PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rendo Gracieson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matti Veijamo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matti Veijamo has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rendo Gracieson's chin.

Gracieson
vs
Veijamo

185 cm
18
188 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
183 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rendo Gracieson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matti Veijamo!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Gracieson.
Veijamo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gracieson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Gracieson looks to clinch
and Veijamo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Veijamo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Veijamo lands a body shot.
Gracieson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Veijamo defends well and Gracieson ends up having to push Veijamo into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gracieson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gracieson jumps guard but Veijamo stands there with Gracieson around his waist. Gracieson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rendo Gracieson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracieson is looking to control Veijamo's arms but Veijamo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gracieson has his back to the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracieson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Veijamo walks away with a smile on his face. Gracieson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Veijamo misses with a few strikes there.
Veijamo lands the left hand.
Gracieson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Veijamo counters with a two punch combo.
Veijamo throws a series of punches but Gracieson avoids them all with ease.
Veijamo goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Gracieson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Veijamo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Veijamo looks to land a combination but Gracieson avoids it well.
Gracieson misses with a takedown attempt
and Veijamo counters with a stiff right hand.
Gracieson dodges the punch combination from Veijamo.
Gracieson closes the distance but Veijamo moves to the side
and Veijamo counters with a two punch combo.
Rendo Gracieson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veijamo lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gracieson backs up against the ropes.
Gracieson definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Veijamo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Veijamo.
Gracieson tries to clinch up
and Veijamo counters with a nice uppercut.
No joy there for Veijamo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Veijamo leaves Gracieson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gracieson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Veijamo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracieson moves to clinch but Veijamo breaks away
enabling Veijamo to counter with a crisp jab.
Veijamo throws a series of punches but Gracieson moves out of range.
Veijamo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gracieson tries to clinch but Veijamo moves out of range.
Gracieson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Veijamo with a hook.
Veijamo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Veijamo throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gracieson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gracieson tries to clinch there but Veijamo circles away.
Gracieson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracieson gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Veijamo counters with a left to the body.
Gracieson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Veijamo's waist but Veijamo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracieson off to one side.
Gracieson shoots in for a double leg but Veijamo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Veijamo goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Veijamo.
Gracieson shoots in but no luck this time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracieson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Veijamo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A slapping leg kick lands for Veijamo.
Gracieson tries to clinch up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Veijamo thuds a left hand into Gracieson's body.
A combination from Veijamo does no damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Veijamo dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gracieson misses with a takedown attempt - Veijamo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Veijamo scores with a shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gracieson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracieson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Veijamo but Veijamo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gracieson shoots in and drives through. Veijamo sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rendo Gracieson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracieson tries to clinch up
and Veijamo counters with a series of strikes. Gracieson will be more careful next time no doubt.
A decent looking cross lands there for Veijamo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veijamo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gracieson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Veijamo scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Veijamo thuds a left hand into Gracieson's body.
Veijamo lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Veijamo jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Gracieson tries to clinch up.
Veijamo swinging wildly here.
Veijamo throws a one two combo.
Gracieson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Veijamo tries to bum rush Gracieson with a series of wild strikes but Gracieson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veijamo throws a right and a left that Gracieson avoids nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracieson.
Veijamo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gracieson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Veijamo closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Gracieson misses with an uppercut
and Veijamo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracieson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Gracieson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Veijamo has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Gracieson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gracieson shoots in but no luck this time.
Gracieson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Veijamo counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veijamo scores with a jab.
Matti Veijamo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracieson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Veijamo sprawls well. Veijamo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gracieson gets slowly back to his feet.
Rendo Gracieson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Veijamo fails to land with a series of punches.
Veijamo dodges the punch combination from Gracieson.
Veijamo lands with an overhand left.
Veijamo looks to land a combination but Gracieson avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracieson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Gracieson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Veijamo to his feet.
Veijamo throws a series of punches but Gracieson moves out of range.
Veijamo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Veijamo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracieson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Veijamo counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Gracieson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Veijamo fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Veijamo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracieson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Veijamo defends it nicely.
Gracieson darts in trying to clinch
and Veijamo counters with a nice body shot.
Veijamo looks to land a combination but Gracieson avoids it well.
Veijamo stuns Gracieson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Gracieson throws a sloppy body shot
and Veijamo counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Gracieson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Veijamo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracieson.
Gracieson misses with a takedown attempt - Veijamo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gracieson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Veijamo defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rendo Gracieson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracieson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Gracieson tries to clinch but Veijamo is having none of it.
Gracieson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Veijamo counters with a two punch combo.
Gracieson fails with the takedown
and Veijamo counters with a two punch combo.
Nice sprawl there from Veijamo as Gracieson shoots in.
Veijamo feints a jab promting Gracieson to slip. Veijamo then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Gracieson slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Gracieson fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veijamo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Veijamo throws a shot to the body.
Gracieson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gracieson doesn't manage to clinch there - Veijamo circles away.
No joy there for Veijamo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gracieson misses with a takedown attempt
and Veijamo counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Gracieson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Veijamo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracieson shoots and misses
and Gracieson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracieson is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Gracieson throws a leg kick that is checked
and Veijamo counters with a left and a right that stings Gracieson.
Matti Veijamo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracieson shoots and misses
and Veijamo counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Veijamo lands a two punch combo.

Gracieson is rocked!
Veijamo shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Gracieson eats them both and turns towards Veijamo to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Oh Gracieson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
BOOM! Veijamo lands a beautiful left hook that drops Gracieson. Gracieson tries to recover but Veijamo is having none of it, landing more punishing shots from mount. One final crushing shot and Gracieson lies motionless on the canvas. The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Matti Veijamo!