PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ara Virta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sven Larsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ara Virta has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Virta
vs
Larsson

174 cm
26
184 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

183 cm
24
180 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ara Virta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sven Larsson!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Virta tries a head kick but it misses.
Larsson thows a body shot but no joy.
Larsson shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Larsson lands a jab to the nose.
Virta checks the leg kick.
Larsson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Virta getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Virta lands with an uppercut that bounces Larsson off the cage and back into range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Larsson.
Virta bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Larsson throws the kick towards the body but Virta avoids it.
Larsson misses with a lunging right hand

and Virta counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Virta slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Larsson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Larsson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Larsson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Virta's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Virta uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Larsson.
Larsson throws a body punch but Virta moves out of range.
Larsson scores with a jab. Virta acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Larsson throws a series of punches but Virta moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virta throws a nice looking combination but Larsson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sven Larsson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Virta checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Virta moves out of range of the strikes.
Larsson misses with a leg kick.
Virta throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Larsson's waist but Larsson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Virta off to one side.
Larsson scores with a kick to the body.
Larsson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Virta sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Larsson lands the left hand.
Donk. Larsson catches Virta right on the button with a cross.
A good leg kick by Larsson.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larsson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Virta.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Virta.
Larsson throws a half hearted mid kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Larsson blocks the leg kick.
Larsson misses with a wild body shot.
Virta throws a leg kick which misses Larsson's front leg but catches the back leg as Larsson tries to avoid it.
A combination from Larsson does no damage.
Virta fails to land with a series of punches.
A lazy left from Larsson finds it's target.
Larsson connects with a single shot there.
Larsson motions for Virta to come forward. Larsson throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larsson lands with a nice body punch.
Virta swings for the body but Larsson moves out of range.
Sven Larsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Virta takes one to the chin there.
Larsson slips a jab and a cross from Virta.
Larsson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Larsson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Virta checks it well.
The fighters circling - Larsson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Virta swings for the body but Larsson moves out of range.
Larsson misses with a straight left.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Larsson tries to work over Virta's front leg with a kick but Virta checks it.
Nice body kick from Larsson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Larsson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Larsson looks to land a left hand but Virta moved out of range nicely.
Virta has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Virta there as he acknowledges the shot.
Larsson looks to land a left hand but Virta moved out of range nicely.
Larsson misses with a straight right.
Sven Larsson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Virta swings for the body but Larsson moves out of range.
Virta misses with a looping left.
Larsson throws a head kick but Virta moves out of range.
Larsson throws the left hand but Virta avoids the punch easily.
A jab from Larsson misses.
Larsson shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Virta tries to score a power double leg takedown but Larsson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Virta somewhat.
Nice uppercut lands for Larsson. That snapped Virta's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsson misses with a low kick.
Virta fails with a takedown attempt.
Larsson connects with a right hand. Virta shakes it off.
Virta takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Virta fails to land with a series of punches.
Larsson checks a leg kick nicely.
Larsson misses with a low kick.
Virta pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsson scores with a decent looking hook.
Larsson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Ara Virta has been cut.
Virta lands a jab-cross combination.
Larsson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Larsson cracks the inside of Virta's front leg.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Larsson throws a jab but it's blocked by Virta.
Larsson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Virta looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Larsson is looking to land body kicks.
Virta takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Virta fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virta scores with a decent looking hook.
Jab from Larsson.
Larsson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Virta checks it well.
Larsson misses with a body shot.
Nice body punch from Virta.
Larsson missing with a left hand there. Virta was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Larsson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Larsson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Virta misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Virta ducks under a wild hook from Larsson.
Larsson lands with a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larsson lands a really nice looking cross but Virta seems unphased.
Larsson throws a hook to the side of Virta's head but Virta sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Virta doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Larsson is looking to clinch.
Larsson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Larsson throws a leg kick which misses Virta's front leg but catches the back leg as Virta tries to avoid it.
A bone on bone clash there as Virta blocks the leg kick.
A jab from Larsson misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Virta.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Virta remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Larsson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ara Virta's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Virta on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Virta thows a body shot but no joy.
Virta throws a nice outside leg kick.
Larsson works the jab nicely.
Larsson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Virta keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Larsson.
Virta swings for the body but Larsson moves out of range.
Larsson misses with a body shot.
Larsson thumps Virta with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virta drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Larsson looks to land a right hand but Virta moved out of range.
Larsson lands a jab to the nose.
Larsson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Larsson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Virta looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Virta throws a hook to the side of Larsson's head but Larsson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A low kick from Larsson misses
and Virta counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ara Virta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Larsson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Larsson, as that shot connected.
Larsson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Virta scores with a one two! Larsson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Larsson tries to clinch but Virta is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virta throws a series of punches but Larsson moves out of range.
Virta misses with a wild combination.
Larsson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Virta feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Larssons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A solid leg kick lands there for Larsson.
Virta circles away from the clinch attempt.
Larsson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Virta slips a jab from Larsson.
Larsson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Larsson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A solid body kick from Larsson.
Virta ducks under a wild hook from Larsson.
Virta is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Jab from Larsson.
Ara Virta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Larsson throws out a loose jab but Virta uses good head movement to avoid it.
Larsson motions for Virta to come forward. Larsson throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Larsson throws a hook to the side of Virta's head but Virta sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Virta misses with a takedown attempt - Larsson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Larsson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larsson misses with an uppercut.
Sven Larsson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Virta takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Virta ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Virta takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Larsson.
Larsson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Virta needs to keep his hands up - Larsson had a free shot at his head there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Larsson lands with a cross.
Larsson connects with a nice looking jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sven Larsson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Larsson 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sven Larsson!
Sven Larsson seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.