PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jyrska Velmu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wolfgang Schleicher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velmu comes to the cage accompanied by UFO - Doctor Doctor. 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.

Velmu
vs
Schleicher

177 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
20
161 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jyrska Velmu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wolfgang Schleicher!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velmu fails with a takedown attempt.
Schleicher throws a series of punches but Velmu moves out of range.
Schleicher connects with a body shot.

Velmu feints and as Schleicher raises his hands in defense, Velmu changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Velmu is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Schleicher is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Schleicher has escaped and now he's on top!

Schleicher gets to his feet. Velmu looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Horrible takedown by Schleicher or perhaps it was just good defense by Velmu which made him look bad.
Velmu gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Schleicher connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Velmu looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Schleicher tries to roll over but Velmu keeps him under control.

Velmu is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Schleicher doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Velmu.
Velmu is breathing heavily.
Velmu trying to pass the guard but Schleicher defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schleicher is staying active underneath Velmu, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Schleicher is trying to get back to full guard.
Schleicher is looking to control Velmu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Schleicher avoid being mounted?
Schleicher wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Schleicher throws a half hearted mid kick.

Velmu 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.
Velmu wants to control but Schleicher is keeping him busy.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Velmu is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Schleicher defends it well.
Schleicher pushes Velmu off looking to stand but Velmu dives back in and keeps control.

Velmu is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Schleicher sees it coming and defends easily.
Velmu prevents Schleicher from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velmu is looking for a kimura here.
Schleicher pushes Velmu off looking to stand but Velmu dives back in and keeps control.
Velmu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A good leg kick by Schleicher.
A chopping leg kick lands by Schleicher.
Schleicher lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Velmu circles away quickly and effectively.
Velmu misses with a takedown attempt
and Schleicher counters with a thumping low kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jyrska Velmu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Schleicher looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Schleicher misses with a series of wild punches.

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.

Velmu scores with a takedown into Schleicher's guard.

Schleicher is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Velmu is aware though and is defending well.
Schleicher really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Velmu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Velmu prevents Schleicher from getting back to his feet.

Velmu thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Velmu is pushing down on Schleicher's leg trying to pass to half guard. Schleicher is fighting to maintain full guard but Velmu has managed to sneak the leg through.
Velmu is taking a breather. Schleicher 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.
Velmu trying to control the action but Schleicher is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jyrska Velmu 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.

Some wild striking there from Schleicher.
Schleicher is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Schleicher wants to clinch.

Schleicher gets caught flat footed, as Velmu shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Schleicher wants to sweep here but Velmu controlling him for the moment.
Velmu passes Schleicher's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Velmu wants to work for an arm triangle but Schleicher is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Velmu looks to land a strike but Schleicher avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schleicher throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Velmu drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Schleicher manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Velmu has Schleicher in his guard.
Velmu looking for a sweep. Not yet Velmu, not yet.
Velmu has a closed guard, preventing Schleicher from standing up.

Velmu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Velmu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Schleicher wants to control from the top but Velmu keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Velmu is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Schleicher is aware though and is defending well.
Velmu keeping moving, preventing Schleicher from controlling successfully.
Schleicher would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Schleicher postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Schleicher is looking to stand up but Velmu won't let him.

Velmu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Velmu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schleicher decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Velmu, up you get!
Velmu misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Schleicher with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Left hook, right uppercut from Schleicher.
Schleicher fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Velmu manages to avoid it.
Velmu moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Schleicher lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Jyrska Velmu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Velmu fails with the takedown
and Schleicher counters with a right hand to the body.
Velmu explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Schleicher throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Velmu counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Velmu drops back, looking for a kneebar! Schleicher looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Schleicher looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Schleicher!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schleicher looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Velmu is avoiding damage well.
Velmu manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Schleicher blocking the ground and pound attempt from Velmu.
Velmu looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Schleicher tries to get to full guard but Velmu has control of the leg.

Velmu stands up out of the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Schleicher bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Velmu's head backwards.
Velmu leaves Schleicher with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Velmu drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jyrska Velmu dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Velmu fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Velmu shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Schleicher napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Velmu wants to control but Schleicher is keeping him busy.

Velmu tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Velmu has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Schleicher manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Velmu tries to get to full guard but Schleicher has control of the leg.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Schleicher stands up out of the half guard.
Schleicher rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Velmu moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velmu tries for a takedown but Schleicher circles away easily
and Schleicher counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Schleicher scores with a three punch combo!
Velmu misses with a takedown
and Schleicher counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jyrska Velmu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Velmu on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Velmu scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Schleicher avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Velmu.

Velmu thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Velmu tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schleicher is looking to reverse the position.

Velmu goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Schleicher has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Velmu but great work by Schleicher.

Schleicher working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Velmu is trying to control Schleicher's posture but Schleicher avoids it.

Schleicher tries for a kimura but Velmu is defending well.
Schleicher working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Schleicher crashes against the mat.
Schleicher working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Velmu fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Velmu on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Schleicher lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Schleicher.
Schleicher slaps away a takedown attempt from Velmu, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jyrska Velmu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Velmu shoots in for a double leg but Schleicher sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Velmu shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Schleicher's guard.

Velmu gets to his feet. Schleicher looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A combination from Schleicher does no damage.
Velmu dives in and grabs Schleicher's left leg, looking for a takedown. Schleicher pushes down on Velmu's head and hops out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velmu misses with a takedown attempt - Schleicher sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Schleicher dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Velmu closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Velmu lands in his opponent's guard.
Velmu postures up in Schleicher's guard and throws a big left but Schleicher blocks it.
Jyrska Velmu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Velmu trying to control but Schleicher is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jyrska Velmu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Velmu, 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jyrska Velmu!