PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elias Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Virtanen has chosen Haittavaikutus - Matkalla as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Aldo
vs
Virtanen

172 cm
32
157 lbs
21 - 13 - 0

174 cm
27
162 lbs
16 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!
Crippler's Corner

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

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 21 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jose Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Elias Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Colin Fray and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice inside leg kick there by Virtanen. That's going to slow Aldo down.
Virtanen throws a poor cross that misses
and Virtanen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice defenses there by Virtanen.
Aldo lands with a hook. Virtanen tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Virtanen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Virtanen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
An inside leg kick lands from Virtanen.
Aldo moves out of range as Virtanen throws a body kick.
Virtanen catches Aldo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Aldo keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Aldo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Virtanen was well out of range. Poor timing from Aldo.
Virtanen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Virtanen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Virtanen throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Virtanen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Virtanen scores with a jab. Aldo acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aldo thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Virtanen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Aldo.
Virtanen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Virtanen cracks the inside of Aldo's front leg.
A slow jab from Aldo misses its intended target.
Virtanen looks to land a left hand but Aldo moved out of range nicely.
Virtanen misses with a straight left.
Nice uppercut lands for Aldo. That snapped Virtanen's head back.
Aldo just misses with a punch to the body.
Aldo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Virtanen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Aldo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Virtanen.
Aldo defending well as Virtanen loads up on a big left hand.
Virtanen is looking to slow Aldo down with leg kicks.
Aldo misses with a hook. Virtanen ducked under it nicely.
Virtanen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Aldo.
Aldo throws a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Aldo was well out of range. Poor timing from Virtanen.
Aldo checks a low kick from Virtanen.
Virtanen looks to score with a jab to the body but Aldo is just out of range.
Aldo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Virtanen gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Aldo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Aldo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Virtanen.
Aldo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Virtanen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Aldo swings for the body but Virtanen moves out of range.
Virtanen lands a leg kick that knocks Aldo off balance momentarily.
Aldo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Aldo swings widly with a right hand
and Virtanen counters with a nice kick to the body.
Virtanen works the jab nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Aldo checks a leg kick.
Aldo on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Aldo checks a low kick from Virtanen.
Aldo misses with a wild body shot.
A jab from Aldo misses.
Virtanen misses with a body kick.
The fighters circling - Virtanen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Aldo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Aldo throws a right hand that Virtanen ducks under and follows up with a left that Virtanen also avoids with ease.
Virtanen on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Aldo is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Virtanen throws a hook to the side of Aldo's head but Aldo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Virtanen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aldo connects with the punch.
Aldo loads up on a big right hand but Virtanen slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Aldo's calf.
A clash of legs there as Aldo blocks the low kick.
Aldo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Virtanen throws a low kick but Aldo avoids it.
Aldo misses with a body punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aldo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Virtanen moves away.
Aldo digs a good hook to Virtanen's body.
Aldo moves out of range as Virtanen throws a body kick.
Aldo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Virtanen. That's going to slow Aldo down.
Virtanen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Aldo checks it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Virtanen scoring well with a low kick there.
Aldo tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Virtanen lands a leg kick that knocks Aldo off balance momentarily.
Virtanen avoids the body shot from Aldo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Virtanen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Aldo throws a hook to the side of Virtanen's head but Virtanen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Elias Virtanen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Virtanen thows a body shot but no joy.
Aldo works Virtanen's body with a nice hook.
The fighters circling - Aldo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Aldo sizes up Virtanen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Virtanen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Aldo.
Virtanen misses with a body kick.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Virtanen in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Aldo moves out of range of the body kick.
Virtanen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Virtanen throws a right hand that Aldo ducks under and follows up with a left that Aldo also avoids with ease.
A combination from Aldo does no damage.
Virtanen moves away from the strike by Aldo.
Virtanen lands a nice looking kick to the body. Aldo takes a step back to recover.
Donk. Virtanen catches Aldo right on the button with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen moves out of range as Aldo strikes.
Virtanen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Virtanen scores with a leg kick.
Virtanen misses with a low kick.
Aldo cracks Virtanen with a good jab.
Aldo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Virtanen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Aldo looks to throw the jab but Virtanen is out of range.
Virtanen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A shot to the liver by Aldo. Beautiful body shot.
Jab from Virtanen.
Virtanen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aldo.
The fighters circling - Virtanen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Virtanen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Aldo.
Aldo lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Aldo misses.
Virtanen tries a low kick but Aldo avoids it.
Aldo misses with a body shot.
Aldo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Virtanen counters with a straight right hand.
Aldo looks to land a left hand but Virtanen moved out of range nicely.
Virtanen drops his hands momentarily and Aldo takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aldo blocks a head kick by Virtanen.
A jab lands there for Aldo.
Virtanen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Aldo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Aldo stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Aldo cracks a nice hook into Virtanen's ribs.
Aldo swings widly with a right hand
and Virtanen counters with a nice leg kick.
Virtanen tries to land a front kick but Aldo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Virtanen wants to clinch up but Aldo keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen looks to land a body kick but Aldo moved away.
Virtanen moves forwards but Aldo connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Aldo connects with a nice looking jab.
Aldo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Virtanen.
Virtanen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Aldo misses with a hook.
Virtanen connects with the punch.
Virtanen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Aldo digs a good body shot into Virtanen's ribs.
Virtanen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aldo throws the left hand but Virtanen avoids the punch easily.
Virtanen moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Aldo throws out a powerful jab.
Aldo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aldo misses with a straight right.
Aldo avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Virtanen throws out a powerful jab.
Virtanen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Virtanen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Aldo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Virtanen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Virtanen scores with a leg kick.
Aldo looks to land a right hand but Virtanen moved out of range.
Aldo connects with a good right hand that stumbles Virtanen. Virtanen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Aldo lands a nice looking body shot.
Virtanen jabs Aldo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Aldo just misses with a punch to the body.
Virtanen moves away from the strike by Aldo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jose Aldo will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Virtanen throws a head kick but Aldo moves out of range.
Virtanen connects with a leg kick. Aldo looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Aldo throws a hook to the side of Virtanen's head but Virtanen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Aldo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Virtanen at a distance.
Virtanen tries a head kick but it misses.
Aldo tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Aldo throws a looping overhand right but Virtanen ducks down to avoid it.
Aldo scores with a jab to the head.
Aldo moves out of range of the body kick.
Aldo lands the left hand.
Virtanen thumps Aldo with a low kick.
Aldo misses the jab.
Virtanen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Aldo 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.
Virtanen slips a jab from Aldo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aldo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Virtanen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Virtanen staying out of range there.
Virtanen tries a head kick but it misses.
Aldo scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Aldo misses with a left hand
and Virtanen counters with an inside leg kick.
Aldo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Aldo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Virtanen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aldo.
Virtanen tries to clinch there but Aldo circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Aldo. Virtanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Aldo throws a big shot that misses.
Virtanen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aldo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Virtanen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Virtanen throws a low kick but Aldo moves out of range easily.
Virtanen ducks under a wild hook from Aldo.
Virtanen moves out of range of the strikes.
Virtanen ducks under a wild hook from Aldo.
Virtanen moves out of range as Aldo strikes.
Aldo looks to throw the jab but Virtanen is out of range.
An inside leg kick from Virtanen misses.
A slow jab from Aldo misses its intended target.
Aldo lands a nice hook to Virtanen's body. Virtanen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Virtanen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Virtanen avoids the body shot from Aldo.
Virtanen throws a leg kick but Aldo moved away.
Virtanen throws a wild body kick that Aldo sees coming a mile off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Aldo darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Aldo moves out of range as Virtanen throws a body kick.
Aldo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A clash of legs there as Aldo blocks the low kick.
Virtanen misses with a straight left.
Virtanen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Aldo's calf.
Aldo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Virtanen throws a chopping leg kick but Aldo manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Virtanen just misses with a punch to the body.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Virtanen - that will leave a mark!
Virtanen misses with a hook.
Virtanen is looking to land body kicks.
Aldo with a hook.
Aldo lands a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Virtanen.

Aldo tries to keep at a distance but Virtanen has taken the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Virtanen.
Virtanen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Virtanen tries to land a knee to the head but Aldo blocks with his arms.
Virtanen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Aldo is defending well for now.
Aldo blocks the elbow strike.
Virtanen prevents Aldo from breaking the clinch.
Aldo has had enough of the clinch but Virtanen keeps him there for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Virtanen tries to work over Aldo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Virtanen keeps control of Aldo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Virtanen prevents Aldo from breaking the clinch.
Virtanen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Elias Virtanen.
Well Virtanen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30

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