PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between El Misterioso Damballah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Venables (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joseph Venables has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Misterioso Damballah
vs
Venables

179 cm
22
188 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

188 cm
21
200 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, El Misterioso Damballah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joseph Venables!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Damballah misses with a series of wild punches.
Venables tries to work over Damballah's front leg with a kick but Damballah checks it.
A clash of legs there as Damballah blocks the low kick.
Venables turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Damballah shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Venables but Venables pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Venables feints a counter leg kick.
El Misterioso Damballah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A good leg kick by Venables.
Damballah throws a combination that misses
and Venables counters with a nice low kick that buckles Damballah's knee momentarily.
Damballah misses with a wild combination.
Damballah takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Damballah. Those never looked like landing.
A solid leg kick lands there for Venables.
Damballah throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Venables has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Damballah or perhaps it was just good defense by Venables, which made it look bad.
Venables defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Damballah.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for El Misterioso Damballah. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Damballah shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Venables sprawls well. Venables wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Damballah gets slowly back to his feet.
Venables connects with a good right hand that stumbles Damballah. Damballah circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Venables throws a good cross that connects.
An inside leg kick lands from Venables.
Damballah tries to score a power double leg takedown but Venables sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Damballah somewhat.
Venables swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Damballah misses with a takedown attempt
and Venables counters with a lovely straight right hand!
An inside leg kick lands from Venables.

Venables throws a head kick that lands with a deafening thwack! The crowd roars as Damballah stumbles backwards and falls to the mat. Venables follows into mount!

Damballah is rocked!

It looks like El Misterioso Damballah has been cut.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Damballah is trying to stand up.
Oh Damballah is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Venables postures up and throws a massive shot that knocks Damballah out cold! Two more strikes to his unconscious opponent for good luck and this one is all over! Venables goes absolutely crazy with his corner! Wow, you can see how much that win means to him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Joseph Venables!
A victorious Joseph Venables thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.