PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jari Mela (ranked 6585 p4p, 634 weight class) and Van Der Veer (ranked 6555 p4p, 632 weight class). Jari Mela has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Mela
vs
Der Veer

200 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
175 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jari Mela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Van Der Veer!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, John Kavanagh and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Veer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mela defends it nicely.
Veer has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mela finds it's way round the side to connect with Veer's head.
Veer walks into a stiff left hand from Mela.
Mela fails to land with a series of punches.
Mela fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Veer follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Mela misses with a two punch combination.
Veer drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mela defends it well.
Mela misses with a shot to the body

and Veer counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mela won't be happy with that.
Veer lands an elbow.
Veer has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mela is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Veer happy to just control the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mela pushes Veer away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Veer gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Veer wants to control but Mela is keeping him busy.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Veer is working Mela over with some ground and pound from side control.
Mela knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Veer on the ground.
Mela wants to get back to his feet but Veer drags him back down.

Veer is trying to get an arm triangle but Mela is defending well.
Mela pushes Veer away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Veer gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Veer trying to control the position but Mela is working away.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mela is trying to buck Veer off.
Veer lands a decent elbow from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mela wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Mela is working to avoid the ground and pound but Veer connects with a decent elbow.

Veer is trying to get an arm triangle but Mela is defending well.
Veer working the ground and pound.
Mela on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Veer working the ground and pound from side control.
Mela wants to get back to his feet.
Mela trying to remain calm as Veer controls from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veer misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Mela tries to escape but Veer is in control.
Veer working the ground and pound.
Mela is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Veer cracks Mela with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Mela is working to avoid the ground and pound but Veer connects with a decent elbow.
Mela is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Veer trying to control the position but Mela is working away.
Mela wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mela throws Veer to one side and escapes!
Mela looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mela throws a body shot but no joy.
Veer tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Mela is breathing heavily.
A combination from Mela does no damage.
Horrible takedown attempt by Veer or perhaps it was just good defense by Mela, which made it look bad.
A counter left hand to the body from Mela misses its target.
Mela connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Veer momentarily.
Veer takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Mela throws a body punch but Veer moves out of range.
Veer with the counter takedown but Mela avoids it easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Veer takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Jari Mela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Veer shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jari Mela has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Van Der Veer.
Mela lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Veer circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jari Mela will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mela takes a swing at Veer's ribcage but misses.
Veer gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mela cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mela really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mela throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Veer counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mela wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Veer manages to pass to side control.

Mela is trying to stand back up but Veer is controlling him
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in half guard, Veer seems content to control.
Veer lands strikes from half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veer stops Mela from getting back to his feet.
Veer looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Veer lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Mela is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Veer scores with a couple of nice shots.
Mela wants to get back to his feet.
Veer controlling the action here.
Veer's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Veer lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Mela wants to get back to his feet.
Van Der Veer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mela is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Veer scores with a couple of nice shots.
Veer is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Mela tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Veer manages to move to mount!
Mela wants to try and get back to his feet.
Veer lands a couple of good shots and Mela has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Veer lands strikes to the head.

Mela is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Veer gets his way!
Veer has good solid back control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veer gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Veer is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Veer gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Veer gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Veer apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Mela throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mela is looking to wear down Veer with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Mela throws a predictable looking body shot

and Veer counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Veer is keen to just control but Mela is a slippery customer.
Mela is looking to escape.
Veer is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Veer looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Mela is trying to stand.
Still in half guard, Veer seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mela tries to kick Veer off in order to stand up. Veer Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Mela wants to get back to his feet.

Veer is trying to get an arm triangle but Mela is defending well.
Mela is working to avoid the ground and pound but Veer connects with a decent elbow.
Mela takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Mela is trying to buck Veer off.
Veer just content to control the position.
Mela is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Veer has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Veer happy to just control the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Van Der Veer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Mela looks to land a combination but Veer avoids it well.
Mela is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Mela misses with a two punch combination.
Veer feints the counter takedown.
Veer swings for the body but Mela moves out of range.
Veer is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Mela.
Mela moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Veer takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Veer looks for a takedown but Mela sprawls well.

Veer shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Veer is in close to Mela's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Veer trying to control the position from guard on top but Mela is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Veer keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mela's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veer is standing up over Mela. Mela looks to escape but Veer dives into side control.
Veer slows the pace down.
Mela wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Mela is trying to escape the position but Veer is controlling the position.
Mela is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Veer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Veer lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Mela on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mela tries to get out of the position.
Veer looks up at the clock and then as Mela takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Veer smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Mela is trying to get back to his feet.
Veer lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Mela down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veer is looking to take a break and control but Mela is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A lull in the action here as Veer stalls from top position.
Mela is trying to get back to his feet.
Veer lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Mela is trying to buck Veer off.
Veer taking a breather here.
Veer working the ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veer is looking to take a break and control but Mela is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mela tries to escape but Veer is in control.
Mela trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Veer cracks Mela with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Mela wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Veer scores with a couple of short elbows.
Veer is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Mela will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Veer cracks Mela with a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mela pushes Veer away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Veer gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Mela is being controlled here.
Mela is trying to buck Veer off.
Veer is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Mela will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Veer working the ground and pound.
Mela wants to get back to his feet but Veer drags him back down.
Veer lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Mela down.
Mela wants to get back to his feet but Veer drags him back down.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Veer remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

And that's the end of the fight!
Van Der Veer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Veer has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Van Der Veer!