PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ian Odonnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roberto Viana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roberto Viana has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Odonnell
vs
Viana

203 cm
18
151 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

177 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ian Odonnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roberto Viana !
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Viana shoots in and gets a takedown into Odonnell's guard.
Odonnell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Odonnell is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Viana must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Viana wants to control from the top but Odonnell keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Viana being controlled here momentarily.
Odonnell is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Viana really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Odonnell. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Odonnell lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Odonnell with a nice head shot there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Odonnell accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Viana can't keep his opponent in guard - Odonnell advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odonnell is thwarting Viana 's attempts to control the position.
Odonnell landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Odonnell is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Viana defends it well.
Odonnell is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Odonnell looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Odonnell not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Odonnell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Odonnell not doing much here.
Odonnell has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Ground and pound from Odonnell.
Viana is trying to maintain the position but Odonnell is very close to passing his half guard.
Odonnell drops an elbow to the side of Viana 's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Odonnell is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Viana has managed to free his arm - good work.
Odonnell perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Odonnell works his way into side control.
Odonnell controls the position from side control.
Odonnell seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Viana for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Viana taking a bit of punishment here - Odonnell scoring with strikes.
Viana tries to bench press Odonnell off him but Odonnell keeps the position.
Odonnell advances nicely into full mount.
Odonnell controlling his opponent.
Odonnell working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Odonnell controlling the position easily from mount.
Odonnell lands a couple of good shots and Viana has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Odonnell looking for the choke but no joy.
Viana is really stuck here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ian Odonnell dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Odonnell changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Viana tries to avoid it but Odonnell manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Viana to the ground. Viana escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Viana gets a takedown into half guard.
Odonnell is doing well to control the position and prevent Viana from advancing to side control.
Viana wants to get back to his feet.
Viana looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Odonnell throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Odonnell won't allow Viana to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Odonnell desperately trying to maintain half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Viana throws a combination that misses

and Odonnell counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Viana on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Odonnell controlling the action here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Odonnell connects with a nice short shot to Viana 's temple.
Odonnell working over Viana with some ground and pound. Viana looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Odonnell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Viana can do to turn this around?
Nice strikes from Odonnell there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viana is trying to maintain the position but Odonnell is very close to passing his half guard.
Odonnell performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Ian Odonnell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Odonnell takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Odonnell has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Odonnell seems to be looking for submissions.
Odonnell not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Odonnell looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Viana with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Odonnell is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Viana has managed to free his arm - good work.
Odonnell working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Viana taking some punishment here, with Odonnell in his half guard.
Odonnell not doing much here.
Odonnell landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Odonnell slips a nice elbow through Viana 's hands, connecting with Viana 's forehead.
Odonnell slows the pace down in half guard.
Odonnell working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Odonnell seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Viana tries to roll over but Odonnell keeps him under control.
Odonnell is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Odonnell thows a huge punch but Viana dodges it nicely.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Viana throws a body kick that misses

and Odonnell counters with a shoot takedown. Viana fights it but they end up in guard.
Viana is breathing heavily.
Odonnell is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Odonnell.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ian Odonnell dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Some wild striking there from Odonnell.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Odonnell enables Viana to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Odonnell manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Odonnell is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Odonnell is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Viana is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Odonnell scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Odonnell is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Odonnell content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Odonnell stands up out of the half guard.
Viana misses with a head kick.

Odonnell closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Viana to the mat! Viana manages to get full guard.
Viana takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Odonnell is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Viana preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Odonnell not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Odonnell drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Odonnell jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Odonnell lands a couple of digs.
Odonnell working some strikes from top position.
Viana being controlled here, momentarily.
Viana avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Viana is trying to keep Odonnell in close.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Odonnell drops back looking for a leg! Viana is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Viana manages to kick Odonnell off! Odonnell jumps back into Viana 's guard.
Odonnell is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Odonnell shoots in and gets a takedown into Viana 's guard.

Odonnell stands up and waves to Viana to follow him.

Viana looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Roberto Viana has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Odonnell makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Odonnell misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Odonnell gets a double leg takedown into Viana 's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Odonnell controls from within his opponent's guard.
Odonnell lands a couple of digs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Odonnell landing with the ground and pound.
Ian Odonnell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Odonnell is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ian Odonnell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Odonnell has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ian Odonnell!