PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Timo Forssell (ranked 5119 p4p, 5104 weight class) and Jari Virta (ranked 408 p4p, 407 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Forssell
vs
Virta

172 cm
18
145
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Timo Forssell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jari Virta!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Both fighters are only really looking to counter, so after a good 30 seconds of circling each other endlessly, the referee has stepped in and told them both to be more aggressive.
Virta ducks under a wild hook from Forssell.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Forssell darts in trying to clinch
enabling Virta to counter with a crisp jab.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forssell fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Virta on the side of the head.

Virta gets tackled into the cage by Forssell. Forssell maintains the clinch.
Forssell wants to break free but Virta has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Virta manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Virta breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Forssell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forssell circles away from the clinch attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Virta is trying to push Forssell away but Forssell has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's four 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.
Virta'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.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Forssell looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Forssell dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Virta misses with an uppercut. Forssell saw that one coming.

Virta moves into the clinch.

Forssell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Forssell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Virta wants to counter the offense by Forssell and move into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virta tries to close the distance and clinch up but Forssell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Forssell throwing a counter right hand but Virta manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forssell wants to clinch up but Virta keeps it at a distance.
Forssell tries to clinch up but Virta circles away and keeps his distance.
Virta wants to counter the offense by Forssell and move into the clinch position.

Forssell closes the distance and clinches.
Forssell letting Virta take a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Virta is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Virta continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Forssell avoiding damage.
Forssell is looking to break free of the clinch but Virta has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forssell is pushing Virta up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Forssell tries to circle away but Virta has him pinned against the cage.
Forssell is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A frustrated look appears on Virta's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Forssell wants to get back to striking at distance but Virta won't allow it.
Forssell stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Virta's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Virta throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Forssell on the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jari Virta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Virta scores with a punch to the head.
Forssell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Virta avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Virta looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Forssell tries to move into range but Virta moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Forssell misses with a lunging right hand
and Virta cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forssell looks to clinch
and Virta counters with a nice uppercut.
Virta bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Virta moves into the clinch.

Forssell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jari Virta seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Forssell wants to clinch
and Virta counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Forssell staying out of range there.
An attempted straight right counter from Forssell misses the target.
Forssell closes the distance but Virta moves to the side
and Virta connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virta drops his hands momentarily and Forssell takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Forssell throws the left hand but Virta avoids the punch easily.
Virta swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Forssell circles away from the clinch attempt.
As Virta tries to get set, Forssell tries to push him back and clinch up but Virta manages to avoid the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Forssell tries to clinch up but Virta circles away and keeps his distance.

Forssell closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Forssell has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Forssell.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Forssell stalls.
A frustrated look appears on Forssell's face as he tries to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jari Virta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Virta has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jari Virta!