PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nate Newman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jarppi Virne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Virne comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Jeff van Dyck - Soldier's Chant kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Newman
vs
Virne

196 cm
31
237 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

187 cm
40
262 lbs
20 - 30 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nate Newman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 30 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarppi Virne!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Virne closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Newman to the mat! Newman manages to get full guard.
Virne throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Virne trying to control the position from guard on top but Newman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Virne accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Virne postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Newman trying to control the position.
Virne throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Newman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Newman wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Newman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Virne.
Virne postures up and lands a big shot to Newman's brow.
Virne stopping the sweep attempt from Newman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newman is working hard here to advance position.
Virne wants to control from the top but Newman keeps moving.
Newman is trying to keep Virne in close.
Virne throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Newman feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Virne's calf.

Virne looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Newman!
Virne looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Check out the look on Virne's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Newman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virne working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Newman is trying to control Virne's posture but Virne avoids it.

Virne wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Newman, who protects the arm well.
Newman can't do much from the bottom here.
Newman is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Virne looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Newman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Virne.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Virne is working for a submission of some sort.

Virne wants to work for an arm triangle but Newman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Newman trying to hold on to Virne's head to control him but Virne postures up.
Newman is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Virne scores with a couple of nice shots.
Newman wants to get back to full guard.
Virne wants to lay and pray for a moment but Newman keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Newman is trying to maintain the position but Virne is very close to passing his half guard.
Newman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Newman is concentrating on defense, preventing Virne from advancing position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Newman lands the left hand.

Virne shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Virne is trying to control the action in half guard but Newman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Virne looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Newman is positioning himself well to prevent Virne advancing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarppi Virne dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Virne stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Virne wants it to stay on the feet.

Virne closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Virne lands in his opponent's guard.
Newman looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Virne lands a couple of elbows.
Virne wants to control from the top but Newman keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virne missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Virne pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Newman is keeping the position for now.
Newman is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newman keeping moving, preventing Virne from controlling successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Virne postures up.
Virne throwing strikes but missing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Virne instigates a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Newman.

Virne tightens his grip and picks Newman up, before dumping him to the ground. Newman manages to land in guard.
Virne cracks Newman with a solid left hand.
Virne is looking to work some ground and pound but Newman has wrist control.
Newman seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virne trying to control the position from guard on top but Newman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Virne works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Virne with the ground and pound but Newman uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Virne has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Newman is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Virne is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Virne throwing strikes from guard but Newman blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Virne accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virne stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Newman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Newman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Virne postures up and lands a big shot to Newman's brow.
Virne loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Virne with a flurry of punches that miss.
Newman controls Virne momentarily but Virne frees himself.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Virne shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Newman manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newman is trying to keep Virne in close.
Virne trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Newman is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Virne lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Newman controls Virne momentarily but Virne frees himself.
Newman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Virne postures up and lands a big shot to Newman's brow.
Virne lands a couple of elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarppi Virne showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Virne has Newman up against the cage in a clinch.
Newman lands a nice uppercut.

Newman gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Virne striking from the bottom.
Virne is looking to improve his position.

Newman is trying to work for a kimura but Virne is defending well.
Virne moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virne trying to keep a closed guard but Newman is proving a slippery customer.
Newman wants to pass the guard but Virne is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Virne is trying to keep Newman in close.

Virne working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Newman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Newman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Newman stays in close to Virne's body and controls the position.
Virne lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Newman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Newman controls Virne momentarily but Virne frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Virne not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Newman keeping moving, preventing Virne from controlling successfully.
Newman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Virne is one step ahead there.
Virne lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nate Newman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Virne lands a couple of digs.
Virne throws a big elbow that misses.
Jarppi Virne is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virne working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Newman's head.
Newman is trying to control the position but Virne postures up.
Newman tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Newman throws a poor cross that misses
and Virne counters with a three punch combo that has Newman backing up. Newman nods at Virne to acknowledge the strikes.

Virne gets a clinch.

Virne turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Virne manages to end up in side control.
Virne is looking to take a break and control but Newman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Virne gets to mount! Newman was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virne controlling the pace for now.
Newman wants to hold on but Virne pushes him away.
Virne controlling from the full mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Newman is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Virne can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Newman is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jarppi Virne comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Virne 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jarppi Virne!