needs to keep his hands up - Virinen had a free shot at his head there.
Valerio takes a swing at Virinen's ribcage but misses.
Virinen connects with a jab.
Valerio misses with a hook
and Virinen counters with a nice body shot.
Virinen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Virinen scoring well with a low kick there.
Virinen throws a push kick but Valerio slaps the foot to one side.
Valerio avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Valerio connects with a body shot that sends Virinen's belly button to the back.
A nice leg kick lands there from Virinen.
Valerio throws the left hand but Virinen avoids the punch easily.
Virinen misses with a straight right.
Valerio misses with a lunging right hand
and Virinen finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valerio has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lasse Virinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Virinen staying out of range there.
Virinen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Valerio has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Valerio misses with a straight left.
Valerio moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Valerio throws a big shot that misses.
Virinen throws a nice inside leg kick.
A slow jab from Valerio misses its intended target.
Valerio scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Valerio throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Virinen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Valerio's sensitive parts.
Valerio feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Virinens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Valerio finds it's way through Virinen's defenses.
Valerio loads up on a big right hand but Virinen slips the punch.
Valerio walks into a straight right hand from Virinen.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Virinen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Virinen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virinen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Valerio.
Virinen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Valerio has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Valerio lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Valerio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Valerio is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Virinen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Valerio swings widly with a right hand
and Valerio takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Valerio throws a jab but it's blocked by Virinen.
Virinen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Virinen lands a jab.
Virinen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Valerio throwing a counter right hand but Virinen manages to avoid it.
Virinen scoring well with a low kick there.
Virinen throws a hook to the side of Valerio's head but Valerio sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valerio takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Virinen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Lasse Virinen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virinen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Valerio takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Valerio misses with a wild body shot.
Valerio swings for the body but Virinen moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Virinen.
A telegraphed right hand from Virinen misses the target.
Valerio misses with a wild body shot.
Nice straight punches there by Virinen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Virinen.
Virinen misses with a straight right.
Virinen bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Valerio throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Virinen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Virinen misses with a low kick.
Virinen lands a jab.
Valerio throws a right hand that misses
and Virinen counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valerio waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Virinen.
Virinen misses with a kick to the body.
Virinen lands with a kick to the ribs.
Valerio misses with a lunging right hand
and Virinen counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Virinen lands a jab.
Virinen scores with a leg kick.
Virinen misses the jab.
Valerio swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Valerio on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Valerio throws out a loose jab but Virinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valerio takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Virinen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Valerio.
Valerio was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Valerio misses with a hook
and Virinen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Valerio misses with an uppercut
and Virinen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Donk. Virinen catches Valerio right on the button with a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Virinen thumps Valerio with a low kick.
Virinen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Virinen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Virinen scores with a kick to the midsection.
Valerio misses with a right hand
and Virinen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Valerio misses the shot to the body.
Valerio misses with an uppercut. Virinen saw that one coming.
Virinen works the jab nicely.
Virinen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A slow jab from Virinen misses its intended target.
Valerio misses with a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Virinen looks to land a combination but Valerio avoids it well.
A swing and a miss from Virinen.
Ernesto Valerio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice uppercut there from Virinen.
Virinen jabbing away but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lasse Virinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Virinen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lasse Virinen!
Lasse Virinen managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing, into his post fight interview.