PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Damian Grabowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marko Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Damian Grabowski has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Grabowski
vs
Virtanen

185 cm
18
236 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Damian Grabowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marko Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grabowski takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Virtanen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Grabowski circles away quickly and effectively.
Grabowski closes this distance looking for a takedown but Virtanen circles away.
Virtanen fails with the takedown

and Grabowski decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Virtanen's guard.
Grabowski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Virtanen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Virtanen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Grabowski's guard.
Grabowski seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Grabowski is breathing heavily.
Virtanen stays in close to Grabowski's body and controls the position.
Virtanen is looking to stand up but Grabowski won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grabowski has his foot on Virtanen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Virtanen works his way back into a safe position though.
Virtanen wants to control from the top but Grabowski keeps moving.

Virtanen stands and steps away. Grabowski gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Virtanen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Grabowski keeping moving, preventing Virtanen from controlling successfully.
Virtanen wanted to stand there but Grabowski had control of the position.
Grabowski wants to stand and escape but Virtanen is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grabowski working a defensive guard here.
Virtanen wants to get up but he can't break Grabowski's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Virtanen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Virtanen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Virtanen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Grabowski has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Virtanen has managed to get both his arms back between Grabowski's legs - danger averted.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Virtanen closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen breaks the clinch.
Grabowski could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Grabowski takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Virtanen throws a one two combo.
Grabowski misses with a takedown

and Virtanen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Virtanen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Grabowski prevents the takedown attempt.

Virtanen pulls guard.
Virtanen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Grabowski is one step ahead there.
Grabowski wants to control from the top but Virtanen keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Virtanen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Grabowski!
Grabowski is bucking up trying to escape but Virtanen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Virtanen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marko Virtanen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Grabowski slaps away a takedown attempt from Virtanen, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Virtanen moves into the clinch.
Virtanen trying to stall but Grabowski improves his position.
Virtanen tries to score a body lock takedown but Grabowski shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Grabowski gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Virtanen.
Damian Grabowski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marko Virtanen.
Grabowski avoiding damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtanen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Grabowski smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grabowski shoots and misses
and Virtanen counters with a head kick. That will keep Grabowski thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Grabowski tries for a takedown but Virtanen circles away easily

and Virtanen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Virtanen is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Virtanen tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Grabowski.

Virtanen is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Grabowski still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Grabowski has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grabowski trying to control the action but Virtanen is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Virtanen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Grabowski tries to pass to full mount but Virtanen defends it.
Grabowski seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Virtanen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are battling for position here. Virtanen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Virtanen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Grabowski defends well.
Virtanen keeping moving, preventing Grabowski from controlling successfully.
Grabowski tries to free his leg and advance position but Virtanen is retaining full guard.
Grabowski won't allow Virtanen to sweep him here.
Virtanen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Grabowski controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Grabowski gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Virtanen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Grabowski tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Virtanen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Grabowski's head.
Grabowski is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Virtanen jumps into side control!
You can see the frustration on Grabowski's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marko Virtanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Left hook, right uppercut from Virtanen.
Grabowski tries for a takedown but Virtanen circles away easily

and Virtanen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Virtanen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Virtanen wants to pass the guard but Grabowski is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Virtanen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Virtanen wants to control from the top but Grabowski keeps moving.
Virtanen slips nicely into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Virtanen in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Virtanen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Virtanen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Grabowski wants to improve his position but Virtanen is controlling well.
Marko Virtanen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Virtanen tries to stand and escape but Grabowski is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen is taking a breather. Grabowski says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Virtanen thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Grabowski to regain full guard.
Virtanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Grabowski swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Virtanen doesn't manage to clinch there - Grabowski circles away.
Virtanen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Grabowski counters with a single leg into guard. Virtanen didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grabowski pushing down on Virtanen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Grabowski tries to pass to full mount but Virtanen defends it.
Virtanen is pressing down on Grabowski's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Grabowski is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Damian Grabowski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marko Virtanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Virtanen manages to escape and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marko Virtanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Virtanen 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

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