PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Allan Cannon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Olavi Verneri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Olavi Verneri has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cannon
vs
Verneri

191 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

185 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Allan Cannon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Olavi Verneri!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cannon fails with the takedown.

Cannon gets caught flat footed, as Verneri shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Cannon wants to get back to his feet but Verneri is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Verneri throws a big right hand that misses.
Verneri controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Verneri landing some decent shots from guard.
Verneri sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verneri is looking to stand up but Cannon won't let him.
Verneri is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Verneri throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cannon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Verneri wants to pass the guard but Cannon is keeping the position.
Verneri sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Olavi Verneri wasn't active enough on the ground.

Verneri looking to score a takedown here. Cannon is defending well but Verneri drives through and ends up in Cannon's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verneri's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Verneri wanted to stand there but Cannon had control of the position.
Verneri showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Verneri wants to control from the top but Cannon keeps moving.

Olavi Verneri has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cannon enables Verneri to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cannon manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Verneri is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verneri wants to pass the guard but Cannon is keeping the position.
Cannon wants to sweep but no luck.
Cannon is looking to stand up but Verneri isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Verneri stands up from Cannon's guard - Verneri perhaps looking for a knockout.
Verneri misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Verneri shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Verneri showed some decent athleticism there.
Verneri is controlling the pace.

Verneri is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cannon defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olavi Verneri dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cannon has managed to clinch.
Verneri tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cannon avoids it.
Verneri is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Verneri works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Olavi Verneri has got the better of the ground game so far.
Verneri is looking to stand up but Cannon won't let him.
Verneri missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cannon trying to keep a closed guard but Verneri is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verneri wants to control from the top but Cannon keeps moving.

Verneri stands and steps away. Cannon gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Verneri misses with a low kick.

Cannon tries to sprawl but Verneri drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Verneri takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Verneri is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cannon tries to get to full guard but Verneri has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verneri is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Verneri wants to control the pace but Cannon is squirming around nicely.
Cannon in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cannon tries to lock up and control but Verneri gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Cannon is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verneri working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Verneri working Cannon over with strikes here.
Verneri is looking to stand but Verneri has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Verneri is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Cannon can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Verneri can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cannon is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verneri working the ground and pound effectively.
The referee warns Cannon that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Verneri fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Verneri controlling from the full mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Verneri with good strikes from the mount here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olavi Verneri showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Cannon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Verneri is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Verneri looking to score a takedown here. Cannon is defending well but Verneri drives through and ends up in Cannon's guard.
Verneri wants to control from the top but Cannon keeps moving.

Cannon looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Verneri postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Verneri slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Verneri content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verneri tries to stand but Cannon is controlling his head.
Verneri is staying tight to Cannon's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Cannon is trying to get back to his feet.

Verneri stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Verneri moves into range and clinches up with Cannon.

Verneri pulls guard effortlessly.
Verneri preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Verneri tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Verneri trying to control the position.

Verneri throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Verneri takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cannon is fighting to break Verneri's control of his arms but Verneri is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verneri throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Verneri trying to keep a closed guard but Cannon is proving a slippery customer.
Cannon has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cannon won't allow Verneri to sweep him here.
Verneri looking to control.
Cannon slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Allan Cannon wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Verneri dives in and scores a takedown into Cannon's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verneri throwing strikes but missing.
Verneri stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cannon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Verneri is pushing down on Cannon's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cannon is fighting to maintain full guard but Verneri has managed to sneak the leg through.
Verneri wants to control but Cannon is keeping him busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Verneri is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Cannon reverses the position - he's now on top in Verneri's guard.
Cannon is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Olavi Verneri comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Verneri 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Olavi Verneri!