PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juan Sebastien Veron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Semenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sebastien Veron
vs
Semenko

186 cm
23
211 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

183 cm
31
213 lbs
24 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Reaper Combatwear

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 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Juan Sebastien Veron!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dave Semenko!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Jonathan Paton and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Semenko moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Semenko tries to score with a low kick but Veron moves his leg out of the way.
Semenko scores with a punch to the head.
Veron tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Semenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Veron.
Veron throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Semenko misses with a kick to the body.
Veron fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Semenko manages to avoid it.
Semenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Veron paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Veron is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Semenko's half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Semenko is looking for a sweep. Veron is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Veron throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Veron throwing shots but Semenko is blocking nicely.
Veron missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veron wants to free his trapped foot but Semenko is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Veron throwing shots but Semenko is blocking nicely.
Well, if Veron is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Semenko desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Veron performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Semenko is refusing to be controlled, as Veron sits in half guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Juan Sebastien Veron wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Semenko tries a head kick but it misses.
Semenko throws a poor cross that misses
and Veron counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Veron looks to throw the jab but Semenko is out of range.
Veron takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Veron shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Semenko as he avoids it easily.
Semenko fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Veron checks it well.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Semenko. Veron shrugs it off though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Semenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Veron moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Decent striking displayed by Semenko there.

It looks like Juan Sebastien Veron has been cut.
Veron throws a leg kick but Semenko sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Semenko misses with a hook.
Veron moves out of range of the body kick from Semenko.
Veron dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Semenko stuffs the takedown.
Veron on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Veron throws a shot from downtown. Semenko moves away and avoids it.

Veron closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Semenko's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Veron accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Semenko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Semenko pulls Veron in close to his closed guard and prevents Veron from doing any damage or advancing position.
Semenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Semenko, not yet.
Semenko trying to control the position.
Veron stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Semenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Semenko keeping moving, preventing Veron from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dave Semenko will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Juan Sebastien Veron's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Semenko closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Semenko looks to clinch
and Veron counters with a nice body shot.
A good leg kick by Semenko.
Semenko throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Semenko throws a half hearted mid kick.
Semenko delivers a nice body kick.
Dave Semenko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Veron ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Veron throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Semenko sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Semenko misses with a hook.
Veron throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Veron fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Dave Semenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Veron shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Semenko pinned against the cage. Semenko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Veron scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Semenko manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Veron trying to mount his opponent but Semenko defends it.
Semenko is trying to control but can't.
Veron slips a nice elbow through Semenko's hands, connecting with Semenko's forehead.
Semenko is trying to get back to full guard.
Veron scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veron is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Veron is looking to take a break and control but Semenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Juan Sebastien Veron overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Veron sitting and controlling from the half guard.
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!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Juan Sebastien Veron just wasn't active enough.
Veron throws a hook but Semenko blocks it.
Semenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Veron paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Semenko.
Veron throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Veron swings for the body but Semenko moves out of range.
Semenko thows a body shot but no joy.
Dave Semenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Semenko's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Veron connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Semenko scrambles back to his feet.
Semenko lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Semenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Semenko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Semenko slips a straight right by Veron.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veron misses the shot to the body.
Semenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Veron shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Semenko's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Veron postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Veron lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Semenko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Veron trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Semenko wants to sweep here but Veron controlling him for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Semenko is pulling down on Veron's head to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Sebastien Veron dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Juan Sebastien Veron's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Veron blocks a jab.
Veron throws a hook to the side of Semenko's head but Semenko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Semenko has closed the distance and engaged Veron in a clinch.
Veron tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Veron.
Veron blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A shot in the inside from Veron.

Veron's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Veron smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Veron takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Semenko lands with a kick to the ribs.
Veron throws out a leg kick but Semenko moves out of range and Veron only half commits.
Semenko throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veron tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Semenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Veron.
Semenko slips under a jab.

Semenko closes the distance and clinches.

Veron breaks the clinch.
Veron cracks the inside of Semenko's front leg.
Veron checks the leg kick nicely there.
Semenko turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Veron on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Semenko looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Semenko tries to land a leg kick but Veron saw it coming and moves away.
Semenko looks to land a left hand but Veron moved out of range nicely.
Semenko walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Veron checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Semenko misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Veron blocks the leg kick.
Veron throws a body punch but Semenko moves out of range.
Veron moves out of range of the body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Semenko throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Veron lands a right hook to the body.
Semenko misses with a kick to the body.
Semenko avoids the body shot from Veron.
Semenko ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Veron moves away.
Veron lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Veron's corner calls for a 1-2. Veron obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Semenko moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Semenko throws a low kick but it's checked well by Veron.
Veron steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Semenko. That one must have hurt.
Semenko bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Semenko throws a body kick that misses
and Veron counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Semenko throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Semenko moves into the clinch.
Semenko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Veron's efforts to push away.
Veron scores with a nice hook to the head.
Veron stalling in the clinch but Semenko improves position.
Semenko prevents the takedown attempt.
Semenko unloads a knee to the mid-section. Veron lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
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!
Semenko lands an elbow that stopped Veron in his tracks for a moment.
Semenko lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veron avoids the elbow strike from Semenko, against the cage.
Semenko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Semenko landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Veron avoiding damage as Semenko throws knees to the body.
Semenko lands an elbow inside.
Semenko throws an elbow but it misses.
Veron blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Semenko has Veron pressed against the cage, preventing Veron from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Semenko using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Veron has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Semenko just misses with a elbow thrown towards Veron's brow.
Semenko unloads a knee to the mid-section. Veron lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Semenko using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Semenko tries to land a knee to the head but Veron blocks with his arms.
Semenko tries to land knees in the clinch but Veron avoids the damage to the body.
Veron swings wildly with an uppercut but Semenko uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Semenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Semenko 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dave Semenko!
Dave Semenko tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.