PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Felix Sturm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jyrska Velmu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velmu has chosen UFO - Doctor Doctor as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Sturm
vs
Velmu

178 cm
23
169 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

177 cm
20
155 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Felix Sturm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jyrska Velmu!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Velmu is defended easily by Sturm.
Velmu takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Sturm throws a lazy right hand but Velmu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sturm stuffs the takedown.
Velmu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sturm sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Felix Sturm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jyrska Velmu.
Sturm cracks Velmu with an open hand slap.
Velmu shoots in and drives through. Sturm sprawls well.
Horrible takedown by Velmu or perhaps it was just good defense by Sturm which made him look bad.
Velmu shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sturm sprawls well. Sturm wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Velmu gets slowly back to his feet.
Sturm connects with a looping right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Velmu is defended easily by Sturm.
Sturm throws a head kick but Velmu moves out of range.
Velmu on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Horrible takedown by Velmu or perhaps it was just good defense by Sturm which made him look bad.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Velmu is defended easily by Sturm.
Jyrska Velmu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Velmu has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sturm looks to land a combination. Velmu sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Velmu shoots in for a takedown but Sturm shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Velmu shoots in but Sturm avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Velmu closes the distance and clinches up with Sturm, looking for a takedown. Velmu pushes Sturm against the cage but Sturm circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Velmu looks gassed!
Sturm stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sturm wants it to stay on the feet.
Velmu gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Velmu takes one to the chin there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturm lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sturm clobbers Velmu with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Velmu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A jab lands there for Sturm.
Sturm bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Velmu shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sturm throws a lazy right hand but Velmu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Velmu looks for a takedown but Sturm sprawls well.
Velmu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sturm avoids it really well and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Velmu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velmu closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sturm circles away.
Sturm is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Velmu fails to land the takedown.
Velmu takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Velmu tries to move into range but Sturm moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sturm looks to throw the jab but Velmu is out of range.
Sturm scores with a nice body kick.
Velmu fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Sturm 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.

Velmu shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sturm as he avoids it easily.
Velmu is trying desperately to land a takedown but Sturm is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Velmu.
Velmu tries for a takedown but Sturm sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Velmu shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sturm but Sturm pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Felix Sturm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jyrska Velmu.
Velmu throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sturm's waist but Sturm gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Velmu off to one side.
Sturm scores with a sloppy right hand. Velmu should have avoided that one.
Jab by Sturm.
Sturm stuffs the takedown.
Velmu is breathing heavily.
Velmu takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Velmu misses with a takedown attempt - Sturm sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sturm.
Sturm with a hook.
Jab from Sturm.
Sturm keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sturm smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Felix Sturm is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sturm slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Velmu misses with a takedown attempt - Sturm sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Velmu chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sturm can pounce on him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Sturm finds it's way through Velmu's defenses.
Velmu tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sturm swivels and escapes.
Sturm lands a head shot.
Velmu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sturm sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sturm moves into range and connects with a jab.
Jab, jab by Sturm - just one landing.
Sturm uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Velmu has time to react.
Nice takedown defense from Sturm. No joy for Velmu on that attempt.
Sturm thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Velmu if he has to take too many more of those.
Sturm throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sturm pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Velmu chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sturm can pounce on him.
Sturm cracks Velmu with an open hand slap.
Nice takedown defense from Sturm. No joy for Velmu on that attempt.
Velmu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sturm avoids it really well and circles away.
Velmu takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sturm lunges at Velmu with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Velmu's hand.
Sturm tests Velmu's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velmu ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sturm throws a hook but Velmu blocks it.
Felix Sturm is winning the standup battle so far.
Sturm lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Jyrska Velmu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Velmu shoots in looking for a takedown but Sturm manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Velmu's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Velmu has a takedown stuffed.
Velmu shoots in for a double leg but Sturm sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice uppercut lands for Sturm. That snapped Velmu's head back.
Velmu fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felix Sturm dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sturm with a jab.
Velmu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Velmu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sturm sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sturm lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Sturm stuffs the takedown attempt from Velmu. Velmu gets slowly back to his feet.
Felix Sturm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jyrska Velmu.
Sturm paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velmu looks for a takedown but Sturm sprawls well.
Velmu throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sturm's waist but Sturm gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Velmu off to one side.
Velmu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velmu shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sturm sprawls well. Sturm wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Velmu gets slowly back to his feet.
Velmu looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Velmu shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sturm but Sturm pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Velmu might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Sturm has got the better of the exchanges.
Sturm works the jab nicely.
Sturm works the jab nicely.
Sturm stuffs the takedown attempt from Velmu. Velmu gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice jab there from Sturm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sturm slaps away a takedown attempt from Velmu, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sturm tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sturm stuffs the takedown.
Nice cross by Sturm.
Velmu takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sturm scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Velmu gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sturm.
Sturm scores with a nice head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velmu fails with a takedown attempt.
Sturm cracks the inside of Velmu's front leg.
Sturm scores with a sloppy right hand. Velmu should have avoided that one.
Velmu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sturm avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice shot lands for Sturm.
Sturm scores with a nice head shot.
Sturm scores with a decent looking hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sturm bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Velmu tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sturm sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Velmu somewhat.
Sturm bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sturm connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Velmu momentarily.
Sturm lands with a cross.
Horrible takedown by Velmu or perhaps it was just good defense by Sturm which made him look bad.
Velmu drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felix Sturm showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sturm has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Felix Sturm!