PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Villemagn Valo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jari Xera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jari Xera is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Valo
vs
Xera

200 cm
23
265 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

197 cm
23
227 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Villemagn Valo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jari Xera!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the liver by Xera. Beautiful body shot.

Xera forces Valo back against the cage and clinches.
Xera swings wildly with an uppercut but Valo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valo throws a punch but it's blocked by Xera.
Xera tries to land a knee to the head but Valo blocks with his arms.

Valo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Valo throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Xera counters with a stiff right hand.
Valo wants to clinch but Xera slips to the side
and Xera counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Valo tries to clinch up
and Xera counters with a leg kick.
Xera blocks a head kick by Valo.
Valo tries to clinch
and Xera counters with a straight right hand.
Valo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Xera counters with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valo throws a sloppy body shot
and Xera finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Valo tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Valo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Xera moves into the clinch.

Valo manages to break the clinch.
Valo closes the distance but Xera moves to the side
and Xera counters with a two punch combo.
Valo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Xera cracks Valo with a good jab.
Xera lands with a thumping leg kick.
Valo drops his hands momentarily and Xera takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Valo closes the distance looking to clinch
and Xera counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xera thuds his shin into the meat of Valo's side.
Valo with a poor takedown
and Xera counters with a left and a right that stings Valo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Xera leaves Valo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Villemagn Valo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valo is breathing heavily.
Valo takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Valo. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Valo takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Valo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Xera counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Xera moves into range and clinches up with Valo.

Xera escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice shot by Xera.
Valo tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Xera counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xera scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Xera with a hook.
Valo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Xera defends it nicely.
Valo shoots in but no luck this time.

Xera closes the distance and clinches.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Xera just misses with a elbow thrown towards Valo's brow.
Xera managing to block the knees to the body from Valo.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Xera.
Valo has Xera pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Xera manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Xera lands an elbow inside that Valo shrugs off.

It looks like Villemagn Valo has been cut.
Xera misses with an elbow over the top.
Xera lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Valo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Xera trying to land knees to the body.
Xera lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Xera fails to land.
Valo scores with a shoulder strike.
Valo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Valo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Valo lands a left hand.
Valo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Valo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Xera smiles and moves away.
Valo throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Xera counters with a one-two to the body.

Xera has Valo up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Xera.
Xera landing knees to the head.
Xera lands an elbow inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Xera.
Xera makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Xera is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A body shot lands from Xera.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valo dodges an elbow strike from Xera.
Xera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Xera creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Xera lands an elbow that stopped Valo in his tracks for a moment.
Valo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jari Xera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Villemagn Valo's cut.
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.

Xera lands a head shot.
Xera throws a body kick that misses.
Valo moves to clinch but Xera breaks away
and Valo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Valo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Xera sprawls well. Xera wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Valo gets slowly back to his feet.
Xera's jab looks to have found its range, popping Valo under the eye.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valo throws a lazy head kick
and Xera counters with a thumping low kick.
Valo tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Xera counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xera lands a hook to the side of the head.

Xera breaks the clinch.
Xera throws a sloppy head kick and Valo moves out of range easily.
Valo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Xera counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Xera lands with a right hand.
Valo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Valo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Valo closes the distance but Xera moves to the side
and Xera counters with a nice body shot.
Valo tries to clinch up
and Xera connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valo moves to clinch but Xera breaks away
and Xera counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Valo wants to clinch
and Xera counters with a head kick.
Valo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Xera counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Villemagn Valo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Xera lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Valo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Xera counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Valo has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Xera finds it's way round the side to connect with Valo's head.
Valo drops his hands momentarily and Xera takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Villemagn Valo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Xera has managed to clinch.
Valo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Xera has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Valo is working for takedown but Xera is calmly controlling the position for now.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Xera looking to throw knees to the head but Valo is blocking nicely.
Xera lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Valo backwards.
Valo tries a knee to the head but Xera blocks it.
Xera gets through Valo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Valo looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Valo swings wildly with an uppercut but Xera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Valo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Xera lands a right hand that snaps the head of Valo backwards.
A shot in the inside from Xera.
Xera pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Valo blocks an elbow strike from Xera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xera taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Xera looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Valo takes an elbow to the temple.
Valo misses with a knee strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Xera.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Xera swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Xera is pressed up against the cage. Valo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Xera down to the mat. Xera avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Valo moves to clinch but Xera breaks away
and Valo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Valo wants to clinch but Xera slips to the side
and Xera counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Valo closes the distance looking to clinch
and Xera counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Xera lands a front kick.
Xera throws a nice outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jari Xera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Villemagn Valo's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Valo tries to clinch up
and Xera counters with a nice leg kick.
Xera lands with a good body shot.
Valo shoots in for a takedown but Xera shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Valo shoots in for a takedown but Xera shows good takedown defense.
Villemagn Valo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Xera scores with a leg kick.
Valo misses with a combination
and Xera makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Nice body kick from Xera.
Xera scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Xera wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valo tries to clinch up
letting Xera counter with a right hand.
Valo shoots in and drives through. Xera sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Villemagn Valo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Xera throws a quick inside leg kick.
Xera's jab looks to have found its range, popping Valo under the eye.
Valo moves to clinch but Xera breaks away
and Xera counters with a straight right hand.
Valo tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Xera counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Valo tries to clinch up
and Xera counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xera lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Xera buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Valo fails with the takedown
and Xera counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Xera clinches up with Valo and pushes him back against the cage.
Valo blocks an elbow strike.
Valo is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Xera lands with a short shot to the head.
Xera gets through Valo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Valo misses with an elbow strike.
Xera stalling.
Xera wants to stall.
Valo blocks an elbow strike from Xera.
Valo tries to score a body lock takedown but Xera shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Xera escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Valo throws a combination that misses
and Xera counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Valo thinking.
Xera thuds a left hand into Valo's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valo takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Xera gets a clinch.
Xera lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Xera lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Valo tries to land knees in the clinch but Xera avoids the damage to the body.
Xera swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Xera lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Valo blocks the elbow strike.
Valo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Valo as Xera tries to tie him up.
Valo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Xera is pushing Valo up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Xera blocks an elbow strike.
Xera has Valo pressed against the cage, preventing Valo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Valo blocks an elbow strike.
Xera wants to stall.
Xera tries to land a knee to the head but Valo blocks with his arms.
Jari Xera seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Valo blocks an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Xera creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xera unloads a knee to the mid-section. Valo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Valo blocks the elbow strike.
Xera lands a right hand that snaps the head of Valo backwards.
Valo is trying to push Xera away but Xera has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Valo cracks Xera with a nice body shot.
Valo avoids the elbow strike from Xera, against the cage.
Xera lands with a left to the head.
Valo dodges an elbow strike from Xera.
Villemagn Valo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Valo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Valo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Valo swings wildly with an uppercut but Xera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Xera throws an elbow but it misses.
Xera scores with a knee to the head.
Valo takes an elbow to the forehead.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valo has Xera pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Xera manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Valo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Xera lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Jari Xera is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Valo misses with the body kick
and Xera counters with a straight right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jari Xera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Xera 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 25:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 25:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jari Xera!