PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Scott Lagrange (ranked 4005 p4p, 443 weight class) and Ilmari Virtanen (ranked 3983 p4p, 439 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lagrange
vs
Virtanen

185 cm
27
192 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

184 cm
27
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Scott Lagrange!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilmari Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Konstantin Menshow and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lagrange pressing his opponent against the cage.
Lagrange tries a body shot but Virtanen blocks it.

Lagrange pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Virtanen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A low kick from Virtanen misses

and Lagrange counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lagrange.
Lagrange wants to control from the top but Virtanen keeps moving.
Virtanen pulls Lagrange in close to his closed guard and prevents Lagrange from doing any damage or advancing position.
Lagrange working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtanen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Virtanen wants to sweep but no luck.
Lagrange loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lagrange 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.
Lagrange trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Virtanen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Virtanen pulls Lagrange in to control the position.
Lagrange has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lagrange makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Virtanen looking for a sweep. Not yet Virtanen, not yet.
Lagrange trying to control the position from guard on top but Virtanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Virtanen wants to sweep but no luck.
Virtanen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Virtanen prevents Lagrange from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen lands strikes from half guard.
Virtanen lands strikes from half guard.
Virtanen uses his free foot to push down on Lagrange's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Lagrange.
Lagrange tries to lock up and control but Virtanen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Virtanen prevents Lagrange from getting the reversal.
Virtanen lands a nice shot to the head.

It looks like Scott Lagrange has been cut.
Lagrange is bucking up trying to escape but Virtanen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Scott Lagrange's cut is getting worse.
Lagrange tries to reverse the position but Virtanen maintains control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Virtanen pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Lagrange is rocked!

Scott Lagrange's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Lagrange is wriggling around trying to escape.
Oh Lagrange is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Virtanen cracks Lagrange 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 3:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ilmari Virtanen!