PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tony Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clay Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diaz has chosen I'm a Souljah as his entrance music. Tony Virtanen has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Virtanen
vs
Diaz

175 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

174 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Tony Virtanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Clay Diaz!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Steven Brown and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Virtanen avoids the head kick by Diaz.
Diaz misses with a wild combination.
Diaz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Diaz stuffs the takedown.
Diaz throws a right hand that Virtanen ducks under and follows up with a left that Virtanen also avoids with ease.
Diaz wants to clinch.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch but Virtanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Virtanen shoots in but no luck this time.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Virtanen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Diaz fails to land with a series of punches.
Good leg kick by Diaz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Diaz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Diaz wants to break free but Virtanen has control.
Virtanen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Virtanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Virtanen prevents Diaz from breaking the clinch.
Diaz is trying to break free.

Diaz breaks from the clinch.
Diaz stuffs the takedown attempt from Virtanen. Virtanen gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Virtanen.
Diaz throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Virtanen.

Virtanen feints and as Diaz raises his hands in defense, Virtanen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Diaz is looking to stand up but Virtanen isn't so interested in that idea.
Virtanen wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
Virtanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Virtanen postures up in Diaz's guard and throws a big left but Diaz blocks it.

Diaz working for a triangle but Virtanen defends it easily.
Virtanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.

Virtanen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Diaz, up you get!
Diaz misses with a series of wild punches.
Virtanen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Diaz. Diaz obviously looking to wear him down.
Virtanen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Diaz.
Clay Diaz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Virtanen is breathing heavily.

Diaz clinches.
Diaz is trying to break free.
Diaz gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Virtanen.
Virtanen can't get the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz manages to break the clinch.
Diaz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Virtanen slips a jab and a cross from Diaz.
Virtanen moves out of range as Diaz throws a body kick.
Diaz looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Diaz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Virtanen.
Virtanen avoids the head kick by Diaz.
An inside leg kick lands from Diaz.
Virtanen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Virtanen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Diaz tries to avoid it but Virtanen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Diaz to the ground. Diaz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Diaz moves into the clinch.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Virtanen has him pressed against the cage.
Virtanen prevents Diaz from breaking the clinch.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch but Virtanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Diaz stuffs the takedown.
Diaz catches Virtanen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Diaz stuffs the takedown attempt from Virtanen. Virtanen gets slowly back to his feet.
Diaz is looking to clinch but Virtanen is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Diaz is not content to let Virtanen control the position.
Virtanen controlling the action here.
Virtanen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Virtanen in particular looking to stall.

Virtanen stands up from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Clay Diaz will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Virtanen misses with a takedown attempt - Diaz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Virtanen instigates a clinch.
Diaz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Virtanen has him pressed against the cage.
Virtanen prevents Diaz from breaking the clinch.
Diaz wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Diaz breaks from the clinch.

Virtanen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Virtanen lands in his opponent's guard.
Diaz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Virtanen wants to pass the guard but Diaz is keeping the position.
Virtanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Virtanen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Diaz is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Virtanen won't allow Diaz to sweep him here.

Virtanen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Virtanen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Diaz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Virtanen is controlling him.

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.
Virtanen trying to control but Diaz is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz wants to sweep here but Virtanen controlling him for the moment.
Virtanen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Diaz is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Virtanen dives into side control.
Diaz can't do much from the bottom here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A punch combination from Diaz misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Virtanen prevents Diaz from breaking the clinch.
Diaz has had enough of the clinch but Virtanen keeps him there for the moment.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A punch combination from Diaz misses.
Virtanen tries to clinch there but Diaz circles away.
Diaz is looking to clinch.
Diaz lands a high kick!
Clay Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Diaz forces Virtanen back against the cage and clinches.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diaz wants to clinch but Virtanen slips to the side

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

Virtanen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Diaz defends it well.
Diaz wants to control but Virtanen is keeping busy.

Virtanen is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Diaz still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Diaz 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 four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Diaz off and has taken his back!

Virtanen patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Diaz trying to control the position but Virtanen manages to sink in the hooks.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Virtanen's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Virtanen loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Diaz hold on?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Virtanen tightening his grip on Diaz, looking for the choke.
Virtanen lands a shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Virtanen dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Virtanen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Diaz gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diaz misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Virtanen.
Diaz takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Virtanen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Virtanen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Diaz tries to improve his position but Virtanen has taken his back! Virtanen has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Diaz tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Virtanen pushes Diaz away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tony Virtanen!