PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jarppi Virne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oleg Karev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Virne kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Jeff van Dyck - Soldier's Chant. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Virne
vs
Karev

187 cm
42
262 lbs
21 - 34 - 1

193 cm
40
252 lbs
36 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class MT
Fast

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 21 - 34 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarppi Virne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Oleg Karev!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Virne forces Karev back against the cage and clinches.
Virne tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Karev tries a knee to the head but Virne blocks it.
Virne throws a head punch that misses.
The referee is keeping an eye on Karev - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Virne avoids a wild elbow strike from Karev.
Karev lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Jarppi Virne has been cut.
Virne tries a body shot but Karev blocks it.
Virne wants to get back to striking at distance but Karev won't allow it.
The referee calls for Virne to work.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Karev just misses with a elbow thrown towards Virne's brow.
Still in the clinch, Karev scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karev lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Virne fails to land.

Virne successfully pulls guard.
Virne being controlled here, momentarily.
Virne doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virne can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Karev controls the pace.
Virne is trying to keep Karev in close.
Karev looking to sit in guard and control but Virne gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Virne gets to his feet - Karev follows without any prompting.
Virne tries to clinch up but Karev circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Virne fails with an attempt to clinch.
Virne misses with a series of wild punches.
Virne closes the distance looking to clinch
and Virne takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Virne misses with a series of wild punches.

Virne shoots in and bounces Karev off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Virne trying to control but Karev is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virne sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Karev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Virne looking to sit in guard and control but Karev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Karev stands up and waves to Virne to follow him.
Virne wants to clinch but Karev slips to the side
and Karev counters with a nice low kick that buckles Virne's knee momentarily.
Virne misses with a left hand
and Virne takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Karev lands a nice shot that snaps Virne's head back.
Virne tries to close the distance and clinch but Karev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A little jabbing left from Karev on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Virne fails with a takedown attempt.
Karev tries to counter with a clinch but Virne shakes him off and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleg Karev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jarppi Virne's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Karev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Karev is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Virne closes the distance and clinches.
Virne displaying some good clinch control by pressing Karev up against the cage.
Karev scores with a shot to the side of Virne's head.
A short right from Karev on the inside.
Virne is leaning against Karev and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Virne has a couple of punches blocked by Karev.
Virne tries to circle away but Karev has him pinned against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karev blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Karev.
Virne dodges an elbow strike from Karev.
Virne working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Karev lands a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virne is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Karev to keep the fight standing.
Virne trying to stall but Karev improves his position.
Virne wants to break free but Karev has control.
Virne goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Karev's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Karev.
Karev lands a nice uppercut.
Virne is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Virne misses with some punches.
Karev throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Virnes head.
Karev lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Virne backwards.
Karev stalling in the clinch.
Karev lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Karev lands a nice uppercut.
Virne misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karev lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Karev pushes off an throws an elbow but Virne leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Karev keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Virne's efforts to push away.

Virne breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Virne is looking to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Karev lands with a nice body punch.
Karev looks to throw a body kick
and Virne counters with a left and a right that stings Karev.
Virne is looking to clinch.
Jab from Karev.
Virne darts in trying to clinch
and Karev counters with a nice low kick that buckles Virne's knee momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virne tries to clinch up but Karev circles away and keeps his distance.
Oleg Karev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Virne tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Karev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Virne tries to clinch up.
Karev is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Karev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Karev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Virne manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Karev throws a head kick but Virne moves out of range.
Virne moves in looking to clinch but Karev pushes him off.
Oleg Karev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Virne moves to clinch but Karev breaks away
and Karev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Virne fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karev tries to counter with a clinch but Virne shakes him off and moves away.
Karev lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Karev lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Virne at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virne tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Virne gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Karev.

Jarppi Virne's cut is getting worse.
A head kick misses from Karev.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Karev.
Virne tries to clinch up but Karev circles away and keeps his distance.
Karev doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A jab from Karev misses.
Virne shoots in for a double leg but Karev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Virne fails with an attempt to clinch.
Virne fails in his attempt to clinch.

Virne closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Karev connects with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleg Karev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jarppi Virne's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Virne shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Karev but Karev pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Virne dives in for a single leg takedown but Karev sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Karev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Karev pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Virne bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Virne taking a breather here.
Virne is looking to take a break and control but Karev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karev is working to avoid the ground and pound but Virne connects with a decent elbow.
Virne in side control, throwing shots but Karev defends.
Virne cracks Karev with a big right hand but Karev just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Karev tries to buck Virne off but Virne is having none of it.
Virne controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Karev cracks Virne with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Oleg Karev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virne throws an overhand right that lands on Karev's shoulder, as Karev tries to avoid the shot.
Virne with a poor takedown

and Karev moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jarppi Virne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Virne is looking for a takedown.
Karev tries a knee to the head but Virne blocks it.
Virne wants to get back to striking at distance but Karev won't allow it.
Virne is looking to break free of the clinch but Karev has double underhooks.
Virne tries to pull guard but Karev holds him up against the cage and eventually Virne drops back down to his feet.
Karev missing with knees to the body.
Virne tries to pull guard but Karev holds him up against the cage and eventually Virne drops back down to his feet.
Virne is trying to push Karev away but Karev has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Jarppi Virne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karev lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Virne breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Karev forces Virne back against the cage and clinches.

Virne breaks from the clinch.
Jarppi Virne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Virne will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Virne shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Karev to counter with a crisp jab.
Karev feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Virnes jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Karev gets a clinch.
Virne swings wildly with an uppercut but Karev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Karev lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virne doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Virne misses with a hook from the clinch.
Karev lands with a short shot to the head.
Virne lands a shoulder strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Virne jumps guard but Karev turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Virne with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Karev lands an elbow just above Virne 's eye.
Virne looking to slow down the pace here.
Virne pressing his opponent against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karev pressing his opponent against the cage.
Karev lands with a short punch from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Oleg Karev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Karev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oleg Karev!
Oleg Karev tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.