PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikola Veljanovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Earl Sicad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Veljanovski
vs
Sicad

182 cm
22
234 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikola Veljanovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Earl Sicad!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sicad ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Veljanovski moves away.
Veljanovski tries to clinch but Sicad moves out of range.

Veljanovski drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Veljanovski not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Veljanovski seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sicad for as long as he can get away with.
Sicad trying to control the position.
Sicad wants to sweep here but Veljanovski controlling him for the moment.
Sicad manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sicad tries to control but Veljanovski wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski regains half guard.
Veljanovski is trying is best to control the position here.
Sicad is looking to stall here but Veljanovski recovers full guard.
Veljanovski seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Veljanovski wants to sweep here but Sicad controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sicad trying to control the position from guard on top but Veljanovski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Veljanovski scores with a takedown into Sicad's guard.

Sicad has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Veljanovski is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Sicad.
Sicad is looking to regain half guard here but Veljanovski keeps moving and retains side control.
Veljanovski is staying tight to Sicad's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sicad is looking for a sweep.
Sicad is trying to escape the position but Veljanovski is controlling the position.
Veljanovski will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nikola Veljanovski just wasn't active enough.

Veljanovski looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Veljanovski engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sicad's guard.
Veljanovski performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Veljanovski is pressing down on Sicad's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sicad is holding on for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Veljanovski perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Nikola Veljanovski.
Sicad misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Veljanovski 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.

Sicad working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Veljanovski has passed into half guard!
Veljanovski not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Veljanovski passes to side control.
Veljanovski just content to control the position.
Sicad gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Veljanovski controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sicad looks a forlorn figure.
Veljanovski controlling from mount.

Veljanovski is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Sicad is surviving well by controlling Veljanovski's body position as best he can.
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!
Veljanovski sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sicad sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Veljanovski controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nikola Veljanovski just wasn't active enough.

Veljanovski has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sicad looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Veljanovski manages to break the clinch.

Veljanovski looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Veljanovski works his foot free and advances to mount.
Veljanovski controlling his opponent.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikola Veljanovski dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sicad tries for a takedown but Veljanovski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Veljanovski drops his hands momentarily and Sicad takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Sicad with a poor takedown

and Veljanovski counters by moving into the clinch.
Sicad jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Veljanovski walks away with a smile on his face. Sicad gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nikola Veljanovski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Earl Sicad.
Sicad shoots and misses

and Veljanovski counters by clinching up.
Veljanovski wants a takedown but no success here.
Sicad looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Veljanovski slows down the pace here.
Veljanovski blocking some punches.

Veljanovski's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Veljanovski darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Veljanovski in particular looking to stall.
Veljanovski passes into side control, despite Sicad's attempt to control the position.
Sicad takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Veljanovski in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski'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.

Nikola Veljanovski has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Veljanovski shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Veljanovski was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Veljanovski is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Sicad's shoulder. That is not cool.
Sicad is looking to regain half guard here but Veljanovski keeps moving and retains side control.

Veljanovski is trying to get an arm triangle but Sicad is defending well.
Veljanovski is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Sicad gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski looking to control and managing it successfully.
Veljanovski with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Veljanovski looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Veljanovski wants to finish this one by submission but Sicad is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Veljanovski.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikola Veljanovski showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Veljanovski has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Nikola Veljanovski!
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Nikola Veljanovski!
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for Nikola Veljanovski!

Nikola Veljanovski wins by unanimous decision!