PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Juhani Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Pedro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Virtanen
vs
Pedro

168 cm
23
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Juhani Virtanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joao Pedro!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Daniel Bishop and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Virtanen throws a jab when Pedro was well out of range.
Pedro tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Virtanen wants to clinch.

Virtanen closes the distance and clinches.
Pedro is trying to break the clinch but Virtanen has him pressed against the cage.
Virtanen digs a right hand underneath Pedro's ribcage. Pedro let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Virtanen dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Pedro takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Joao Pedro has been cut.
Virtanen stalls.
Pedro is looking to break free of the clinch but Virtanen has double underhooks.
Virtanen blocks a body shot from Pedro.
Virtanen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Pedros head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Pedro has Virtanen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Virtanen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pedro is looking to control Virtanen's arms but Virtanen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Pedro has his back to the cage.
Virtanen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Pedro's defenses.
Pedro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Pedro looking to stall.
Pedro jumps guard but Virtanen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Virtanen throws an elbow that misses.
Pedro is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Juhani Virtanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joao Pedro.
Pedro is looking to take this one to the mat.
Virtanen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Virtanen missing with knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Pedro is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Virtanen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Virtanen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen lands a hook that snaps the head of Pedro backwards.
Virtanen lands an elbow just above Pedro 's eye.

That has opened up Joao Pedro's cut even more.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Virtanen.
Pedro is trying to pull guard but Virtanen has him pressed against the cage.
Virtanen lands with a short shot to the head.
Pedro is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Virtanen is defending well.
Pedro looks gassed!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Virtanen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pedro avoids it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Virtanen as Pedro tries to tie him up.
Virtanen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pedro backwards.
Virtanen lands an elbow inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Virtanen.
Virtanen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Virtanen content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Virtanen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pedro avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pedro has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pedro blocks the elbow strike.
Virtanen lands a nice elbow.
A short left from Virtanen.

Pedro is rocked!
A nice left hand lands by Virtanen.
Pedro is still on wobbly legs! Can Virtanen finish him?
Come on Virtanen - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Virtanen lands a shoulder strike.
Pedro is pressed against the cage. Virtanen pushes back and unleashes a big elbow that really hurts Pedro! Two more big strikes from Virtanen and Pedro crumples to the mat and taps out furiously due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:33 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Juhani Virtanen!
Juhani Virtanen decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.