PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ara Virta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wakka Pakka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Virta
vs
Pakka

174 cm
24
183 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

180 cm
21
185 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ara Virta!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wakka Pakka!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pakka throws a right and a left that both miss.
A head kick misses from Pakka.
Pakka throws a nice looking combination but Virta bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pakka uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Virta.
Virta changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Pakka throws a right and a left that both miss.
Virta fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Pakka has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A jab from Pakka does it's job there.
Pakka on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Virta. Virta obviously looking to wear him down.
Pakka swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Virta counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Virta connects with a crisp jab.
Virta lands with a thumping leg kick.
Virta throws out a powerful jab.
A punch combination from Pakka misses.

Virta scores a takedown into full mount!
Virta controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pakka keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Virta controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ara Virta.
Some wild striking there from Pakka.
Virta throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Pakka misses with the combination.
Virta throws a head kick but Pakka moves out of range.
Pakka misses with a combination
and Virta counters with a nice leg kick.
Pakka uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Virta.
Pakka throws a right and a left that Virta avoids nicely.
Pakka lands with a shot to the body.

Virta darts in and clinches Pakka up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pakka has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Virta avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Virta lands with a left to the head.
Virta pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Virta lands a right hand.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Virta takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Virta scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Pakka is trying to break the clinch but Virta has him pressed against the cage.
Virta content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Virta lands a left hand that snaps the head of Pakka backwards.
Virta is stalling here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virta lands with a short shot to the head.
Pakka wants to get back to striking at distance but Virta won't allow it.
Virta lands an uppercut.
Virta lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Virta is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Virta lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Wakka Pakka has been cut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Virta lands a right hand.
Virta dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ara Virta dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wakka Pakka's cut.
That's time! Virta's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A combination from Pakka does no damage.
Virta tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Pakka manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pakka throws a nice looking combination but Virta bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pakka swinging wildly here.

Virta shoots in and bounces Pakka off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Pakka has Virta pulled in close to control his posture.
Virta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pakka is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Virta is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ara Virta.
Pakka fails to land with a series of punches.
A combination from Pakka does no damage.
Virta ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Pakka is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Virta.
Pakka fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Virta manages to avoid it.
Wakka Pakka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pakka pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Pakka throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Virta throws a nice outside leg kick.
Pakka misses with a combination
and Virta counters with a thumping low kick.
Pakka is breathing heavily.
Pakka tries to bum rush Virta with a series of wild strikes but Virta uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Virta walks into a left hand.
Ara Virta is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pakka falls off balance throwing a combination
and Virta counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pakka misses with the combination.
Virta throws a one two combo.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Pakka throws a right and a left that Virta avoids nicely.
Pakka falls off balance throwing a combination
and Virta counters with a left to the body.
Virta lands a jab-cross combination.
Nice uppercut there from Virta.

Virta clinches.
Virta stalling the fight.
Virta throws an elbow but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virta tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pakka avoids it.
Come on Virta - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Pakka takes an elbow to the forehead.
Virta lands a damaging elbow.

That has opened up Wakka Pakka's cut even more.
Virta pushes Pakka back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Virta stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Virta lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Virta.
Pakka takes an elbow to the temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pakka wants to get back to striking at distance but Virta won't allow it.
Virta working Pakka over with knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Virta breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
An inside leg kick lands from Virta.
Good standup being displayed there by Virta as he connects with a hook.
Virta throws a shot to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Virta.

Virta fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pakka, pushing him back against the cage.
Virta gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

The cut above Wakka Pakka's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Virta is struggling to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ara Virta dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wakka Pakka's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pakka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Virta.
Virta throws a nice inside leg kick.
Wakka Pakka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A left lands for Virta.
Pakka misses with a double jab
and Virta counters with a right hand to the body.
Virta lands with a slapping head kick.

Pakka is rocked!
Pakka gets caught by a big overhand right and goes down! Virta gets on top of him and starts throwing some serious punches until the ref intervenes and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ara Virta!
Ara Virta retains his middleweight title!