PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Giorgos Veli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shannon Larratt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Giorgos Veli has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Veli
vs
Larratt

200 cm
25
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
159 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Giorgos Veli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shannon Larratt!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Veli with a poor takedown

and Larratt decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Veli's guard.
Larratt postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Larratt missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Veli will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Larratt throwing strikes but missing.
Larratt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Larratt in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Larratt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larratt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Larratt must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Larratt missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Veli shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Larratt counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larratt in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Larratt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Veli is breathing heavily.
Larratt lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Larratt working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Larratt missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Veli working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Larratt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larratt throws a big elbow that misses.
Larratt with a flurry of punches that miss.
Veli being controlled here, momentarily.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Veli with a poor takedown

and Larratt decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Veli's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Giorgos Veli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Larratt pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Veli is keeping the position for now.
Larratt is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Larratt throwing strikes from guard but Veli blocks nicely.
Larratt works over Veli with some ground and pound from guard.
Larratt lands a couple of elbows.
Larratt missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Larratt landing some decent shots from guard.
Larratt content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larratt throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Veli works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Veli avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Larratt postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Veli working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Larratt.
Larratt working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Veli's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Larratt accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Veli tries to clinch up

so Larratt counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Larratt stays in close to Veli's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veli utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Larratt throws a big right hand that misses.
Larratt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Larratt throwing strikes from guard but Veli blocks nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Larratt keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Veli's head.
Veli working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Larratt.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shannon Larratt dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Veli misses with a takedown

and Larratt counters with a nice double leg into side control. Veli won't be happy with that.
Larratt working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Veli really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The strikes coming from Larratt are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Larratt throws an elbow but Veli slips to the side and avoids it well.
Sloppy strikes there by Larratt.
Veli is being controlled here.
Veli is working to avoid the ground and pound but Larratt connects with a decent elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larratt looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Veli is avoiding damage well.
Sloppy strikes there by Larratt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Larratt in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Veli is being controlled here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larratt sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Veli is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Larratt throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The ground and pound from Larratt seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Larratt throws a strike aimed at the side of Veli's head but Veli avoids it well.
Larratt throws an elbow but Veli slips to the side and avoids it well.
Larratt working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Larratt trying to control the position but Veli is working away.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Veli looks to clinch

and Larratt counters with a takedown into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Larratt.
Larratt throws an elbow but Veli slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larratt throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
You can see the frustration on Veli's face as Larratt controls the position.
Larratt tries to score with some ground and pound. Veli controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Shannon Larratt has got the better of the ground game so far.
Veli can't do much from the bottom here.
Larratt in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Larratt throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Larratt misses with the ground and pound.
Veli takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

It looks like Giorgos Veli has been cut.
Larratt scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Veli to see if he's OK.
Larratt controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veli dodges the ground and pound from Larratt.
Larratt creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Veli sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Veli parries the strikes from Larratt easily there. Larratt is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Veli to escape.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Veli parries the strikes from Larratt easily there. Larratt is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Veli to escape.
Larratt creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Veli sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Veli shoots and misses

and Larratt counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Larratt postures up in Veli's guard and throws a big left but Veli blocks it.
Larratt controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Veli escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Larratt gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veli preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Larratt throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Larratt accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Larratt content to stall in guard here.
Larratt trying to control but Veli is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shannon Larratt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Giorgos Veli's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Veli misses with a takedown attempt

and Larratt counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Larratt throws a big elbow that misses.
Larratt engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Veli utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Larratt accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Veli has momentary wrist control but Larratt slips an elbow through the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larratt lands a couple of elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Larratt is working Veli over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Larratt content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larratt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Larratt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Veli utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Giorgos Veli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Veli fails with the takedown

and Larratt counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Veli!
Veli trying to remain calm as Larratt controls from the top position.
Larratt's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Larratt working the body and head with strikes.
Larratt working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Veli parries the strikes from Larratt easily there. Larratt is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Veli to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veli managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Larratt.
Larratt cracks Veli with a big right hand but Veli just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Larratt has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Larratt scoring with punches and elbows.
Larratt creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Veli sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Larratt lands an elbow.

Veli is rocked!
Larratt fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Oh Veli is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Larratt working the ground and pound but Veli is defending the strikes.
Veli seems to have got his legs back now.
Larratt tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Larratt tries to move to mount but Veli blocks the move with his legs.
Larratt working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larratt cracks Veli with a big elbow.
Larratt postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Veli parries the strikes from Larratt easily there. Larratt is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Veli to escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Veli shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Larratt counters with a shoot takedown. Veli fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Giorgos Veli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Larratt sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Veli working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Larratt.
Larratt engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larratt wants to control from the top but Veli keeps moving.
Veli keeping full guard, as Larratt tries to pass.
Larratt cracks Veli with a solid left hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Larratt is looking to work some ground and pound but Veli has wrist control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Larratt seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Giorgos Veli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Veli falls off balance throwing a combination

and Larratt counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Larratt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shannon Larratt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Larratt has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shannon Larratt!