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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jerrod Beach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juhani Virtalaakso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 181 cm
18
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0 |
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164 cm
23
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jerrod Beach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juhani Virtalaakso!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Virtalaakso closes the distance and clinches.
Virtalaakso throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Beach tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Virtalaakso just stands there and leans against the cage.
Virtalaakso has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Beach uses from the top position.
Beach is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Virtalaakso looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Beach puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Beach is looking to take a break and control but Virtalaakso is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Virtalaakso keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Beach throws a strike but Virtalaakso avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Beach keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Virtalaakso's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beach wants to control from the top but Virtalaakso keeps moving.
Beach postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Virtalaakso preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Virtalaakso uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Beach tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Virtalaakso counters with a nice body shot.
Beach throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sloppy strikes from Beach. Those never looked like landing.
Virtalaakso looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Beach tries to roll over but Virtalaakso keeps him under control.
Virtalaakso missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Beach is trying to stand back up but Virtalaakso is controlling him
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtalaakso is keen to just control but Beach is a slippery customer.
Virtalaakso thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Virtalaakso uses his free foot to push down on Beach's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Beach.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Virtalaakso throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Beach's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Virtalaakso misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Virtalaakso prevents Beach from getting the reversal.
Virtalaakso thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Virtalaakso avoids the attempt from Beach to control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beach keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Virtalaakso throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Virtalaakso punching from mount but Beach doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Beach tries to reverse the position but Virtalaakso maintains control.
Beach is breathing heavily.
Virtalaakso misses with a head shot.
Beach has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Virtalaakso throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Virtalaakso throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Beach because Virtalaakso loaded up on that one.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beach blocking the ground and pound.
Beach is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Virtalaakso punching from mount but Beach doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Virtalaakso is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Beach is surviving well by controlling Virtalaakso's body position as best he can.
Virtalaakso thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Virtalaakso controlling the position easily from mount.
Virtalaakso sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that�s the end of the round � the fighters go back to their corners.
Juhani Virtalaakso dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
A momentary lapse in concentration from Beach enables Virtalaakso to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Beach manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Beach scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Juhani Virtalaakso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Virtalaakso gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Beach tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Beach tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Beach tries for a takedown but Virtalaakso manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerrod Beach. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Beach manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Beach thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Virtalaakso looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Beach controlling the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Beach keeping full guard, as Virtalaakso tries to pass.
Beach is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Virtalaakso is aware though and is defending well.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Virtalaakso throwing strikes from guard but Beach blocks nicely.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Virtalaakso gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Virtalaakso lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Beach.
Beach wants a takedown.
Virtalaakso has Beach pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Virtalaakso pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Beach tumbling to the mat - Virtalaakso dives into Beach's guard.
Virtalaakso loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Virtalaakso in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Virtalaakso throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Beach works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Virtalaakso working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Virtalaakso with a flurry of punches that miss.
Virtalaakso controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Virtalaakso stands up from Beach's guard - Virtalaakso perhaps looking for a knockout.
Virtalaakso rushes Beach and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Beach breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtalaakso bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Beach tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Virtalaakso thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Virtalaakso has control of Beach's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Beach regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Virtalaakso punching from mount but Beach doing a good job of avoiding damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtalaakso throws some wild stikes that Beach manages to avoid easily.
Virtalaakso thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Virtalaakso trying to control but Beach is having none of it.
Virtalaakso controlling from the full mount.
Beach avoids a series of strikes thrown by Virtalaakso.
And that�s the end of the round � the fighters go back to their corners.
Juhani Virtalaakso showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!
Virtalaakso drives through and clinches with Beach against the cage.
Beach jumps guard but Virtalaakso stands there with Beach around his waist. Beach gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Beach breaks the clinch.
Virtalaakso gets a takedown into half guard.
Virtalaakso is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Virtalaakso stops Beach from getting back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Virtalaakso sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Beach defending well though.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Beach wants to get back to his feet.
Virtalaakso slows the pace down in half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Beach trying to get back to full guard but Virtalaakso takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Beach holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Virtalaakso tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Virtalaakso goes for an armbar but he's not got it� Beach turns into him and now he's in Virtalaakso's guard.
Virtalaakso wants to improve his position but instead Beach has moved into half guard.
Virtalaakso looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Virtalaakso has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Virtalaakso is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Virtalaakso is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Virtalaakso is refusing to be controlled, as Beach sits in half guard.
Nice strikes from Beach there.
Beach is keen to just control but Virtalaakso is a slippery customer.
Virtalaakso makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Beach throws a leg kick but Virtalaakso sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Virtalaakso steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Beach.
Virtalaakso scores with a takedown into Beach's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Virtalaakso gets to his feet - Beach follows without any prompting.
Virtalaakso's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Virtalaakso duly obliges.
It looks like Jerrod Beach has been cut.
Virtalaakso gets a double leg takedown into Beach's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Virtalaakso gets to his feet - Beach follows without any prompting.
Virtalaakso shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Virtalaakso throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Virtalaakso trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Juhani Virtalaakso is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jerrod Beach has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Virtalaakso advances position into side control!
And that's the end of the fight!
Juhani Virtalaakso comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Virtalaakso 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juhani Virtalaakso!
A relieved looking Juhani Virtalaakso thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
37% |
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