PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Souichiro Nagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bertti Wirtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wirtanen has chosen Korpiklaani - vodka as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Bertti Wirtanen is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Nagi
vs
Wirtanen

165 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

186 cm
22
177 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Souichiro Nagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bertti Wirtanen!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nagi tries to clinch but Wirtanen moves out of range.
Nagi shoots in and drives through. Wirtanen sprawls well.
Nagi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Wirtanen closes the distance and clinches.
Nagi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Wirtanen walks away with a smile on his face. Nagi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Souichiro Nagi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nagi tries to clinch up

and Wirtanen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Nagi won't be happy with that.

Wirtanen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Nagi struggling a bit here.
Wirtanen working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Wirtanen tries to advance to mount but Nagi denies him.
Wirtanen tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Nagi wants to control but Wirtanen postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nagi is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Wirtanen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nagi tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Wirtanen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Wirtanen.
Wirtanen tries a knee to the head but Nagi blocks it.

Nagi pulls guard successfully.
Nagi is pulling down on Wirtanen's head. It's preventing any offense from Wirtanen, at least for the moment.
Nagi working a defensive guard here.

Nagi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Wirtanen is aware though and is defending well.

That's two 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.
Wirtanen advances to half guard.
Nagi trying to control but Wirtanen postures up.
Wirtanen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nagi wants to control but Wirtanen is keeping busy.

Wirtanen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nagi defends it well.
Wirtanen throwing shots but Nagi is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nagi trying to control but Wirtanen postures up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Wirtanen is trying to control the action in half guard but Nagi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Wirtanen trying to pass the guard but Nagi defending well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nagi tries to clinch up

and Wirtanen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wirtanen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nagi trying to control from the bottom.

Nagi is defending against the submission attempts here by Wirtanen.

Wirtanen gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Nagi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Souichiro Nagi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Wirtanen rushes Nagi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Wirtanen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nagi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Wirtanen tries a knee to the head but Nagi blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wirtanen misses with a knee to the head.
Wirtanen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nagi tries to pull guard but Wirtanen won't allow it.
Wirtanen misses with a knee to the head.
Nagi trying to land knees to the body.
Wirtanen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nagi blocks it with crossed arms.
Wirtanen misses with a knee to the head.
Wirtanen landing knees to the head.
Wirtanen misses with a knee to the head.
Nagi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Wirtanen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nagi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Wirtanen just stands there and leans against the cage.
Wirtanen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nagi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nagi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nagi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nagi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Wirtanen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nagi blocks it with crossed arms.
Nagi tries to stall but Wirtanen uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Nagi lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nagi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Wirtanen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nagi blocks it with crossed arms.
Wirtanen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nagi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nagi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Wirtanen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nagi shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Wirtanen is trying to defend but Nagi finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Wirtanen is staying active underneath Nagi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Wirtanen looking for submissions off his back.

Nagi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Wirtanen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nagi.

Wirtanen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Wirtanen is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Nagi pulls his head out easily.
Nagi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Wirtanen on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nagi is trying to control. Wirtanen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Wirtanen looking for submissions off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nagi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wirtanen sprawls well. Wirtanen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nagi gets slowly back to his feet.

Wirtanen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nagi, pushing him back against the cage.
Nagi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Wirtanen tries to land a knee to the head but Nagi blocks with his arms.
A frustrated look appears on Nagi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nagi trying to stall but Wirtanen improves his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nagi wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Souichiro Nagi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wirtanen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nagi has Wirtanen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Wirtanen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nagi is looking to control Wirtanen's arms but Wirtanen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Nagi has his back to the cage.
Wirtanen tries to land a knee to the head but Nagi blocks with his arms.
Wirtanen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Wirtanen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Wirtanen misses with a knee strike.
Nagi tries to score a body lock takedown but Wirtanen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Nagi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Wirtanen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nagi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Wirtanen is pressed up against the cage. Nagi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Wirtanen down to the mat. Wirtanen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Wirtanen closes the distance and clinches.
Wirtanen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Wirtanen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nagi blocks it with crossed arms.
Nagi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Wirtanen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Nagi's face.
Wirtanen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Wirtanen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Wirtanen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Wirtanen misses with a knee to the head.
Wirtanen tries a knee to the head but Nagi blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagi lands a nice elbow.
Wirtanen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Nagi blocks it with crossed arms.
Nagi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Wirtanen smiles and moves away.
Wirtanen slaps away a takedown attempt from Nagi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nagi looks to clinch

and Wirtanen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Nagi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Wirtanen lands a couple of elbows.

Wirtanen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Nagi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Wirtanen is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nagi working a defensive guard here.
Wirtanen wants to control from the top but Nagi keeps moving.
Nagi working a defensive guard here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Wirtanen forces Nagi back against the cage and clinches.

Nagi decides to pull guard.
Wirtanen postures up.
Wirtanen slips nicely into half guard.
Wirtanen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nagi's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bertti Wirtanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Wirtanen throws a combination. Nagi tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Wirtanen shoots in and bounces Nagi off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Bertti Wirtanen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nagi is trying to keep Wirtanen in close.
Nagi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nagi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wirtanen.
Wirtanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Nagi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wirtanen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nagi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Wirtanen is stalling in the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nagi working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nagi tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Nagi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wirtanen tries to clinch but Nagi is having none of it.
Nagi has his takedown stuffed

and Wirtanen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Nagi can't get the takedown.
Wirtanen keeps control of Nagi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wirtanen misses with a knee to the head.
Wirtanen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Wirtanen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Wirtanen lands a knee to the head.
Wirtanen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Nagi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Wirtanen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two 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.
Wirtanen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nagi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Wirtanen just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Souichiro Nagi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wirtanen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nagi misses with a knee to the head.
Nagi looking to slow down the pace here.
Wirtanen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Nagi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Nagi manages to break the clinch.
Nagi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Wirtanen counters with a takedown into side control.

Wirtanen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Wirtanen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Wirtanen sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Nagi is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Wirtanen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wirtanen lands some shots froms side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nagi struggling a bit here.

Wirtanen tries for a kimura but Nagi is defending well.
Wirtanen lands some shots froms side control.

Wirtanen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Nagi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Wirtanen.
Nagi is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Wirtanen asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Wirtanen controls the position from side control.
Nagi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

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.
Nagi can't do much from the bottom here.
Bertti Wirtanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nagi is working to avoid the ground and pound but Wirtanen connects with a decent elbow.
Wirtanen slows the pace down.
Nagi tries to improve position but can't.
Souichiro Nagi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nagi throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bertti Wirtanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Wirtanen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bertti Wirtanen!