PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gleb Khristolubov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aarne Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aarne Virtanen has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Gleb Khristolubov's chin.

Khristolubov
vs
Virtanen

174 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

192 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gleb Khristolubov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aarne Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Virtanen scores with a one two! Khristolubov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Khristolubov fails with a takedown attempt.
No joy there for Virtanen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Khristolubov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Virtanen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Khristolubov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Virtanen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen wants to slow Khristolubov down by chopping away at his legs.
Virtanen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Khristolubov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Virtanen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Virtanen misses with a two punch combination.
Virtanen tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Khristolubov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Virtanen won't be happy with that.
Virtanen is trying to get back to half guard.
Virtanen is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Khristolubov is controlling him well.
Khristolubov controls the position from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khristolubov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Virtanen keeps working.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Khristolubov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Virtanen has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Khristolubov but great work by Virtanen.
Khristolubov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Virtanen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Khristolubov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Khristolubov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Virtanen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen wants to take a breather but Khristolubov is having none of it.
Khristolubov wants to control but Virtanen is keeping busy.
Khristolubov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Virtanen.
Virtanen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Virtanen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Khristolubov could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Virtanen is trying to control. Khristolubov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Khristolubov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Virtanen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Virtanen wants to pass to mount but Khristolubov is defending the position.
Virtanen is trying to control the action in half guard but Khristolubov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Virtanen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Khristolubov wants to control but Virtanen is keeping busy.
Nice strikes from Virtanen there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Khristolubov is breathing heavily.
Virtanen working over Khristolubov with some ground and pound. Khristolubov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Virtanen working the head and body with strikes.
Virtanen working over Khristolubov with some ground and pound. Khristolubov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Khristolubov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Virtanen is thwarting Khristolubov's attempts to control the position.
Virtanen is keen to just control but Khristolubov is a slippery customer.
Khristolubov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Virtanen.
Virtanen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Khristolubov's head.
Virtanen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Virtanen connects with a nice short shot to Khristolubov's temple.
Virtanen throwing shots but Khristolubov is blocking nicely.
Virtanen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Khristolubov has hold of Virtanen's hands but Virtanen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Khristolubov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Virtanen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Virtanen is looking for a kimura here.
Virtanen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aarne Virtanen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Virtanen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Virtanen dives in and scores a takedown into Khristolubov's guard.
Virtanen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Virtanen wants to control from the top but Khristolubov keeps moving.
Virtanen preventing the sweep.
Virtanen is looking to work some ground and pound but Khristolubov has wrist control.
Virtanen landing with the ground and pound.
Khristolubov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen throwing strikes but missing.
Virtanen throwing strikes but missing.
Virtanen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Khristolubov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Virtanen landing some decent shots from guard.
Virtanen trying to control but Khristolubov is working from the bottom.
Khristolubov managing to control the position.
Khristolubov has momentary wrist control but Virtanen slips an elbow through the middle.
Khristolubov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Khristolubov working for a triangle but Virtanen defends it easily.
Virtanen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Khristolubov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Virtanen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Khristolubov is keeping the position for now.
Virtanen is in close to Khristolubov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khristolubov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Khristolubov working a defensive guard but Virtanen passes into half guard.
Aarne Virtanen has got the better of the ground game so far.

Virtanen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Virtanen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khristolubov is trying to maintain the position but Virtanen is very close to passing his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Virtanen connects with a nice short shot to Khristolubov's temple.
Virtanen is looking to take a break and control but Khristolubov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Virtanen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Khristolubov's head.
Ground and pound from Virtanen.
Virtanen winds up and cracks Khristolubov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Khristolubov trying to hold on to Virtanen's head to control him but Virtanen postures up.
Virtanen seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Khristolubov is staying active underneath Virtanen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khristolubov wants to control but Virtanen is keeping busy.
Virtanen working the head and body with strikes.
Virtanen working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khristolubov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Virtanen.
Virtanen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Khristolubov is rocked!
Virtanen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Khristolubov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Virtanen throwing shots but Khristolubov is blocking nicely.
Nice strikes from Virtanen there.
Oh Khristolubov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Virtanen lands a nice short elbow.
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.
Virtanen lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Khristolubov! More strikes land and this one is all over! Virtanen jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aarne Virtanen!