PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Billy Bob (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heikki Vennamo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bob comes to the cage accompanied by Notkea rotta - Itä meidän. Vennamo has chosen Bacchuksen tiellä as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bob
vs
Vennamo

209 cm
33
278 lbs
13 - 22 - 1

195 cm
29
240 lbs
13 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

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 13 - 22 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Billy Bob!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Heikki Vennamo!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bob is trying hard to land a takedown here. Vennamo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Heikki Vennamo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vennamo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Vennamo misses with the combination.
Bob shoots in for a double leg but Vennamo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vennamo misses with an uppercut.
Vennamo misses with a double jab

and Bob counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vennamo won't be happy with that.
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!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bob is looking to take a break and control but Vennamo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Vennamo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bob trying to control the action but Vennamo is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bob working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Vennamo struggling a bit here.
Bob looking to control but instead Vennamo has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

Vennamo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bob is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
We've been hearing that Bob has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Vennamo has hold of Bob's hands but Bob slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Bob thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vennamo's head.
Bob sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vennamo defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bob controlling the action here.
Vennamo is trying to maintain the position but Bob is very close to passing his half guard.
Bob stalling.
Vennamo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vennamo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bob. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bob trying to control the position from guard on top but Vennamo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bob is stalling in the full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

The ref stands the fighters back up because Billy Bob just wasn't active enough.
Vennamo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bob.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bob connects with a right hand. Vennamo shakes it off.

It looks like Heikki Vennamo has been cut.
Bob shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Bob. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vennamo throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Vennamo defending well as Bob loads up on a big left hand.
Bob digs a good hook to Vennamo's body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bob ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vennamo moves away.
Bob moves out of range as Vennamo strikes.
Bob avoids the body shot from Vennamo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bob misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vennamo.
Vennamo throws a big shot that misses.
Bob changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vennamo tries to avoid it but Bob manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vennamo to the ground. Vennamo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bob takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Vennamo throws a combination that misses
and Bob counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Vennamo slaps away a takedown attempt from Bob, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Vennamo throws a hook to the side of Bob's head but Bob sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vennamo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bob counters with a left to the body.
Vennamo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bob circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Bob dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Heikki Vennamo's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bob fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bob loads up on a big right hand but Vennamo slips the punch.
A nice combination there by Vennamo.
Danga de danga de dang - Vennamo scores with a four punch combination!
Vennamo throws a series of punches but Bob moves out of range.
Vennamo lands with a good body shot.
Vennamo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bob.
Bob looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vennamo is fending him off so far but Bob persists. Nope, Vennamo circles away and we're back to standing.
Bob tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Vennamo defends well and Bob ends up having to push Vennamo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Bob. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vennamo decides to pull guard.
Vennamo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bob throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bob stops Vennamo from standing up.
Bob scoring with some ground and pound.
Bob wants to control from the top but Vennamo keeps moving.
Bob is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bob working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bob 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.
Bob's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Bob trying to control but Vennamo is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Vennamo has his feet on Bob's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vennamo misses with a double jab
and Bob counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Vennamo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Vennamo throws a right hand that Bob ducks under and follows up with a left that Bob also avoids with ease.
Bob uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vennamo.
Bob is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Vennamo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bob throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vennamo's waist but Vennamo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bob off to one side.
A punch combination from Vennamo misses.
Bob lands with a good body shot.
Bob dives in and grabs Vennamo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vennamo pushes down on Bob's head and hops out.
Heikki Vennamo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vennamo lands a nice shot that snaps Bob's head back.
Vennamo digs a good body shot into Bob's ribs.
Vennamo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Vennamo uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Bob has time to react.
Bob scores with a hook to the body. Vennamo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Vennamo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vennamo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Vennamo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Bob shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Vennamo but Vennamo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Vennamo misses with a double jab.
Bob is looking to wear down Vennamo with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bob scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Heikki Vennamo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Heikki Vennamo's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Vennamo. No joy for Bob on that attempt.
Vennamo tries to bum rush Bob with a series of wild strikes but Bob uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vennamo misses the shot to the body.
Vennamo displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Vennamo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Bob counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Bob throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vennamo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bob being controlled here momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bob accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bob throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bob postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bob trying to control the position from guard on top but Vennamo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vennamo keeping full guard, as Bob tries to pass.
Vennamo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bob is one step ahead there.
Bob controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Vennamo scores with a jab to the body.
Vennamo lands a nice hook to Bob's body. Bob takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Vennamo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bob takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Vennamo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bob.
Bob avoids a punch combination nicely.
Vennamo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice sprawl there from Vennamo as Bob shoots in.
Bob avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bob avoids a punch combination nicely.
Heikki Vennamo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bob misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vennamo.
No joy there for Vennamo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bob walks into a jab.
Bob shoots for a double leg takedown but Vennamo sprawls well. He's pushed Bob's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Bob. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bob goes for a double leg but Vennamo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Vennamo continues to drive forward.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vennamo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bob tries for a takedown but Vennamo manages to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bob changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Vennamo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Vennamo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Vennamo scores with a hook to the body. Bob takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A combination from Vennamo does no damage.
Bob lands a right hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Heikki Vennamo.
I think Vennamo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 29:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Billy Bob!
An out of breath Billy Bob thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.