PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jackson Andrews (ranked 4755 p4p, 4718 weight class) and Matti 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.

Andrews
vs
Virtanen

168 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jackson Andrews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Matti Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Michael Johnstone and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Virtanen finds it's way through Andrews's defenses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Virtanen. Andrews does a little dance to reset his feet.
Virtanen stalks Andrews and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Andrews's face. Andrews staggers backwards, shaken.
Danga de danga de dang - Virtanen scores with a four punch combination!

Andrews is rocked!
Both fighters circling a little - Andrews finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Andrews misses with an uppercut
letting Virtanen counter with a right hand.
Oh Andrews is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Virtanen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Andrews as he jumps to the side.
Andrews wants to clinch up but Virtanen keeps it at a distance.
Andrews seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Virtanen connects with a crisp jab.
Virtanen connects with a crisp jab.
Andrews shoots in for a takedown but Virtanen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The fighters circle momentarily. Virtanen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Virtanen blocks the body kick.
Virtanen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Andrews on the side of the head.
Virtanen looks to score with a jab to the body but Andrews is just out of range.
As Virtanen looks to move away, Andrews throws a big counter combo but Virtanen just gets out of the way.
Virtanen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Virtanen is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Andrews drops down looking for a counter takedown but Virtanen sprawls and moves away.
Virtanen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Virtanen scores with a jab. Andrews acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Andrews needs to keep his hands up - Virtanen had a free shot at his head there.
Andrews throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Virtanen's waist but Virtanen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Andrews off to one side.
Andrews on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Andrews tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Virtanen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Virtanen feints a jab promting Andrews to slip. Virtanen then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Andrews slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Andrews tries for a takedown but Virtanen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Virtanen is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Andrews with a body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jackson Andrews. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Andrews changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Virtanen tries to avoid it but Andrews manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Virtanen to the ground. Virtanen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Virtanen has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Virtanen scores with a body shot.
Virtanen misses with a body shot.
Virtanen just misses with a punch to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice sprawl there from Virtanen as Andrews shoots in.
Andrews is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen lands with a straight right. Andrews didn't see that one coming.
Virtanen swinging wildly here.
Virtanen swats away the attempt to clinch by Andrews.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Virtanen!
Danga de danga de dang - Virtanen scores with a four punch combination!
Andrews will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Andrews tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Virtanen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A little jabbing left from Virtanen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Andrews walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Virtanen slaps away a takedown attempt from Andrews, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A little jabbing left from Virtanen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Matti Virtanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Andrews takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen cracks Andrews with an open hand slap.
Virtanen lands a nice shot that snaps Andrews's head back.
Andrews shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Virtanen as he avoids it easily.
Virtanen throws out a counter right but Andrews avoids it with no problem.

Virtanen lands a left and a right that send Andrews crashing to the mat, dazed. Virtanen thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Virtanen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A decent looking cross lands there for Virtanen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice uppercut there from Virtanen.
Andrews tries to clinch up but Virtanen circles away and keeps his distance.
Andrews takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Virtanen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Andrews momentarily.
Andrews tries a head kick but it misses.
Andrews has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen lands a left and a right that send Andrews crashing to the mat, dazed. Virtanen thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Virtanen with a hook.
Virtanen cracks a nice hook into Andrews's ribs.
Virtanen lands a jab.
Virtanen connects with a right that clearly hurt Andrews. He's backed up against the cage with nowhere to go as Virtanen proceeds to tee off with vicious combinations till Andrews collapses and taps out under the pressure!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Matti Virtanen!