PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Onni Virtanen (ranked 2737 p4p, 3184 weight class) and Andrei Baltaretu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baltaretu has chosen Roy Jones Jr - Can't be touched. as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Andrei Baltaretu acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Virtanen
vs
Baltaretu

188 cm
20
188
5 - 1 - 0

189 cm
24
192
7 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Onni Virtanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrei Baltaretu!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baltaretu blocks a jab.
Baltaretu feints the counter takedown.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Virtanen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Virtanen looks to land a right hand but Baltaretu moved out of range.
We've been told by Virtanen's head coaches at Tappelukerho that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Virtanen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Baltaretu.
Baltaretu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Baltaretu fails with a takedown attempt.
Virtanen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Virtanen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Virtanen throws a jab but it's blocked by Baltaretu.
Baltaretu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Virtanen.
Virtanen throws the left hand but Baltaretu avoids the punch easily.
Baltaretu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Virtanen defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot to the liver by Virtanen. Beautiful body shot.
Virtanen misses with a series of wild punches.
Virtanen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Virtanen throws a leg kick but Baltaretu sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen throws an overhand right that lands on Baltaretu's shoulder, as Baltaretu tries to avoid the shot.
Virtanen misses with an uppercut. Baltaretu saw that one coming.

Baltaretu drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Baltaretu throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Virtanen works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Baltaretu is trying to control the action in half guard but Virtanen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nice strikes from Baltaretu there.
Virtanen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Virtanen tries to get out of the position.
Virtanen taking some punishment here, with Baltaretu in his half guard.
Baltaretu frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Baltaretu in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Baltaretu punishing his opponent with strikes.
Baltaretu trying to control but Virtanen is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Virtanen desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Virtanen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Baltaretu is working Virtanen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Virtanen has momentary wrist control but Baltaretu slips an elbow through the middle.
Baltaretu postures up in Virtanen's guard and throws a big left but Virtanen blocks it.
Baltaretu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Baltaretu keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Virtanen's head.
Virtanen is controlling Baltaretu's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baltaretu with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Baltaretu working some strikes from top position.
Baltaretu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Virtanen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Baltaretu landing some decent shots from guard.
Baltaretu wants to control from the top but Virtanen keeps moving.
Baltaretu chips away with some ground and pound.
Baltaretu won't allow Virtanen to sweep him here.
Baltaretu trying to control but Virtanen is working from the bottom.
Baltaretu throws a strike but Virtanen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baltaretu has his hands on Virtanen's head, controlling the position.
Baltaretu's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Virtanen prevents Baltaretu from getting back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Virtanen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Onni Virtanen will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Virtanen throws a looping overhand right but Baltaretu ducks down to avoid it.
Virtanen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Virtanen misses with an uppercut.
And Baltaretu tries to counter it with a takedown but Virtanen pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Virtanen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Baltaretu has time to react.
Onni Virtanen is winning the standup battle so far.
Baltaretu ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Baltaretu looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Virtanen!
Virtanen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Virtanen taking a bit of punishment here - Baltaretu scoring with strikes.
Baltaretu working away.
Baltaretu slows the pace down.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baltaretu working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
An elbow from Baltaretu crashes against the mat.
Baltaretu throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baltaretu looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Virtanen is avoiding damage well.
Baltaretu lands a few punches from side control.
Baltaretu scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Virtanen to see if he's OK.
Baltaretu wants to control but Virtanen is keeping him busy.
Baltaretu creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Virtanen sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Baltaretu cracks Virtanen with a big elbow.
Virtanen managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Baltaretu.
The ground and pound from Baltaretu seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Baltaretu working the ground and pound but Virtanen is defending the strikes.
Baltaretu fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Baltaretu postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Baltaretu working the ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baltaretu throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Virtanen takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Baltaretu working the head with strikes.
Virtanen dodges the ground and pound from Baltaretu.
Virtanen struggling a bit here.
Baltaretu is chipping away with strikes.
Baltaretu in side control lands a decent elbow.
Virtanen managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Baltaretu.
Virtanen is looking to regain half guard here but Baltaretu keeps moving and retains side control.
Baltaretu cracks Virtanen with a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen tries to bench press Baltaretu off him but Baltaretu keeps the position.
Baltaretu in side control lands a decent elbow.
Baltaretu is looking to take a break and control but Virtanen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Virtanen tries to buck Baltaretu off but Baltaretu is having none of it.
Baltaretu looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Virtanen is avoiding damage well.
Baltaretu grinds an elbow into Virtanen's temple.
Virtanen is not content to let Baltaretu control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen parries the strikes from Baltaretu easily there. Baltaretu is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Virtanen to escape.
Baltaretu throws an elbow but Virtanen slips to the side and avoids it well.
Baltaretu is working Virtanen over with some ground and pound from side control.
Baltaretu tries to advance to mount but Virtanen denies him.
Baltaretu trying to control the position but Virtanen is working away.
Virtanen is trying to buck Baltaretu off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Virtanen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Baltaretu wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Baltaretu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Virtanen jabs Baltaretu to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Baltaretu dives in for a single leg takedown but Virtanen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Virtanen throws a lazy uppercut

so Baltaretu counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baltaretu postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Baltaretu throws a big right hand that misses.
Baltaretu is looking to work some ground and pound but Virtanen has wrist control.
Baltaretu trying to control but Virtanen is working from the bottom.
Baltaretu landing some decent shots from guard.
Baltaretu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Virtanen keeping moving, preventing Baltaretu from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Baltaretu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Baltaretu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baltaretu is looking to work some ground and pound but Virtanen has wrist control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baltaretu content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Baltaretu is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice sprawl there from Virtanen as Baltaretu shoots in.
Baltaretu staying out of range there.
Virtanen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Onni Virtanen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Baltaretu dives in for a single leg takedown but Virtanen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Onni Virtanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrei Baltaretu.
Baltaretu shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Virtanen as he avoids it easily.
Baltaretu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Virtanen.
Baltaretu tries for a takedown but Virtanen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Baltaretu keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Baltaretu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sloppy strikes from Virtanen. Those never looked like landing.
Baltaretu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A counter left hand to the body from Virtanen misses its target.
Virtanen scores with a hook to the body. Baltaretu takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Virtanen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Baltaretu slips under a jab from Virtanen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baltaretu gets a double leg takedown into Virtanen's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baltaretu wants to control from the top but Virtanen keeps moving.
Baltaretu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Baltaretu lands a couple of elbows.
Baltaretu trying to control the position from guard on top but Virtanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baltaretu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Baltaretu wants to control from the top but Virtanen keeps moving.
Baltaretu is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Baltaretu throws a strike but Virtanen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen wants to control from the top but Baltaretu keeps moving.
Baltaretu is controlling Virtanen's posture.
Baltaretu wants to hit a sweep here but Virtanen passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Baltaretu there!
Baltaretu is looking to improve his position but Virtanen isn't that keen on the idea.
Baltaretu is squirming around, avoiding Virtanen's attempts to control the action.
Baltaretu tries to hold on but Virtanen postures up.
Andrei Baltaretu has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baltaretu is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Baltaretu sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Virtanen wants to take a breather but Baltaretu is having none of it.
Baltaretu wants to get back to full guard.
Baltaretu won't allow Virtanen to pass to mount.
Baltaretu is trying to stand back up but Virtanen is controlling him
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Virtanen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baltaretu keeps working.
Baltaretu is trying to stand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Onni 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

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