PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Artturi Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilmo kolho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). kolho has chosen AC/DC: Hells Bells as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Artturi Virtanen has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Virtanen
vs
kolho

202 cm
22
285 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

191 cm
21
267 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Artturi Virtanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilmo kolho!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
kolho swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Virtanen slips a jab and a cross from kolho.
Virtanen swinging wilding here.
Virtanen tries to score with a low kick but kolho moves his leg out of the way.

Virtanen tries to keep at a distance but kolho has taken the fight into the clinch.
kolho drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Virtanen gets underhooks to prevent kolho's takedown attempt.
kolho has Virtanen pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Virtanen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Artturi Virtanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ilmo kolho.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
kolho is working for takedown but Virtanen is calmly controlling the position for now.
kolho fails to pull guard.

kolho jumps guard.
kolho pulls Virtanen in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen trying to control but kolho is working from the bottom.
Virtanen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Virtanen wants to get up but he can't break kolho's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
kolho is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Virtanen wants to stand but kolho is controlling his posture from full guard.
kolho is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Some wild striking there from Virtanen.
Virtanen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Ilmo kolho has been cut.
Virtanen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
kolho shoots in but Virtanen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Virtanen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Virtanen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
kolho shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Virtanen pinned against the cage. Virtanen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
kolho looks gassed!
kolho tries to clinch up but Virtanen circles away and keeps his distance.
kolho fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Virtanen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

kolho pushes Virtanen up against the ropes in a clinch.
kolho is trying to drag Virtanen to the mat but Virtanen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
kolho goes for a takedown attempt but Virtanen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but kolho is out of range.
Virtanen drops kolho with a beautiful combination! kolho stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Virtanen is looking for the KO!

kolho is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Virtanen misses with a jab, cross combination.
No joy there for Virtanen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
kolho fails to land the takedown.
kolho stuffs the takedown attempt from Virtanen. Virtanen gets slowly back to his feet.
Virtanen falls off balance throwing a combination

and kolho moves into the clinch.
kolho prevents Virtanen from breaking the clinch.
Virtanen is trying to break the clinch but kolho has him pressed against the ropes.

kolho lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
kolho is looking to take a break and control but Virtanen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Virtanen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for kolho on the ground.
Virtanen pushes kolho off looking to stand but kolho dives back in and keeps control.
kolho trying to control from half guard but Virtanen is working away.
kolho thows a huge punch but Virtanen dodges it nicely.
Virtanen wants to get back to his feet.

kolho is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
kolho trying to control the action but Virtanen is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Virtanen tries to bum rush kolho with a series of wild strikes but kolho uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artturi Virtanen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ilmo kolho's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Virtanen misses with a jab, cross combination.
kolho misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Virtanen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
kolho showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Virtanen.
Virtanen misses with a double jab.
kolho shoots in for a double leg but Virtanen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
kolho shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Virtanen to counter with a crisp jab.
Artturi Virtanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ilmo kolho.
Virtanen misses with a two punch combination.
kolho fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtanen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

kolho moves into range and clinches up with Virtanen.
kolho is trying to drag Virtanen to the mat but Virtanen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
kolho has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Virtanen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Virtanen prevents the takedown attempt.
Virtanen has had enough of the clinch but kolho keeps him there for the moment.
kolho is working for takedown but Virtanen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Virtanen is trying to break the clinch but kolho has him pressed against the ropes.
Virtanen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
kolho changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Virtanen fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Virtanen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Virtanen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

kolho closes the distance and clinches.
kolho wants a takedown but no success here.
Virtanen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but kolho has him pressed against the ropes.
Virtanen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
kolho tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
kolho fails to pull guard.
kolho wants a takedown but no success here.
Virtanen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Virtanen is trying to break the clinch but kolho has him pressed against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Virtanen wants to break the clinch but can't.
kolho drops down looking for an ankle pick but Virtanen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Artturi Virtanen is winning the standup battle so far.
Virtanen lands an overhand right.
Virtanen drops kolho with a nice combination! Virtanen dives into kolho's guard, looking to finish!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
kolho has a closed guard, preventing Virtanen from standing up.
kolho trying to strike off his back.
Virtanen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
kolho looking to hit a scissor sweep but Virtanen is one step ahead there.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen wants to stand but kolho has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

kolho is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Virtanen stops kolho from standing up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Virtanen throws a right and a left that both miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Virtanen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Virtanen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Good leg kick by kolho there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
kolho shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Virtanen pinned against the cage. Virtanen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artturi Virtanen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ilmo kolho's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

kolho closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
kolho is looking to take a break and control but Virtanen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Virtanen avoids any damage from the ground and pound of kolho.
kolho prevents Virtanen from escaping the position.
Virtanen is working to avoid the ground and pound but kolho connects with a decent elbow.
kolho trying to control the position but Virtanen is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen is looking for a sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
kolho misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
kolho has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Virtanen throws a right hand that kolho ducks under and follows up with a left that kolho also avoids with ease.
kolho will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Virtanen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Virtanen.
Virtanen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Virtanen swinging wilding here.
kolho shoots in and drives through. Virtanen sprawls well.
A low kick from Virtanen is predictable there

and kolho counters with a single leg into guard. Virtanen didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Virtanen manages to escape and get back to his feet.

kolho clinches up against the ropes.
Virtanen wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
kolho tries for a takedown but Virtanen manages to get underhooks.
Artturi Virtanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ilmo kolho.
kolho is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Virtanen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
kolho tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Virtanen wants to break free but kolho has control.
Virtanen is trying to break the clinch but kolho has him pressed against the ropes.
kolho wants a takedown.
kolho prevents Virtanen from breaking the clinch.
Virtanen drops down looking for an ankle pick but kolho pulls his leg out and moves away.
Virtanen misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen misses with a few strikes there.
Artturi Virtanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
kolho misses with a few strikes there.
kolho dodges the punch combination from Virtanen.

kolho rushes Virtanen and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
kolho drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Virtanen gets the underhooks and prevents it.
kolho wants a takedown but no success here.
kolho keeps control of Virtanen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
kolho prevents Virtanen from breaking the clinch.

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.
kolho is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
kolho goes for a takedown attempt but Virtanen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Virtanen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has kolho pinned against the cage. kolho gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
kolho shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Virtanen as he jumps to the side.
Ilmo kolho has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Virtanen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so kolho counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
kolho stops Virtanen from standing up.
kolho throwing strikes but missing.
Artturi Virtanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Virtanen looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ilmo kolho comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Virtanen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artturi Virtanen!