PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Keijo Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jarppi Virne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richards comes to the cage accompanied by Rolling Stones - Paint It Black. Virne is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Jeff van Dyck - Soldier's Chant. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Richards
vs
Virne

210 cm
23
280 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

187 cm
23
262 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Crashforce Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Keijo Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarppi Virne!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Virne throws out a loose jab but Richards uses good head movement to avoid it.
Virne tries to close the distance and clinch but Richards swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Donk. Richards catches Virne right on the button with a cross.

Richards instigates a clinch.

Richards breaks the clinch.
Richards throws a hook but Virne blocks it.
Richards cracks Virne with an open hand slap.

It looks like Jarppi Virne has been cut.
Virne swings for the body but Richards moves out of range.
Richards lands a head shot.
Virne tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Virne tries to close the distance and clinch up but Richards swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Richards uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Richards with a hook.

Richards closes the distance and pushes Virne back into the cage.

Richards breaks from the clinch.

Virne has Richards up against the cage in a clinch.

Richards breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Richards uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Virne.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards scores with a nice right hand.
Virne tries to close the distance and clinch up but Richards swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Richards ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Richards lands a glancing blow to the side of Virne's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Richards scores with a sloppy right hand. Virne should have avoided that one.
Richards keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Virne takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Richards is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Virne looks gassed!
Virne throws a right and a left that both miss.
Richards lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Donk. Richards catches Virne right on the button with a cross.

Richards bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Virne! He dives into his guard looking to finish!

Virne is rocked!
Richards in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Virne's head.
Richards in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards throws a big right hand that misses.
Richards is in close to Virne's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Richards will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Richards missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richards trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Richards stands up over Virne, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Richards content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Richards is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Virne wants to stand up but Richards is controlling him.
Richards postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Richards slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Richards cracks Virne with a big right hand but Virne just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That has opened up Jarppi Virne's cut even more.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards is working Virne over with some ground and pound from side control.
Richards lands some shots froms side control.
Richards 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.
Richards scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Virne to see if he's OK.

The cut above Jarppi Virne's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Jarppi Virne's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Keijo Richards!