PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aamu Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Krahe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aamu Virtanen has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Virtanen
vs
Krahe

175 cm
18
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
142 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aamu Virtanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricky Krahe!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Seu Braga and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Virtanen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Krahe manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Virtanen controlling from the top position.
Virtanen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Krahe on the ground.

Krahe has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Virtanen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Krahe is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Virtanen is aware though and is defending well.

Krahe has his foot on Virtanen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Virtanen works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtanen stays in close to Krahe's body and controls the position.
Krahe keeping full guard, as Virtanen tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krahe can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Virtanen controls the pace.
Virtanen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Krahe is proving hard to escape from.

Virtanen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Krahe has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Virtanen has managed to get both his arms back between Krahe's legs - danger averted.
Virtanen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Krahe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Virtanen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Krahe is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Virtanen wants to stand but Krahe has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Virtanen sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Krahe has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Virtanen is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Krahe.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Krahe is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen tries to stand but Krahe is controlling his head.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Krahe is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Krahe is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Virtanen pulls his head out easily.

Krahe actively working from the bottom here.
Krahe punching from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Virtanen misses with a two punch combination.

Krahe fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Virtanen sprawls well initially but Krahe persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Krahe is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Krahe looks winded!
Virtanen is trying to stand up here but Krahe is controlling him well.

Krahe is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Krahe is looking for a kimura but Virtanen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Krahe to get the leverage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Krahe prevents Virtanen from standing back up.
Virtanen tries to roll over but Krahe keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Krahe looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Virtanen!
Virtanen is looking for a sweep.

Krahe tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Krahe has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Krahe looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtanen tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Krahe is trying to get an arm triangle but Virtanen is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Krahe tries for a kimura but Virtanen is defending well.
Krahe is breathing heavily.

Krahe tries for a kimura but Virtanen is defending well.
Virtanen gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Krahe.

Krahe has gone for a leg lock! Virtanen slips out almost immediately though and dives into Krahe's guard.

Krahe is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Virtanen defends well.
Krahe keeping full guard, as Virtanen tries to pass.
Krahe has a closed guard, preventing Virtanen from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen wants to pass the guard but Krahe is keeping the position.

Virtanen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Virtanen wants to stand but Krahe is controlling his posture from full guard.
Virtanen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Krahe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Virtanen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Krahe has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Virtanen has managed to get both his arms back between Krahe's legs - danger averted.
Virtanen wants to stand but Krahe has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Krahe closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Virtanen quickly recovers to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Krahe is working for a kimura here but Virtanen manages to reverse the position and he's now in Krahe's guard.

Krahe looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Virtanen has picked Krahe up and slammed him! Krahe can't keep hold of the triangle and Virtanen manages to pass to side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Krahe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Virtanen looks for a takedown but Krahe sprawls well.

Krahe shoots in and bounces Virtanen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Virtanen trying to keep a closed guard but Krahe is proving a slippery customer.
Krahe is looking to work some ground and pound but Virtanen has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtanen is pulling down on Krahe's head to control his posture.
Krahe postures up in Virtanen's guard and throws a big left but Virtanen blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krahe looking to pass the guard.
Krahe throws a big elbow that misses.
Krahe sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Virtanen's guard.

Krahe is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Krahe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Virtanen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Krahe.

Krahe wants to work for an arm triangle but Virtanen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Krahe is working for a kimura but Virtanen is defending it quite comfortably.

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.
Virtanen is trying to maintain the position but Krahe is very close to passing his half guard.
Virtanen holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Virtanen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Virtanen wants to stand but Krahe has his arm trapped.
Krahe sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Krahe is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Virtanen pulls his head out easily.
Well, if Virtanen is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
It looks like Virtanen is going to stand back up.
Virtanen controlling the action here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Krahe punching from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Krahe shoots in and bounces Virtanen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Virtanen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Krahe drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Virtanen dives on top into guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Krahe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Virtanen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Krahe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Krahe 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for Ricky Krahe!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Ricky Krahe!
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Ricky Krahe!

Ricky Krahe wins by unanimous decision!
Aamu Virtanen spoke after the fight, saying 'I'll be back'.