PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sinisa Veljko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Bulger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Veljko comes to the cage accompanied by Stemm - Face the pain. The key to victory for Sinisa Veljko has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Veljko
vs
Bulger

184 cm
28
201 lbs
17 - 10 - 2

189 cm
25
205 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 17 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Sinisa Veljko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joseph Bulger!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Damien Edna and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bulger pushes Veljko up against the cage in a clinch.
Bulger gets underhooks to prevent Veljko's takedown attempt.
Veljko is trying to drag Bulger to the mat but Bulger just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Veljko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bulger scores with a shot to the side of Veljko's head.
Bulger fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Veljko is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bulger pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sinisa Veljko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Veljko is looking to take this one to the mat.
Veljko is looking to take this one to the mat.
Bulger gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Veljko.
Veljko is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Bulger is defending well.
Veljko wants to take the fight to the mat but Bulger manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Veljko wants a takedown but no success here.
Bulger working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Bulger lands a nice shot to the body.
Veljko is working for takedown but Bulger is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Veljko wants to take the fight to the mat but Bulger manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Veljko changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bulger fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Veljko is breathing heavily.
Bulger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Veljko gets caught napping as Bulger dives in and scores a takedown. Veljko manages to retain guard.
Veljko keeping full guard, as Bulger tries to pass.
Veljko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bulger.
Veljko keeping full guard, as Bulger tries to pass.
Bulger trying to control the position from guard on top but Veljko 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bulger throws a strike but Veljko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bulger is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Bulger looking for a guillotine here but Veljko defends easily.
Bulger keeping moving, preventing Veljko from controlling successfully.
Bulger is trying to keep Veljko in close.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Veljko looking to pass the guard.
Bulger keeping moving, preventing Veljko from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sinisa Veljko.
Bulger dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Veljko avoids the body shot from Bulger.
Veljko misses with a body kick.
Bulger waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Veljko.

Veljko gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bulger to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Bulger wants to control from the top but Veljko keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bulger passes easily into side control. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bulger misses with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Bulger dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Veljko scores with a jab to the jaw.

Bulger feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Veljko has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Bulger off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Veljko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bulger pulls his leg out and moves away.
Veljko tries for a takedown but Bulger circles away easily
and Veljko takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Veljko manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bulger on his heels. He'll look to pass Bulger's guard now, I'm sure.
Veljko with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Veljko slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Joseph Bulger has got the better of the ground game so far.
Veljko trying to control the position from guard on top but Bulger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bulger working for a triangle but Veljko defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bulger has his foot on Veljko's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Veljko works his way back into a safe position though.
Veljko wants to pass the guard but Bulger is keeping the position.
Veljko trying to control but Bulger is working from the bottom.
Bulger is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Bulger thows a huge punch but Veljko dodges it nicely.
Veljko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bulger.
Bulger slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bulger throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bulger not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Bulger is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Veljko defends it well.
Bulger is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bulger working the head and body with strikes.
Veljko tries to kick Bulger off but Bulger keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Bulger thows a huge punch but Veljko dodges it nicely.
Veljko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bulger wants to pass the guard but Veljko is defending well.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bulger misses with a head shot. Veljko uses the momentum to regain guard.
Bulger is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bulger postures up in Veljko's guard and throws a big left but Veljko blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Bulger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bulger slips a straight right by Veljko.
Veljko throws a looping overhand right but Bulger ducks down to avoid it.
Veljko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bulger.
Bulger tests Veljko's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Veljko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A slow jab from Veljko misses its intended target.
Some wild striking there from Bulger.
Veljko throws the left hand but Bulger avoids the punch easily.
Bulger thows a body shot but no joy.

Bulger closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Veljko is looking to control Bulger's arms but Bulger gets an underhook and turns him. Now Veljko has his back to the cage.
Veljko tries for a takedown. No joy.
Veljko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sinisa Veljko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bulger lands with a light punch inside.

Bulger has clasped his hands together around Veljko's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Bulger trying to control the position but Veljko is working away.
Bulger working the head and body with strikes.
Bulger takes a little break here. Veljko wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veljko is not content to let Bulger control the position.
Veljko is trying to buck Bulger off.
Bulger throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Sinisa Veljko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bulger creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Veljko sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Bulger trying to control the action but Veljko is working from the bottom.
Bulger has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Veljko defending against the ground and pound.
Bulger trying to control the position but Veljko is working away.

Bulger looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljko tries to escape but Bulger is in control.

Bulger is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Veljko is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Bulger in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sloppy strikes there by Bulger.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph Bulger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bulger 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight for Joseph Bulger!
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight for Joseph Bulger!
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight for Joseph Bulger!

Joseph Bulger wins by unanimous decision!
An out of breath Joseph Bulger thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.