PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Niki Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Greeley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Niki Virtanen could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to James Greeley's chin.

Virtanen
vs
Greeley

185 cm
21
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
20
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Niki Virtanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Greeley!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Ian Loll and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Virtanen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Virtanen wants to control but Greeley is keeping him busy.
Virtanen lands a nice forearm strike.

Greeley throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Greeley shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Virtanen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Virtanen is trying to control the action in half guard but Greeley is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Virtanen prevents Greeley from improving his position.
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.
Greeley looks gassed!

Virtanen stands up from half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Virtanen clinches up against the cage.
Virtanen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Greeley is looking to control Virtanen's arms but Virtanen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Greeley has his back to the cage.
Greeley tries to break the clinch but Virtanen is controlling the position.
Greeley wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like James Greeley has been cut.
Greeley wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Virtanen has him pressed against the cage.
Greeley wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Virtanen has Greeley pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Greeley manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Virtanen gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Virtanen there.
Virtanen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Virtanen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Greeley defends it well.
Virtanen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Greeley won't allow Virtanen to pass to mount.

Virtanen stands up out of the half guard.
Virtanen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Virtanen bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Greeley decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Greeley is looking to advance position but Virtanen won't allow it.
Virtanen wants to get back to full guard.
Greeley throwing shots but Virtanen is blocking nicely.
Greeley 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Virtanen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Greeley lands with a punch from half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Greeley missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Greeley stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Virtanen to get to his feet.
Virtanen fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niki Virtanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Greeley scores with a nice head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Greeley's corner calls for a 1-2. Greeley obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Greeley misses with a few strikes there.

Virtanen feints and as Greeley raises his hands in defense, Virtanen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Greeley striking off his back but it's not causing Virtanen any problems.
Virtanen is standing up over Greeley. Greeley looks to escape but Virtanen dives into side control.

Virtanen stands up.
Greeley misses with a double jab
and Virtanen counters with a huge head kick that drops Greeley! The ref dives in to stop the fight and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:33 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Niki Virtanen!