PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Onni Virtanen (ranked 2129 p4p, 2748 weight class) and Gard Thorkildsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Virtanen has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Virtanen
vs
Thorkildsen

188 cm
20
188
6 - 1 - 0

188 cm
26
194
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
KO power

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, 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 Helsinki, Gard Thorkildsen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thorkildsen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Virtanen is fending him off so far but Thorkildsen persists. Nope, Virtanen circles away and we're back to standing.
Thorkildsen staying out of range there.
Virtanen is breathing heavily.
Thorkildsen tries to clinch but Virtanen is having none of it.
Virtanen misses with a hook.
Virtanen misses with a lunging right hand

and Thorkildsen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Thorkildsen throwing strikes from guard but Virtanen blocks nicely.
Thorkildsen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Virtanen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Virtanen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thorkildsen.
Thorkildsen stands and throws Virtanen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtanen is not content to let Thorkildsen control the position.
Virtanen definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorkildsen misses with the ground and pound.
Virtanen avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Thorkildsen.
Virtanen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thorkildsen on the ground.

Thorkildsen is trying to get an arm triangle but Virtanen is defending well.
Thorkildsen looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Virtanen avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Thorkildsen.
Thorkildsen content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen taking a bit of punishment here - Thorkildsen scoring with strikes.
Thorkildsen is putting a hurting on Virtanen here, landing some big shots from side control.
Thorkildsen looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Virtanen is avoiding damage well.

Thorkildsen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Thorkildsen trying to control the position but Virtanen is working away.
Thorkildsen grinds an elbow into Virtanen's temple.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorkildsen advances to full mount.
Thorkildsen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Thorkildsen trying to control but Virtanen is having none of it.
Thorkildsen controlling from mount.
Virtanen taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorkildsen throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Thorkildsen working Virtanen over with strikes here.
Thorkildsen thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Thorkildsen tries to control but Virtanen wriggling away.
Thorkildsen landing strikes from the mount and Virtanen is in trouble!
Thorkildsen with shots to the head and body - Virtanen looks very uncomfortable down there.
Thorkildsen throwing strikes here but Virtanen is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Virtanen defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Thorkildsen.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thorkildsen looking to control but Virtanen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gard Thorkildsen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thorkildsen defending well as Virtanen loads up on a big left hand.
Virtanen slaps away a takedown attempt from Thorkildsen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Virtanen stuffs the takedown.
Thorkildsen looks for a takedown but Virtanen sprawls well.
Virtanen throwing a counter right hand but Thorkildsen manages to avoid it.
Onni Virtanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gard Thorkildsen.
Thorkildsen fails with the takedown.
Virtanen swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Thorkildsen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Virtanen to counter with a crisp jab.
Thorkildsen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Virtanen defends well and Thorkildsen ends up having to push Virtanen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Virtanen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thorkildsen misses with a takedown attempt
and Virtanen counters with a nice uppercut.
Virtanen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A little feinted left hand from Virtanen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Thorkildsen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen lands with an uppercut that bounces Thorkildsen off the cage and back into range.
Thorkildsen tries to clinch but Virtanen moves out of range.
Virtanen with a jab.

Thorkildsen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Thorkildsen lands in his opponent's guard.
Thorkildsen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Virtanen keeping moving, preventing Thorkildsen from controlling successfully.
Thorkildsen throws a big elbow that misses.
Thorkildsen is stalling in the full guard.
Thorkildsen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen keeping moving, preventing Thorkildsen from controlling successfully.
Thorkildsen looking to pass the guard.
Thorkildsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Virtanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thorkildsen has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Onni Virtanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thorkildsen dives in and grabs Virtanen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Virtanen pushes down on Thorkildsen's head and hops out.
Virtanen stuffs the takedown.
Thorkildsen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Virtanen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Virtanen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Onni Virtanen is winning the standup battle so far.
Virtanen cracks Thorkildsen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Virtanen misses with a lunging right hand

and Thorkildsen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Thorkildsen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thorkildsen controlling the action here.
Thorkildsen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Virtanen keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thorkildsen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Virtanen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Thorkildsen is looking for a kimura here.
Virtanen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Onni Virtanen dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Thorkildsen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Virtanen pinned against the cage. Virtanen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Thorkildsen shoots in but no luck this time.
Virtanen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Thorkildsens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Virtanen slaps away a takedown attempt from Thorkildsen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Onni Virtanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gard Thorkildsen.
Thorkildsen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Virtanen circles away.
Virtanen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Virtanen is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Thorkildsen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Virtanen looks to land a body kick but Thorkildsen moved away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Virtanen as Thorkildsen shoots in.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Virtanen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Virtanen throws a jab when Thorkildsen was well out of range.
Thorkildsen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Virtanen sprawls well. Virtanen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thorkildsen gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thorkildsen shoots in and bounces Virtanen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Virtanen is looking to stand back up but Thorkildsen counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Virtanen.

Thorkildsen is trying to control the action in half guard but Virtanen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Thorkildsen is looking for a kimura but Virtanen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thorkildsen to get the leverage.
Gard Thorkildsen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Virtanen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thorkildsen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorkildsen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Thorkildsen lands with a punch from half guard.
Thorkildsen stalling.
Virtanen has hold of Thorkildsen's hands but Thorkildsen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Thorkildsen wants to control but Virtanen is keeping him busy.
Thorkildsen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Thorkildsen trying to control the action but Virtanen is working from the bottom.

Thorkildsen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Virtanen is just riding it out for now. Thorkildsen eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen is defending against the submission attempts here by Thorkildsen.
Thorkildsen not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Thorkildsen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Virtanen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thorkildsen works his way into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Thorkildsen.
The ground and pound from Thorkildsen seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
An elbow from Thorkildsen crashes against the mat.
Thorkildsen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Thorkildsen throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gard Thorkildsen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Thorkildsen 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gard Thorkildsen!
Gard Thorkildsen decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.