PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Onni Virtanen (ranked 4327 p4p, 4482 weight class) and Luigi Sztojka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Virtanen
vs
Sztojka

188 cm
19
188
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
193
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Savage Fightwear

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Onni Virtanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Luigi Sztojka!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sztojka fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Virtanen, pushing him back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sztojka.
Virtanen fails to pull guard.
Sztojka lands a right hand.
Virtanen tries to pull guard but Sztojka forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Virtanen prevents a body shot from Sztojka.
Sztojka lands with a left to the head.
Virtanen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sztojka walks away with a smile on his face. Virtanen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Onni Virtanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Virtanen looks to score with a jab to the body but Sztojka is just out of range.

Sztojka darts in and clinches Virtanen up against the cage.
Virtanen is trying to pull guard but Sztojka turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sztojka scores with a shoulder strike.
Virtanen is trying to break the clinch but Sztojka has him pressed against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sztojka.
Sztojka misses with a hook to the ribs.
Virtanen jumps guard but Sztojka stands there with Virtanen around his waist. Virtanen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Sztojka - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen is trying to pull guard but Sztojka has him pressed against the cage.
Virtanen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Virtanen is trying to push Sztojka away but Sztojka has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sztojka lands a left hand.
Sztojka working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sztojka lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Virtanen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sztojka just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sztojka lands a body shot.
Sztojka makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A hook to the body from Sztojka.
Nice body punch from Sztojka.
Sztojka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sztojka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sztojka tries a body shot but Virtanen blocks it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Virtanen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sztojka lands with a short shot to the head.
Virtanen jumps guard but Sztojka turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Sztojka taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sztojka lands a nice uppercut.
Virtanen working hard to break the clinch.
Sztojka can't find room to land a body shot as Virtanen controls the action.
Virtanen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sztojka walks away with a smile on his face. Virtanen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Sztojka rushes Virtanen and presses him up against the cage.
Virtanen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sztojka working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sztojka is stalling here.
Sztojka makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Virtanen gets control of Sztojka's arms and successfully pulls guard. Virtanen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sztojka trying to control but Virtanen is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Virtanen pulls Sztojka in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sztojka trying to control the position from guard on top but Virtanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sztojka looking to sit in guard and control but Virtanen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sztojka wants to stand but Virtanen is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sztojka is trying to keep Virtanen in close.
Sztojka wants to stand up but Virtanen is controlling him.
Sztojka manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Virtanen manages to get himself to full guard.

Virtanen seems keen to control Sztojka's posture.
Sztojka looking to pass the guard.
Sztojka showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luigi Sztojka dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Virtanen throws a jab when Sztojka was well out of range.
Sztojka tries to clinch up but Virtanen circles away and keeps his distance.

Sztojka takes the fight into the clinch.

Virtanen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Sztojka instigates a clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sztojka.
A short left from Sztojka.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sztojka.
Virtanen wants to get back to striking at distance but Sztojka won't allow it.
Sztojka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Virtanen blocks a body shot from Sztojka.
Sztojka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sztojka displaying some good clinch control by pressing Virtanen up against the cage.
Virtanen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sztojka just stands there and leans against the cage.
Virtanen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sztojka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Virtanen's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sztojka is leaning against Virtanen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Sztojka digs a right hand underneath Virtanen's ribcage. Virtanen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Virtanen jumps guard but Sztojka stands there with Virtanen around his waist. Virtanen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sztojka digs a right hand underneath Virtanen's ribcage. Virtanen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Sztojka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Virtanen tries to pull guard but Sztojka holds him up against the cage and eventually Virtanen drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Onni Virtanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Virtanen tries to pull guard but Sztojka forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sztojka gets through Virtanen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Virtanen has had enough of the clinch but Sztojka keeps him there for the moment.
Virtanen tries to pull guard but Sztojka won't allow it.
Sztojka presses Virtanen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Virtanen is trying to pull guard but Sztojka turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sztojka lands a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sztojka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sztojka.
Sztojka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Virtanen backwards.
Sztojka lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Virtanen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sztojka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Virtanen backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sztojka.
Virtanen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sztojka to keep the fight standing.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sztojka.
Sztojka pushes Virtanen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Luigi Sztojka seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Good body shot from Sztojka.
Sztojka lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Virtanen backwards.
Sztojka lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sztojka lands an uppercut.
Sztojka lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sztojka throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sztojka works on Virtanen's body with a couple of short punches.
Sztojka throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Sztojka lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Sztojka works on Virtanen's body with a couple of short punches.
Virtanen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sztojka is leaning against Virtanen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Sztojka is leaning against Virtanen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A body shot lands from Sztojka.
Sztojka lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sztojka lands a nice shot to the body.
Sztojka lands a nice shot to the body.
Good body shot from Sztojka.
Sztojka lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sztojka throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Sztojka scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sztojka.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sztojka makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Virtanen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sztojka lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Virtanen backwards.
Virtanen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Virtanen takes a shot to the head.
Good body shot from Sztojka.
Sztojka lands a shot to the body.
Sztojka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Virtanen backwards.
Sztojka lands a body shot.
Sztojka lands with a right to the head.
Sztojka presses Virtanen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sztojka.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The referee calls for Sztojka to work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luigi Sztojka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sztojka has managed to clinch.
Virtanen tries to pull guard but Sztojka holds him up against the cage and eventually Virtanen drops back down to his feet.
Sztojka works on Virtanen's body with a couple of short punches.
Virtanen fails to pull guard.
Sztojka cracks Virtanen with a nice body shot.
Sztojka scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sztojka works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Sztojka softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sztojka lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short left from Sztojka.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Virtanen is trying to pull guard but Sztojka turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Onni Virtanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sztojka lands with a right to the head.
Sztojka lands a right hand.
Sztojka working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen fails to pull guard.
A bit of stalling here from Sztojka.
Sztojka throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A short body shot lands from Sztojka as the two fighters clinch.
Sztojka lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Sztojka cracks Virtanen with a nice body shot.
Sztojka lands a right hand that snaps the head of Virtanen backwards.
A short right from Sztojka on the inside.
A short body shot lands from Sztojka as the two fighters clinch.
Sztojka lands a body punch.
Sztojka scores with a shot to the side of Virtanen's head.
Sztojka leaning against his opponent.
A body shot lands from Sztojka.
A right hand to the body from Sztojka.
Sztojka scores with a shot to the side of Virtanen's head.
Sztojka lands a hook that snaps the head of Virtanen backwards.
Onni Virtanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice left hand lands by Sztojka.
A right handed body shot lands from Sztojka.
Sztojka lands a nice shot to the body.
Sztojka working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sztojka works on Virtanen's body with a couple of short punches.
Virtanen takes a shot to the head.
Sztojka digs a right hand underneath Virtanen's ribcage. Virtanen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Sztojka dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Sztojka lands with a light punch inside.
Sztojka lands a right hand.
A right handed body shot lands from Sztojka.
Sztojka blocks a body shot from Virtanen.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sztojka.
A left hand lands to the body for Sztojka.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Virtanen.
Sztojka cracks Virtanen with a nice body shot.
Sztojka works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sztojka lands a shoulder strike.
Sztojka avoiding damage.
Sztojka lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Sztojka - that landed with a thud.
Sztojka lands with a short shot to the head.
Sztojka presses Virtanen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Virtanen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sztojka prevents a body shot from Virtanen.
Sztojka lands with a left to the head.
Sztojka blocks a body shot from Virtanen.
Sztojka lands with a light punch inside.
A body shot lands from Sztojka.
Sztojka works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Virtanen misses with a punch to the body.
Sztojka lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Virtanen backwards.
A right hook to the body lands for Sztojka.
Sztojka lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Virtanen backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sztojka softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A body shot lands from Sztojka.
Virtanen misses with the head strike.
Sztojka lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sztojka pressing his opponent against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sztojka creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sztojka gets through Virtanen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sztojka blocking some punches.
Sztojka is leaning against Virtanen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Virtanen struggles to land a body shot inside as Sztojka controls his hands.
Virtanen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sztojka walks away with a smile on his face. Virtanen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Virtanen takes a swing at Sztojka's ribcage but misses.
Virtanen thows a left - swing and a miss!

Sztojka gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Sztojka lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luigi Sztojka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sztojka winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight for Luigi Sztojka!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Luigi Sztojka!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Luigi Sztojka!

Luigi Sztojka wins by unanimous decision!
Luigi Sztojka managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Savage Fightwear, into his post fight interview.