PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Steele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jarppi Virne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steele comes to the cage accompanied by Lil Wayne-Drop the World. Virne has chosen Jeff van Dyck - Soldier's Chant as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Jarppi Virne was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Steele
vs
Virne

194 cm
36
288 lbs
25 - 29 - 0

187 cm
34
262 lbs
16 - 19 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

TWGC Champion
World class MT
Heavy handed

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 25 - 29 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ben Steele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarppi Virne!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Virne fails in his attempt to clinch.
Virne tries to clinch up but Steele circles away and keeps his distance.
Virne ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Steele throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Steele lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Virne at a distance.
Virne tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Steele manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Virne will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The fight stays on the outside here - Virne looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Steele throws a poor cross that misses
and Virne counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Virne throws a nice looking combination but Steele bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Virne wants to clinch up but Steele keeps it at a distance.

Virne rushes Steele and presses him up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Virne.
Steele can't break the clinch.

Steele breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Virne tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steele paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Virne tries to clinch but Steele is having none of it.
Virne tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virne tries to clinch but Steele is having none of it.
Virne tries to clinch but Steele moves out of range.
Steele doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Virne forces Steele back against the cage and clinches.
Virne throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Steele blocks it with crossed arms.
Virne trying to land knees to the body.

Virne breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Virne gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Steele.
Virne fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ben Steele is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Virne misses.

Virne fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Steele, pushing him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steele takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Ben Steele has been cut.
Virne missing with knees to the body.

Steele's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Steele throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Steele swinging wildly here.
Virne scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Virne drops Steele with a beautiful combination! Steele stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Virne is looking for the KO!

Virne rushes Steele and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Steele is trying to break the clinch but Virne is controlling him.
Virne lands a knee to the head.

Virne ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Virne no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Virne looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Steele trying to control but Virne is working from the bottom.
Virne wants to sweep here but Steele controlling him for the moment.
Steele trying to control but Virne is working from the bottom.
Virne looking to hit a scissor sweep but Steele is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Ben Steele wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Virne tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Steele manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Steele throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Virne shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Virne is looking to clinch.
Virne fails with an attempt to clinch.
Steele pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Virne back to the cage. Steele follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Jarppi Virne has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Steele misses with a few strikes there.
Steele ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Virne moves away.
A slow jab from Steele misses its intended target.
Steele gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Virne.

Ben Steele's cut is getting worse.
Virne tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Steele swivels and escapes.
Steele takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Virne wants to clinch.
Jarppi Virne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virne cracks Steele's jaw with two stiff jabs then ducks low and throws a soul-severing right uppercut to the mouth!! Steele slumps to the ground with blood on his lips. The referee steps in before Virne can do further damage! This one is done, son!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:06 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jarppi Virne!