PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Timo Virtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Savio Preuss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Virtanen
vs
Preuss

188 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

186 cm
24
194 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

Great elbows
Cardio machine

Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Timo Virtanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Savio Preuss!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, William Gold and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Virtanen closes the distance and clinches.
Preuss looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Virtanen swings wildly with an uppercut but Preuss uses good head movement to avoid it.
Virtanen wants to get back to striking at distance but Preuss won't allow it.

Virtanen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Preuss lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Virtanen tries to clinch there but Preuss circles away.
Preuss looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Preuss scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Timo Virtanen has been cut.
Virtanen throws a wild body kick that Preuss sees coming a mile off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtanen wants to clinch up but Preuss keeps it at a distance.
Virtanen drops his hands momentarily and Preuss takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Preuss has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Virtanen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Preuss moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Virtanen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Preuss scores with a jab. Virtanen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Preuss scores with a nice right hand.
Preuss looks to land a combination but Virtanen avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Preuss throws a big shot that misses.
Virtanen wants to clinch.
Preuss scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Sloppy strikes from Preuss. Those never looked like landing.
Virtanen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Preuss rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Virtanen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Preuss throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Virtanen lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Savio Preuss has been cut.
Virtanen tries to clinch but Preuss is having none of it.

Virtanen clinches up against the cage.
Virtanen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Virtanen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Preuss can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Virtanen.
Preuss keeps control of Virtanen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Virtanen working hard to break the clinch.

Virtanen manages to break the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Preuss misses with a hook. Virtanen ducked under it nicely.
Virtanen is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Preuss throws a hook but Virtanen avoids it easily.
Preuss misses with a few strikes there.
Preuss swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Preuss throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Preuss throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Virtanen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Virtanen tries to stall but Preuss uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Virtanen is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Virtanen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Preuss misses with a two punch combination.
Virtanen tries to clinch up but Preuss circles away and keeps his distance.
Some wild striking there from Preuss.
Virtanen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Preuss throws a shot from downtown. Virtanen moves away and avoids it.
Virtanen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Preuss.
Sloppy strikes from Preuss. Those never looked like landing.
Preuss keeps the fight on the outside.
Virtanen's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Preuss connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Virtanen scrambles back to his feet.
Sloppy strikes from Preuss. Those never looked like landing.
Preuss misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen tries to clinch but Preuss moves out of range.
Preuss throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Virtanen lands a head kick. Preuss smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Virtanen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Preuss manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Virtanen wants to clinch.
Preuss throws a series of punches but Virtanen avoids them all with ease.
Virtanen is looking to clinch but Preuss is avoiding it.
Preuss misses with the combination.
Virtanen tries to close the distance and clinch but Preuss swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Virtanen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Virtanen is looking to clinch.
Preuss keeps the fight on the outside.
Preuss throws out a counter right but Virtanen avoids it with no problem.
Preuss misses with a series of wild punches.
Virtanen tries to clinch but Preuss moves out of range.
As Virtanen backs off Preuss throws a huge counter combo but Virtanen manages to avoid it all.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Savio Preuss dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Preuss avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Virtanen throws a head kick that misses.
Virtanen tries to clinch but Preuss is having none of it.
Virtanen tries to close the distance and clinch but Preuss swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Preuss misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
It looked like Virtanen was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Preuss.
Virtanen wants to clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Preuss as he connects with a hook.
Preuss misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Preuss swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtanen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Preuss throws a right hand that misses
and Virtanen counters with a left to the body.
Virtanen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Preuss throws a right and a left that Virtanen avoids nicely.
Preuss misses with a straight left.
Preuss takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Virtanen throws a head kick but Preuss moves out of range.
Virtanen wants to clinch up but Preuss keeps it at a distance.
Preuss pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Virtanen back to the cage. Preuss follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Virtanen wants to clinch.
Preuss throws a series of punches but Virtanen moves out of range.
Virtanen tries to clinch up but Preuss circles away and keeps his distance.
Virtanen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Virtanen throws a head kick that half lands.
Timo Virtanen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Virtanen wants to clinch up but Preuss keeps it at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Virtanen moves out of range of the strikes.
Virtanen is looking to counter with a body kick.
Preuss lands a jab-cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen tries to clinch but Preuss moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Virtanen. Those never looked like landing.
Preuss looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Virtanen closes the distance and clinches.
Virtanen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Virtanen manages to break the clinch.
Virtanen tries to clinch up but Preuss circles away and keeps his distance.
Virtanen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Preuss manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Preuss throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Virtanen tries to clinch but Preuss moves out of range.
Virtanen dodges the punch combination from Preuss.
Preuss might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Virtanen fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Virtanen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Virtanen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen prevents Preuss from breaking the clinch.
Preuss wants to break the clinch but can't.
Virtanen missing with knees to the body.
Preuss avoiding damage as Virtanen throws knees to the body.
Virtanen is looking to break free of the clinch but Preuss has double underhooks.
Preuss tries to break the clinch but Virtanen is controlling the position.
Preuss avoiding damage as Virtanen throws knees to the body.
Virtanen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Preuss's efforts to push away.
Virtanen can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Virtanen is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Virtanen manages to break the clinch.
Preuss swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Virtanen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Preuss misses with a jab, cross combination.
Virtanen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Preuss.
Preuss fails to land with a series of punches.
Virtanen tries to clinch but Preuss is having none of it.
Virtanen tries to clinch up.
Preuss looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Virtanen works over Preuss's head and body with a nice combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Savio Preuss showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Preuss lands the left hand.
Virtanen tries to clinch up but Preuss circles away and keeps his distance.
Preuss misses with a combination
and Virtanen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Preuss fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Preuss will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Virtanen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Preuss.
Preuss connects with a good right hand that stumbles Virtanen. Virtanen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Virtanen tries to clinch up.
Preuss throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Virtanen.
Preuss pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Preuss throws a series of punches but Virtanen avoids them all with ease.
Preuss misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Preuss misses with a few strikes there.
Preuss takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Preuss feints a jab promting Virtanen to slip. Preuss then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Virtanen slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Preuss blocks a head kick by Virtanen.
Virtanen slips a jab from Preuss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtanen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Preuss paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Virtanen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Preuss looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Preuss throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Virtanen counters with a left to the body.
Virtanen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Preuss paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Preuss misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Virtanen tries to clinch there but Preuss circles away.
Preuss will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Virtanen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Virtanen rushes Preuss and presses him up against the cage.

Virtanen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Preuss circles away from the clinch attempt.
Virtanen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Preuss paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Preuss fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtanen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Savio Preuss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Preuss walks forward, straight into a front kick from Virtanen.
Virtanen throws a right and a left that Preuss avoids nicely.
Virtanen doesn't manage to clinch there - Preuss circles away.
Preuss throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
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 wants to clinch.
Virtanen thumps Preuss with a low kick.
Virtanen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Preuss.
Virtanen went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Virtanen tries to close the distance and clinch but Preuss swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Virtanen wants to clinch up but Preuss keeps it at a distance.
Virtanen takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Virtanen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Savio Preuss seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Preuss does no damage.
Virtanen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Preuss doesn't seem bothered though.
Virtanen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Preuss throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Virtanen tries to clinch up but Preuss circles away and keeps his distance.
Virtanen wants to clinch.
Preuss throws a counter combo.

Virtanen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Preuss as Virtanen tries to tie him up.
Preuss is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Preuss wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Virtanen trying to stall but Preuss improves his position.
Virtanen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Preuss avoids it.
Virtanen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Virtanen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Virtanen throws a head punch that misses.
Savio Preuss is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Virtanen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Timo Virtanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That has opened up Savio Preuss's cut even more.
Virtanen lands with a short shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Savio Preuss comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Preuss winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Savio Preuss!