PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jean Cristopher La Vellei (ranked 3284 p4p, 4559 weight class) and Luke Venderag (ranked 405 p4p, 527 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

La Vellei
vs
Venderag

196 cm
30
185
11 - 5 - 0

181 cm
29
185
9 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jean Cristopher La Vellei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Luke Venderag!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Kenichi Hosakawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
La Vellei scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
La Vellei lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
La Vellei misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And Venderag tries to counter it with a takedown but La Vellei pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Venderag shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with La Vellei but La Vellei pushes him off and we're back to square one.

La Vellei closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Venderag's guard.

Venderag is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Venderag avoiding damage.

La Vellei's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
La Vellei is looking to score with low kicks.
Venderag tries to close the distance and clinch up but La Vellei swats him away and circles back towards the center.

La Vellei looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Venderag!
La Vellei misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Vellei trying to control the action but Venderag is working from the bottom.
La Vellei working the body and head with strikes.
La Vellei has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
La Vellei in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
La Vellei working away.

La Vellei is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Venderag is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
La Vellei working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
La Vellei working the ground and pound from side control.
La Vellei wants to control but Venderag is keeping him busy.
La Vellei will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

La Vellei is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Venderag knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Venderag taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
La Vellei trying to control the action but Venderag is working from the bottom.
La Vellei cracks Venderag with a big right hand but Venderag just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Venderag really doesn't want to stay on the ground with La Vellei. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
La Vellei advances to mount.
La Vellei lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
La Vellei can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Venderag is looking to escape.
La Vellei with a couple of short strikes.

La Vellei looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
La Vellei lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
La Vellei looking to control but Venderag is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
La Vellei landing shots from mount.
Venderag is in a horrible position here. La Vellei smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
La Vellei looking to finish Venderag with some ground and pound. This is bad for Venderag!

La Vellei is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Venderag is surviving well by controlling La Vellei's body position as best he can.
La Vellei trying to control but Venderag is having none of it.
Venderag wants to hold on but La Vellei pushes him away.
La Vellei trying to control but Venderag is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
La Vellei unloading with bombs!
La Vellei with shots to the head and body - Venderag looks very uncomfortable down there.
La Vellei breaks from Venderag's wrist control and lands an elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!

La Vellei working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
La Vellei scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Venderag?
La Vellei trying to control but Venderag is having none of it.
Venderag is working to get back to half guard.

La Vellei moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Venderag has worked his arm free - good work by Venderag!
Venderag is trying to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Cristopher La Vellei dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Venderag enables La Vellei to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Venderag manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Venderag has momentary wrist control but La Vellei slips an elbow through the middle.
La Vellei in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
La Vellei trying to control the position from guard on top but Venderag is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

La Vellei is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Venderag can do anything to dispel that myth.
La Vellei scoring with some ground and pound.
Venderag is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst La Vellei is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Venderag keeping moving, preventing La Vellei from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Venderag trying to keep a closed guard but La Vellei is proving a slippery customer.
La Vellei controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Vellei wants to control from the top but Venderag keeps moving.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells La Vellei's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
La Vellei is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
La Vellei trying to control but Venderag is working from the bottom.
La Vellei is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Venderag is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
La Vellei pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Venderag is keeping the position for now.
Venderag is trying to control the position from the bottom.
La Vellei trying to move into half guard but instead Venderag has managed to sweep!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

La Vellei scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Venderag swings for the body but La Vellei moves out of range.
Venderag tries to close the distance and clinch up but La Vellei swats him away and circles back towards the center.
La Vellei really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

La Vellei gets a double leg takedown into Venderag's guard.
La Vellei trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
La Vellei sitting in guard, not really doing much.

La Vellei has gone for a leg lock! Venderag slips out almost immediately though and dives into La Vellei's guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
La Vellei trying to control the position.

La Vellei escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Venderag gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

La Vellei is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Venderag defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
La Vellei lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

La Vellei landing some decent shots from guard.
La Vellei is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
La Vellei is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Venderag can do to turn this around?
Venderag tries to land a sweep but no joy.

La Vellei drops back looking for a leg! Venderag is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Venderag manages to kick La Vellei off! La Vellei jumps back into Venderag's guard.

Venderag is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
La Vellei scoring with punches to the head and body.
La Vellei trying to control but Venderag is working from the bottom.
La Vellei slips nicely into half guard.

La Vellei is working for a kimura but Venderag is defending it quite comfortably.

La Vellei is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
La Vellei looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Venderag with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Venderag avoiding damage under a succession of punches from La Vellei.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Cristopher La Vellei dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Venderag looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Venderag is defended easily by La Vellei.
La Vellei missing with a left hand there. Venderag was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Venderag.
La Vellei was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Venderag moves out of range of the body kick from La Vellei.
Venderag takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
La Vellei cracks Venderag with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
La Vellei scores with a jab to the head.
La Vellei shoots in looking for a takedown. Venderag tries to sprawl out of it but La Vellei keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Venderag manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick lands for La Vellei.

La Vellei drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
La Vellei pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Venderag is keeping the position for now.
Venderag controls La Vellei momentarily but La Vellei frees himself.
La Vellei landing some decent shots from guard.
La Vellei wants to stand but Venderag has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
La Vellei keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Venderag's head.
La Vellei trying to control but Venderag is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Venderag preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jean Cristopher La Vellei is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
La Vellei stands and throws Venderag's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Venderag tries to bench press La Vellei off him but La Vellei keeps the position.

La Vellei looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Venderag is trying to escape the position but La Vellei is controlling the position.
Jean Cristopher La Vellei overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

La Vellei decides to stand up, so the ref orders Venderag to his feet.

La Vellei closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Venderag did well to prevent La Vellei getting side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
La Vellei looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

La Vellei is looking for a kimura but Venderag is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for La Vellei to get the leverage.
La Vellei is taking a breather. Venderag says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Venderag is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

La Vellei stands up out of the half guard.
Venderag is looking to clinch but La Vellei is avoiding it.
La Vellei tried to counter with a leg kick but Venderag avoided it.
La Vellei shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Venderag pinned against the cage. Venderag gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Venderag throws a big counter head kick but La Vellei avoids it with no problem.
Venderag takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
La Vellei misses with a low kick as Venderag jumps back.
La Vellei tries to score a power double leg takedown but Venderag sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten La Vellei somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jean Cristopher La Vellei. That's going to take a lot out of him.
La Vellei thows a left - swing and a miss!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from La Vellei.
Jean Cristopher La Vellei is winning the standup battle so far.
Venderag looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
La Vellei delivers a nice body kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
La Vellei misses with a wild combination.
La Vellei sets himself, and Venderag steps forward looking for the clinch! La Vellei avoids it this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jean Cristopher La Vellei showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for La Vellei, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jean Cristopher La Vellei!
Jean Cristopher La Vellei thanked the fans post fight for their support.