PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Janne Varis (ranked 2674 p4p, 3781 weight class) and Paulie Rover (ranked 302 p4p, 390 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Varis
vs
Rover

199 cm
20
200
2 - 1 - 0

186 cm
20
198
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Janne Varis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paulie Rover!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Donatello Bradman and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rover takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Rover looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rover prevents Varis from improving his position.
Rover tries to pass to full mount but Varis defends it.
Varis is trying to get back to full guard.
Rover not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Varis wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rover uses his free foot to push down on Varis's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Varis.
Varis keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
BOOM! Rover connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rover is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Varis has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Varis gets back to half guard.

Rover is looking for a kimura but Varis is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rover to get the leverage.
Varis manages to get to full guard.
Rover preventing the sweep.

Varis has his foot on Rover's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rover works his way back into a safe position though.
Rover scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rover preventing the sweep.
Rover trying to control but Varis is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rover passes Varis's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Varis gets full guard.
Rover with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rover tries to free his leg and advance position but Varis is retaining full guard.
Rover won't allow Varis to sweep him here.
Rover trying to control the position from guard on top but Varis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Varis wants to improve his position but instead Rover has moved into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rover not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Varis wants to get back to full guard.
Varis makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Varis.
Rover passes Varis's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Varis is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rover perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Varis wants to sweep but Rover has passed to side control!
Varis tries to buck Rover off but Rover is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rover thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Varis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Varis defending against the ground and pound.

Rover is trying to get an arm triangle but Varis is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Varis is trying to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paulie Rover dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rover scores with a takedown into Varis's guard.
Rover trying to control but Varis is working from the bottom.
Varis wants to stand up but Rover is controlling him.
Rover sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Varis keeping moving, preventing Rover from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rover is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Varis has momentary wrist control but Rover slips an elbow through the middle.

Varis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rover passes Varis's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rover trying to mount his opponent but Varis defends it.

Rover is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rover trying to control from half guard but Varis is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varis tries to roll over but Rover keeps him under control.
Varis is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Paulie Rover has got the better of the ground game so far.

Rover working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Varis is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rover controlling the position easily from mount.
Rover landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rover raining down hammerfists from mount.
Varis tries to hold on but Rover postures up.

Rover working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Varis is trying to escape the mount.
Rover has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rover is stalling here but it's allowed Varis to get half guard.
Rover seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Varis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rover is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rover prevents Varis from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Varis is working hard here to advance position.
Varis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Varis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Varis keeping moving, preventing Rover from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paulie Rover showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Varis shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Varis showed some decent athleticism there.

Rover looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Rover is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Varis pulls his head out easily.
Rover trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Varis is trying to control the action in half guard but Rover is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Varis wants to free his trapped foot but Rover is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rover looking for submissions off his back.
Varis is looking to advance position but Rover won't allow it.
Rover trying to control here.
Varis passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rover!
Rover is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Varis can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rover is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varis is really struggling to control Rover but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Rover wants to control but Varis is having none of it.

Varis looking to secure an arm triangle but Rover defends it well.
Varis looking to ground and pound but Rover is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varis thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Varis sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Rover 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.
Rover wants to get back to full guard but Varis has passed into side control.

Varis tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Varis tries to advance to mount but Rover denies him.

Varis decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rover to his feet.
Rover tries to land a body kick
and Varis cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rover rushes Varis and presses him up against the cage.

Varis breaks from the clinch.

Varis scores with a takedown into Rover's guard.
Varis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rover swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Janne Varis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Varis preventing the sweep.
Varis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rover is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Varis stands and throws Rover's legs to the side, diving into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Janne Varis showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rover 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulie Rover!