PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Elbrys Gora (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Veli Urhola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gora comes to the cage accompanied by Cadillac Records - Howlin' Wolf Sings . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gora
vs
Urhola

184 cm
32
272 lbs
22 - 14 - 0

194 cm
29
259 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

SP Ultimate Nutrition

GREEN!160

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 22 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Elbrys Gora!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Veli Urhola!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Urhola takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Veli Urhola has been cut.

Urhola closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Urhola turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Gora parries the strikes from Urhola easily there. Urhola is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Gora to escape.
Gora is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gora struggling a bit here.
Gora tries to bench press Urhola off him but Urhola keeps the position.
You can see the frustration on Gora's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Urhola tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Gora is looking to reverse the position.
Gora avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Urhola.
Urhola tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gora is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Urhola's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gora wants to get back to full guard.
Urhola passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Gora!
Urhola lands a nice shot to the head.

It looks like Elbrys Gora has been cut.
Gora is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gora wants to control but Urhola is having none of it.
Gora bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Urhola wants to sweep here but Gora controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gora wants to pass the guard but Urhola is keeping the position.
Gora makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Urhola looking for a sweep. Not yet Urhola, not yet.
Gora is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gora throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Urhola works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gora with a flurry of punches that miss.
Urhola is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gora postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gora is looking to work some ground and pound but Urhola has wrist control.
Gora trying to control the position from guard on top but Urhola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Urhola lands with a kick to the temple. Gora shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Elbrys Gora's cut is getting worse.
Gora swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Urhola pushes Gora up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Urhola tightens his grip and picks Gora up, before dumping him to the ground. Gora manages to land in guard.
Urhola wants to pass the guard but Gora is keeping the position.
Gora manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Urhola manages to get himself to full guard.

Gora throws a big right hand that misses.
Gora 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.
Gora throwing strikes but missing.
Gora pushes down on Urhola's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Urhola trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Veli Urhola dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gora blocks the body kick.
Urhola defending well as Gora loads up on a big left hand.
A countering left hand to the body from Urhola misses.
Gora misses with a wild body shot.

Gora gets a takedown into half guard.
Gora is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Urhola reverses the position - he's now on top in Gora's guard.
Gora pulls Urhola in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gora is trying to control the position but Urhola postures up.
Veli Urhola has got the better of the ground game so far.
Urhola preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Urhola throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gora works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Urhola trying to control the position from guard on top but Gora is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gora pulls Urhola in to control the position.
Gora keeping moving, preventing Urhola from controlling successfully.
Gora 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.
Gora has his hands on Urhola's head, controlling the position.
Urhola must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Urhola accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Urhola throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gora works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gora controlling the position.
Urhola is in close to Gora's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Urhola scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gora pulls Urhola in close to his closed guard and prevents Urhola from doing any damage or advancing position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gora wants to sweep here but Urhola controlling him for the moment.
Urhola loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice uppercut lands for Urhola. That snapped Gora's head back.
Gora slips under a jab.
Gora throws a body punch but Urhola moves out of range.
Urhola throws a right hand that Gora ducks under and follows up with a left that Gora also avoids with ease.
Urhola lands a nice looking body kick.
Urhola has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gora throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Urhola tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gora blocks a head kick by Urhola.
Urhola tries to clinch

and Gora counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Gora is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gora throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Gora looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Urhola is trying to stand up here but Gora is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Urhola keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gora thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gora is just content to waste time from the top position. Urhola takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Gora stopping the sweep attempt from Urhola.
Gora cracks Urhola with a solid left hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gora postures up in Urhola's guard and throws a big left but Urhola blocks it.
Urhola keeping moving, preventing Gora from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Elbrys Gora will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gora lands a nice looking body shot.
A cross from Gora lands.

Gora drives through with a takedown into guard.

Urhola looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Urhola is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gora is defending against the submission attempts here by Urhola.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gora wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gora is pressing down on Urhola's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Urhola wants to control from the top but Gora keeps moving.
Gora seems keen to control Urhola's posture.
Urhola throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Urhola advances position into side control!
Gora manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Urhola lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Gora is staying active underneath Urhola, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Urhola throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gora is concentrating on defense, preventing Urhola from advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gora blocking the ground and pound attempt from Urhola.
Gora moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gora looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gora holds on and takes a little breather.
Gora looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gora avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Gora missing with a left hand there. Urhola was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gora with a nice cross.
Gora shoots in for a takedown but Urhola shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Urhola tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gora swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gora thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gora throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters circle momentarily. Urhola darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Urhola tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gora was well out of range. Poor timing from Urhola.
Gora misses with an uppercut.
Gora ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Urhola avoids the body shot from Gora.
Gora is looking to wear down Urhola with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Urhola tries to close the distance and clinch but Gora swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Urhola wants to clinch up but Gora keeps it at a distance.
Veli Urhola is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gora lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Urhola tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Gora counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Elbrys Gora is winning the standup battle so far.
Urhola avoids the body shot from Gora.
Urhola ducks under a wild hook from Gora.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Urhola is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gora connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Urhola looks to land a left hand but Gora moved out of range nicely.
A little feinted left hand from Gora on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Urhola misses with a looping right.
A quick step to the side and Gora tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Urhola lands with a nice body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Urhola looks for the body kick but Gora saw that one coming.
Gora keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Urhola.
Urhola misses with a two punch combination.
Urhola throws a push kick but Gora slaps the foot to one side.
Urhola throws a leg kick but Gora moved away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elbrys Gora showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gora has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elbrys Gora!
During a confident post fight interview, Elbrys Gora thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.