PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raul Portugis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elias Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Virtanen is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Haittavaikutus - Matkalla. Raul Portugis has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Portugis
vs
Virtanen

189 cm
29
165 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

174 cm
32
162 lbs
25 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Merciless Gladiators

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 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Raul Portugis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Elias Virtanen!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Portugis checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Virtanen is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Virtanen tries a knee to the head but Portugis blocks it.
Virtanen lands a nice shot to the body.
Virtanen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Portugis lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Portugis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Virtanen.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Virtanen.
Virtanen blocks a body shot from Portugis.
Portugis misses with a punch to the body.
Virtanen connects with a knee to the head.
Virtanen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Virtanen breaks from the clinch.
Raul Portugis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Portugis darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Portugis has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Virtanen.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Portugis throws an overhand right that lands on Virtanen's shoulder, as Virtanen tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen misses with a low kick as Portugis jumps back.
Portugis cracks Virtanen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nice defenses there by Virtanen.
Portugis avoids a kick to the body.
Good shot there by Portugis.
Virtanen goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Virtanen blocks a jab.
Portugis connects with a looping right hand.
Portugis with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Portugis throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Virtanen counters with a nice kick to the body.
Portugis dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Virtanen. That did some damage!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Portugis paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Virtanen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Virtanen avoids the body shot from Portugis.
Virtanen wants to clinch up but Portugis keeps it at a distance.
Portugis connects with a solid leg kick.
Portugis really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Portugis is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Portugis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Virtanen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Portugis misses with a body shot.
Virtanen misses with a head kick.
Portugis fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Virtanen manages to avoid it.
Virtanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Portugis manages to avoid it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Virtanen.
Portugis lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Virtanen tries to move into range but Portugis moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Portugis misses with an uppercut.
Virtanen staying out of range there.
Portugis throws a jab but it's blocked by Virtanen.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Portugis.
Portugis throws a head kick but Virtanen moves out of range.
Virtanen throws a nice head kick!
Some bone on bone action there as Portugis checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Portugis just misses with a punch to the body.
Virtanen slips a straight right by Portugis.
An inside leg kick from Portugis misses.
Virtanen throws a head kick but Portugis moves out of range.
Virtanen misses with a looping left.
Virtanen connects with an inside leg kick.
Virtanen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Virtanen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Virtanen slips under a jab.
Portugis misses with a hook. Virtanen ducked under it nicely.
A jab from Virtanen does it's job there.
Portugis lands a really nice looking cross but Virtanen seems unphased.
A nice inside leg kick there by Virtanen. That's going to slow Portugis down.
Portugis moves out of range as Virtanen throws a body kick.
Good leg kick by Virtanen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A looping hook to the body misses from Portugis. Virtanen does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen tests Portugis's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A nice inside leg kick there by Portugis. That's going to slow Virtanen down.
Portugis chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Virtanen can pounce on him.
Virtanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Portugis manages to avoid it.
Virtanen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Virtanen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Portugis turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Portugis is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Virtanen.
Portugis shoots in looking for a takedown but Virtanen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Portugis's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Portugis is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Virtanen wants to clinch.
Virtanen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Virtanen lands a lovely overhand right.
Portugis walks into a straight right hand from Virtanen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Virtanen looks to land a right hand but Portugis moved out of range.
Virtanen misses with a straight right.
Virtanen looks to land a right hand but Portugis moved out of range.
A head kick misses from Virtanen.
Portugis swings for the body but Virtanen moves out of range.
Virtanen throws a head kick that Portugis semi-blocks.
Virtanen lands a nice looking body shot.
Virtanen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Portugis listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Portugis throws a lazy uppercut
and Virtanen counters with a big head kick but Portugis shrugs it off.
Virtanen moves in looking to clinch but Portugis pushes him off.
Portugis throws a nice inside leg kick.
Virtanen checks a leg kick nicely.
Virtanen throws a head kick but Portugis moves out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Portugis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Portugis tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Portugis will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Portugis pivots, looking for a leg kick but Virtanen is out of range and Portugis settles back down.
Jab from Portugis.

Virtanen moves into the clinch.

Virtanen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Virtanen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Virtanen just misses with a punch to the body.
Portugis dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Good leg kick by Portugis there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Portugis fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Portugis darts in looking for a takedown but Virtanen gets double underhooks and turns Portugis into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raul Portugis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Virtanen missing with knees to the body.
A right hand to the body from Portugis.
Virtanen lands with a light punch inside.
Virtanen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Portugis has him pressed against the cage.
Portugis looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Portugis.
Virtanen throws an elbow but it misses.
Virtanen misses with some punches.
Virtanen lands a nice uppercut.
Virtanen swings wildly with an uppercut but Portugis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Portugis blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Portugis scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Portugis lands an uppercut.
Virtanen misses with a knee to the head.
Portugis blocks an uppercut.
Portugis scores with a shot to the side of Virtanen's head.
Virtanen misses with some punches.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Virtanen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Portugis's brow.
Virtanen blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen misses with a punch on the inside.
Virtanen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Portugis backwards.
Virtanen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Portugis.
A nice right hand lands inside from Virtanen.
Portugis trying to control the position but instead, Virtanen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Portugis into the cage.
Virtanen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Portugis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Virtanen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stalling in the clinch from Portugis.

Virtanen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Portugis misses with a straight right.
Portugis misses with an uppercut. Virtanen saw that one coming.
Portugis throws a jab when Virtanen was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Portugis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Virtanen misses with a kick to the body
and Portugis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Portugis scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Raul Portugis is winning the standup battle so far.
Portugis rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Virtanen counters with a thumping low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Portugis scores with a hook.
Virtanen tries to clinch up but Portugis circles away and keeps his distance.
Portugis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Virtanen scores with a leg kick.
Virtanen misses with a looping right.
Portugis connects with an inside leg kick.
Virtanen misses the jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Virtanen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Portugis moves away.
Portugis swings for the body but Virtanen moves out of range.
Portugis moves out of range as Virtanen strikes.
Portugis dips to his left and cracks Virtanen with an uppercut!
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 Raul Portugis will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Virtanen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Virtanen misses with a low kick.
Portugis ducks under a wild hook from Virtanen.
Virtanen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A head kick misses from Virtanen.
Virtanen misses with a body kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Virtanen misses the target.
Portugis blocks a head kick by Virtanen.
Virtanen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Portugis throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Virtanen counters with a low kick, right behind Portugis 's knee.
Portugis throws an overhand right that lands on Virtanen's shoulder, as Virtanen tries to avoid the shot.
Portugis feints and then cracks Virtanen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Virtanen down.
Virtanen misses with a low kick as Portugis jumps back.
Portugis fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Virtanen scores with a nice body kick.
Portugis cracks Virtanen with a good jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Portugis. Virtanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Virtanen misses with a head kick.
An inside leg kick from Portugis misses.
Portugis takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Virtanen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Virtanen wants to clinch.
Virtanen wants to clinch up but Portugis keeps it at a distance.
Virtanen wants to slow Portugis down by chopping away at his legs.
Virtanen throws a jab but it's blocked by Portugis.
Portugis thumps Virtanen with a low kick.
Virtanen ducks under a wild hook from Portugis.
A decent looking cross lands there for Portugis.
Nice uppercut there from Portugis.
The fighters circling - Portugis throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen lands with a right hand.
Portugis dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Virtanen. That did some damage!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big left from Portugis misses.
Virtanen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Virtanen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Virtanen throws a leg kick that is checked
and Portugis counters with a slapping leg kick.
The crowd cheers as Portugis lands an impressive looking overhand right. Virtanen doesn't seem phased though.
Virtanen tries a head kick but it misses.
Virtanen drops his hands momentarily and Portugis takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Portugis lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Virtanen connects with a body shot that sends Portugis's belly button to the back.
Portugis swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Portugis looks to score with a jab to the body but Virtanen is just out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Portugis.
Virtanen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Portugis digs a good hook to Virtanen's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen pushes Portugis up against the cage in a clinch.
Elias Virtanen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Portugis prevents a body shot from Virtanen.
Virtanen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Portugis.
Virtanen misses with a hook to the ribs.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Virtanen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Portugis's brow.
A short body shot lands from Portugis as the two fighters clinch.
Virtanen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Portugis as Virtanen tries to tie him up.
A short right from Portugis on the inside.
Portugis is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Virtanen is defending well.
Virtanen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Virtanen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Portugiss head.
Portugis lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Virtanen backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Virtanen fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Portugis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Virtanen tries to throw a body punch but Portugis avoids it by throwing Virtanen back against the cage.
Virtanen blocks an uppercut.
Portugis misses with the head strike.
Portugis stalling in the clinch but Virtanen improves position.
Virtanen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Portugis blocks a body shot from Virtanen.
Virtanen throws a punch but it's blocked by Portugis.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Virtanen tries to land a knee to the head but Portugis blocks with his arms.
Portugis working aggressively here.
Portugis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Virtanen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Portugis drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Virtanen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Raul Portugis.
I think Portugis has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!