PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Arden Bridges (ranked 24992 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timo Virtanen (ranked 5346 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bridges
vs
Virtanen

160 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

190 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arden Bridges!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Timo Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bridges looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Virtanen wants to counter the offense by Bridges and move into the clinch position.
Nice takedown defense from Bridges. No joy for Virtanen on that attempt.
Bridges fails to land with a series of punches.

Bridges gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Virtanen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bridges takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Arden Bridges has been cut.
Virtanen tries for a takedown but Bridges manages to get underhooks.
Arden Bridges has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Timo Virtanen.
Bridges tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Virtanen smiles and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bridges blocks the body kick.

Virtanen gets a clinch.
Bridges stalling in the clinch.
Virtanen with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bridges successfully pulls guard.
Virtanen throws an elbow that misses. Bridges uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Virtanen's guard. Nice move by Bridges!

Virtanen wants to stand and escape but Bridges is having none of it.
Virtanen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Virtanen is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Bridges makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Virtanen is trying to keep Bridges in close.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Virtanen is on top in guard.

Bridges is pulling down on Virtanen's head. It's preventing any offense from Virtanen, at least for the moment.
Bridges might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen wants to control from the top but Bridges keeps moving.
Virtanen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bridges has Virtanen pulled in close to control his posture.
Bridges wants to sweep but no luck.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Virtanen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Virtanen is stalling in the full guard.
Bridges pulls Virtanen in close to his closed guard and prevents Virtanen from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen is working Bridges over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bridges avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bridges utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bridges or perhaps it was just good defense by Virtanen, which made it look bad.
Virtanen let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Virtanen stalks Bridges and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Bridges's face. Bridges staggers backwards, shaken.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bridges gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Virtanen counters with a big head kick but Bridges shrugs it off.
Bridges is breathing heavily.
Virtanen connects with a solid leg kick.
A head kick misses from Bridges.
Virtanen scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Virtanen stuffs the takedown attempt from Bridges. Bridges gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Virtanen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Arden Bridges's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bridges avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Bridges closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Virtanen's guard.
Bridges postures up.
Bridges stops Virtanen from standing up.
Virtanen wants to sweep but no luck.
Virtanen controls Bridges momentarily but Bridges frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtanen wants to sweep here but Bridges controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bridges controlling from the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bridges shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Virtanen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bridges as he jumps to the side.
Virtanen lands with a nice body kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bridges stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Virtanen.
Bridges pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridges fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bridges tries to score with a low kick but Virtanen moves his leg out of the way.
Bridges avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Virtanen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bridges counters with a two punch combo.
Bridges looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arden Bridges. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bridges fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Virtanen avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen wants to clinch.
Virtanen tries to clinch up.
Arden Bridges is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bridges keeps the fight on the outside.

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.
Bridges on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Bridges misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bridges avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bridges misses with a leg kick
and Virtanen counters with a left and a right that stings Bridges.
Bridges could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Bridges circles away from the clinch attempt.
Virtanen shoots in and drives through. Bridges sprawls well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Virtanen moves into the clinch.
Virtanen tries to break free but Bridges pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Timo Virtanen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Arden Bridges's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Bridges shoots in and gets a takedown into Virtanen's guard.
Bridges is looking to work some ground and pound but Virtanen has wrist control.
Arden Bridges overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Virtanen wants to stand up but Bridges is controlling him.
Virtanen is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Virtanen 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtanen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bridges won't allow Virtanen to get back to his feet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bridges scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bridges prevents Virtanen from getting back to his feet.
Bridges has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bridges missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Timo Virtanen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Virtanen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Virtanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bridges fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Virtanen sprawls well initially but Bridges persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Virtanen is trying to maintain the position but Bridges is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen manages to get to full guard.
Bridges preventing the sweep.
Virtanen is trying to keep Bridges in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Virtanen wants to stand and escape but Bridges is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bridges thumps Virtanen with a low kick.
Bridges changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Virtanen tries to avoid it but Bridges manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Virtanen to the ground. Virtanen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bridges shoots in for a takedown but Virtanen shows good takedown defense.
Virtanen doesn't manage to clinch there - Bridges circles away.
Virtanen tries to clinch there but Bridges circles away.
Virtanen wants to clinch
and Bridges counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bridges throws a head kick but Virtanen moves out of range.
Bridges chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Virtanen can pounce on him.
Virtanen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bridges sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Virtanen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bridges throws a big counter combination but Virtanen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Virtanen tries to close the distance and clinch but Bridges swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Bridges looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Virtanen!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Virtanen wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

And that's the end of the fight!
Arden Bridges showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Virtanen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Timo Virtanen!