PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikola Veljanovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Kota (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kota has chosen Airplanes - B.o.B ft Hayley Williams as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Veljanovski
vs
Kota

182 cm
27
222 lbs
23 - 11 - 0

183 cm
26
214 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

The Adrenaline Matrix

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikola Veljanovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Charles Kota!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Kota with that takedown attempt.
Veljanovski tries to clinch

and Kota counters by clinching up.

Kota pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Veljanovski shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kota's guard.
Veljanovski lands a couple of digs.
Kota is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Veljanovski is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Veljanovski wants to pass the guard but Kota is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Veljanovski is looking to work some ground and pound but Kota has wrist control.
Veljanovski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kota has his foot on Veljanovski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Veljanovski works his way back into a safe position though.
Veljanovski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Kota looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Veljanovski passes into half guard.

Kota actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kota is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kota is still trying to improve position.
Veljanovski keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Veljanovski throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kota manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Veljanovski throws a big right hand that misses.
Veljanovski wants to control from the top but Kota keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kota closes this distance looking for a takedown but Veljanovski circles away.
Nikola Veljanovski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Veljanovski shoots in for a takedown but Kota shows good takedown defense.
Veljanovski tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kota defends well and Veljanovski ends up having to push Kota into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Veljanovski effectively controlling the action here.
Kota tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Veljanovski smiles and moves away.
Nikola Veljanovski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charles Kota.

Veljanovski shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kota looking for a sweep. Not yet Kota, not yet.

Veljanovski got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kota has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Veljanovski has managed to get both his arms back between Kota's legs - danger averted.
Veljanovski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Veljanovski trying to control but Kota is working from the bottom.

Kota is looking for a triangle here but Veljanovski uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Kota on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski trying to control the position but Kota is working away.

Veljanovski wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kota, who protects the arm well.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kota can do anything to dispel that myth.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Veljanovski working the ground and pound but Kota is defending the strikes.
Veljanovski controls the position.
Veljanovski wants to control but Kota is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikola Veljanovski dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Veljanovski fails to land the takedown.
Kota stuffs the takedown attempt from Veljanovski. Veljanovski gets slowly back to his feet.

Veljanovski tries to sprawl but Kota drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Kota is working for a kimura but Veljanovski is defending it quite comfortably.
Kota working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Veljanovski is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kota can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Veljanovski is concentrating on defense, preventing Kota from advancing position.
Kota slips a nice elbow through Veljanovski's hands, connecting with Veljanovski's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kota prevents Veljanovski from improving his position.
Veljanovski moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Veljanovski wants to sweep but no luck.
Nikola Veljanovski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kota throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kota loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Veljanovski is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Veljanovski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kota's head.
Kota wants to control but Veljanovski is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kota is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kota gets back to full guard.
Veljanovski slips nicely into half guard.
Kota is looking to improve his position.

Kota has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Veljanovski escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Veljanovski!
Kota tries to buck Veljanovski off but Veljanovski is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski controlling from side mount.
Veljanovski tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kota's legs.
Veljanovski lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Veljanovski creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Kota is looking to regain half guard here but Veljanovski keeps moving and retains side control.
Veljanovski lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kota down.

Veljanovski is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Kota is trying to escape and Veljanovski transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Kota is forced to tap! Nice work there by Veljanovski! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Nikola Veljanovski!