PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niki Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago Alves had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 207.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Niki Virtanen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Alves
vs
Virtanen

185 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Random Name Supplements

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 Montreal, Thiago Alves!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Niki Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alves tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Virtanen swivels and escapes.
Alves looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Alves gets caught flat footed, as Virtanen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Alves preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Virtanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Alves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alves being controlled here, momentarily.
Virtanen postures up and lands a big shot to Alves's brow.
Virtanen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Virtanen wants to stand but Alves has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Virtanen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alves is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Virtanen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Virtanen stopping the sweep attempt from Alves.
Virtanen passes Alves's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Virtanen decides to return to a standing position.
Alves with a poor takedown
and Virtanen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Virtanen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen wants to take a breather but Alves is having none of it.
Alves trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Alves's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Virtanen controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Virtanen landing strikes from the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Virtanen controlling the position easily from mount.
Alves tries to lock up and control but Virtanen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Virtanen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Virtanen working the ground and pound effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Alves really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Virtanen is landing with some decent strikes but Alves is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Virtanen landing strikes from the mount.
Virtanen lands with some strikes.
Virtanen unloading with bombs!

Alves is rocked!
Alves is trying desperately to improve position.
Virtanen controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niki Virtanen dominated that 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.

Virtanen shoots in and bounces Alves off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Alves looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Virtanen puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Virtanen trying to control from half guard but Alves is working away.
Virtanen is controlling the pace.
Virtanen trying to pass the guard but Alves defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Virtanen content just to control the position here.
Virtanen prevents Alves from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Virtanen lands a big elbow.

Virtanen is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Virtanen fakes the leg kick and cracks Alves in the body.
Virtanen scores with a sloppy right hand. Alves should have avoided that one.
Virtanen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Alves. That did some damage!
Virtanen jabs Alves right on the nose. Alves blinks but takes it well.
Alves with a lazy takedown attempt

and Virtanen counters with a single leg into guard. Alves didn't expect that.
Virtanen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Virtanen trying to control but Alves is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen looking to sit in guard and control but Alves gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Alves pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Virtanen is keeping the position for now.
Alves stopping the sweep attempt from Virtanen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Virtanen is controlling Alves's posture.
Virtanen wants to stand up but Alves is controlling him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Alves with a poor takedown
and Virtanen counters with a nice body kick.
Virtanen wants to clinch.

Alves clinches.
Alves wants to break free but Virtanen has control.
Virtanen tries to score a body lock takedown but Alves shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niki Virtanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Alves's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Alves gets caught flat footed, as Virtanen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Virtanen wants to control from the top but Alves keeps moving.
Virtanen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Virtanen slips nicely into half guard.
Virtanen looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Niki Virtanen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Alves trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Alves works to full guard.

Virtanen stands up and waves to Alves to follow him.

Alves gets caught flat footed, as Virtanen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Virtanen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Virtanen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Virtanen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Virtanen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alves is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alves working for a triangle but Virtanen defends it easily.
Alves being controlled here, momentarily.
Virtanen wants to stand but Alves is controlling his posture from full guard.
Virtanen tries to free his leg and advance position but Alves is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alves utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Virtanen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Virtanen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Alves working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Virtanen drives through and clinches with Alves against the cage.

Virtanen is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Alves can't fight it off and eventually Virtanen manages to take the fight to the floor. Alves looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Virtanen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Alves tries to get to full guard but Virtanen has control of the leg.

Virtanen escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Virtanen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Alves is looking to escape.
Alves bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Virtanen looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Alves puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niki Virtanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Virtanen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 26:30

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