PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mack Fitzgerald (ranked 24752 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raimo Virtanen (ranked 6265 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Fitzgerald
vs
Virtanen

174 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

160 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mack Fitzgerald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Raimo Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Virtanen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Virtanen tries to free his leg and advance position but Fitzgerald is retaining full guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Fitzgerald manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Virtanen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Virtanen is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Fitzgerald can't fight it off and eventually Virtanen manages to take the fight to the floor. Fitzgerald looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Virtanen looks winded!

Fitzgerald is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Virtanen defends well.
Fitzgerald trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Fitzgerald is looking for a triangle here but Virtanen uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fitzgerald is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Fitzgerald is not content to let Virtanen control the position.

That's two 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.
Fitzgerald is trying to buck Virtanen off.
Virtanen is looking to take a break and control but Fitzgerald is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fitzgerald manages to work his way to half guard, despite Virtanen's best efforts.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fitzgerald makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fitzgerald moves into the clinch.

Fitzgerald manages to break the clinch.

Virtanen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Fitzgerald tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Virtanen is in Fitzgerald's guard.
Virtanen won't allow Fitzgerald to sweep him here.

Fitzgerald working for a triangle but Virtanen defends it easily.
Fitzgerald bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Virtanen's guard.

Fitzgerald 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.
Fitzgerald has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fitzgerald's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Fitzgerald will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Fitzgerald seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Fitzgerald scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Virtanen being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mack Fitzgerald dominated that round.
That's time! Fitzgerald's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Fitzgerald is trying hard to land a takedown here. Virtanen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Virtanen wants to counter with a clinch but Fitzgerald pushes him away.

Virtanen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fitzgerald to the mat! Fitzgerald manages to get full guard.

Fitzgerald has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Virtanen has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Virtanen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Fitzgerald breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Virtanen closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Fitzgerald quickly recovers to half guard.
Virtanen is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Virtanen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Fitzgerald wants to improve his position but Virtanen is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fitzgerald makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Fitzgerald gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nice body punch from Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald slows down the pace here.
Virtanen letting Fitzgerald take a breather here.
Fitzgerald is stalling here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald with a knee to the head.
Fitzgerald stalls.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mack Fitzgerald.
Virtanen lands with a nice combination. Fitzgerald backs away looking to recover.

Fitzgerald moves into the clinch successfully.
Fitzgerald controlling the action here for a moment.
Fitzgerald effectively controlling the action here.
Fitzgerald is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Virtanen can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Fitzgerald breaks from the clinch.

Fitzgerald rushes Virtanen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Fitzgerald - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Fitzgerald.
Virtanen takes a shot to the head.
Virtanen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Fitzgerald's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald stalling against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mack Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald gets a clinch.
Fitzgerald stalling in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Virtanen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Virtanen being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mack Fitzgerald dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A head kick by Virtanen misses
and Fitzgerald counters with a body kick that stops Virtanen in his tracks momentarily.

Fitzgerald drives through and clinches with Virtanen against the cage.
Fitzgerald landing knees to the body.

Fitzgerald escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Virtanen gets a takedown into half guard.

Fitzgerald manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Fitzgerald closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Virtanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Come on Fitzgerald - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald lands a shoulder strike.
A nice left hand lands by Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Fitzgerald's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Virtanen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Virtanen showed some decent athleticism there.

Fitzgerald manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Fitzgerald forces Virtanen back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fitzgerald pressing his opponent against the cage.
Fitzgerald taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Virtanen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Fitzgerald taking a breather.

Fitzgerald escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Fitzgerald pushes Virtanen up against the cage in a clinch.
Fitzgerald pressing his opponent against the cage.
Virtanen is trying to push Fitzgerald away but Fitzgerald has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald controlling the action here for a moment.
Virtanen is trying to break the clinch but Fitzgerald is controlling him.

Fitzgerald escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Virtanen manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Fitzgerald on his heels. He'll look to pass Fitzgerald's guard now, I'm sure.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Fitzgerald manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Virtanen gets control of Fitzgerald's arms and successfully pulls guard. Virtanen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Fitzgerald postures up and lands a big shot to Virtanen's brow.
Fitzgerald 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.
Fitzgerald has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Raimo Virtanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mack Fitzgerald is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Fitzgerald is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mack Fitzgerald showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Fitzgerald 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mack Fitzgerald!