PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mikkel Kessler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raimo Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kessler
vs
Virtanen

175 cm
24
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikkel Kessler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Raimo Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kessler looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Virtanen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kessler working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Virtanen's thigh. Virtanen counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Kessler wants to stand but Virtanen is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kessler has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kessler wants to stand and escape but instead Virtanen has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Virtanen trying to control but Kessler is working from the bottom.
Kessler trying to keep a closed guard but Virtanen is proving a slippery customer.
Virtanen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kessler is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler pulls Virtanen in close to prevent any damage.
Kessler wants to improve his position but instead Virtanen has moved into half guard.
Kessler is trying to stand up here but Virtanen is controlling him well.
Virtanen tries to stand and escape but Kessler is controlling the position.
Kessler wants to get back to his feet.
Virtanen is trying to control the action in half guard but Kessler is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Virtanen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kessler's head.
Virtanen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kessler keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler wants to improve his position but Virtanen is controlling well.
Kessler throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Virtanen is keen to just control but Kessler is a slippery customer.
Virtanen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Virtanen trying to control the action but Kessler is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Raimo Virtanen was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Virtanen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Virtanen manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kessler on his heels. He'll look to pass Kessler's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kessler is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kessler is breathing heavily.
Virtanen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Virtanen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Virtanen throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Virtanen tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kessler is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Virtanen off and has taken his back!
Kessler doesn't have the hooks in and Virtanen manages to turn into his guard.
Kessler doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Virtanen looking to pass the guard.
Kessler wants to improve his position but instead Virtanen has moved into half guard.

Kessler looking for submissions off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Virtanen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Raimo Virtanen will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Virtanen stuffs the takedown attempt from Kessler. Kessler gets slowly back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Kessler.
Mikkel Kessler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Virtanen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kessler is trying to control but can't.
Virtanen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kessler has hold of Virtanen's hands but Virtanen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kessler trying to control here.

Virtanen is looking for submissions but instead, Kessler has regained full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kessler wants to sweep here but Virtanen controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen trying to control but Kessler is working from the bottom.
Virtanen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Virtanen won't allow Kessler to get back to his feet.
Virtanen trying to control but Kessler is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Raimo Virtanen.

Kessler dives in and scores a takedown into Virtanen's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler is pushing down on Virtanen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Virtanen is fighting to maintain full guard but Kessler has managed to sneak the leg through.

Kessler is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kessler looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Kessler is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Virtanen still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Virtanen has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Virtanen wants to stand but Kessler is controlling his arm.
Virtanen trying to control the action but Kessler is working from the bottom.

Virtanen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kessler is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kessler sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Ground and pound from Virtanen.
Kessler wants to get back to his feet.
Virtanen is trying to control. Kessler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kessler misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen wants to take a breather but Kessler is having none of it.
Virtanen is thwarting Kessler's attempts to control the position.
Virtanen tries to stand but can't do so whilst Kessler controls his leg.
Kessler has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Virtanen is working away from the top position though.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Virtanen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Virtanen breaks from the clinch.

Virtanen rushes Kessler and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Raimo Virtanen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kessler connects with a crisp jab.
Virtanen slaps away a takedown attempt from Kessler, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Kessler. No joy for Virtanen on that attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Virtanen. Those never looked like landing.
Virtanen has his takedown stuffed
enabling Kessler to counter with a crisp jab.
Kessler scores with a hook.
Kessler shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Virtanen counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Virtanen working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
An elbow from Virtanen crashes against the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kessler tries to improve position but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Virtanen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kessler has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kessler is trying to control Virtanen's posture but Virtanen avoids it.
Virtanen wants to stand but Kessler is controlling his arm.
Virtanen wants to control but Kessler is keeping him busy.
Kessler is trying to control Virtanen's posture but Virtanen avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kessler is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Virtanen off and has taken his back!

Virtanen fending off the submission attempt from Kessler.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kessler looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Virtanen is controlling Kessler 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Virtanen is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen trying to control but Kessler is working from the bottom.
Kessler pulls Virtanen in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Mikkel Kessler has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Kessler closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kessler lands in his opponent's guard.
Kessler wants to pass the guard but Virtanen is keeping the position.
Virtanen pulls Kessler in to control the position.
Mikkel Kessler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Virtanen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kessler doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kessler manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kessler passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikkel Kessler showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Virtanen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

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