PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tapio Virtainen (ranked 4645 p4p, 4888 weight class) and Fear me (ranked 604 p4p, 585 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.

Virtainen
vs
me

184 cm
18
180
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
178
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tapio Virtainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fear me!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Virtainen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Virtainen.

It looks like Fear me has been cut.
me displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Virtainen throws out the jab.
me showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Virtainen.
me shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Virtainen but Virtainen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tapio Virtainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Virtainen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
me dodges the punch combination from Virtainen.
me with the counter takedown but Virtainen avoids it easily.
Virtainen throws a nice looking combination but me bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
me shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Virtainen defends it nicely.
Virtainen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Virtainen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Virtainen tries to bum rush me with a series of wild strikes but me uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

me fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Virtainen, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

me manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
me keeping moving, preventing Virtainen from controlling successfully.
Virtainen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
me wants to sweep but no luck.
Virtainen trying to control the position from guard on top but me is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
me wants to stand but Virtainen is controlling the position.
me lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtainen keeping full guard, as me tries to pass.
me is stalling in the full guard.
me in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
me controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
me's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
me throws a strike but Virtainen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

me throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Virtainen is fighting to break me's control of his arms but me is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
me looking to hit a scissor sweep but Virtainen is one step ahead there.
me keeps trying to improve his position.
me looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Virtainen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but me circles away quickly and effectively.
me throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
It looked like Virtainen was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from me.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Virtainen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from me.
Tapio Virtainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fear me.
Virtainen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from me.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tapio Virtainen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fear me's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Virtainen loads up on a big right hand but me slips the punch.
And me tries to counter it with a takedown but Virtainen pushes his down on his head and steps out.
me gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Virtainen misses with a wild body shot.
Virtainen avoids the head kick by me.
me showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Virtainen.
me keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
me shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Virtainen defends it nicely.
Virtainen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that me can do to turn this around?
me looks to score with a jab to the body but Virtainen is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtainen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
me wants to counter the offense by Virtainen and move into the clinch position.
Virtainen throws a series of strikes that have me backpedaling.

me closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
me taking a breather here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
me in side control lands a decent elbow.
me wants to stand but Virtainen is controlling his arm.

me thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

me wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Virtainen, who protects the arm well.

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.
Virtainen is looking to regain half guard here but me keeps moving and retains side control.
me tries to stand but Virtainen is controlling his head.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Virtainen. me does a little dance to reset his feet.
Virtainen throws a right hand that me ducks under and follows up with a left that me also avoids with ease.
Tapio Virtainen is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

me fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Virtainen, pushing him back against the cage.
Virtainen avoiding damage as me throws knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Virtainen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
me goes for a takedown attempt but Virtainen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Virtainen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Virtainen. Those never looked like landing.
A punch combination from me misses.
Virtainen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tapio Virtainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fear me.
me misses with a head kick.
me closes the distance and clinches up with Virtainen, looking for a takedown. me pushes Virtainen against the cage but Virtainen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
me slips a jab and a cross from Virtainen.
Virtainen scores with a one two! me had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Virtainen stuffs the takedown.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
me shoots in but no luck this time.
Virtainen misses with an uppercut. me saw that one coming.
Virtainen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Virtainen wants it to stay on the feet.
Virtainen blocks the body kick.
Virtainen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
me shoots in for a takedown but Virtainen shows good takedown defense.
Virtainen misses with a double jab.

me clinches with his opponent.

me manages to break the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tapio Virtainen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Fear me's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Virtainen throws a right and a left that me avoids nicely.
A punch combination from Virtainen misses.
me slips a jab and a cross from Virtainen.
me is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

me darts in and clinches Virtainen up against the cage.
me misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Virtainen.
me is trying to pull guard but Virtainen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

me's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Virtainen throws a series of punches but me moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danga de danga de dang - Virtainen scores with a four punch combination!
Virtainen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

me darts in and clinches Virtainen up against the cage.
me is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
me is trying to drag Virtainen to the mat but Virtainen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
me stalling against the cage.
Virtainen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
me goes for a takedown attempt but Virtainen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tapio Virtainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fear me.
Virtainen throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Virtainen tries to bum rush me with a series of wild strikes but me uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
me shoots for a double leg takedown but Virtainen sprawls well. He's pushed me's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
me looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
me misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Virtainen displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

me closes the distance and clinches.

me breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
me shoots in for a double leg but Virtainen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
As me looks to move away, Virtainen throws a big counter combo but me just gets out of the way.
Virtainen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but me circles away quickly and effectively.
Virtainen throws a nice looking combination but me bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtainen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by me.

me moves into range and clinches up with Virtainen.

me has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Virtainen uses from the top position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as me holds on and takes a little breather.

me looking for a guillotine here but Virtainen defends easily.

me had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Virtainen defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
me pulls Virtainen in close to his closed guard and prevents Virtainen from doing any damage or advancing position.
Virtainen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for me on the ground.
me lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tapio Virtainen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Virtainen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tapio Virtainen!