PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Juha Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Virtanen comes into the arena with Muistipalapelit by Stam1na blaring out of the sound system. Juha Virtanen could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ryan Taylor's chin.

Virtanen
vs
Taylor

182 cm
25
155 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

170 cm
19
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Juha Virtanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryan Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Taylor. No joy for Virtanen on that attempt.
Taylor fails to land with a series of punches.
Virtanen is looking to clinch but Taylor is avoiding it.
Taylor clobbers Virtanen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Virtanen is rocked!
Virtanen misses with a head kick.
Virtanen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Virtanen misses the shot to the body.
Virtanen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Taylor sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Virtanen somewhat.
Juha Virtanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Taylor closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Virtanen to the mat! Virtanen manages to get full guard.
Virtanen controls Taylor momentarily but Taylor frees himself.
Taylor slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Virtanen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

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

That's two 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.

Virtanen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from Virtanen.
Taylor is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Taylor trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Taylor doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Taylor manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Virtanen is breathing heavily.
Taylor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Virtanen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Taylor works over Virtanen with some ground and pound from guard.
Taylor content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Taylor cracks Virtanen with a solid left hand.
Taylor lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Virtanen keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.
Taylor lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Taylor sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Taylor dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Virtanen fails with the takedown.
Taylor waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Virtanen.
Virtanen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Virtanen.
Taylor looking for a sweep but Virtanen has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Virtanen prevents Taylor from getting the reversal.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Virtanen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Taylor is looking to improve his position but Virtanen isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Taylor is on top in guard.
Taylor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

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.
Taylor postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Taylor pushing down on Virtanen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Taylor working Virtanen over with strikes.
Taylor is nestled in close to Virtanen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Taylor lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Taylor is controlling the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Taylor working over Virtanen with some ground and pound. Virtanen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Virtanen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Taylor throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Virtanen tumbling to the canvas!
Oh Virtanen is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

It looks like Juha Virtanen has been cut.

Virtanen looking for a guillotine here but Taylor defends easily.
Taylor stands up over Virtanen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Taylor slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Virtanen seems to have got his legs back now.
Virtanen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Virtanen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Taylor controls the pace.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Taylor sitting in guard here, content to control.
Taylor postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Taylor showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Taylor is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor controls from within his opponent's guard.
Taylor makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Taylor is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Ryan Taylor just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Taylor closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Virtanen to the mat! Virtanen manages to get full guard.
Taylor landing with the ground and pound.
Taylor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Taylor is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ryan Taylor has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor cracks Virtanen with a solid left hand.
Taylor's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ryan Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taylor lands a couple of elbows.
Juha Virtanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taylor is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Taylor passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Taylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Taylor 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Taylor!