PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lauren Castaneda (ranked 24135 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raimo Virtanen (ranked 7123 p4p, 0 weight class). Raimo Virtanen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Castaneda
vs
Virtanen

158 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

160 cm
19
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lauren Castaneda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Raimo Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castaneda moves into range and clinches up with Virtanen.

Castaneda lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Virtanen actively working from the bottom here.
Castaneda seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Castaneda seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Castaneda landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Castaneda seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castaneda seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Castaneda seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Castaneda slows the pace down in half guard.
Virtanen has hold of Castaneda's hands but Castaneda slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Virtanen looks winded!
Castaneda stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Castaneda scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Castaneda seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Castaneda scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Castaneda prevents Virtanen from standing back up.
Castaneda lands with a punch from half guard.
Castaneda lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Castaneda tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Castaneda connects with a nice short shot to Virtanen's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Castaneda stands up from half guard.

Castaneda darts in and clinches Virtanen up against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Virtanen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Castaneda.
Virtanen wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauren Castaneda dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Virtanen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Virtanen drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Castaneda defends it well.

Castaneda gets a clinch.
Virtanen has had enough of the clinch but Castaneda keeps him there for the moment.
Castaneda trying to land knees to the body.
Virtanen tries for a takedown but Castaneda manages to get underhooks.

Castaneda ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Castaneda no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Castaneda lands an upkick as Virtanen stands over him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtanen stops Castaneda from standing up.

Castaneda manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Castaneda breaks the clinch.
Virtanen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Virtanen is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castaneda has Virtanen up against the cage in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Virtanen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Castaneda fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Castaneda jumps guard and drags Virtanen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Castaneda seems keen to control Virtanen's posture.

Castaneda has his feet on Virtanen's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Castaneda has closed the distance and engaged Virtanen in a clinch.

Castaneda gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Virtanen regains guard.
Castaneda content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Castaneda 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.
Castaneda has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen is trying to keep Castaneda in close.
Castaneda keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Virtanen's head.
Castaneda is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Castaneda drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Castaneda showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauren Castaneda dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Virtanen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As Castaneda backs off Virtanen throws a huge counter combo but Castaneda manages to avoid it all.
Lauren Castaneda is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Virtanen avoids a kick to the body.

Castaneda rushes Virtanen and presses him up against the cage.
Castaneda jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Virtanen walks away with a smile on his face. Castaneda gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Castaneda is looking to clinch.
Virtanen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Lauren Castaneda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Castaneda darts in and clinches Virtanen up against the cage.
Virtanen tries a body shot but Castaneda blocks it.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Castaneda has managed to clinch.
Castaneda is looking for a takedown.

Castaneda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Castaneda closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Virtanen did well to prevent Castaneda getting side control.
Virtanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Castaneda keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Castaneda seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Virtanen for as long as he can get away with.
Castaneda working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Still in half guard, Castaneda seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda works his way into side control.
Raimo Virtanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Castaneda scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Virtanen down.
Virtanen taking a bit of punishment here - Castaneda scoring with strikes.
Virtanen is letting Castaneda control him for a moment.

Castaneda decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Castaneda shoots in and bounces Virtanen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Castaneda is working Virtanen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Castaneda is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Virtanen can do to turn this around?
Castaneda distracts Virtanen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Castaneda 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.
Castaneda postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lauren Castaneda is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Castaneda stays in close to Virtanen's body and controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lauren Castaneda showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Castaneda 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lauren Castaneda!