PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hristo Borisov (ranked 3559 p4p, 4187 weight class) and Sonatane Veainu (ranked 483 p4p, 536 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Borisov
vs
Veainu

188 cm
28
205
11 - 16 - 0

177 cm
34
210
28 - 17 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 11 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Hristo Borisov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sonatane Veainu!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shirou Masuda and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Borisov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Veainu as he jumps to the side.
Veainu avoids the head kick by Borisov.
Borisov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Veainu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Borisov wants to clinch.
Borisov misses with a takedown attempt - Veainu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A left and a right from Veainu both land. Nice combination.
Borisov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hristo Borisov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Veainu misses with a head kick.
Veainu throws a nice looking combination but Borisov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Borisov throws a head kick that misses
and Veainu counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Borisov fails to land the takedown.
Borisov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Veainu as he avoids it easily.
Veainu throws a counter combo.
Borisov checks a low kick from Veainu.
Veainu throws a right hand that Borisov ducks under and follows up with a left that Borisov also avoids with ease.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Borisov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Veainu tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Borisov is in Veainu's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borisov wants to control from the top but Veainu keeps moving.
Borisov wants to get up but he can't break Veainu's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Veainu is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Borisov is controlling him.
Borisov trying to control but Veainu is working from the bottom.
Borisov advances to half guard.
Borisov is trying to control the action in half guard but Veainu is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Veainu is trying to stand back up but Borisov is controlling him
Veainu is staying active underneath Borisov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Borisov darts in looking for a takedown but Veainu gets double underhooks and turns Borisov into the cage.

Veainu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Borisov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Borisov trying to control from half guard but Veainu is working away.

Borisov is looking for a kimura but Veainu is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Borisov to get the leverage.

Borisov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Veainu has managed to free his arm - good work.
Veainu is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borisov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Borisov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Veainu sees it coming and defends easily.

Borisov is looking for a kimura here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Borisov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Veainu wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Borisov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Veainu has closed the distance and engaged Borisov in a clinch.
Veainu stops a takedown attempt from Borisov.
Borisov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Veainu after a bit of a struggle.

Veainu pulls guard effortlessly.
Veainu wants to stand but Borisov is controlling the position.
Borisov looking to sit in guard and control but Veainu gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Borisov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sonatane Veainu dominated that round.
That's time! Borisov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Borisov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Veainu misses with a body kick.
Veainu avoids the head kick by Borisov.

Borisov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Veainu is controlling Borisov's trapped leg to prevent Borisov from advancing to side control.
Veainu tries to get to full guard but Borisov has control of the leg.

Borisov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Veainu has managed to free his arm - good work.
Veainu tries to kick Borisov off but Borisov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Borisov is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Veainu to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veainu has control of Borisov's left arm, preventing Borisov from doing any damage.
Borisov trying to control but Veainu is working from the bottom.
Borisov won't allow Veainu to get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Borisov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Veainu's guard.
Borisov prevents Veainu from getting back to his feet.
Veainu seems keen to control Borisov's posture.
Borisov looking to sit in guard and control but Veainu gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borisov wants to control the position but Veainu says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Borisov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Veainu is working away from the top position though.
Borisov wants to improve his position but Veainu is controlling well.
Borisov trying to hold on to Veainu's head to control him but Veainu postures up.
Veainu is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Borisov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Veainu won't allow Borisov to get back to his feet.
Veainu preventing the sweep.
Hristo Borisov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Borisov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Borisov wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Veainu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Borisov.
Horrible takedown attempt by Veainu or perhaps it was just good defense by Borisov, which made it look bad.
Borisov is looking to counter with head kicks.
Borisov misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veainu tries a head kick but it misses.
Borisov looks for a takedown but Veainu sprawls well.

Veainu clinches with his opponent.

Veainu manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Borisov trying to control but Veainu is working from the bottom.
Veainu wants to stand up but Borisov is controlling him.
Borisov trying to control but Veainu is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Veainu wants to get back to his feet but Borisov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sonatane Veainu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Borisov fails with a takedown attempt.
Borisov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Veainu sprawls well. Veainu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Borisov gets slowly back to his feet.
Borisov darts in looking for a takedown but Veainu gets double underhooks and turns Borisov into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hristo Borisov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Veainu is working Borisov over against the cage.

Veainu drags the fight down to the ground.
Veainu is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Borisov is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Borisov trying to control but Veainu is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borisov tries to free his leg and advance position but Veainu is retaining full guard.
Veainu keeping moving, preventing Borisov from controlling successfully.
Borisov wants to stand but Veainu is controlling his posture from full guard.
Borisov trying to control the position from guard on top but Veainu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Borisov avoids the head kick by Veainu.
No joy there for Borisov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Borisov tries to clinch but Veainu is having none of it.

Borisov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Veainu quickly recovers to half guard.

Borisov wants to work for an arm triangle but Veainu is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Borisov prevents Veainu from standing back up.
Borisov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Borisov trying to control the action but Veainu is working from the bottom.
Veainu tries to kick Borisov off but Borisov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Veainu trying to control here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veainu manages to get to full guard.
Borisov controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Veainu keeps the fight on the outside.
Borisov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Borisov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Veainu looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Borisov shoots in but no luck this time.
Veainu goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Borisov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Veainu circles away.
Hristo Borisov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Veainu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Veainu is looking for the big counter here.
Borisov moves in looking to clinch but Veainu pushes him off.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Veainu!
Veainu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Borisov leaves Veainu with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Borisov shoots for a takedown but Veainu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Veainu!
Veainu throws a one two combo.
Veainu fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Borisov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Veainu swats away the attempt to clinch by Borisov.
Hristo Borisov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sonatane Veainu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Veainu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sonatane Veainu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Veainu winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sonatane Veainu!