PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jacob De Molay (ranked 2319 p4p, 261 weight class) and Ilmari Virtanen (ranked 3305 p4p, 323 weight class). Jacob De Molay has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

De Molay
vs
Virtanen

185 cm
29
197 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

184 cm
28
190 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jacob De Molay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilmari Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Atkins and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Virtanen misses with a wild body shot.
De Molay scores with a punch to the head.
De Molay bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Virtanen's head.
Virtanen misses with a hook to the body
and Virtanen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Some wild striking there from Virtanen.
De Molay falls off balance throwing a combination
and Virtanen counters with a nice body kick.
Virtanen slips a jab and a cross from De Molay.
Virtanen misses with the combination.
De Molay avoids the head kick by Virtanen.
De Molay looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Virtanen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Virtanen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. De Molay tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Virtanen is in De Molay's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Virtanen postures up and lands a big shot to De Molay's brow.
Virtanen is looking to advance position but De Molay has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen regains half guard.
Virtanen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
De Molay is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Virtanen is looking to control De Molay's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Virtanen avoid being mounted?
Virtanen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Virtanen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
De Molay is thwarting Virtanen's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Virtanen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Virtanen is trying to keep De Molay in close.
De Molay stopping the sweep attempt from Virtanen.
Virtanen working a defensive guard here.
Virtanen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Virtanen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. De Molay is aware though and is defending well.
De Molay is fighting to break Virtanen's control of his arms but Virtanen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Virtanen trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Molay slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Virtanen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
De Molay trying to control the position from guard on top but Virtanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Virtanen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A lazy body kick from Virtanen
and De Molay counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
De Molay pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Virtanen back to the cage. De Molay follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Virtanen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Virtanen throws the kick towards the body but De Molay avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for De Molay, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Virtanen misses with a body shot.
Virtanen throws a jab but it's blocked by De Molay.
Nice body punch from Virtanen.
Virtanen has his takedown stuffed
and De Molay makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
De Molay misses with a body shot.
Jacob De Molay is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
De Molay lands a two punch combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Virtanen throws a right hand that De Molay ducks under and follows up with a left that De Molay also avoids with ease.
De Molay went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
De Molay slips a straight right by Virtanen.
Virtanen shoots for a double leg takedown but De Molay sprawls well. He's pushed Virtanen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
De Molay swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Virtanen tries to land a body kick
and De Molay counters with a series of strikes. Virtanen will be more careful next time no doubt.
Virtanen throws a body shot but no joy.
Virtanen tries to score a power double leg takedown but De Molay sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Virtanen somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob De Molay dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Virtanen fails to land the takedown.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
De Molay lands a nice shot to the body.
De Molay misses the shot to the body.
Virtanen appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Virtanen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down De Molay rather than just go for the knockout.
De Molay throws a right and a left that Virtanen avoids nicely.
De Molay takes a swing at Virtanen's ribcage but misses.
Virtanen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from De Molay.
De Molay throwing a counter right hand but Virtanen manages to avoid it.
De Molay lands a nice looking body shot.
De Molay blocks the body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick by Virtanen misses
and De Molay counters with a straight right hand.
Virtanen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
De Molay throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Virtanen drops down looking to force a counter takedown but De Molay defends it well.
Virtanen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen misses with a shot to the body
and De Molay counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Virtanen throws a sloppy body shot
and De Molay counters with a three punch combo that has Virtanen backing up. Virtanen nods at De Molay to acknowledge the strikes.
Virtanen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. De Molay doesn't seem bothered though.
Virtanen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. De Molay looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A looping hook to the body misses from Virtanen. De Molay does a little dance to reset his feet.
Virtanen takes a swing at De Molay's ribcage but misses.
Virtanen dives in and grabs De Molay's left leg, looking for a takedown. De Molay pushes down on Virtanen's head and hops out.
De Molay throws a series of punches but Virtanen avoids them all with ease.
Virtanen is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Jacob De Molay is winning the standup battle so far.
De Molay misses with an uppercut

so Virtanen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
De Molay is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Virtanen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Virtanen 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Molay working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Virtanen.
De Molay utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Virtanen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Virtanen wants to control from the top but De Molay keeps moving.
Virtanen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of De Molay's head.
Virtanen trying to control but De Molay is working from the bottom.
De Molay utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
De Molay leaves Virtanen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
De Molay was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Jacob De Molay has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ilmari Virtanen.
De Molay uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Virtanen.
De Molay swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Virtanen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from De Molay.
Virtanen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
De Molay looks to score with a jab to the body but Virtanen is just out of range.
De Molay dodges the punch combination from Virtanen.
De Molay throwing a counter right hand but Virtanen manages to avoid it.
Virtanen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Virtanen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen gets off balance looking for a body kick
and De Molay cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Virtanen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Virtanen gets off balance looking for a body kick
and De Molay counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
De Molay misses with an uppercut. Virtanen saw that one coming.
De Molay tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Virtanen was well out of range. Poor timing from De Molay.
De Molay throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Virtanen.
Virtanen misses with a jab, cross combination.
De Molay was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Virtanen closes this distance looking for a takedown but De Molay circles away.
It looked like De Molay wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
De Molay tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Virtanen was well out of range. Poor timing from De Molay.

Virtanen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Virtanen lands in his opponent's guard.
De Molay keeping full guard, as Virtanen tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob De Molay dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Virtanen closes the distance and clinches up with De Molay, looking for a takedown. Virtanen pushes De Molay against the cage but De Molay circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
De Molay lands with an overhand left.
De Molay ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Virtanen moves away.
De Molay lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
De Molay misses with a series of wild punches.
Virtanen with the counter takedown but De Molay avoids it easily.
Virtanen misses with a head kick.
Virtanen has his takedown stuffed
and De Molay counters with a right hand to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtanen fails with a takedown attempt.
Jacob De Molay has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ilmari Virtanen.
Virtanen misses with a body kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for De Molay.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and De Molay counters with a stiff right hand.

Virtanen is rocked!
De Molay connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Virtanen momentarily.
Virtanen is still on wobbly legs! Can De Molay finish him?
De Molay fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Virtanen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Virtanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
De Molay moves in close and cracks Virtanen with a massive right hand! Virtanen, frozen momentarily in time, tumbles to the canvas, already out cold! A brutal knockout by De Molay!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jacob De Molay!