PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jackson Savage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ara Virta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Savage comes to the cage accompanied by Bon Jovi - It's my life. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Savage
vs
Virta

184 cm
29
177 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

174 cm
27
184 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jackson Savage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ara Virta!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savage changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Virta tries to avoid it but Savage manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Virta to the ground. Virta escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Savage throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Virta's waist but Virta gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Savage off to one side.
Virta misses with a wild combination.
Savage's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Virta connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Savage scrambles back to his feet.
Savage throws a leg kick but Virta sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Savage moves out of range of the strikes.
Virta scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Savage tries a head kick but it misses.
Savage shoots in for a takedown but Virta shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Savage. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Virta connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Savage takes one to the side of the head.
Virta tries to clinch up.
Savage walks into a straight right hand from Virta.
Savage throws a sloppy head kick and Virta moves out of range easily.
Sloppy strikes from Virta. Those never looked like landing.
Savage takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Virta gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Virta fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Savage goes for a takedown attempt but Virta pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Virta throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Virta shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Savage napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Virta trying to control the action but Savage is working from the bottom.
Savage sneaks back into half guard.
Savage is trying to get back to full guard.
Virta trying to control the action but Savage is working from the bottom.
Virta stalling away here and it's allowed Savage to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Virta must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage wants to control but Virta passes easily into half guard.
Virta missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Virta wants to free his trapped foot but Savage is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Virta keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Virta is looking to advance position but Savage won't allow it.
Virta is trying to control the action in half guard but Savage is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Well, if Virta is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ara Virta hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Nice shot by Virta.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Savage is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Savage drops back, looking for a kneebar! Virta looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Virta looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Virta!
Savage is being controlled here.
Virta wants to control but Savage is keeping him busy.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Virta working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virta throws a strike aimed at the side of Savage's head but Savage avoids it well.
Virta is trying to ground and pound but Savage uses the momentary lack of control by Virta to regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Savage avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Virta.
Virta prevents Savage from improving his position.
Virta seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Savage does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Virta tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Savage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Virta looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Savage works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ara Virta dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Virta wants to clinch up but Savage keeps it at a distance.
Savage on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Virta. Virta obviously looking to wear him down.
Virta scores with a hook.
Virta misses with a low kick as Savage jumps back.

Savage shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Savage working for a guillotine from mount but Virta is in no mood to give up.

Savage swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Virta is now in Savage's guard. A big mistake from Savage there, giving up the dominant position!

Savage is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Virta stands and throws Savage's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Savage is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virta is looking to take a break and control but Savage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Virta works his way into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Virta looking to control but Savage is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Savage bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Virta trying to strike off his back.
Savage wants to pass the guard but Virta is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage being controlled here momentarily.

Savage drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Virta dives on top into guard.
Virta chips away with some ground and pound.
Virta trying to control but Savage is working from the bottom.
Virta passes Savage's left leg - he's now in half guard.
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!
Savage tries to get to full guard but Virta has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virta wants to free his trapped foot but Savage is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Savage moves into full guard.

Savage looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Virta passes into half guard.
Virta perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Virta is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Virta content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virta not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Savage taking some punishment here, with Virta in his half guard.
Savage slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Virta wants to control from the top but Savage keeps moving.
Savage wants to stand and escape but Virta is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Virta trying to control but Savage is working from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Virta sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Savage's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ara Virta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Savage fails with a takedown attempt.

Virta gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Savage to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Savage postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Virta is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Savage, into his guard.
Virta trying to control but Savage is working from the bottom.
Savage is trying to keep Virta in close.
Virta is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Virta trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Virta controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ara Virta hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Virta fails in his attempt to clinch.
Virta misses with a jab, cross combination.
Virta tries to clinch up but Savage circles away and keeps his distance.
Virta goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Jackson Savage is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Savage slips a jab and a cross from Virta.
Savage avoids the body shot from Virta.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virta tries to clinch up but Savage circles away and keeps his distance.
Virta swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Savage counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Savage.
Ara Virta has got the better of the ground game so far.
Virta wants to sweep here but Savage controlling him for the moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Savage pushes down on Virta's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Virta trying to control here.

Savage is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Virta is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Savage is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Savage is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Virta has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virta is looking to escape.
Virta controlling the position for now.

Savage is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Virta defends it well.
Jackson Savage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Savage is looking for a kimura here.
Savage prevents Virta from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Savage is looking for a kimura but Virta is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Savage to get the leverage.
Virta is looking for a sweep. Savage is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Savage is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Savage is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Virta as he works his way to full guard.
Savage stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Virta swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ara Virta is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Virta controlling Savage's posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Savage drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Virta manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Savage has Virta in his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jackson Savage.
Well Virta 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ara Virta!