PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Byron Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sanders
vs
Virtanen

175 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Byron Sanders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tony Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Andrew Berry and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Virtanen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Virtanen looks for a takedown but Sanders sprawls well.
Sanders tries to clinch but Virtanen moves out of range.
Byron Sanders seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanders doesn't manage to clinch there - Virtanen circles away.

Sanders takes the fight into the clinch.

Sanders breaks from the clinch.
Sanders tries to clinch there but Virtanen circles away.

Virtanen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Sanders tries to reverse the position but Virtanen maintains control.
Virtanen connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Virtanen trying to control but Sanders is having none of it.

Virtanen looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Sanders on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sanders tries to get out of the position.
Virtanen is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Sanders wants to hold on but Virtanen pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders is squirming around, avoiding Virtanen's attempts to control the action.

Virtanen jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Sanders is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Sanders and Virtanen has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Virtanen looks gassed!

Virtanen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sanders tries to bench press Virtanen off him but Virtanen keeps the position.
Sanders is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Virtanen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Sanders moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Virtanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sanders thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Sanders looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanders, not yet.
Sanders keeping full guard, as Virtanen tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Virtanen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sanders as he jumps to the side.
Virtanen slips under a jab from Sanders.
Sanders tries to clinch but Virtanen is having none of it.

Virtanen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Virtanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanders wants to improve his position but instead Virtanen has moved into half guard.

Virtanen escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders misses with a takedown attempt

and Virtanen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sanders won't be happy with that.
Sanders is trying to get back to half guard.
Sanders throws up a few punches.
Sanders is looking to regain half guard here but Virtanen keeps moving and retains side control.
Sanders sneaks back into half guard.
Sanders flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Sanders regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sanders striking off his back but it's not causing Virtanen any problems.
Sanders striking off his back but it's not causing Virtanen any problems.
Sanders is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sanders wants to lay and pray for a moment but Virtanen keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanders is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Virtanen is not content to let Sanders control the position.
Virtanen is trying to escape back to his feet but Sanders uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Sanders working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Virtanen manages to get back to half guard.
Sanders takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Virtanen gets back to full guard.
Virtanen looking to control.
Virtanen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Virtanen doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sanders counters with a shoot takedown. Virtanen fights it but they end up in guard.
Sanders makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sanders trying to control but Virtanen is working from the bottom.
Sanders tries to free his leg and advance position but Virtanen is retaining full guard.
Virtanen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sanders is controlling him.
Sanders is looking to work some ground and pound but Virtanen has wrist control.
Virtanen wants to sweep but no luck.

Virtanen has his foot on Sanders's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sanders works his way back into a safe position though.
Virtanen trying to control the position.
Sanders throws a big right hand that misses.

Virtanen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sanders gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Virtanen tries to strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sanders is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sanders postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sanders trying to control but Virtanen is working from the bottom.
Virtanen lands an upkick as Sanders stands over him.
Sanders content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Virtanen is rocked!

Virtanen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sanders can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Virtanen is still in real trouble! Can Sanders finish him?
Virtanen is breathing heavily.
Sanders is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sanders trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanders connects with a couple of short punches.
Sanders is working Virtanen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sanders is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sanders sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sanders postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders won't allow Virtanen to sweep him here.
Sanders with a nice head shot there.
Sanders stopping the sweep attempt from Virtanen.

Virtanen had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Sanders is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Virtanen Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Sanders's back instead.
Sanders looking very determined here, making life difficult for Virtanen.
Byron Sanders overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Virtanen patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Virtanen gets his hands free as Sanders looks to control.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Virtanen's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Sanders turns into Virtanen and is now in his guard.
Sanders with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sanders distracts Virtanen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Virtanen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sanders!
Sanders keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sanders bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Virtanen seems to have recovered his senses.
Virtanen looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Sanders puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Sanders is nestled in close to Virtanen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sanders is looking to advance position but Virtanen won't allow it.

Sanders is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Virtanen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sanders is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders 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.
Virtanen trying to control from the bottom.
Virtanen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sanders.
Ground and pound from Sanders.

Virtanen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Virtanen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are battling for position here. Virtanen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
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.
Sanders has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sanders postures up.

Virtanen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Virtanen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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.
Sanders working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Virtanen's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Byron Sanders dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Virtanen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sanders counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sanders keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Virtanen's head.
Virtanen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sanders manages to get himself to full guard.
Virtanen passes Sanders's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Virtanen wants to control but Sanders is keeping him busy.
Sanders wants to improve his position but Virtanen is controlling well.
Sanders gets back to full guard.
Sanders looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanders, not yet.
Sanders trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Virtanen stands up over Sanders, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Virtanen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Sanders pushes Virtanen off and scrambles back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanders tries to clinch up

and Virtanen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Virtanen is looking for a kimura here.

Sanders looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Virtanen winds up and cracks Sanders with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sanders wants to get back to full guard.
Sanders is pressing down on Virtanen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sanders 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.
Sanders is working hard here to advance position.
Virtanen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Virtanen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sanders wants to sweep here but Virtanen controlling him for the moment.
Virtanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Virtanen tries to stand but Sanders is controlling from the bottom.
Sanders tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sanders thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Sanders manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Virtanen manages to get himself to full guard.
Sanders lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Virtanen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanders is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Virtanen is on top in guard.
Virtanen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Virtanen trying to control the position but Sanders is working away.
Sanders is looking for a sweep.
Virtanen trying to control the action but Sanders is working from the bottom.
Sanders is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sanders sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Sanders gets full guard.
Sanders wants to sweep but no luck.
Sanders manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Virtanen manages to get himself to full guard.
Sanders stands up over Virtanen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sanders landing with the ground and pound.
Virtanen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanders is one step ahead there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanders postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Virtanen looking for a sweep. Not yet Virtanen, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Byron Sanders.
Well Sanders has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Byron Sanders!