PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Charles Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juha Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Virtanen's choice of entrance music: Muistipalapelit by Stam1na. The key to victory for Charles Bennett has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Bennett
vs
Virtanen

173 cm
25
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
161 lbs
7 - 7 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Charles Bennett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Juha Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Virtanen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Virtanen controlling the action here.
Bennett tries to get to full guard but Virtanen has control of the leg.
Bennett slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bennett avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bennett knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Virtanen on the ground.
Bennett is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bennett is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Virtanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bennett swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bennett controls Virtanen momentarily but Virtanen frees himself.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bennett shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Virtanen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bennett!
Bennett is working to get back to half guard.
Bennett tries to hold on but Virtanen pushes him away.

Virtanen looking to secure an arm triangle but Bennett defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Virtanen throws some wild stikes that Bennett manages to avoid easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Bennett can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Bennett wants to control but Virtanen is having none of it.
Bennett is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Virtanen looks gassed!
Bennett wants to hold on but Virtanen pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett has given up his back here.
Bennett is trying to break free.
Virtanen trying to control momentarily.
Virtanen is hanging on to Bennett's back as he tries to escape.

Bennett preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Virtanen.
Bennett biding his time here by controlling the hands, looking to escape.
Bennett is in bad spot here.

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.
Virtanen is trying to stick to Bennett's back but Bennett is turning into Virtanen. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Virtanen's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Bennett.
Bennett tries to free his leg and advance position but Virtanen is retaining full guard.
Bennett 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.

Bennett gets to his feet - Virtanen follows without any prompting.

Bennett lands a big head kick that sends Virtanen tumbling to the mat! Bennett takes a step backwards and waves Virtanen back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Virtanen is rocked!
Bennett lands with a good body shot.
Bennett with a lazy takedown attempt

and Virtanen counters by moving into the clinch.
Bennett lands with a short punch from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Juha Virtanen will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bennett instigates a clinch.

Virtanen breaks the clinch.
Bennett moves in looking to clinch but Virtanen pushes him off.
No luck for Virtanen with that takedown attempt.

Bennett shoots in and bounces Virtanen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Virtanen is trying to keep Bennett in close.
Virtanen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Bennett postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bennett works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Virtanen is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett trying to control the action but Virtanen is working from the bottom.
Bennett looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Bennett missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Bennett is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bennett trying to control from half guard but Virtanen is working away.
Bennett content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bennett throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bennett trying to mount his opponent but Virtanen defends it.
Virtanen tries to kick Bennett off but Bennett keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Danga de danga de dang - Bennett scores with a four punch combination!
Virtanen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Bennett lands with a nice combination. Virtanen backs away looking to recover.
Bennett tries to clinch up but Virtanen circles away and keeps his distance.
Bennett shoots and misses

and Virtanen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bennett's guard now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen being controlled here momentarily.
Virtanen trying to control but Bennett is working from the bottom.
Bennett looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Virtanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Bennett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bennett is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Virtanen is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Bennett is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Virtanen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Virtanen tries to free his leg and advance position but Bennett is retaining full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bennett fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bennett shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Virtanen as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charles Bennett. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bennett gets caught flat footed, as Virtanen shoots in with a quick takedown into 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 Charles Bennett will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bennett shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Virtanen wants to control but Bennett is keeping busy.
Virtanen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Virtanen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Bennett drops back looking for a leg! Virtanen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Virtanen manages to kick Bennett off! Bennett jumps back into Virtanen's guard.
Bennett would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen trying to keep a closed guard but Bennett is proving a slippery customer.
Virtanen keeping moving, preventing Bennett from controlling successfully.

Bennett decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Virtanen, up you get!
Bennett gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Virtanen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Virtanen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Virtanen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett looking to control.

Virtanen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Bennett dives on top into guard.

Bennett decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Bennett shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Virtanen as he avoids it easily.
Bennett shoots in for a takedown but Virtanen shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charles Bennett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Virtanen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bennett wants to clinch up but Virtanen keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Virtanen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bennett slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Virtanen is working for a kimura but Bennett is defending it quite comfortably.
Bennett tries to roll over but Virtanen keeps him under control.
Virtanen trying to control from half guard but Bennett is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett trying to control from the bottom.

Virtanen is looking for a kimura here.
Bennett is looking to control Virtanen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bennett avoid being mounted?
Bennett wants to improve his position but Virtanen is controlling well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juha Virtanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Virtanen 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight for Juha Virtanen!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Juha Virtanen!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight as a draw!

Juha Virtanen wins by majority decision!