PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jarppi Virne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikola Dragoslav (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Virne's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Jeff van Dyck - Soldier's Chant. The crowd seem to be enjoying Dragoslav's choice of entrance music: Disturbed - Indestructible. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Virne
vs
Dragoslav

187 cm
28
262 lbs
10 - 13 - 0

188 cm
26
273 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarppi Virne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikola Dragoslav!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Virne tries to clinch up.
Dragoslav keeps the fight on the outside.
Virne tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Dragoslav counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Dragoslav prevents Virne from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Virne won't allow Dragoslav to pass to mount.
Dragoslav stalling.
The fighters are battling for position here. Virne manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Dragoslav trying to control the position from guard on top but Virne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virne looking for a sweep. Not yet Virne, not yet.
Virne trying to control the position.
Virne can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dragoslav controls the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nikola Dragoslav was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Virne has taken the fight to the clinch.
Virne gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dragoslav.
Dragoslav takes a shot to the head.
Dragoslav is trying to pull guard but Virne turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Virne missing with knees to the body.
Virne tries to circle away but Dragoslav has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Dragoslav is fighting off a takedown attempt but Virne is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Dragoslav to the mat. Dragoslav regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Dragoslav trying to control the position.
Virne in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dragoslav looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dragoslav is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dragoslav missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Still in half guard, Dragoslav seems content to control.
Virne is in trouble now - Dragoslav has advanced to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virne keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Dragoslav with shots to the head and body - Virne looks very uncomfortable down there.
Virne wants to hold on but Dragoslav pushes him away.
Dragoslav tries to control but Virne wriggling away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Virne wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Dragoslav.
Virne wants to control but Dragoslav is having none of it.
Dragoslav is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Dragoslav there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Dragoslav landing strikes from the mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dragoslav looking to control but Virne is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Virne tries to hold on but Dragoslav postures up.
Dragoslav with a couple of short strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dragoslav controlling the pace for now.

Dragoslav goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Virne is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikola Dragoslav dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Virne tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dragoslav swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dragoslav scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Jarppi Virne has been cut.
Virne tries to clinch there but Dragoslav circles away.
Dragoslav shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Virne as he avoids it easily.

Virne moves into range and clinches up with Dragoslav.
Virne is defending well against a takedown attempt.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Virne.
Virne tries to land a knee to the head but Dragoslav blocks with his arms.
A nice right hand lands inside from Virne.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Virne misses with a knee to the head.
Virne throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dragoslav looking for a takedown.
Jarppi Virne has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikola Dragoslav.
Virne with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dragoslav changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Virne fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Virne tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virne fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dragoslav avoids a punch combination nicely.
Virne closes the distance but Dragoslav moves to the side

and Dragoslav counters with a shoot takedown. Virne fights it but they end up in guard.
Dragoslav stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Virne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dragoslav trying to stand up but can't free himself from Virne's guard.
Dragoslav postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Virne pulls Dragoslav in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virne keeping moving, preventing Dragoslav from controlling successfully.
Dragoslav stopping the sweep attempt from Virne.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Dragoslav darts in and clinches Virne up against the cage.
Dragoslav jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Virne walks away with a smile on his face. Dragoslav gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Virne loads up on a big right hand but Dragoslav slips the punch.
Dragoslav swats away the attempt to clinch by Virne.
Jarppi Virne is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dragoslav circles away from the clinch attempt
and Dragoslav counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sloppy strikes from Virne. Those never looked like landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virne wants to clinch.

Dragoslav gets a double leg takedown into Virne's guard.
Virne wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Dragoslav forces his way into half guard.
Dragoslav lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Virne is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dragoslav is looking to advance position but Virne won't allow it.
Dragoslav trying to control from half guard but Virne is working away.
Dragoslav is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Dragoslav seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dragoslav with the ground and pound but Virne uses the opportunity to regain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikola Dragoslav showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jarppi Virne's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Virne as Dragoslav shoots in.

Virne shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Dragoslav manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Virne throws an elbow that misses. Dragoslav uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Virne's guard. Nice move by Dragoslav!
Dragoslav trying to control the position from guard on top but Virne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Virne is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dragoslav wants to control from the top but Virne keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragoslav wants to pass the guard but Virne is keeping the position.
Virne keeping moving, preventing Dragoslav from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Nikola Dragoslav.
Virne tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dragoslav swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Virne wants to clinch.
Dragoslav throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Virne's waist but Virne gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dragoslav off to one side.
Dragoslav wants to clinch up but Virne keeps it at a distance.
Virne fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dragoslav tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Virne slaps away a takedown attempt from Dragoslav, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jarppi Virne has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikola Dragoslav.
Virne misses with the combination.
Virne doesn't manage to clinch there - Dragoslav circles away.

Virne moves into range and clinches up with Dragoslav.
Virne lands a left hand.
Virne has Dragoslav pressed against the cage, preventing Dragoslav from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Virne tries to land a knee to the head but Dragoslav blocks with his arms.

Dragoslav manages to break the clinch.
Virne tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dragoslav swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Virne is looking to clinch.
Dragoslav swats away the attempt to clinch by Virne.
Virne tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragoslav tries to score a power double leg takedown but Virne sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dragoslav somewhat.
Virne tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dragoslav paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Virne looks to clinch

and Dragoslav decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Virne's guard.
Dragoslav trying to control but Virne is working from the bottom.
Dragoslav trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Virne keeping moving, preventing Dragoslav from controlling successfully.
Dragoslav in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jarppi Virne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dragoslav postures up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Dragoslav trying to control the position from guard on top but Virne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nikola Dragoslav has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sloppy strikes from Virne. Those never looked like landing.
Virne tries to clinch but Dragoslav moves out of range.
Virne will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nikola Dragoslav is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Virne is looking to clinch.

Virne darts in and clinches Dragoslav up against the cage.

Dragoslav lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Virne is trying to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dragoslav moves nicely into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nikola Dragoslav.
I've got Dragoslav 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikola Dragoslav!