PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jaakko Jofa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and aapo virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Jofa
vs
virtanen

188 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jaakko Jofa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, aapo virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
virtanen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Jofa.
virtanen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Jofa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from virtanen.

Jofa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
virtanen moves into full guard.
virtanen trying to keep a closed guard but Jofa is proving a slippery customer.
virtanen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now virtanen is on top in guard.
Jofa throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
virtanen looking to pass the guard.
virtanen trying to control but Jofa is working from the bottom.
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.
virtanen tries to stand but Jofa is controlling from the bottom.
Jofa wants to control the position but virtanen says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Jofa trying to hold on to virtanen's head to control him but virtanen postures up.
virtanen prevents Jofa from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jofa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
virtanen tries for a takedown but Jofa circles away easily
and Jofa counters with a left and a right that stings virtanen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jofa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Jofa drives through and clinches with virtanen against the cage.

Jofa has picked virtanen up - he's going for a ride! Jofa dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Jofa wants to work for an arm triangle but virtanen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Jofa is breathing heavily.
virtanen trying to control here.
virtanen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jofa.

virtanen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
virtanen is not content to let Jofa control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
virtanen manages to get to full guard.
virtanen wants to sweep here but Jofa controlling him for the moment.
virtanen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jofa tries to clinch but virtanen is having none of it.
virtanen misses with a hook.
virtanen keeps the fight on the outside.

Jofa has taken the fight to the clinch.
virtanen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jofa smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Jofa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Jofa shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Jofa showed some decent athleticism there.
Jofa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
virtanen trying to hold on to Jofa's head to control him but Jofa postures up.
Jofa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Jofa trying to control from half guard but virtanen is working away.
virtanen has hold of Jofa's hands but Jofa slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Jofa dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jofa throws a right and a left that both miss.

Jofa changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. virtanen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jofa lands some shots froms side control.
Jofa working the head and body with strikes.
Jofa lands a decent elbow from side control.
Jofa tries to stand but virtanen is controlling his head.
virtanen struggling a bit here.
Jofa landing strikes.
Jofa working the body and head with strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
virtanen tries to escape but Jofa is in control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jofa is working virtanen over with some ground and pound from side control.
virtanen can't do much from the bottom here.
virtanen is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Jofa cracks virtanen with a big right hand but virtanen just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Jofa working the ground and pound.
virtanen gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
virtanen is staying active underneath Jofa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
virtanen tries to roll over but Jofa keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jofa landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
virtanen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Jofa scores with a couple of nice shots.

Jofa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
virtanen misses with some strikes from the bottom.
virtanen keeping hold of Jofa's head, controlling as best he can.
Jofa lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jofa prevents virtanen from improving his position.
Jofa lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Jofa is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
virtanen trying to control here.
Jofa winds up and cracks virtanen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nice strikes from Jofa there.
virtanen wants to control but Jofa is keeping busy.
Jofa is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Jaakko Jofa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
virtanen is looking to improve his position.
Jofa looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks virtanen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Jofa seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
virtanen pushes Jofa off looking to stand but Jofa dives back in and keeps control.
Jofa takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Jofa lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Jofa dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Jofa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jofa lands in his opponent's guard.
Jofa landing with the ground and pound.
Jofa cracks virtanen with a solid left hand.
Jofa lands a couple of elbows.

Jofa drops back, looking for a kneebar! virtanen looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. virtanen looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from virtanen!
virtanen moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
virtanen misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Jofa tries to bench press virtanen off him but virtanen keeps the position.
Jofa is trying to control virtanen's posture but virtanen avoids it.
virtanen taking a breather here.
Jofa tries to buck virtanen off but virtanen is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
virtanen wants to control but Jofa is keeping him busy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jofa tries to close the distance and clinch up but virtanen swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Jofa feints and as virtanen raises his hands in defense, Jofa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Jofa scoring with punches to the head and body.
virtanen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jofa manages to get himself to full guard.
virtanen preventing the sweep.
Jofa working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
virtanen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
virtanen passes into half guard.
Jofa is trying to control but can't.
Jofa throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Jofa on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Jofa tries to get out of the position.
Jofa tries to regain full guard. Instead though, virtanen has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
virtanen takes Jofa's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Jofa is in trouble.
Jaakko Jofa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jofa trying to control the hands but virtanen breaks the grip.
Jofa tries to escape the position.
Jofa just trying to survive but virtanen is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
virtanen scores with punches from the back.
Jofa wants to escape the position.
aapo virtanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jaakko Jofa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jofa 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jaakko Jofa!