PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kake Luikku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artturi Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kake Luikku has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Luikku
vs
Virtanen

225 cm
25
320 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

202 cm
26
285 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
KO power

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kake Luikku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Artturi Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Luikku.
Virtanen misses the jab.
Luikku listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Luikku looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Virtanen is fending him off so far but Luikku persists. Nope, Virtanen circles away and we're back to standing.
Virtanen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Luikku was well out of range. Poor timing from Virtanen.

Virtanen drops Luikku with a beautiful combination! Luikku stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Virtanen is looking for the KO!

Luikku is rocked!

It looks like Kake Luikku has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Luikku shoots in looking for a takedown. Virtanen tries to sprawl out of it but Luikku keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Virtanen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Oh Luikku is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kake Luikku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Luikku works over Virtanen's head and body with a nice combination.
Luikku seems to have got his legs back now.
Virtanen throws an overhand right that lands on Luikku's shoulder, as Luikku tries to avoid the shot.
Virtanen misses with a hook. Luikku ducked under it nicely.
Luikku staying out of range there.
Virtanen misses with a looping left.
Luikku is trying hard to land a takedown here. Virtanen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Virtanen throws a hook but Luikku avoids it easily.
Virtanen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Luikku.
Virtanen misses with a wild body shot.
Luikku closes this distance looking for a takedown but Virtanen circles away.
Luikku looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Virtanen is fending him off so far but Luikku persists. Nope, Virtanen circles away and we're back to standing.

Luikku fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Virtanen sprawls well initially but Luikku persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Luikku is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luikku thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Luikku missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Virtanen is trying to stand up here but Luikku is controlling him well.
Luikku works his way into side control.
Luikku wants to lay and pray for a moment but Virtanen keeps working.

Luikku tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Virtanen is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Luikku tries for a kimura but Virtanen is defending well.
Luikku in side control, throwing shots but Virtanen defends.
Virtanen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Luikku. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Luikku connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Virtanen some visible discomfort.

Luikku working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Luikku tries to move to mount but Virtanen blocks the move with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luikku in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Virtanen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Virtanen avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Luikku.

Luikku thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Virtanen can't do much from the bottom here.
Luikku has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Luikku is looking to take a break and control but Virtanen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Virtanen prevents Luikku from improving position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Virtanen misses with a two punch combination.
Virtanen scores with a jab to the jaw.

Luikku shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Virtanen wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Luikku.
Luikku throwing strikes here but Virtanen is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Luikku with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Virtanen holds on for dear life.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artturi Virtanen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kake Luikku's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Virtanen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Virtanen is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Virtanen missing with a left hand there. Luikku was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Luikku avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Virtanen. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
A punch combination from Luikku misses.
Virtanen scores with a nice right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Virtanen throws a looping overhand right but Luikku ducks down to avoid it.
Kake Luikku is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Virtanen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Luikku.
Virtanen throws a body punch but Luikku moves out of range.
Luikku fails with a takedown attempt.

Virtanen drops Luikku with a beautiful combination! Luikku stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Virtanen is looking for the KO!
Virtanen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Virtanen looks to score with a jab to the body but Luikku is just out of range.
Virtanen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Luikku sees it coming and avoids it easily.
No joy there for Luikku, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Artturi Virtanen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Virtanen throws an overhand right that lands on Luikku's shoulder, as Luikku tries to avoid the shot.
Virtanen circles away before darting back in with a big straight right hand. It connects beautifully and sends Luikku tumbling to the canvas! He's out cold! Virtanen wins by KO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Artturi Virtanen!