PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Elias Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sandro Filcic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Virtanen comes to the cage accompanied by Haittavaikutus - Matkalla. Sandro Filcic has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Elias Virtanen's chin.

Virtanen
vs
Filcic

174 cm
26
162 lbs
14 - 3 - 0

178 cm
30
157 lbs
17 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

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 14 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Elias Virtanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Sandro Filcic!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Micheangelo Fripello and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Filcic gets tackled into the cage by Virtanen. Virtanen maintains the clinch.
Filcic avoids the elbow strike from Virtanen, against the cage.
Virtanen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Virtanen stalling in the clinch.
Virtanen misses with a knee to the head.

Virtanen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Virtanen lands a lovely overhand right.
Filcic keeps the fight on the outside.
A low kick from Virtanen is predictable there
and Filcic counters with a nice body kick.
Virtanen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Virtanen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Filcic looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Filcic fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Virtanen avoids it really well and circles away.
Filcic throws a right and a left that Virtanen avoids nicely.
Virtanen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Filcic.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Filcic gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Filcic wants to lay and pray for a moment but Virtanen keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Filcic is looking for submissions but instead, Virtanen has regained full guard.
Virtanen seems keen to control Filcic's posture.
Filcic trying to control but Virtanen is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Virtanen tries a head kick but it misses.
Virtanen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Virtanen lands with a kick to the temple. Filcic shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Filcic throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Virtanen thumps Filcic with a low kick.
Virtanen throws a front kick that sends Filcic stumbling back into the cage.

Virtanen forces Filcic back against the cage and clinches.
Virtanen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Virtanen lands a damaging elbow.
Filcic misses with a knee to the head.
Virtanen creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Filcic managing to block the knees to the body from Virtanen.
Virtanen prevents a body shot from Filcic.
Virtanen blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Virtanen.
Filcic misses with a knee strike.
Virtanen prevents a body shot from Filcic.
Filcic misses with a body punch.
A body shot lands from Virtanen.
Virtanen tries to land knees in the clinch but Filcic avoids the damage to the body.
Nice elbow from Virtanen.
Filcic misses with some punches.
Virtanen landing knees to the head.
Filcic with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Virtanen landing knees to the body.
Filcic looks gassed!
Virtanen lands a knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Virtanen manages to break the clinch.
Virtanen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A cross from Virtanen lands.
Filcic drops his hands momentarily and Virtanen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Virtanen leaning his opponent against the cage.
Virtanen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Virtanen trying to stall but Filcic improves his position.
Virtanen stalls.
Virtanen landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Virtanen tries a knee to the head but Filcic blocks it.
Filcic struggles to land a body shot inside as Virtanen controls his hands.
Filcic tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Virtanen slowing the pace effectively.
Filcic throws a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elias Virtanen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A solid leg kick lands there for Virtanen.
Virtanen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Filcic doesn't seem bothered though.
Virtanen lands a high kick!
Virtanen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Filcic has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Filcic is looking to land body kicks.
Elias Virtanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Filcic throws a lazy right hand but Virtanen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Filcic sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Virtanen scores with a jab.
A combination from Filcic does no damage.
Filcic takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A thudding body kick lands there by Virtanen!
An inside leg kick lands from Virtanen.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Virtanen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Filcic is breathing heavily.
Virtanen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Virtanen lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen swinging wildly here.
Virtanen tries a head kick but it misses.
Filcic shoots in and drives through. Virtanen sprawls well.
Virtanen connects with an inside leg kick.
Filcic takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Virtanen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Elias Virtanen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Virtanen scores with a body shot.
Virtanen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Filcic's sensitive parts.
Virtanen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Filcic's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Virtanen scores with a nice body kick.
Virtanen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Virtanen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Filcic keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filcic takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Filcic swats away the attempt to clinch by Virtanen.
Virtanen misses with a two punch combination.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Virtanen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Virtanen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Filcic. That did some damage!
Filcic on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Filcic on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Virtanen. Virtanen obviously looking to wear him down.
A jab from Virtanen finds it's way through Filcic's defenses.
Virtanen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Filcic.
Virtanen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Filcics jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Virtanen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Virtanen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filcic on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Virtanen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Filcic can do to turn this around?
Virtanen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Sandro Filcic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Virtanen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Filcic takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Virtanen throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Elias Virtanen is winning the standup battle so far.
Virtanen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Filcic backs up against the cage.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Virtanen - that will leave a mark!
Filcic moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Virtanen has Filcic up against the cage in a clinch.

Filcic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Virtanen connects with a leg kick. Filcic looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Filcic is looking to clinch but Virtanen is avoiding it.
Virtanen lands a leg kick that knocks Filcic off balance momentarily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filcic tries to throw a body punch but Virtanen avoids it by throwing Filcic back against the cage.
Virtanen taking a breather.
Virtanen takes a knee right on the jaw!
Virtanen slowing the pace effectively.
Virtanen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Virtanen obliges.
Virtanen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Knees to the body from Virtanen.
Virtanen lands with a left to the head.
Virtanen scores a nice knee to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Virtanen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Filcic tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Virtanen avoids it.
Virtanen lands a good knee to the midsection. Filcic won't want to take too many of those.
Virtanen lands a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elias Virtanen dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A nice leg kick lands there from Virtanen.
Virtanen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Virtanen has Filcic up against the cage in a clinch.

Virtanen breaks the clinch.

Virtanen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Virtanen manages to break the clinch.
Virtanen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Virtanen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Virtanen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Filcic swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Virtanen counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Filcic is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Virtanen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Filcic misses with a body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Filcic blocks a head kick by Virtanen.
Filcic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Virtanen has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen scores with a knee to the head.
Filcic tries a knee to the head but Virtanen blocks it.
Virtanen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Filcic has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Virtanen.
A short right from Virtanen.
Filcic tries to land knees in the clinch but Virtanen avoids the damage to the body.
Virtanen landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Virtanen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Virtanen is struggling to control the position.
Virtanen lands a knee to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Filcic fails to land.
Filcic letting Virtanen take a breather here.
Filcic tries to break the clinch but Virtanen is controlling the position.
The referee is keeping an eye on Virtanen - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Elias Virtanen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Virtanen trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Virtanen.
Virtanen blocks a body shot from Filcic.

Virtanen breaks the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Virtanen lands a head shot.
Virtanen tries to clinch there but Filcic circles away.
Filcic throws a lazy right hand but Virtanen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Virtanen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Virtanen misses with a double jab.
Sandro Filcic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Filcic takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Virtanen throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Filcic.
Filcic tries to clinch but Virtanen moves out of range.
Virtanen throws a quick inside leg kick.
A left and a right from Virtanen both land. Nice combination.
Virtanen lands a really nice looking cross but Filcic seems unphased.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filcic rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Virtanen counters with a straight right hand.
Virtanen connects with a solid leg kick.
Virtanen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Virtanen throws a nice head kick!
Virtanen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Filcic on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A solid leg kick lands there for Virtanen.
Virtanen throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
A lazy left from Virtanen finds it's target.
Filcic throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Virtanen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Filcic.
Filcic takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Virtanen connects with a jab.
Filcic gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filcic misses with a lunging right hand
and Virtanen counters with a nice body shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Filcic misses with a double jab
and Virtanen counters with a thumping low kick.
Virtanen moves away from the strike by Filcic.

Virtanen closes the distance and pushes Filcic back into the cage.
Virtanen connects with a knee to the head.
Virtanen misses with a knee to the head.
Elias Virtanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Filcic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Filcic fails to land.
Virtanen lands an elbow inside that Filcic shrugs off.
Virtanen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Filcic tries a body shot but Virtanen blocks it.
Virtanen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Filcic blocks it with crossed arms.
Filcic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Virtanen stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elias Virtanen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Virtanen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elias Virtanen!