PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between David Abott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heikki Vennamo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abott comes into the arena with The Winner Takes it All! blaring out of the sound system. Vennamo has chosen Bacchuksen tiellä as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Abott
vs
Vennamo

183 cm
23
255 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

195 cm
27
240 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, David Abott!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Heikki Vennamo!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abott rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Vennamo counters with a one-two to the body.
Abott tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vennamo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vennamo lands with an uppercut that bounces Abott off the cage and back into range.
Abott looks to clinch
letting Vennamo counter with a right hand.
Vennamo looks to land a combination but Abott avoids it well.
Vennamo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Vennamo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Vennamo wants it to stay on the feet.
Vennamo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A jab from Abott misses.
Abott keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Abott misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Abott. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abott avoids a punch combination nicely.
Abott misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abott throws a body punch but Vennamo moves out of range.
Vennamo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Abott doesn't seem bothered though.
Vennamo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Abott circles away quickly and effectively.
David Abott seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Abott slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Abott avoids a punch combination nicely.
Vennamo takes a swing at Abott's ribcage but misses.

Abott 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.
Abott trying to control the position from guard on top but Vennamo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Abott pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vennamo is keeping the position for now.
Abott wants to control from the top but Vennamo keeps moving.
Abott postures up and lands a big shot to Vennamo's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Abott trying to control the position from guard on top but Vennamo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Abott stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vennamo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Abott 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.
Abott throws a big right hand that misses.
Abott trying to control the position from guard on top but Vennamo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Abott stands up over Vennamo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Vennamo keeping full guard, as Abott tries to pass.
Vennamo wants to stand up but Abott is controlling him.
Abott passes Vennamo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Abott lands with a punch from half guard.
Abott performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Abott wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vennamo keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vennamo tries to roll over but Abott keeps him under control.
Abott wants to take a breather but Vennamo is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of David Abott.

Vennamo gets caught napping as Abott dives in and scores a takedown. Vennamo manages to retain guard.
Abott won't allow Vennamo to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Abott showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Abott makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abott is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Vennamo keeping full guard, as Abott tries to pass.
Abott postures up in Vennamo's guard and throws a big left but Vennamo blocks it.
Abott might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Vennamo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Abott manages to get himself to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Abott pulls Vennamo in close to his closed guard and prevents Vennamo from doing any damage or advancing position.
Vennamo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Vennamo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Abott has control of Vennamo's left arm, preventing Vennamo from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Abott dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Abott waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vennamo.
Abott doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Abott will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
No joy there for Vennamo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Abott gets a takedown into half guard.
Abott takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Vennamo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Abott's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Abott's back!
Abott is really stuck here.
Abott tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Vennamo throws a strike there. Abott manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Abott is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abott gets back to full guard.
Vennamo trying to control but Abott is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Abott avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Heikki Vennamo.
Vennamo lands a right hook to the body.
Abott looks to score with a jab to the body but Vennamo is just out of range.
Heikki Vennamo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Abott swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Vennamo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Vennamo lands a body shot.
Abott fails with a takedown attempt.
Vennamo lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Heikki Vennamo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Abott is looking to clinch but Vennamo is avoiding it.
Vennamo scores with a three punch combo!

Abott shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Abott missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abott lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Abott wants to take a breather but Vennamo is having none of it.
Abott blocks the strikes from Vennamo.
Abott seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Vennamo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Abott throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Vennamo to regain full guard.
David Abott overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Abott is pushing down on Vennamo's leg trying to pass to half guard. Vennamo is fighting to maintain full guard but Abott has managed to sneak the leg through.
Vennamo wants to get back to full guard.
Vennamo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Abott.
Vennamo wants to improve his position but Abott is controlling well.
Abott is trying to control. Vennamo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Vennamo taking some punishment here, with Abott in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abott works his way into full mount!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vennamo is trying desperately to improve position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abott breaks from Vennamo's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Abott looking to finish Vennamo with some ground and pound. This is bad for Vennamo!
Abott fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Abott dominating with strikes here.
Vennamo wants to hold on but Abott pushes him away.
Vennamo regains half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Abott wants to pass to mount but Vennamo is defending the position.
Abott passes to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Abott dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Abott lands with a nice body punch.

Abott moves into the clinch.
Abott misses with a hook from the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Abott stops a takedown attempt from Vennamo.
Vennamo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Abott avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Vennamo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Abott swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Abott tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Vennamo defends well and Abott ends up having to push Vennamo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Abott breaks from the clinch.
Abott thows a body shot but no joy.
Abott shoots in looking for a takedown. Vennamo tries to sprawl out of it but Abott keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vennamo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Vennamo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Abott at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vennamo stuffs the takedown attempt from Abott. Abott gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Abott. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vennamo misses with an uppercut
enabling Abott to counter with a crisp jab.
Vennamo slips a jab from Abott.
Vennamo lands with an uppercut that bounces Abott off the cage and back into range.
Abott moves in looking to clinch but Vennamo pushes him off.
Vennamo misses with a wild body shot.
The fighters circling - Vennamo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Abott throws out a loose jab but Vennamo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vennamo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Abott.
Some wild striking there from Vennamo.
Abott shoots in for a double leg but Vennamo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Heikki Vennamo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
David Abott is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vennamo lands with a good body shot.

Abott takes the fight into the clinch.
Vennamo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Abott lands an uppercut.

Vennamo gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vennamo tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Vennamo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Abott keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Heikki Vennamo has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Abott closes the distance and clinches up with Vennamo, looking for a takedown. Abott pushes Vennamo against the cage but Vennamo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Abott dodges the punch combination from Vennamo.
A punch combination from Vennamo misses.
Vennamo misses with a series of wild punches.
Vennamo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Abott tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vennamo was well out of range. Poor timing from Abott.
Vennamo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Abott.
Vennamo has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Abott fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abott fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Vennamo lands a really nice looking cross but Abott seems unphased.

Abott gets the takedown into side control.
Abott is staying tight to Vennamo's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Abott lands some shots froms side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Vennamo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Abott wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vennamo keeps working.
Abott is really struggling to control Vennamo but he's trying to hold on to the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Abott prevents Vennamo from standing back up.
Vennamo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vennamo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Abott.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to David Abott.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Abott, 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Abott!
A pretty intense looking David Abott took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.