PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Arvo Virtanen (ranked 5426 p4p, 3658 weight class) and World Peace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Peace has chosen Crazy as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Virtanen
vs
Peace

172 cm
25
140
0 - 1 - 0

165 cm
21
135
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Arvo Virtanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, World Peace!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Colin Fray and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Virtanen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Virtanen definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Peace throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Peace lands with a shot to the body.
Peace swings for the body but Virtanen moves out of range.
Virtanen seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Peace takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Peace. Virtanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Peace misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Virtanen.
Peace throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Peace is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Virtanen rather than just go for the knockout.
Horrible takedown attempt by Virtanen or perhaps it was just good defense by Peace, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtanen throws a big shot that misses.
Peace just misses with a punch to the body.
Peace pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peace takes a swing at Virtanen's ribcage but misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Virtanen misses its target.
Virtanen slaps away a takedown attempt from Peace, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Peace closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Virtanen's guard.
Peace won't allow Virtanen to sweep him here.
Peace must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Peace trying to control the position from guard on top but Virtanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Virtanen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Virtanen working a defensive guard here.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peace blocking the ground and pound attempt from Virtanen.
Virtanen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Peace defending well though.
Virtanen prevents Peace from improving his position.
Peace blocking the ground and pound attempt from Virtanen.
Peace tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Peace actively working from the bottom here.

Peace is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Virtanen pulls his head out easily.
Peace trying to control here.
Virtanen working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Peace's thigh. Peace counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen trying to control but Peace is working from the bottom.

Peace throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Virtanen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Peace is trying to control the position but Virtanen postures up.
Virtanen scoring with some ground and pound.
Virtanen wants to control from the top but Peace keeps moving.

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.

Peace working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Virtanen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Virtanen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Virtanen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Peace is looking for a triangle but Virtanen pushes his legs off easily.
Peace keeping moving, preventing Virtanen from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Peace tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Virtanen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Virtanen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Virtanen throws the left hand but Peace avoids the punch easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but World Peace will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Peace misses with a body shot.
Virtanen avoids the body shot from Peace.
Virtanen tries to counter with a takedown but Peace is quick to defend against it.
Virtanen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Peace just misses with a punch to the body.
Virtanen missing with a left hand there. Peace was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Peace throws a series of punches but Virtanen avoids them all with ease.
Virtanen seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Peace swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Virtanen misses with an uppercut.
Peace ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Virtanen moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Peace lands with a good body shot.
Peace ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Virtanen moves away.
Virtanen misses with a looping left.
Peace avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Virtanen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Peace paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Peace checks the leg kick.
Peace changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Peace swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Virtanen avoids the body shot from Peace.
Virtanen attempts a counter takedown but Peace avoids it well and moves away.
Nice sprawl there from Virtanen as Peace shoots in.
Virtanen wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Virtanen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Virtanen stalls.
Peace is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Virtanen to keep the fight standing.
Virtanen misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peace is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Virtanen to keep the fight standing.
Arvo Virtanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of World Peace.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Peace.
Virtanen wants a takedown but no success here.
Peace tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Virtanen smiles and moves away.
Virtanen misses with a looping right.
Peace moves out of range of the strikes.
Virtanen avoids the body shot from Peace.
Virtanen tries to counter with a takedown but Peace is quick to defend against it.
Peace throws a body shot but no joy.
World Peace seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Virtanen is looking to clinch.
Peace throws a body shot but no joy.
Virtanen attempts a counter takedown but Peace avoids it well and moves away.
Peace misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Virtanen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Virtanen throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen is standing up over Peace. Peace looks to escape but Virtanen dives into side control.
Peace is not content to let Virtanen control the position.
Peace being controlled for a moment.
Peace defending against the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Virtanen working the head and body with strikes.

Virtanen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Virtanen tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Peace struggling a bit here.
Peace is not content to let Virtanen control the position.
Peace is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Virtanen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Peace actively working from the bottom here.
Virtanen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Peace looking for submissions off his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arvo Virtanen dominated that second round.
That's time! Virtanen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Peace just misses with a punch to the body.
Peace shoots in looking for a takedown but Virtanen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Peace's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Virtanen wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Peace swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Peace swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Peace looks to score with a jab to the body but Virtanen is just out of range.
Virtanen is looking for a counter combo.
Peace digs a good body shot into Virtanen's ribs.
Virtanen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Peace.
Virtanen misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtanen dives in for a single leg takedown but Peace sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Virtanen misses with the head strike.
Virtanen has a couple of punches blocked by Peace.
Peace is trying to pull guard but Virtanen has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen is trying to maintain a safe position but Peace gets an underhook and turns Virtanen into the cage.
Peace blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Peace tries to pull guard but Virtanen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Arvo Virtanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of World Peace.
Peace jumps guard but Virtanen stands there with Peace around his waist. Peace gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Virtanen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Virtanen slowing the pace effectively.
Peace tries to pull guard but Virtanen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Peace tries to pull guard but Virtanen holds him up against the cage and eventually Peace drops back down to his feet.
Virtanen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Virtanen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Peace blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Peace blocks an uppercut.
Virtanen misses with a punch on the inside.
Peace letting Virtanen take a breather here.

Peace pulls guard.
Virtanen stands up over Peace, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Virtanen won't allow Peace to get back to his feet.

Virtanen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Peace is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Virtanen with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Virtanen throws a strike but Peace rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Virtanen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Peace's guard.

Virtanen pushing down on Peace's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Peace keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Virtanen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Still in half guard, Virtanen seems content to control.
Virtanen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Virtanen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Virtanen is trying to control the action in half guard but Peace is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Peace keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peace has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Virtanen is working away from the top position though.

Peace is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Virtanen pulls his head out easily.

Virtanen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Peace has hold of Virtanen's hands but Virtanen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Peace actively working from the bottom here.
Peace takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Virtanen is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Peace actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Virtanen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arvo Virtanen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Virtanen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arvo Virtanen!