PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jorma Kovanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Verelea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kovanen
vs
Verelea

182 cm
22
175 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
175 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Forbidden Apple

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jorma Kovanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juan Verelea!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovanen bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Verelea fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kovanen manages to avoid it.
Verelea misses with a looping left.
Kovanen is looking to clinch but Verelea is avoiding it.
Juan Verelea seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Verelea fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kovanen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Verelea swats away the attempt to clinch by Kovanen.
Verelea blocks a head kick by Kovanen.
Verelea throws a series of punches but Kovanen moves out of range.
Kovanen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Verelea.
Verelea lands the left hand.
Verelea dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kovanen tries to clinch up but Verelea circles away and keeps his distance.
Kovanen tries a head kick but it misses.
Kovanen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Verelea misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovanen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Verelea throws out the jab.
Verelea lands a nice shot to the body.
Verelea misses the shot to the body.
Verelea takes a swing at Kovanen's ribcage but misses.
Verelea takes a swing at Kovanen's ribcage but misses.
Verelea misses with a hook. Kovanen ducked under it nicely.
Verelea is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kovanen rather than just go for the knockout.
Verelea throws a shot from downtown. Kovanen moves away and avoids it.
Kovanen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Verelea thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kovanen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Verelea takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kovanen doesn't manage to clinch there - Verelea circles away.
Kovanen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Verelea circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovanen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Verelea swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kovanen misses with a body shot.
Verelea throws a body punch but Kovanen moves out of range.
Verelea avoids the head kick by Kovanen.
Kovanen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kovanen there as he acknowledges the shot.
A jab from Verelea misses.
Kovanen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kovanen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Verelea keeps the fight on the outside.
Kovanen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kovanen tries a head kick but it misses.
Verelea lands a body shot.
Kovanen is breathing heavily.
Verelea takes a swing at Kovanen's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Kovanen misses its intended target.
Kovanen tries for a takedown but Verelea sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Verelea misses with a series of wild punches.
Verelea throws a shot from downtown. Kovanen moves away and avoids it.
Kovanen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Verelea takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Verelea just misses with a punch to the body.
Verelea throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Verelea throws out a powerful jab.
Verelea with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kovanen takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Verelea lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice shot by Verelea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verelea tests Kovanen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Verelea cracks Kovanen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Verelea lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Verelea lands a nice hook to Kovanen's body. Kovanen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Juan Verelea is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Verelea connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Donk. Verelea catches Kovanen right on the button with a cross.
Verelea lands a body shot.
Verelea lands a right hook to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A jab from Verelea finds it's way through Kovanen's defenses.
Verelea throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kovanen on the side of the head.
Verelea scores with a sloppy right hand. Kovanen should have avoided that one.
Verelea with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Verelea dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Verelea changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Verelea avoids the head kick by Kovanen.
Kovanen tries to close the distance and clinch but Verelea swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kovanen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Verelea stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Verelea misses with a body shot.
Kovanen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Verelea misses with a hook.
Kovanen doesn't manage to clinch there - Verelea circles away.
Verelea blocks a head kick by Kovanen.
Verelea throws a hook to the side of Kovanen's head but Kovanen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Verelea swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kovanen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Verelea connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verelea thows a body shot but no joy.
Kovanen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kovanen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Verelea ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kovanen moves away.
Verelea jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kovanen misses with a low kick as Verelea jumps back.
Verelea lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A head kick misses from Kovanen.
Verelea misses with a hook. Kovanen ducked under it nicely.
Kovanen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Verelea ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kovanen misses with a head kick.
Kovanen tries to clinch but Verelea is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verelea misses with an uppercut. Kovanen saw that one coming.
A cross from Verelea lands.
Verelea connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kovanen tries to clinch up but Verelea circles away and keeps his distance.
Juan Verelea seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Verelea swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kovanen.
Verelea scores with a body shot.
Verelea has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kovanen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A shot to de liver by Verelea. Beautiful body shot.
Kovanen slips a jab and a cross from Verelea.
Kovanen wants to clinch up but Verelea keeps it at a distance.
Kovanen throws a head kick that misses.
Kovanen blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verelea throws out a powerful jab.
Kovanen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Verelea is fending him off so far but Kovanen persists. Nope, Verelea circles away and we're back to standing.
Verelea connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kovanen's hands.
Kovanen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nice straight punches there by Verelea. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Verelea.
Verelea lands a body shot.
Verelea misses the jab.
Kovanen tries a head kick but it misses.
Kovanen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Verelea sizes up Kovanen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kovanen throws a sloppy head kick and Verelea moves out of range easily.
Verelea throws a big shot that misses.
Verelea fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kovanen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verelea cracks Kovanen with an open hand slap.
Kovanen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kovanen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Verelea to score with a decent uppercut.
Verelea lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Verelea lands a right hook to the body.
Verelea takes a swing at Kovanen's ribcage but misses.
Kovanen tries to clinch up but Verelea circles away and keeps his distance.
Verelea listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Verelea throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kovanen looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kovanen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Verelea scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kovanen doesn't seem bothered though.
Nice cross by Verelea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Verelea showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Verelea lands a jab to the nose.
Verelea looks to land a combination but Kovanen avoids it well.
Verelea looks to land a right hand but Kovanen moved out of range.
Verelea blocks a head kick by Kovanen.
Verelea misses with a looping right.
A shot to de liver by Verelea. Beautiful body shot.
Kovanen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Verelea misses the target.
Verelea avoids the head kick by Kovanen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verelea misses with a wild body shot.
Verelea lands a head shot.
Kovanen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Verelea.
Verelea throws a jab but it's blocked by Kovanen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verelea throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Verelea takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kovanen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Verelea takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Verelea misses with a looping left.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Kovanen might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Verelea avoids the head kick by Kovanen.
Kovanen misses with a head kick.
Kovanen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Verelea.
Kovanen is looking to clinch.
Verelea keeps the fight on the outside.
Kovanen throws a head kick but Verelea moves out of range.
Verelea avoids the head kick by Kovanen.
Verelea cracks a nice hook into Kovanen's ribs.
Verelea works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovanen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kovanen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A nice combination there by Verelea.
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!
Verelea throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Verelea scores with a jab. Kovanen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kovanen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Verelea scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kovanen takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Verelea fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kovanen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kovanen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Verelea just misses with a punch to the body.
Verelea lunges at Kovanen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kovanen's hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovanen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Kovanen is rocked!
Nice defenses there by Kovanen.
Kovanen lands a nice looking kick to the body. Verelea takes a step back to recover.
Verelea avoids the head kick by Kovanen.
Verelea throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Juan Verelea is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nice shot by Verelea.
Kovanen slips a jab from Verelea.
Verelea avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Verelea cracks Kovanen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Verelea connects with a body shot.
Kovanen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verelea will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kovanen tries to clinch up but Verelea circles away and keeps his distance.
Verelea lands a slapping body shot.
Kovanen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Verelea but Verelea pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Verelea scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kovanen in his tracks.
Verelea thuds a left hand into Kovanen's body.
Jorma Kovanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kovanen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Verelea scores with a body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Verelea lunges at Kovanen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kovanen's hand.
Kovanen has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Verelea punishes Kovanen's body with a nice straight punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Verelea comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Verelea 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Verelea!