PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Reijo Rymy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ara Virta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rymy comes to the cage accompanied by Killswitch Engage - Holy Diver. This should be a great matchup!

Rymy
vs
Virta

178 cm
21
193 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

174 cm
22
183 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Reijo Rymy!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ara Virta!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rymy throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Virta counter with a right hand.
Rymy throws a body punch but Virta moves out of range.
Rymy throws a predictable looking body shot
and Virta counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Virta gets caught flat footed, as Rymy shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
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.
Rymy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Virta swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Virta is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Virta is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rymy prevents Virta from getting back to his feet.
Virta not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rymy drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Virta manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rymy has Virta in his guard.

Rymy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Virta wants to control from the top but Rymy keeps moving.

Rymy isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Virta stacks Rymy on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Virta!
Rymy is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rymy being controlled for a moment.
Let's hope that Virta has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Rymy is looking to reverse the position.
Virta wants to control but Rymy is keeping him busy.
Rymy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Virta wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Virta controlling from side mount.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ara Virta wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rymy throws an off balance right hand
and Virta counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rymy moves out of range of the body kick.
Rymy checks a leg kick.
Rymy lands with a shot to the body.
Virta displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rymy swings widly with a right hand
and Virta counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Rymy tries to keep at a distance but Virta has taken the fight into the clinch.
Virta stalling.
Rymy leaning against his opponent.
Virta is trying to maintain a safe position but Rymy gets an underhook and turns Virta into the cage.
Rymy drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Virta lands a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rymy blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Virta pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rymy rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Virta counters with a two punch combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Virta pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rymy is out of range and Virta settles back down.
Virta throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Virta misses with a shot to the body
and Rymy counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rymy misses with a lunging right hand
and Virta counters with a big head kick but Rymy shrugs it off.
Rymy throws a right hand that misses
and Virta counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rymy throws a lazy uppercut
and Virta counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rymy is lucky that one didn't land flush.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rymy closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Virta to the mat! Virta manages to get full guard.
Rymy looking to sit in guard and control but Virta gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Virta decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ara Virta dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rymy has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Virta finds it's way round the side to connect with Rymy's head.
Virta scoring well with a low kick there.
Rymy misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Virta counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice body kick from Virta.
Virta misses with a two punch combination.
Ara Virta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Virta misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jab by Rymy.
Rymy takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Virta tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Virta throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Virta misses with a shot to the body
and Rymy counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Virta lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rymy misses with a right hand
and Rymy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rymy misses with a lunging right hand

and Virta holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rymy.
Rymy can't find room to land a body shot as Virta controls the action.

Virta escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Virta throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Rymy counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Virta!
Virta tries to lock up and control but Rymy gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Virta sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Rymy looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Virta trying to control but Rymy postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rymy prevents Virta from standing back up.
Rymy is keen to just control but Virta is a slippery customer.
Virta is trying to stand up here but Rymy is controlling him well.

Rymy is working for a kimura but Virta is defending it quite comfortably.
Rymy is looking to advance position but Virta won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rymy wants to advance to full mount but Virta doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Rymy trying to control the position from guard on top but Virta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rymy drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Virta dives on top into guard.
Rymy looking for a sweep. Not yet Rymy, not yet.
Virta looking to pass the guard.
Virta trying to control but Rymy is working from the bottom.
Virta preventing the sweep.
Virta must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Virta controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Virta wants to get up but he can't break Rymy's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ara Virta.
Virta throws a wild body kick that Rymy sees coming a mile off.
Rymy misses with a right hand
and Virta counters with a series of strikes. Rymy will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rymy misses with an uppercut
and Virta makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rymy swings widly with a right hand
and Virta counters with a leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rymy throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Virta to counter with a crisp jab.
Virta loads up on a big right hand but Rymy slips the punch.
Virta smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ara Virta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Virta looks to land a combination but Rymy avoids it well.
Rymy on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Virta fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rymy, pushing him back against the cage.
Virta throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Virta's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Virta breaks the clinch.
Rymy swings widly with a right hand
and Virta counters with a leg kick.
Virta looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A slapping body kick lands there for Virta.
Rymy misses with a lunging right hand
and Virta counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Virta lands with a shot to the body.
Virta looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rymy misses with an uppercut
and Virta cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rymy needs to keep his hands up - Virta had a free shot at his head there.
Virta throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rymy.
Rymy swings widly with a right hand
and Virta counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rymy blocks a head kick by Virta.
A cross from Virta lands.
Rymy misses with a lunging right hand
and Virta counters with a three punch combo that has Rymy backing up. Rymy nods at Virta to acknowledge the strikes.
Virta misses with a wild combination.

Rymy moves into the clinch successfully.
Rymy misses with a body punch.
Virta lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rymy backwards.
A bit of stalling here from Virta.
Virta doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virta gets underhooks to prevent Rymy's takedown attempt.
Virta lands a left hand.
Rymy struggles to land a body shot inside as Virta controls his hands.
Good body shot from Rymy.
Rymy looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rymy has Virta pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Virta manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rymy will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Virta up against the cage.
Virta looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A short body shot lands from Virta as the two fighters clinch.
Virta controlling the action here for a moment.
Virta misses with an elbow over the top.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Virta.
Knees to the body from Virta.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rymy stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rymy.
Rymy goes for a takedown attempt but Virta pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reijo Rymy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rymy misses with a hook
letting Virta counter with a right hand.
Virta throws a series of strikes that have Rymy backpedaling.
Virta catches Rymy with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Virta bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Ara Virta is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Virta tries to close the distance and clinch but Rymy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Virta tries to bum rush Rymy with a series of wild strikes but Rymy uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rymy takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Virta connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Rymy is rocked!
Virta throws a series of punches but Rymy moves out of range.
Oh Rymy is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Virta feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rymy's calf.
Rymy seems to have got his legs back now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Virta.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rymy uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Virta.
Rymy avoids the head kick by Virta.
Virta darts in trying to clinch
and Rymy counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Virta misses the jab.
Rymy throws a lazy uppercut
and Virta counters with a straight right hand.
Rymy misses with a lunging right hand

and Virta moves into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Virta stalling the fight.
Rymy misses with a body punch.
Rymy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Virta's elbow.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rymy as Virta tries to tie him up.

Virta breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ara Virta really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Virta uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rymy.
Rymy has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Virta.
Rymy throws a lazy uppercut
and Virta counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Virta changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rymy has his takedown stuffed

and Virta counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rymy looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rymy is trying to break free.

Rymy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rymy throws a right hand that misses
and Virta counters with a straight right hand.
Rymy throws a poor cross that misses
and Virta counters with a two punch combo.
A head kick misses from Virta.
Rymy rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Virta counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Virta throws a one two combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rymy takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Rymy drives through and clinches with Virta against the cage.

Virta manages to break the clinch.
Virta bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rymy's head.
Rymy rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Virta counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rymy's knee momentarily.
Rymy is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rymy blocks a head kick by Virta.
Virta cracks Rymy with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rymy thows a body shot but no joy.
That kick from Virta tenderised Rymy's leg. Rymy is trying to keep his angry face on.

Virta clinches.
Rymy tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Virta will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rymy up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Virta.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Virta.
Virta lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Virta creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rymy's defenses.
Virta pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rymy misses with a hook to the ribs.
Virta scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A nice right hand lands inside from Virta.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Virta manages to break the clinch.
Ara Virta seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Virta swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rymy misses with a lunging right hand
and Virta counters with a low kick, right behind Rymy 's knee.
Rymy throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Virta counters with a straight right hand.
Virta lands a nice shot to the body.
Virta has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Virta has taken the fight to the clinch.
Virta stalls.
Virta digs a right hand underneath Rymy's ribcage. Rymy let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Virta's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Rymy throws a head punch that misses.
Virta blocks a body shot from Rymy.
Rymy trying to stall but Virta improves his position.
Rymy misses with a hook to the ribs.
Virta trying to land knees to the body.
Virta taking a breather.
Virta trying to control the position but instead, Rymy has worked for underhooks and has pushed Virta into the cage.
A short right from Virta on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rymy manages to break the clinch.
Rymy fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reijo Rymy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rymy swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Virta makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Rymy misses with a jab to the body
enabling Virta to counter with a crisp jab.
Virta misses with a double jab.
A leg kick checked by Rymy.
Virta is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Virta motions for Rymy to come forward. Virta throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A slapping body kick lands there for Virta.
Rymy misses with a jab to the body
and Virta counters with a good low kick that Rymy was not able to check.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ara Virta dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Good standup being displayed there by Virta as he connects with a hook.
Rymy swings widly with a right hand
letting Virta counter with a right hand.
Virta misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Virta throws a series of punches but Rymy avoids them all with ease.
Rymy on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Virta lands with a hook. Rymy tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Virta wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rymy scores with a decent looking hook.
Rymy throws an off balance right hand
and Virta counters with a nice kick to the body.
Rymy with a lazy takedown attempt
and Virta counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Virta.

Virta lands a big head kick that sends Rymy tumbling to the mat! Virta takes a step backwards and waves Rymy back to his feet - he wants the finish!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virta lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rymy at a distance.
Virta clobbers Rymy with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rymy on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Virta throws a nice inside leg kick.
Virta swinging wildly here.
Virta lands a jab to Rymy's midsection.

Virta gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Virta.

Virta's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rymy clinches with his opponent.

Virta breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Virta wants to land a leg kick but Rymy is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virta scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Virta comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rymy catches Virta with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rymy with a poor takedown
and Virta counters with an outside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Virta buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Virta lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rymy showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Virta.
Virta scoring well with a low kick there.
Virta stalks Rymy and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rymy's face. Rymy staggers backwards, shaken.
Virta looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virta cracks the inside of Rymy's front leg.
Virta punishes Rymy's body with a nice straight punch.
Virta lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Reijo Rymy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rymy tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Virta throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rymy stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Virta catches Rymy with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Virta closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Rymy has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Virta.
Virta wants to clinch.
Rymy throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Virta counters with a series of strikes. Rymy will be more careful next time no doubt.
Virta goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Virta lands a leg kick that knocks Rymy off balance momentarily.
Rymy seems to be squinting his left eye. Perhaps he got a poke in that previous exchange. Virta shows no mercy and swarms him with a barage of strikes! Rymy is backing up but Virta catches him with a final right hook that drops him! Rymy covers up and the referee steps in to end the fight! Virta Jumps to his feet and flashes his guns to the crowd. Oh yeah, baby! How'd you like them apples?!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:15 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ara Virta!
Ara Virta is the new middleweight champion!