PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Toney (ranked 25397 p4p, 5622 weight class) and Janne Varis (ranked 569 p4p, 510 weight class). Janne Varis will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Toney
vs
Varis

185 cm
19
190
1 - 3 - 0

199 cm
19
200
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, James Toney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Janne Varis!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Ron Honeybunn and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Varis throws a shot from downtown. Toney moves away and avoids it.
Toney defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Varis.
Toney is looking to counter the offense by Varis and move into the clinch.
Varis throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like James Toney has been cut.

Toney has taken the fight to the clinch.
Toney leaning his opponent against the cage.
Toney scores with a nice hook to the head.
Toney lands a hook that snaps the head of Varis backwards.
Toney prevents a takedown attempt there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toney lands a nice uppercut.
Toney gets through Varis's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Toney lands a right hand that snaps the head of Varis backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Toney working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varis misses with a knee to the head.
Toney lands with a right to the head.
Toney misses with a hook from the clinch.
Toney softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Toney stalling.
Toney displaying some good clinch control by pressing Varis up against the cage.
Varis manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Varis wants a takedown but no success here.
James Toney has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janne Varis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Toney.
The referee calls for Toney to work.
Toney working aggressively here.
Toney misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Toney fails to land.
Varis is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Toney is defending well.
A head punch on the inside from Toney fails to land.
Toney working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Toney fails to land.
Toney is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Toney throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Variss head.
Varis drops down looking for an ankle pick but Toney pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Toney gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Toney will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Varis up against the cage.
Toney throws a punch but it's blocked by Varis.

Varis breaks from the clinch.

Varis tries to keep at a distance but Toney has taken the fight into the clinch.

Varis manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Varis is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Toney has his hands clasped together but Varis extends and breaks Toney's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Varis.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Janne Varis!
James Toney was interviewed post fight and said 'He was the better man tonight, but I will come back stronger, no doubt'.