PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Boris Cekada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elias Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Virtanen comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Haittavaikutus - Matkalla kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cekada
vs
Virtanen

178 cm
34
163 lbs
40 - 14 - 2

174 cm
31
162 lbs
25 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Brute

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 40 - 14 - 2, fighting out of London, Boris Cekada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Elias Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cekada lands a body shot.
Cekada loads up on a big right hand but Virtanen slips the punch.
A big right from Virtanen misses.
Virtanen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cekada.
Cekada scoring well with a low kick there.
Cekada swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Virtanen tries to clinch up.
Virtanen throws a hook to the side of Cekada's head but Cekada sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A head kick misses from Virtanen.
Cekada keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Virtanen throws a sloppy head kick and Cekada moves out of range easily.
Virtanen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Virtanen lands with a right hand.
Virtanen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Cekada connects with a body shot that sends Virtanen's belly button to the back.
Cekada tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Virtanen swivels and escapes.
Cekada tries to score with a low kick but Virtanen moves his leg out of the way.
Cekada connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Elias Virtanen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen stuffs the takedown attempt from Cekada. Cekada gets slowly back to his feet.
Cekada misses with a low kick.
Virtanen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cekada throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Virtanen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cekada misses with a low kick.
Virtanen scores with a punch to the head.
Virtanen tries to clinch but Cekada moves out of range.
Cekada looks to score with a jab to the body but Virtanen is just out of range.
Cekada gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Cekada misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Virtanen.
Cekada shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Virtanen as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boris Cekada. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Virtanen scores with a hook.
Cekada uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Virtanen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen closes the distance and clinches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Virtanen.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Virtanen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Virtanen prevents a body shot from Cekada.
Cekada tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Virtanen smiles and moves away.
Virtanen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cekada.
Virtanen misses with a kick to the body.
Virtanen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cekada avoids a kick to the body.
Virtanen misses with a looping right.
Virtanen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cekada manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Virtanen takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Cekada looks to throw the jab but Virtanen is out of range.
Virtanen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Cekada.
Cekada thuds his right hand into Virtanen's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen tries to clinch up.
Cekada cracks Virtanen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Cekada drops his hands momentarily and Virtanen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Cekada misses with the combination.
Virtanen throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Virtanen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cekada lands a really nice looking cross but Virtanen seems unphased.
A jab from Cekada finds it's way through Virtanen's defenses.
Virtanen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Virtanen there as he acknowledges the shot.

Virtanen is rocked!
Cekada throws a looping overhand right but Virtanen ducks down to avoid it.
Cekada lands with a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cekada checks a leg kick nicely.
Virtanen throws a front kick aimed at Cekada's knee but Cekada avoids it well.
Virtanen takes a swing at Cekada's ribcage but misses.
Boris Cekada seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Virtanen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen tries to score with a low kick but Cekada moves his leg out of the way.
Cekada throws a wild body kick that Virtanen sees coming a mile off.
Cekada misses with a two punch combination.
Cekada scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Good shot there by Cekada.
Virtanen misses with a hook.
Cekada tries a head kick but it misses.
Cekada throws a body punch but Virtanen moves out of range.
Cekada throws a head kick that misses.
Cekada checks a leg kick nicely.
Cekada displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Virtanen throws out the jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cekada swats away the attempt to clinch by Virtanen.

Cekada closes the distance and clinches.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Virtanen as Cekada tries to tie him up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Cekada dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cekada moves out of range as Virtanen strikes.
Cekada takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Cekada lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Virtanen scores with a kick to the midsection.
Virtanen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Virtanen is looking to clinch.

Cekada clinches.
Cekada misses with the head strike.
A short right from Cekada.
Virtanen prevents the takedown attempt.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cekada.
Cekada lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Virtanen backwards.
Cekada misses with a punch on the inside.
Virtanen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Cekada has a couple of punches blocked by Virtanen.
Cekada is trying to pull guard but Virtanen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Virtanen blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cekada lands a shoulder strike.
Cekada lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Virtanen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cekada tries to pull guard but Virtanen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boris Cekada. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cekada blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Cekada decides to pull guard.
Virtanen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Virtanen gets to his feet - Cekada follows without any prompting.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Virtanen, right into the meat.
Virtanen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cekada tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Virtanen tries to clinch up.
Virtanen misses with a body shot.
A head kick misses from Cekada.
Virtanen wants to clinch up but Cekada keeps it at a distance.
Cekada avoids a kick to the body.
Cekada ducks under a wild hook from Virtanen.
Virtanen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Virtanen blocks a low kick nicely.
Cekada scores with a crisp jab that stopped Virtanen in his tracks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cekada moves out of range of the leg kick from Virtanen.
Virtanen missing with a left hand there. Cekada was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cekada misses with a shot to the body
and Virtanen counters with a three punch combo that has Cekada backing up. Cekada nods at Virtanen to acknowledge the strikes.
Virtanen throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Cekada tries to keep at a distance but Virtanen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Virtanen lands an elbow that stopped Cekada in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Boris Cekada has been cut.
Cekada works on Virtanen's body with a couple of short punches.
Cekada is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Cekada ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cekada no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Cekada tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Cekada is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Virtanen tries to stand but Cekada is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen wants to control from the top but Cekada keeps moving.
Virtanen tries to stand but Cekada is controlling from the bottom.
Cekada looking to hit a scissor sweep but Virtanen is one step ahead there.
Virtanen tries to stand but Cekada is controlling from the bottom.
Virtanen stopping the sweep attempt from Cekada.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Virtanen wants to control from the top but Cekada keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Elias Virtanen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Cekada scores with a head kick. Virtanen tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Cekada avoids the head kick by Virtanen.
Virtanen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Virtanen scores with a head kick.
Virtanen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Virtanen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cekada checks a low kick from Virtanen.
Cekada takes a kick to the side of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Virtanen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A low kick from Virtanen misses
and Cekada counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
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!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Virtanen misses with a wild body shot.
Cekada ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Virtanen scores with a nice strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Elias Virtanen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Boris Cekada'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. This is the final round!

Virtanen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cekada. Cekada obviously looking to wear him down.

Cekada rushes Virtanen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cekada misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cekada lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Cekada gets control of Virtanen's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cekada will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Virtanen won't allow Cekada to sweep him here.
Virtanen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Virtanen trying to control but Cekada is working from the bottom.
Cekada not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cekada looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Virtanen wants to control from the top but Cekada keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Elias Virtanen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Cekada clinches with his opponent.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cekada creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cekada lands a body punch in the clinch.
Virtanen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cekada creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cekada working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cekada tries to score a body lock takedown but Virtanen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Cekada wants the takedown. Virtanen is fighting it off but Cekada persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Virtanen's guard against the cage.
Virtanen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Cekada throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cekada stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Virtanen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Virtanen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cekada working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cekada throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cekada throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cekada 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.
Cekada throws a big right hand that misses.
Cekada trying to control the position from guard on top but Virtanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Virtanen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cekada.
Cekada advances to half guard.
Cekada is keen to just control but Virtanen is a slippery customer.
Virtanen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Virtanen trying to hold on to Cekada's head to control him but Cekada postures up.
Virtanen is staying active underneath Cekada, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Virtanen has his hands clasped together around Cekada's back. He's all about the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen trying to control but Cekada postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Elias Virtanen.
Cekada throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Virtanen.
Cekada buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cekada scores with a hook to the body. Virtanen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cekada works the jab nicely.
Virtanen misses with a head kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cekada. Virtanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Virtanen explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Cekada looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Virtanen is looking to improve his position.
Virtanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cekada lands with a punch from half guard.
Virtanen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cekada.
Virtanen is looking to escape.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cekada throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Virtanen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Cekada scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cekada throwing shots but Virtanen is blocking nicely.
Boris Cekada overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Virtanen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Cekada tries to pass to full mount but Virtanen defends it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cekada wants to control but Virtanen is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boris Cekada showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cekada has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Boris Cekada!
Boris Cekada very nearly forgot to thank GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.