PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikola Veljanovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sandor Orkas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Veljanovski
vs
Orkas

182 cm
26
227 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

190 cm
25
237 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
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 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikola Veljanovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Sandor Orkas!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Veljanovski shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Veljanovski showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Orkas tries to get to full guard but Veljanovski has control of the leg.
Orkas wants to control but Veljanovski is keeping busy.
Orkas wants to improve his position but Veljanovski is controlling well.

Veljanovski seems to be looking for submissions.
Veljanovski looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Orkas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Orkas is trying is best to control the position here.
Orkas tries to get to full guard but Veljanovski has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Orkas tries to get to full guard but Veljanovski has control of the leg.
Orkas makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Orkas.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Orkas holds on and takes a little breather.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Veljanovski preventing the sweep.
Veljanovski postures up in Orkas's guard and throws a big left but Orkas blocks it.
Veljanovski throwing strikes but missing.
Veljanovski 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.
Veljanovski is looking to pass into half guard but Orkas pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Orkas is in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski trying to control the position.
Orkas wants to stand but Veljanovski is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Veljanovski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Orkas is one step ahead there.
Veljanovski seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Veljanovski wants to stand and escape but Orkas is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski wants to control but Orkas passes easily into half guard.
Orkas is thwarting Veljanovski's attempts to control the position.
Veljanovski is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Veljanovski is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Veljanovski is looking to control Orkas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Veljanovski avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Nikola Veljanovski wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Orkas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Veljanovski avoids it really well and circles away.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Veljanovski shoots in but Orkas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Veljanovski doesn't manage to clinch there - Orkas circles away.
Veljanovski closes this distance looking for a takedown but Orkas circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Veljanovski tries to clinch there but Orkas circles away.
Veljanovski doesn't manage to clinch there - Orkas circles away.

Orkas shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nikola Veljanovski will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Veljanovski tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Orkas defends well and Veljanovski ends up having to push Orkas into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Veljanovski is pushing Orkas up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Veljanovski misses with a punch to the body.
Orkas can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Veljanovski stops a takedown attempt from Orkas.
Veljanovski struggles to land a body shot inside as Orkas controls his hands.
Veljanovski goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Veljanovski slows down the pace here.
Veljanovski misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Veljanovski will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Orkas up against the cage.
Orkas wants a takedown but no success here.
Nikola Veljanovski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sandor Orkas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Veljanovski throws a punch but it's blocked by Orkas.
Veljanovski scores with a shoulder strike.
Orkas wants a takedown but no success here.
Orkas goes for a takedown in the clinch but Veljanovski prevents it.
Veljanovski will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Orkas up against the cage.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Veljanovski moves into the clinch successfully.
Veljanovski taking a breather.
Orkas wants a takedown.
Orkas has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Veljanovski is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Veljanovski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Veljanovski fails with the takedown

and Orkas counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Veljanovski working a defensive guard but Orkas passes into half guard.
Veljanovski wants to control but Orkas is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski has a hand on Orkas's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Orkas takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Orkas controlling the position easily from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Let's hope that Orkas has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Veljanovski tries to reverse the position but Orkas maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikola Veljanovski dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Veljanovski throws a right and a left that Orkas avoids nicely.

Veljanovski looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Veljanovski throws a big right hand that misses.
Orkas pulls Veljanovski in close to prevent any damage.
Veljanovski has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Veljanovski throws a big right hand that misses.
Orkas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Veljanovski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Orkas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Orkas wants to sweep but no luck.
Veljanovski throws a big elbow that misses.
Veljanovski trying to control the position from guard on top but Orkas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski working some strikes from top position.
Orkas seems keen to control Veljanovski's posture.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Orkas keeping full guard, as Veljanovski tries to pass.
Veljanovski won't allow Orkas to sweep him here.
Orkas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Veljanovski throws a big right hand that misses.
Veljanovski sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Orkas's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Veljanovski is trying to work for a kimura but Orkas is defending well.
Orkas wants to control but Veljanovski is keeping busy.
Orkas wants to improve his position but Veljanovski is controlling well.
Veljanovski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Orkas keeps working.
Orkas keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Veljanovski leaves Orkas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nikola Veljanovski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Veljanovski has managed to clinch.
Veljanovski is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Veljanovski prevents a takedown attempt there.
Veljanovski misses with a hook from the clinch.
Orkas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Orkas prevents Veljanovski from breaking the clinch.
Orkas has Veljanovski pressed against the cage, preventing Veljanovski from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The referee calls for Veljanovski to work.
Veljanovski misses with a punch to the body.
Veljanovski with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Orkas looking for a takedown.
Sandor Orkas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nikola Veljanovski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nikola Veljanovski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sandor Orkas.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Orkas.

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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikola Veljanovski!