PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Artturi Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aalio Paalio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paalio is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Motörhead - Iron Fist. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Virtanen
vs
Paalio

202 cm
29
285 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

225 cm
26
322 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags and Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Artturi Virtanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aalio Paalio!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Virtanen thows a body shot but no joy.
Virtanen throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Paalio counters with a shoot takedown. Virtanen fights it but they end up in guard.
Paalio engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Virtanen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Paalio won't allow Virtanen to sweep him here.
Virtanen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Paalio 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Aalio Paalio was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Virtanen throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Paalio holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Paalio has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Virtanen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Paalio lands an elbow inside that Virtanen shrugs off.

It looks like Artturi Virtanen has been cut.
Paalio tries for a takedown but Virtanen manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paalio wants a takedown but no success here.
Artturi Virtanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aalio Paalio.
Paalio tries for a takedown. No joy.
Paalio jumps guard but Virtanen stands there with Paalio around his waist. Paalio gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Paalio drops down looking for an ankle pick but Virtanen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Paalio walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

It looks like Aalio Paalio has been cut.
Virtanen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Paalio looks gassed!
Virtanen cracks Paalio with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Paalio is looking to clinch.
Virtanen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paalio slips a straight right by Virtanen.
Paalio is looking to clinch.
Virtanen throws an off balance right hand

and Paalio counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Virtanen's guard now.
Virtanen keeping moving, preventing Paalio from controlling successfully.
Virtanen wants to sweep here but Paalio controlling him for the moment.
Paalio wants to control from the top but Virtanen keeps moving.

Virtanen is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Virtanen working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paalio is trying to drag Virtanen to the mat but Virtanen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Paalio has Virtanen pressed against the cage, preventing Virtanen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Paalio tries for a takedown but Virtanen manages to get underhooks.
Paalio keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Virtanen's efforts to push away.
Paalio goes for a takedown attempt but Virtanen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Paalio ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Virtanen misses with an uppercut.
Artturi Virtanen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four 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.
Paalio shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That has opened up Aalio Paalio's cut even more.
Virtanen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Paalio tries for a takedown but Virtanen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Virtanen misses with a left hand

so Paalio counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Virtanen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Paalio is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Virtanen trying to control the position.
Paalio looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artturi Virtanen dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Virtanen misses with a left hand

and Paalio decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Virtanen's guard.
Paalio is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Paalio trying to control the position from guard on top but Virtanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Virtanen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Virtanen keeping moving, preventing Paalio from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Aalio Paalio hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Virtanen.
Virtanen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Paalio at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paalio throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Virtanen was covering up waiting for the punch and Paalio finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Virtanen keeping moving, preventing Paalio from controlling successfully.
Paalio is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Paalio trying to control but Virtanen is working from the bottom.
Paalio is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Aalio Paalio was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Paalio tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Virtanen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paalio tries to score a power double leg takedown but Virtanen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Paalio somewhat.
Virtanen misses with a left hand

and Paalio counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Paalio.
Aalio Paalio has got the better of the ground game so far.
Paalio preventing the sweep.
Paalio with a nice head shot there.
Paalio preventing the sweep.
Virtanen wants to stand and escape but Paalio is having none of it.
Paalio looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paalio thows a big elbow that misses.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Aalio Paalio wasn't active enough on the ground.
Paalio closes this distance looking for a takedown but Virtanen circles away.
Aalio Paalio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Paalio shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Paalio showed some decent athleticism there.
Paalio 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Paalio in particular looking to stall.
Virtanen pushes Paalio off looking to stand but Paalio dives back in and keeps control.
Virtanen is staying active underneath Paalio, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Virtanen is looking to control Paalio's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Virtanen avoid being mounted?

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Aalio Paalio.
Virtanen misses with a left hand
and Paalio counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Virtanen throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Paalio counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Virtanen is trying to stand back up but Paalio is controlling him
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Paalio trying to control from half guard but Virtanen is working away.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aalio Paalio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Virtanen misses with a hook to the body

and Paalio counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Virtanen tries to kick Paalio off but Paalio keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Paalio 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.
Virtanen won't allow Paalio to pass to mount.
Virtanen wants to control but Paalio is keeping busy.
Paalio is controlling the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Aalio Paalio hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Virtanen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Paalio counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Paalio missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Virtanen being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paalio being controlled here momentarily.
Paaliois looking to pass into half guard but Virtanen pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Virtanen is in guard.
Paalio pulls Virtanen in close to prevent any damage.
Paalio wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Virtanen wants to get up but he can't break Paalio's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Paalio wriggles free and stands up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Paalio is defended easily by Virtanen.
Artturi Virtanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen throws a sloppy body shot

and Paalio counters by clinching up.
Paalio tries for a takedown. No joy.
Paalio takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Virtanen prevents the takedown attempt.
Artturi Virtanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aalio Paalio.
Virtanen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Virtanen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Paalio has him pressed against the cage.
Paalio is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Virtanen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Paalio tries to score a body lock takedown but Virtanen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Paalio drops down looking for an ankle pick but Virtanen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Paalio shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Virtanen counters with a nice uppercut.
Virtanen misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen throws a looping overhand right but Paalio ducks down to avoid it.
Paalio has his takedown stuffed
and Virtanen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Paalio takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Virtanen cracks Paalio with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Virtanen misses with a straight right.
Paalio fails with an attempt to clinch.
Virtanen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Paalio moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paalio shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Virtanen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

The cut above Aalio Paalio's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Virtanen misses with a lunging right hand

and Paalio counters with a takedown into side control.
Virtanen wants to control but Paalio postures up.
Virtanen wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Virtanen can't do much from the bottom here.
Paalio tries to score with some ground and pound. Virtanen controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paalio taking a breather here.
Paalio trying to control the action but Virtanen is working from the bottom.

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 Artturi Virtanen.
I think Virtanen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

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