PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Juhani Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charlie Brawler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Charlie Brawler has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Virtanen
vs
Brawler

168 cm
19
153 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
22
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juhani 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, Charlie Brawler!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Virtanen scores with a takedown into Brawler's guard.
Virtanen wants to pass the guard but Brawler is keeping the position.
Brawler is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Virtanen looking to pass the guard.
Virtanen wants to control from the top but Brawler keeps moving.
Brawler wants to stand but Virtanen is controlling the position.
Brawler looks gassed!
Brawler keeping moving, preventing Virtanen from controlling successfully.
Brawler is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Virtanen passes into half guard.

Brawler is defending against the submission attempts here by Virtanen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen tries to pass to full mount but Brawler defends it.
Virtanen uses his free foot to push down on Brawler's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Brawler.
BOOM! Virtanen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Brawler tries to lock up and control but Virtanen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Virtanen get's back to his feet.

Virtanen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Virtanen lands in his opponent's guard.

Virtanen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Virtanen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Brawler works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen prevents Brawler from getting back to his feet.
Brawler wants to sweep but no luck.
Virtanen passes Brawler's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Virtanen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Brawler keeps working.

Virtanen seems to be looking for submissions.
Brawler is trying to stand up here but Virtanen is controlling him well.
Brawler trying to control from the bottom.

Virtanen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Brawler wants to improve his position but Virtanen is controlling well.
Virtanen passes to full mount!
Virtanen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brawler in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Brawler prevents Virtanen from taking his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brawler can't escape the position.
Brawler really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Virtanen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Virtanen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Brawler is looking to escape.

Virtanen is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Brawler has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Virtanen working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Virtanen wants to control the pace but Brawler is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Virtanen is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Brawler has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Brawler can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Brawler is trying to stand but he's just given Virtanen his back.
Brawler is trying to get back to his feet but Virtanen has full control of the position and if anything, Brawler has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Virtanen looking to break Brawler's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Brawler remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Virtanen will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Virtanen not allowing Brawler to control his hands.
Virtanen controlling well, preventing Brawler from escaping the position.

Brawler showing good submission defense here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Brawler wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juhani Virtanen dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Brawler wants to clinch.

Virtanen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Virtanen drops back looking for a leg! Brawler is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Brawler manages to kick Virtanen off! Virtanen jumps back into Brawler's guard.
Brawler is trying to control the position but Virtanen postures up.
Brawler is looking to stand up but Virtanen isn't so interested in that idea.

Virtanen drops back looking for a leg! Brawler is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Brawler manages to kick Virtanen off! Virtanen jumps back into Brawler's guard.
Virtanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Brawler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen preventing the sweep.
Virtanen is looking to work some ground and pound but Brawler has wrist control.

Virtanen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Virtanen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Virtanen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Brawler, right into the meat.
Brawler tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Virtanen paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Virtanen.
Virtanen wants to control but Brawler is keeping him busy.

Virtanen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Brawler knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Brawler is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Virtanen lands some shots froms side control.
Brawler is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Virtanen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Brawler, who protects the arm well.
Brawler tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Virtanen passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Brawler!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen looking for a guillotine from mount but Brawler is having none of it.

Virtanen has hold of Brawler's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Brawler manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Brawler tries to lock up and control but Virtanen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Virtanen misses with a head shot.
Brawler is squirming around, avoiding Virtanen's attempts to control the action.

Virtanen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Brawler can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Brawler sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Virtanen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Virtanen punishing his opponent with strikes.
Brawler is in all sorts of trouble here.

Virtanen has hold of Brawler's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Brawler manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Brawler has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Virtanen tries to keep control of the position but Brawler is staying busy.
Brawler covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Brawler is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Virtanen working for the choke.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Virtanen gets his hands free as Brawler looks to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juhani Virtanen dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Virtanen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Brawler!

Virtanen working for a guillotine from mount but Brawler is in no mood to give up.
Brawler can't escape the position.
Virtanen working the ground and pound effectively.

Virtanen is working for a guillotine from mount but Brawler frees his head quite easily.
Brawler is wriggling around trying to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Brawler in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Virtanen prevents Brawler from getting the reversal.
Brawler wants to hold on but Virtanen pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Virtanen cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Virtanen lands a big shot there that rocks Brawler but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Virtanen thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Brawler tries to hold on but Virtanen postures up.

Virtanen is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Brawler has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Virtanen 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.
Virtanen looking to finish with strikes here!

Virtanen quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Virtanen but it's paid off an Brawler is forced to tap! Nice work by Virtanen.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Juhani Virtanen!