PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Plusnin (ranked 710 p4p, 785 weight class) and Sione Veainu (ranked 105 p4p, 110 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Plusnin
vs
Veainu

180 cm
27
220
7 - 5 - 0

175 cm
27
205
9 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Highland Clothing

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Highland Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Plusnin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sione Veainu!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Anthony Taglia and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Plusnin swings widly with a right hand
and Veainu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Plusnin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Veainu.

Plusnin closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Veainu to the mat! Veainu manages to get full guard.
Plusnin wants to control from the top but Veainu keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Veainu can do anything to dispel that myth.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Plusnin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Plusnin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Plusnin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Plusnin 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.
Plusnin trying to control the position from guard on top but Veainu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Veainu defending well as Plusnin loads up on a big left hand.
Sione Veainu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Donk. Veainu catches Plusnin right on the button with a cross.

It looks like Vladimir Plusnin has been cut.

Plusnin shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Plusnin is trying to control. Veainu wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Plusnin seems to be working for a kimura but Veainu defends the submission attempt.

Plusnin is working for a kimura but Veainu is defending it quite comfortably.
Veainu avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Plusnin.
Veainu really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Plusnin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Plusnin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Veainu wants to control but Plusnin is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plusnin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Veainu is looking to control Plusnin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Veainu avoid being mounted?

Plusnin seems to be looking for submissions.
Veainu has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Hammer House of Horror. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Plusnin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Veainu defending well though.

Plusnin seems to be looking for submissions.

Plusnin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Plusnin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four 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.

Plusnin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Veainu has managed to free his arm - good work.
Plusnin has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Plusnin stalling away here and it's allowed Veainu to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Plusnin wants to control from the top but Veainu keeps moving.

Plusnin 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Plusnin has gone for a leg lock! Veainu slips out almost immediately though and dives into Plusnin's guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Plusnin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Plusnin's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Plusnin moves out of range of the strikes.
Plusnin misses with a hook
and Veainu counters with a nice uppercut.

Plusnin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Plusnin trying to control the position from guard on top but Veainu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Plusnin passes into half guard.
Plusnin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Veainu does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Plusnin is thwarting Veainu's attempts to control the position.
Plusnin trying to control the action but Veainu is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plusnin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Veainu avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Plusnin.

Veainu is defending against the submission attempts here by Plusnin.

Plusnin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Veainu defends it well.

Plusnin is looking for a kimura but Veainu is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Plusnin to get the leverage.

That's two 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.

Veainu makes his way to full guard, as Plusnin worked for a kimura.
Plusnin throws a big right hand that misses.
Veainu keeping full guard, as Plusnin tries to pass.
Veainu keeping moving, preventing Plusnin from controlling successfully.

Plusnin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Plusnin with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veainu keeping moving, preventing Plusnin from controlling successfully.
Plusnin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Veainu swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Plusnin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Plusnin misses with a lunging right hand
and Veainu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Plusnin defending well as Veainu loads up on a big left hand.
Plusnin shoots for a takedown but Veainu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A little jabbing left from Veainu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Veainu misses with a left hand
and Plusnin counters with a stiff right hand.
Veainu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Plusnin.
Plusnin slips a straight right by Veainu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Plusnin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Veainu defends it nicely.
Vladimir Plusnin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Plusnin misses with a looping left.
Plusnin scores with a nice strike.
Veainu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Veainu now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Plusnin throws a nice looking combination but Veainu bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sione Veainu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Plusnin misses with a takedown
and Veainu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Plusnin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Plusnin's cut.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Plusnin manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Veainu on his heels. He'll look to pass Veainu's guard now, I'm sure.
Plusnin throwing strikes but missing.
Plusnin pushing down on Veainu's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Plusnin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Veainu is just riding it out for now. Plusnin eventually gives up the hold.

Plusnin is working for a kimura but Veainu is defending it quite comfortably.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Veainu is refusing to be controlled, as Plusnin sits in half guard.
Sione Veainu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vladimir Plusnin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veainu wants to control but Plusnin is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Plusnin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Veainu is refusing to be controlled, as Plusnin sits in half guard.
Plusnin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Veainu knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Plusnin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Veainu can do to turn this around?

Plusnin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Veainu has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Plusnin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Plusnin is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Veainu still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Veainu has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Plusnin is looking for a sweep.
Plusnin can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plusnin tries to bench press Veainu off him but Veainu keeps the position.
Vladimir Plusnin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Plusnin manages to work his way to half guard, despite Veainu's best efforts.
Plusnin is concentrating on defense, preventing Veainu from advancing position.

Plusnin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Plusnin wants to control but Veainu is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Plusnin is defending against the submission attempts here by Veainu.
Plusnin wants to get back to full guard.

That's four 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.
Plusnin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Plusnin.

Plusnin has his foot on Veainu's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Veainu works his way back into a safe position though.

Plusnin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Veainu defends well.
Veainu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Veainu preventing the sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Plusnin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Plusnin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Plusnin, 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Plusnin!
During a confident post fight interview, Vladimir Plusnin thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.