PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luke Daigle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jarppi Virne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Daigle comes to the cage accompanied by Eminem - Above The Law . Virne has chosen Jeff van Dyck - Soldier's Chant as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Daigle
vs
Virne

199 cm
30
275 lbs
16 - 11 - 1

187 cm
33
262 lbs
15 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 16 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Luke Daigle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarppi Virne!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Virne misses with a wild body shot.
Daigle throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Virne tries to close the distance and clinch but Daigle swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Daigle keeps the fight on the outside.
Daigle tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Virne manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Daigle lands with a nice body kick.
Daigle works over Virne's head and body with a nice combination.
Virne shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Daigle defends it nicely.
Virne doesn't manage to clinch there - Daigle circles away.
Daigle tries a head kick but it misses.
Luke Daigle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice straight punches there by Daigle. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Daigle.
Daigle scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Virne takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Daigle throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Virne tries to close the distance and clinch up but Daigle swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Virne shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Daigle defends it nicely.
Daigle lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Daigle defending well as Virne loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daigle throws a right hand that Virne ducks under and follows up with a left that Virne also avoids with ease.
Daigle tries to clinch but Virne moves out of range.
Daigle takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Virne tries to close the distance and clinch but Daigle swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Virne pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Virne doesn't manage to clinch there - Daigle circles away.
Virne fails in his attempt to clinch.

Daigle instigates a clinch.
Daigle wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Daigle is looking to break free of the clinch but Virne has double underhooks.
Virne can't break the clinch.

Daigle breaks the clinch.
Virne scores with a jab to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Virne looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Daigle is looking to clinch.
Daigle rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Virne moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Virne doesn't manage to clinch there - Daigle circles away.
Virne scores with a nice head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virne misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Daigle.
Virne tries to close the distance and clinch but Daigle swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Virne has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Daigle finds it's way round the side to connect with Virne's head.
Daigle goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Daigle. Virne shrugs it off though.

Virne lands a big right hand that sends Daigle crashing to the mat! Virne stays standing though and waves Daigle back to his feet!

Daigle is rocked!
Daigle is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Virne shoots in and drives through. Daigle sprawls well.
Luke Daigle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jarppi Virne.
Daigle throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Virne takes the fight into the clinch.

Daigle pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Virne takes a kick to the side of the head.
Virne tries to clinch there but Daigle circles away.
Luke Daigle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Daigle throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Virne pushes Daigle up against the cage in a clinch.
Daigle is trying to force a seperation but Virne has the dominant position.
A nice left hand lands by Daigle.

Daigle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Daigle throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Virne closes this distance looking for a takedown but Daigle circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virne fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Daigle tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Daigle throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Virne missing with a left hand there. Daigle was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Virne avoids the head kick by Daigle.
Virne wants to clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Daigle.
Daigle keeps the fight on the outside.

Daigle closes the distance and clinches.

Virne turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Virne manages to end up in side control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Daigle struggling a bit here.
Daigle wants to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Daigle gets back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Daigle is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daigle slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Virne throws a big right hand that misses.
Daigle bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Virne's guard.
Daigle wants to stand but Virne is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Virne lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Daigle!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Virne landing strikes, looking to finish!
Virne has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Virne avoids the attempt from Daigle to control.
Daigle is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Daigle really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Luke Daigle will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Daigle closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Virne tries to clinch up but Daigle circles away and keeps his distance.
A jab from Daigle does it's job there.

Virne drives through and clinches with Daigle against the cage.
Daigle blocks a body shot from Virne.

Virne breaks from the clinch.
Daigle circles away from the clinch attempt.

Daigle darts in and clinches Virne up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Virne.
Virne drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Daigle gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Daigle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Virne clinches with his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Daigle wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Virne has him pressed against the cage.
Virne throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Daigle.
Daigle prevents Virne from breaking the clinch.
Daigle wants to break free but Virne has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virne drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Daigle gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Daigle has Virne pressed against the cage, preventing Virne from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Daigle is trying to break free.

Daigle manages to break the clinch.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Virne crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Daigle - the referee stops the clock and Virne gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Daigle. Virne manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Daigle tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Virne misses with a looping right.
Virne tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Daigle paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Daigle tries to bum rush Virne with a series of wild strikes but Virne uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Virne tries to clinch but Daigle is having none of it.
Daigle misses with a body shot.
Daigle throws a combination. Virne tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Daigle lands with a straight right. Virne didn't see that one coming.
A left lands for Daigle.
Daigle with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Daigle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Luke Daigle is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Virne looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Daigle!
Daigle can't do much from the bottom here.
Daigle regains half guard.
Virne landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are battling for position here. Daigle manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Virne postures up in Daigle's guard and throws a big left but Daigle blocks it.

Daigle scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Virne blocks a head kick by Daigle.
Daigle throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Virne.
Daigle throws a nice outside leg kick.
Daigle throws a sloppy head kick and Virne moves out of range easily.
Virne takes one to the chin there.
Virne fails with an attempt to clinch.
Daigle tries to clinch up but Virne circles away and keeps his distance.
Virne misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virne tries to clinch but Daigle moves out of range.
Virne tries to close the distance and clinch but Daigle swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Daigle scores with a body shot.
Virne drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Virne takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Virne looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Daigle moves out of range of the strikes.
Daigle tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Daigle is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Daigle lands a jab.
Daigle throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Virne scores with a takedown into Daigle's guard.
Virne won't allow Daigle to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Daigle is trying to control the position but Virne postures up.
Daigle is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Virne is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virne is looking to work some ground and pound but Daigle has wrist control.
Virne throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Daigle is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Virne working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Daigle's head.
Daigle will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Daigle wants to stand up but Virne is controlling him.
Virne postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Virne lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Daigle seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Virne loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Virne distracts Daigle with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Virne working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Luke Daigle will probably get the nod.
That's time! Daigle's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Daigle swats away the attempt to clinch by Virne.
Daigle is looking to clinch.
Virne tries to close the distance and clinch up but Daigle swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Daigle throws a head kick but Virne moves out of range.
Daigle ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Virne moves away.
Daigle throws a head kick but Virne moves out of range.
Virne shoots for a takedown but Daigle saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Daigle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Daigle ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Daigle thows a body kick. Virne tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Virne avoids the head kick by Daigle.
Daigle connects with a jab.

Daigle moves into the clinch.

Virne pulls guard.
Daigle pushing down on Virne's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Daigle seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Virne missing with punches from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virne moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Daigle preventing the sweep.
Daigle tries to stand but Virne is controlling from the bottom.
Virne looking to hit a scissor sweep but Daigle is one step ahead there.
Virne has his hands on Daigle's head, controlling the position.
Daigle wants to control from the top but Virne keeps moving.
Jarppi Virne has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daigle has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Virne is proving hard to escape from.
Daigle is looking to pass into half guard but Virne pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Virne is in guard.
Daigle is adopting a defensive guard.
Virne throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Daigle works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Virne with a flurry of punches that miss.
Virne throws a big right hand that misses.
Daigle keeping moving, preventing Virne from controlling successfully.
Virne won't allow Daigle to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virne trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Virne accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Daigle holds on and takes a little breather.
Virne tries to free his leg and advance position but Daigle is retaining full guard.
Daigle keeping moving, preventing Virne from controlling successfully.
Jarppi Virne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Daigle throws a head kick but Virne moves out of range.

Daigle tries to keep at a distance but Virne has taken the fight into the clinch.
Virne trying to land knees to the body.

Daigle breaks from the clinch.
Luke Daigle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Daigle thows a body kick. Virne tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Virne has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Daigle.
Virne takes a kick to the side of the head.
Daigle ducks under a wild hook from Virne.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virne throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Daigle moves into range and clinches up with Virne.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Virne tries to throw a body punch but Daigle avoids it by throwing Virne back against the cage.

Daigle breaks from the clinch.
Daigle scores with a decent looking hook.

Virne drives through and clinches with Daigle against the cage.

Daigle breaks from the clinch.
Daigle misses with a two punch combination.
Daigle throws a series of punches but Virne avoids them all with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Virne avoids the head kick by Daigle.
Daigle keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Daigle tries to bum rush Virne with a series of wild strikes but Virne uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Daigle throws a head kick but Virne moves out of range.
Virne gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Daigle.
Virne wants to clinch up but Daigle keeps it at a distance.
Virne uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Daigle showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Daigle, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

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