PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josef Dellal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heikki Vennamo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vennamo has chosen Bacchuksen tiellä as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Dellal
vs
Vennamo

177 cm
33
184 lbs
27 - 11 - 1

195 cm
31
240 lbs
16 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josef Dellal!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Heikki Vennamo!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dellal showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vennamo.
Dellal slips under a jab from Vennamo.
Dellal gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Vennamo counters with a straight right hand.
Dellal avoids a punch combination nicely.
Vennamo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dellal moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vennamo digs a good hook to Dellal's body.
A nice combination there by Vennamo.

It looks like Josef Dellal has been cut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vennamo. Dellal does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dellal takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dellal keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vennamo.
Vennamo swinging wildly here.
Dellal tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vennamo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dellal somewhat.
Dellal staying out of range there.
Vennamo lands a slapping body shot.
Dellal doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Vennamo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josef Dellal. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vennamo scores with a body shot.
Dellal dodges the punch combination from Vennamo.
Vennamo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Dellal shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Vennamo's guard.
Vennamo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dellal is one step ahead there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dellal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vennamo is keeping the position for now.
Dellal pushes down on Vennamo's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dellal is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vennamo won't allow Dellal to pass to mount.

Dellal is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Vennamo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dellal.

Dellal seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Vennamo is refusing to be controlled, as Dellal sits in half guard.

Dellal is looking for a kimura here.
Vennamo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vennamo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heikki Vennamo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Josef Dellal's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vennamo throws a series of punches but Dellal moves out of range.
Heikki Vennamo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dellal showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vennamo.
Vennamo misses with a double jab

and Dellal counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Vennamo trying to control but Dellal postures up.
Dellal passes the guard and advances to mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dellal tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
We've been hearing good reports from Dellal's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vennamo is looking to get to half guard.
Vennamo gets back to half guard.
Dellal keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Vennamo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dellal. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Vennamo controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Dellal is working for a kimura but Vennamo is defending it quite comfortably.
Dellal uses his free foot to push down on Vennamo's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Vennamo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vennamo is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Vennamo gets back to half guard.
Vennamo is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dellal is trying to work for a kimura but Vennamo is defending well.
Vennamo is staying active underneath Dellal, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Josef Dellal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dellal controlling the action here.
Vennamo tries to roll over but Dellal keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vennamo is holding on to half guard well.
Dellal not doing much here.
Dellal is thwarting Vennamo's attempts to control the position.
Vennamo tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Dellal is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Vennamo is trying to control but can't.
Dellal wants to control but Vennamo is keeping him busy.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Vennamo looks to score with a jab to the body but Dellal is just out of range.
A punch combination from Vennamo misses.
Vennamo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dellal circles away quickly and effectively.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vennamo misses the shot to the body.
Vennamo stuns Dellal with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josef Dellal dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Josef Dellal's cut.
That's time! Dellal's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Dellal 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.
Vennamo is pressed up against the cage. Dellal has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Vennamo down to the mat. Vennamo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Vennamo lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Dellal backs up against the cage.
Vennamo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vennamo throws a series of punches but Dellal moves out of range.
Heikki Vennamo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dellal uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vennamo.
A combination from Vennamo does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right-left combo lands from Vennamo.
Vennamo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dellal is defended easily by Vennamo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josef Dellal. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vennamo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dellal slips under a jab.
Vennamo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Dellal counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dellal trying to control the position from guard on top but Vennamo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dellal 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.
Dellal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vennamo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dellal postures up.
Dellal won't allow Vennamo to sweep him here.
Dellal content to stall in guard here.
Vennamo working a defensive guard but Dellal manages to pass into side control anyway.
Dellal wants to take a breather but Vennamo manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Dellal.
Dellal trying to control but Vennamo is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vennamo keeping full guard, as Dellal tries to pass.
Vennamo is trying to keep Dellal in close.
Vennamo looking for a sweep. Not yet Vennamo, not yet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Dellal controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Dellal shoots in for a takedown but Vennamo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Heikki Vennamo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A punch combination from Vennamo misses.
Vennamo misses with a double jab.
Vennamo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dellal was well out of range. Poor timing from Vennamo.
Dellal shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Vennamo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vennamo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dellal circles away quickly and effectively.
Sloppy strikes from Vennamo. Those never looked like landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heikki Vennamo really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Josef Dellal's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vennamo lands an overhand right.
Vennamo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Dellal counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Vennamo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vennamo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dellal is working away from the top position though.
Vennamo wants to get back to his feet.

Dellal is working for a submission of some sort.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dellal is looking for a kimura but Vennamo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Dellal to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dellal is trying to work for a kimura but Vennamo is defending well.
Vennamo wants to get back to his feet.
Vennamo manages to get to full guard.

Vennamo throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Dellal escapes and throws Vennamo's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Vennamo trying to remain calm as Dellal controls from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Dellal is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Vennamo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Dellal is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vennamo has escaped the position, nice work there.
Dellal tries to advance to mount but can't.

Dellal is trying to get an arm triangle but Vennamo is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dellal is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Vennamo looks calm but he's in trouble here. Dellal gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Vennamo is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Dellal lets go of the hold and Vennamo can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Josef Dellal!
Josef Dellal retains his super heavyweight title!
Josef Dellal gave a mention to Namunamu Clothing in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).