PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Keijo Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Natanael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Virtanen comes to the cage accompanied by Maamme Laulu. Keijo Virtanen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Virtanen
vs
Natanael

188 cm
29
250 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

225 cm
28
265 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Keijo Virtanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Anderson Natanael!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Phil Schofield and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Natanael tries for a takedown but Virtanen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Natanael tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Virtanen swivels and escapes.
Natanael fails with a takedown attempt.
Keijo Virtanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Natanael.
Natanael has his takedown stuffed

and Virtanen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Virtanen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Natanael's guard.

Virtanen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Natanael is just riding it out for now. Virtanen eventually gives up the hold.
Virtanen wants to pass to mount but Natanael is defending the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Virtanen is trying to work for a kimura but Natanael is defending well.

Virtanen 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen prevents Natanael from improving his position.
Virtanen is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Virtanen is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Natanael has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Natanael!
Virtanen 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.
Natanael stands and throws Virtanen's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen tries to bench press Natanael off him but Natanael keeps the position.
Natanael tries to score with some ground and pound. Virtanen controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Virtanen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Virtanen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Natanael passes into side control, despite Virtanen's attempt to control the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Virtanen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen struggling a bit here.
Natanael gets to mount! Virtanen was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Virtanen is looking to get to half guard.
Natanael is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Natanael throws some wild stikes that Virtanen manages to avoid easily.
Virtanen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Virtanen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Virtanen looking for submissions off his back.
Virtanen is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Natanael wants to lay and pray for a moment but Virtanen keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keijo Virtanen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Virtanen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Natanael moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Natanael throws a jab but it's blocked by Virtanen.
Natanael throws a series of punches but Virtanen moves out of range.
Virtanen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Natanael! But no joy.
Virtanen throws a lazy right hand but Natanael sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Virtanen misses with a body shot
and Natanael counters with a stiff right hand.
Natanael keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Natanael rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Virtanen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Virtanen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Virtanen defending well as Natanael loads up on a big left hand.
Virtanen lands a jab to Natanael's midsection.
Natanael misses with a looping left.
Virtanen feinted with a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtanen leaves Natanael with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Virtanen digs a good hook to Natanael's body.
Natanael uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Virtanen.
Virtanen misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen misses with a wild body shot.
A punch lands to the side of Virtanen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Natanael tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Virtanen defends well and Natanael ends up having to push Virtanen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Virtanen is looking to wear down Natanael with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Natanael fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Keijo Virtanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Natanael.
Natanael slips under a jab.
Natanael has a takedown stuffed.

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

Virtanen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Virtanen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Natanael is looking to regain half guard here but Virtanen keeps moving and retains side control.
Virtanen taking a breather here.

Virtanen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Natanael, who protects the arm well.
Virtanen trying to control the action but Natanael is working from the bottom.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Natanael is looking to reverse the position.

Virtanen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Natanael is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Natanael gets back to half guard.
Virtanen wants to take a breather but Natanael is having none of it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Natanael manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Virtanen forces his way into half guard.

Natanael looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen is trying to work for a kimura but Natanael is defending well.

Virtanen is looking for a kimura here.
Virtanen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Natanael does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Natanael slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Natanael working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Virtanen has passed into half guard!
Natanael is looking to control Virtanen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Natanael avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keijo Virtanen dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

A big right from Virtanen misses.
Virtanen defending well as Natanael loads up on a big left hand.
Natanael dives in for a single leg takedown but Virtanen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Virtanen throws a jab when Natanael was well out of range.
Natanael shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Natanael lands a glancing blow to the side of Virtanen's head.
Virtanen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Virtanen slaps away a takedown attempt from Natanael, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Natanael misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Keijo Virtanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Natanael.
Virtanen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Natanael moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Natanael throws a looping overhand right but Virtanen ducks down to avoid it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Natanael.
Virtanen lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Natanael misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Natanael takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Virtanen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Natanael moves away.
Natanael ducks under a wild hook from Virtanen.
Virtanen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Natanael.

Virtanen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Natanael moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Virtanen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Natanael can do to turn this around?
Virtanen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Virtanen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Natanael is looking to regain half guard here but Virtanen keeps moving and retains side control.

Virtanen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Keijo Virtanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Natanael looking for a sweep but Virtanen has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Virtanen controlling the pace for now.
Natanael is in all sorts of trouble here.
Virtanen content just to control the position here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Virtanen fails to take his opponent's back.
Anderson Natanael has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen works his way to his opponent's back.
Natanael is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Natanael trying to control the hands but Virtanen won't let him.
Natanael can't escape the position.

Virtanen is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Natanael looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Virtanen is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen is hanging on to Natanael's back as he tries to escape.

Virtanen is persistently looking for the submission but Natanael is defending it well.
Natanael breaks Virtanen's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Virtanen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Virtanen pulls Natanael in close to prevent any damage.

Virtanen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Natanael is aware though and is defending well.
Natanael wants to control from the top but Virtanen keeps moving.
Natanael throwing strikes from guard but Virtanen blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keijo Virtanen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Virtanen 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keijo Virtanen!
A relieved looking Keijo Virtanen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.