PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Flexen (ranked 2730 p4p, 315 weight class) and Ilmari Virtanen (ranked 3352 p4p, 392 weight class). Flexen comes to the cage accompanied by Break Stuff-Limp Bizkit. Ilmari Virtanen has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Chris Flexen's chin.

Flexen
vs
Virtanen

185 cm
22
190 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

184 cm
27
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Flexen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilmari Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Colin Fray and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flexen misses with the combination.
Flexen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Virtanen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Flexen to the mat! Flexen manages to get full guard.
Virtanen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Flexen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Virtanen is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Flexen doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Flexen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtanen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Flexen is keeping the position for now.
Flexen is controlling Virtanen's posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Flexen is on top in guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen wants to sweep here but Flexen controlling him for the moment.

Flexen postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Virtanen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Flexen, into his guard.

Virtanen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Virtanen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Virtanen wants to control from the top but Flexen keeps moving.
Flexen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen keeping moving, preventing Flexen from controlling successfully.
Virtanen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Flexen looking to sit in guard and control but Virtanen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Flexen is trying to keep Virtanen in close.
Virtanen landing some decent shots from guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Virtanen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Flexen is keeping the position for now.

Flexen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Flexen working for a triangle but Virtanen defends it easily.
Virtanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Flexen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Flexen is on top in guard.

Virtanen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Flexen.
Flexen postures up.
Virtanen wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Flexen is now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flexen prevents Virtanen from improving his position.
Virtanen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Virtanen controlling the position for now.
The fighters are battling for position here. Virtanen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Virtanen is trying to control the position but Flexen postures up.
Flexen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Virtanen trying to control the position.
Virtanen might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Flexen haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Flexen is looking to work some ground and pound but Virtanen has wrist control.
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 Chris Flexen will probably get the nod.
That's time! Flexen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

No luck for Virtanen with that takedown attempt.
Virtanen misses with a low kick.
Virtanen has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Virtanen fails with an attempt to clinch.

Flexen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Virtanen tries to get to full guard but Flexen has control of the leg.
Virtanen trying to hold on to Flexen's head to control him but Flexen postures up.
Chris Flexen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Virtanen trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
We've been hearing good reports from Flexen's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flexen raining down hammerfists from mount.
Flexen working Virtanen over with strikes here.
Virtanen wants to hold on but Flexen pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Flexen.
Virtanen tries to hold on but Flexen postures up.
Virtanen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Flexen has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Virtanen's face.
Flexen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Virtanen?

Virtanen is rocked!
Virtanen is desperately trying to improve his position but Flexen has a good base and remains in mount.
Virtanen is still in real trouble! Can Flexen finish him?
Flexen cracks Virtanen with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chris Flexen!
Chris Flexen looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Was there any doubt...'.