PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Reg Magno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Veijo Veijalainen (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.

Magno
vs
Veijalainen

180 cm
23
163 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Reg Magno!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Veijo Veijalainen!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paulsen Ambrosius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Veijalainen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Magno's half guard.

Veijalainen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Veijalainen wants to take a breather but Magno is having none of it.
Magno is trying to get back to full guard.

Veijalainen is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magno is looking to improve his position.
Magno is controlling Veijalainen's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Veijalainen is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Magno as he works his way to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Magno seems keen to control Veijalainen's posture.
Magno on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Magno tries to get out of the position.

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.
Veijalainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Magno is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Veijalainen won't allow Magno to sweep him here.
Magno has control of Veijalainen's left arm, preventing Veijalainen from doing any damage.
Magno's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Veijalainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Magno is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magno looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Veijalainen has gone for a leg lock! Magno slips out almost immediately though and dives into Veijalainen's guard.
Magno stands up over Veijalainen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Magno loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Magno working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Magno postures up in Veijalainen's guard and throws a big left but Veijalainen blocks it.

Veijalainen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Magno can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Magno stands up from Veijalainen's guard - Magno perhaps looking for a knockout.
Magno lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veijalainen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Veijalainen.
Veijalainen looks gassed!
Magno checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Veijalainen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Magno is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Veijalainen throws a low kick, looking for Magno's leg but Magno calmly moves out of range.
Magno wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reg Magno dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Magno instigates a clinch.
A short right from Magno.
The referee is keeping an eye on Magno - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Magno lands an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good body shot from Magno.

Magno breaks from the clinch.
Veijalainen avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magno throws a body punch but Veijalainen moves out of range.
Magno throws a jab but it's blocked by Veijalainen.

Magno clinches up with Veijalainen and pushes him back against the cage.
Magno pushes Veijalainen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Magno is leaning against Veijalainen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Veijalainen jumps guard but Magno stands there with Veijalainen around his waist. Veijalainen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Veijalainen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Magno creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Magno lands with a left to the head.

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.
Veijalainen fails to pull guard.
Reg Magno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Veijo Veijalainen.
Magno prevents a takedown attempt there.
Veijalainen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Magno fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Veijalainen looks for the body kick but Magno saw that one coming.
Veijalainen shoots for a takedown but Magno saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Magno is looking to chop away at Veijalainen's legs.
Magno misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magno swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Magno avoids a kick to the body.
Magno misses with a body shot.
Veijo Veijalainen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Magno looks to land a combination but Veijalainen avoids it well.
Magno misses with a body shot.
Magno misses with a series of wild punches.
Magno with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Magno misses the shot to the body.
Magno tries to clinch up but Veijalainen circles away and keeps his distance.
A swing and a miss from Magno.
Magno works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nice defenses there by Veijalainen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Veijalainen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
No luck for Veijalainen with that takedown attempt.
Magno misses with a takedown attempt - Veijalainen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Magno tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Veijalainen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A solid body kick from Veijalainen.
Magno tries to clinch up.
Magno lands a lovely overhand right.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Veijalainen tries for a takedown but Magno circles away easily

and Magno holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Veijalainen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Magno just stands there and leans against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reg Magno dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Veijalainen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Veijalainen throws a head kick but Magno moves out of range.
Veijalainen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Magno darts in and clinches Veijalainen up against the cage.
Magno works on Veijalainen's body with a couple of short punches.
Veijalainen tries to pull guard but Magno won't allow it.
Veijalainen tries to pull guard but Magno holds him up against the cage and eventually Veijalainen drops back down to his feet.
Reg Magno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Veijo Veijalainen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magno works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Magno escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Magno instigates a clinch.
Magno lands a nice shot to the body.
Magno lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Veijalainen jumps guard but Magno stands there with Veijalainen around his waist. Veijalainen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Magno misses with the head strike.
Magno lands a right hand.
Veijalainen fails to pull guard.
A left hand lands to the body for Magno.

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.
Veijalainen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Veijalainen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Magno just stands there and leans against the cage.

Veijalainen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Magno uses from the top position.
Magno postures up in Veijalainen's guard and throws a big left but Veijalainen blocks it.

Veijalainen looking for a guillotine here but Magno defends easily.

Magno got a little sloppy there for a moment and Veijalainen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Magno has managed to get both his arms back between Veijalainen's legs - danger averted.
Veijalainen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Veijalainen keeping moving, preventing Magno from controlling successfully.
Magno passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magno looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Veijalainen looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Magno pushes past his half guard into mount!
Magno tries to control but Veijalainen wriggling away.
Veijalainen is looking to get to half guard.
Magno lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Veijalainen hang on?
Magno in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Veijalainen is bucking up trying to escape but Magno cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Magno has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Veijalainen's face.

Veijalainen is rocked!
Magno landing shots from mount.
Veijalainen is still in real trouble! Can Magno finish him?
Magno softens up his opponent with a couple of shots there and then CRACK! One massive shot lands there and Veijalainen is out cold! Magno jumps to his feet and celebrates on the cage with the fans, who are, quite frankly, going absolutely mental!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Reg Magno!
Reg Magno retains his lightweight title!