PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Valentin Saric (ranked 2048 p4p, 249 weight class) and Ilmari Virtanen (ranked 3750 p4p, 367 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Saric
vs
Virtanen

200 cm
21
195 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

184 cm
29
190 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Valentin Saric!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilmari Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Atkins and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Virtanen just misses with a punch to the body.
Saric swings for the body but Virtanen moves out of range.
Virtanen has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Saric is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Saric connects with a good right hand that stumbles Virtanen. Virtanen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Saric defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Virtanen.
Saric misses the shot to the body.
A countering left hand to the body from Virtanen misses.
Saric dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Saric misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Virtanen.
Saric connects with a body shot that sends Virtanen's belly button to the back.
A big right from Virtanen misses.
Saric defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Virtanen.
Saric with a hook.

Saric is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Virtanen's half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Virtanen controlling the position well.
Virtanen is continuing to stall.
Virtanen is looking to control Saric's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Virtanen avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saric controlling the action here.

Saric is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Virtanen wants to improve his position but Saric is controlling well.
Saric wants to take a breather but Virtanen is having none of it.
Virtanen wants to get back to full guard.
Virtanen wants to control but Saric is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Saric is working for a kimura but Virtanen is defending it quite comfortably.
Saric wants to control but Virtanen is keeping him busy.

Saric is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Virtanen is trying to control but can't.
Virtanen controlling the position well.
Saric is thwarting Virtanen's attempts to control the position.
Virtanen is looking to improve his position.
Virtanen is trying to maintain the position but Saric is very close to passing his half guard.

Saric looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Saric is pressing down on Virtanen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Virtanen is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saric is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Virtanen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Virtanen is staying active underneath Saric, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

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

Saric is working for a kimura but Virtanen is defending it quite comfortably.

Saric is looking for a kimura here.
Virtanen is looking for a sweep. Saric is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Virtanen manages to get to full guard.
Virtanen keeping full guard, as Saric tries to pass.
Virtanen is trying to keep Saric in close.
Virtanen keeping moving, preventing Saric from controlling successfully.
Virtanen wants to sweep but no luck.

Virtanen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Saric passes into half guard.
Virtanen is looking to control Saric's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Virtanen avoid being mounted?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Virtanen wants to improve his position but Saric is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Saric 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.

Virtanen darts in looking for a takedown but Saric gets double underhooks and turns Virtanen into the cage.
Saric throws a body punch but Virtanen moves out of range.
Saric throws a body punch but Virtanen moves out of range.
Virtanen with the counter takedown but Saric avoids it easily.
Virtanen misses with a head kick.
Saric slips under a jab.
Saric is looking to wear down Virtanen with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Saric stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Saric wants it to stay on the feet.
Saric throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Virtanen on the side of the head.
Virtanen throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Saric to counter with a crisp jab.

Saric closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Virtanen is doing well to control the position and prevent Saric from advancing to side control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Virtanen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Virtanen wants to sweep here but Saric controlling him for the moment.
Saric tries to free his leg and advance position but Virtanen is retaining full guard.

Virtanen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Virtanen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen trying to control the position.
Virtanen keeping moving, preventing Saric from controlling successfully.
Saric pushing down on Virtanen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Saric really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Saric is thwarting Virtanen's attempts to control the position.

Saric is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Virtanen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Saric will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Saric wants to work for an arm triangle but Virtanen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Virtanen is looking for a sweep. Saric is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Valentin Saric overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Saric is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Virtanen tries to get to full guard but Saric has control of the leg.

Saric is looking for a kimura here.
Virtanen is looking to improve his position.
Virtanen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Saric tries to free his leg and advance position but Virtanen is retaining full guard.
Saric has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Virtanen throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Saric engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Saric 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.

Saric thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Saric thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Saric trying to control but Virtanen is working from the bottom.
Saric looking to pass the guard.

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.
Virtanen looking to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Virtanen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Saric tries to counter with a takedown but Virtanen is quick to defend against it.
Virtanen shoots in for a takedown but Saric shows good takedown defense.
Valentin Saric has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ilmari Virtanen.
Virtanen fails with a takedown attempt.
Virtanen throws a shot to the body.
Virtanen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Saric.
Saric keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Saric scores with a nice strike.
Ilmari Virtanen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A head kick misses from Virtanen.
Saric lands with a nice body punch.
Saric lands with a hook. Virtanen tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Saric wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Saric scores with a crisp jab that stopped Virtanen in his tracks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Saric dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Saric works Virtanen's body with a nice hook.
Virtanen looks to score with a jab to the body but Saric is just out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Virtanen. Those never looked like landing.
Saric connects with a good right hand that stumbles Virtanen. Virtanen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saric. Virtanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Saric scores with a one two! Virtanen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Saric scores with a nice strike.
Saric catches Virtanen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Virtanen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Virtanen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Saric defends well and Virtanen ends up having to push Saric into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Virtanen misses with a double jab

and Saric counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Saric.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saric trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saric wants to control from the top but Virtanen keeps moving.
Virtanen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Saric drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Saric jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen keeping moving, preventing Saric from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saric wants to pass the guard but Virtanen is keeping the position.

Virtanen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Saric postures up.
Saric controls from within his opponent's guard.
Saric pushing down on Virtanen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Virtanen is defending against the submission attempts here by Saric.
Virtanen wants to improve his position but Saric is controlling well.
Valentin Saric is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two 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.
Virtanen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Saric wants to control from the top but Virtanen keeps moving.
Saric postures up.
Virtanen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Virtanen controlling Saric's posture.
Virtanen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Saric advances to half guard.
Virtanen wants to get back to full guard.
Saric perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Saric is looking for a kimura here.

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

Saric is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Virtanen is just riding it out for now. Saric eventually gives up the hold.

Saric is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Saric is keen to just control but Virtanen is a slippery customer.
Virtanen manages to get to full guard.
Saric postures up.

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.

Saric thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Virtanen is trying to control the position but Saric postures up.
Saric wants to control from the top but Virtanen keeps moving.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Virtanen controls Saric momentarily but Saric frees himself.
Virtanen looking for a sweep. Not yet Virtanen, not yet.
Saric trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Saric controlling from the top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Virtanen looks to score with a jab to the body but Saric is just out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saric's corner calls for a 1-2. Saric obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Saric is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A jab lands there for Saric.
Virtanen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Saric attempts a counter takedown but Virtanen avoids it well and moves away.
Ilmari Virtanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saric paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valentin Saric showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Saric 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valentin Saric!