PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Elias Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zagan Yehudiah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Virtanen comes to the cage accompanied by Haittavaikutus - Matkalla. Zagan Yehudiah has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Virtanen
vs
Yehudiah

174 cm
25
162 lbs
13 - 2 - 0

181 cm
26
165 lbs
18 - 7 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Elias Virtanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Zagan Yehudiah!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Virtanen lands a head kick. Yehudiah smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Virtanen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Virtanen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Yehudiah's calf.
Yehudiah keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Virtanen misses with an attempted mid kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Yehudiah blocks the leg kick.
Virtanen swinging wildly here.
Virtanen scores with a body shot.
Virtanen tries a head kick but it misses.
Virtanen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Elias Virtanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Virtanen tries to clinch but Yehudiah moves out of range.
Yehudiah moves out of range of the body kick from Virtanen.
Yehudiah's corner calls for a 1-2. Yehudiah obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Yehudiah's sensitive parts.

Virtanen takes the fight into the clinch.
Virtanen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Yehudiah misses with an elbow strike.
Yehudiah pushes off an throws an elbow but Virtanen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Yehudiah misses with an elbow over the top.
Yehudiah wants to break the clinch but can't.
Yehudiah throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Yehudiah lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Yehudiah lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Virtanen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Virtanen blocks an elbow strike from Yehudiah.
Virtanen dodges an elbow strike from Yehudiah.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen blocks an elbow strike from Yehudiah.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Virtanen.
Virtanen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Virtanen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yehudiah blocks it with crossed arms.
Virtanen blocks the elbow strike.
Yehudiah takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Zagan Yehudiah has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A shot in the inside from Virtanen.
Virtanen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Yehudiah has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Yehudiah just misses with a elbow thrown towards Virtanen's brow.
Virtanen misses with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Virtanen.
Virtanen avoids the elbow strike from Yehudiah, against the cage.
Yehudiah throws an elbow that misses.
Yehudiah misses with an elbow strike.
Virtanen avoids the elbow strike from Yehudiah, against the cage.
Virtanen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Virtanen avoids a wild elbow strike from Yehudiah.
Virtanen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Yehudiah has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Virtanen working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Yehudiah throws an elbow but misses.
Yehudiah throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Yehudiah wants to break free but Virtanen has control.
Virtanen creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Virtanen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Virtanen landing knees to the head.
Virtanen with a knee to the head.
Yehudiah avoids the elbow strike from Virtanen, against the cage.
Yehudiah lands an elbow inside that Virtanen shrugs off.
Virtanen dodges an elbow strike from Yehudiah.
Yehudiah creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Virtanen scores a nice knee to the body.
Yehudiah looks gassed!
Virtanen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Virtanen stalling in the clinch but Yehudiah improves position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Virtanen.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yehudiah misses with an elbow strike.
Virtanen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Yehudiah manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yehudiah takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Virtanen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Yehudiah looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Virtanen tries a knee to the head but Yehudiah blocks it.
Virtanen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Yehudiah up against the cage.
Virtanen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Virtanen tries a knee to the head but Yehudiah blocks it.
Yehudiah looking to stall.
Virtanen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yehudiah lands a damaging elbow.
With the fighters up against the cage, Yehudiah throws an elbow but misses.
Virtanen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Virtanen looking to throw knees to the head but Yehudiah is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elias Virtanen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zagan Yehudiah's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Virtanen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yehudiah, pushing him back against the cage.
Virtanen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Yehudiah is defending well for now.
Virtanen lands a knee to the head.
Virtanen looking to throw knees to the head but Yehudiah is blocking nicely.
Virtanen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Yehudiah has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nice elbow from Virtanen.

Yehudiah's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Virtanen misses with a kick to the body.
Virtanen throws a leg kick that is checked
and Yehudiah counters with a straight right hand.
Virtanen throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Yehudiah pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Virtanen misses with a body kick.
Virtanen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Virtanen misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Virtanen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Yehudiah. That did some damage!
A slapping body kick lands there for Virtanen.
Virtanen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Virtanen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Yehudiah's calf.
Virtanen lands with a thumping leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Yehudiah.
Virtanen pushes Yehudiah away with a front kick.
Elias Virtanen is winning the standup battle so far.
Virtanen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Virtanen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Virtanen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yehudiah swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Yehudiah chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Virtanen can pounce on him.

Virtanen takes the fight into the clinch.
Virtanen tries to land a knee to the head but Yehudiah blocks with his arms.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Virtanen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Virtanen scores with a knee to the head.
Virtanen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Elias Virtanen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Virtanen misses with a knee to the head.
Virtanen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Yehudiah has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Virtanen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Virtanen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Yehudiah has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Virtanen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Virtanen looking to throw knees to the head but Yehudiah is blocking nicely.
Yehudiah effectively controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Yehudiah.
Yehudiah gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Virtanen dodges an elbow strike from Yehudiah.
Yehudiah avoids the elbow strike from Virtanen, against the cage.
Virtanen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Yehudiah is breathing heavily.
Yehudiah misses with an elbow over the top.
Virtanen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Yehudiah misses with an elbow over the top.
A frustrated look appears on Yehudiah's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Yehudiah throws an elbow but it misses.
Yehudiah is trying to break the clinch but Virtanen is controlling him.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Virtanen as Yehudiah tries to tie him up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Virtanen lands a knee to the body.
Virtanen lands a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Yehudiah's face.
Nice body punch from Virtanen - that landed with a thud.
Virtanen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Virtanen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Yehudiah's defenses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Virtanen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Virtanen lands a damaging elbow.
Virtanen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Yehudiah has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A short uppercut from Virtanen.
Virtanen misses with a knee to the head.
Virtanen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Virtanen prevents Yehudiah from breaking the clinch.
Yehudiah pushes off an throws an elbow but Virtanen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Yehudiah throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yehudiah wants to get back to striking at distance but Virtanen won't allow it.
Virtanen working Yehudiah over with knees to the body.
Virtanen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Virtanen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Yehudiah's face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elias Virtanen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Zagan Yehudiah's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Virtanen lands a body shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Virtanen.
Virtanen lands a leg kick that knocks Yehudiah off balance momentarily.
A solid body kick from Virtanen.
A solid body kick from Virtanen.
A good leg kick by Virtanen.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Virtanen.
Yehudiah moves out of range as Virtanen throws a body kick.
Virtanen delivers a nice body kick.
Virtanen scoring well with a low kick there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Virtanen cracks Yehudiah with an open hand slap.
Yehudiah takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
An inside leg kick lands from Virtanen.

Virtanen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Virtanen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Virtanen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Yehudiah can do to turn this around?
Virtanen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Yehudiah's defenses.
Yehudiah takes a knee right on the jaw!
A short right from Virtanen on the inside.
Virtanen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yehudiah blocks it with crossed arms.
Virtanen blocks an elbow strike from Yehudiah.
Virtanen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Virtanen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Virtanen.
Virtanen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Virtanen connects with a knee to the head.
Zagan Yehudiah has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Virtanen.
A knee to the head by Virtanen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Yehudiah blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Virtanen stalling in the clinch but Yehudiah improves position.

Yehudiah's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yehudiah clobbers Virtanen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Virtanen misses with a body kick.
Virtanen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Virtanen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Virtanen lands a right hand.
With the fighters up against the cage, Yehudiah throws an elbow but misses.
Virtanen blocks the elbow strike.
Yehudiah looking to slow down the pace here.
Yehudiah throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Virtanen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Yehudiah looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Yehudiah pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Yehudiah throws an elbow but it misses.
Yehudiah wants to stall.
Virtanen lands a good knee to the midsection. Yehudiah won't want to take too many of those.
Yehudiah is looking to break free of the clinch but Virtanen has double underhooks.
Yehudiah has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Virtanen.
Virtanen lands with a short shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen works on Yehudiah's body with a couple of short punches.
Yehudiah is trying to break the clinch but Virtanen has him pressed against the cage.
Virtanen misses with a knee strike.
Virtanen lands a body shot.
A nice left hand lands by Virtanen.
Virtanen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Yehudiah is defending well for now.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Virtanen.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yehudiah wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Virtanen has him pressed against the cage.
Yehudiah tries to break the clinch but Virtanen is controlling the position.
Elias Virtanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Yehudiah takes an elbow to the temple.
Yehudiah misses with an elbow strike.
Yehudiah is trying to break the clinch but Virtanen is controlling him.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Virtanen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Yehudiah backwards.

Yehudiah is rocked!
Virtanen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Yehudiah is still on wobbly legs! Can Virtanen finish him?
Virtanen lands a hook that snaps the head of Yehudiah backwards.
Virtanen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Yehudiah's face.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elias Virtanen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Virtanen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elias Virtanen!