PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Massimo Fabbri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sinisa Veljko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Veljko is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Stemm - Face the pain. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fabbri
vs
Veljko

189 cm
25
219 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

184 cm
28
201 lbs
17 - 9 - 2

Good takedowns
Great elbows
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Massimo Fabbri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Sinisa Veljko!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Winston Howard and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fabbri fails with the takedown.
Veljko displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Fabbri.
Fabbri avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Veljko lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Veljko throws a quick inside leg kick.

Fabbri forces Veljko back against the cage and clinches.
Fabbri lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Veljko has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Fabbri after a bit of a struggle.
Veljko is working for takedown but Fabbri is calmly controlling the position for now.
Fabbri takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Massimo Fabbri has been cut.
Fabbri misses with an elbow strike.
A knee to the head by Fabbri.
Fabbri has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Veljko after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Massimo Fabbri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Veljko tries for a takedown but Fabbri manages to get underhooks.
Veljko is trying to drag Fabbri to the mat but Fabbri just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Fabbri prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljko looking for a takedown.
Fabbri lands an elbow just above Veljko 's eye.
Fabbri lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Fabbri lands an elbow just above Veljko 's eye.
Veljko is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Fabbri pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Fabbri gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Fabbri not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Fabbri misses with a head shot. Veljko uses the momentum to regain guard.
Veljko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fabbri engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fabbri scoring with punches to the head and body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fabbri trying to move into half guard but instead Veljko has managed to sweep!
Veljko postures up in Fabbri's guard and throws a big left but Fabbri blocks it.
Veljko looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fabbri is looking to stand up but Veljko isn't so interested in that idea.
Veljko landing some decent shots from guard.
Veljko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Veljko throws a big elbow that misses.
Fabbri has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Fabbri wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veljko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fabbri controlling the position.

Veljko avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Veljko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Veljko trying to control the position from guard on top but Fabbri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fabbri is pulling down on Veljko's head to control his posture.
Veljko scoring with punches to the head and body.
Veljko postures up in Fabbri's guard and throws a big left but Fabbri blocks it.
Veljko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fabbri wants to stand and escape but Veljko is having none of it.
Veljko with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Veljko slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Veljko postures up and lands a big shot to Fabbri's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fabbri is looking to stand up but Veljko isn't so interested in that idea.
Veljko distracts Fabbri with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fabbri lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Veljko!
Veljko is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Fabbri looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Veljko is squirming around, avoiding Fabbri's attempts to control the action.
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 Massimo Fabbri will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Massimo Fabbri's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Veljko.
Veljko swinging wildly here.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Veljko.
Veljko working away.
Veljko trying to control the action but Fabbri is working from the bottom.
Fabbri is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Fabbri is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Veljko's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Veljko prevents Fabbri from improving his position.
Veljko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fabbri wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Veljko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Veljko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Fabbri has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Veljko is working away from the top position though.
Veljko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Veljko wants to control but Fabbri is keeping him busy.
Veljko is thwarting Fabbri's attempts to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Veljko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Fabbri's head.
Veljko moves nicely into side control.
Veljko is putting a hurting on Fabbri here, landing some big shots from side control.
Sinisa Veljko has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fabbri is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Veljko in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Veljko in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Veljko is looking to take a break and control but Fabbri is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Veljko throws a strike aimed at the side of Fabbri's head but Fabbri avoids it well.
Fabbri defending against the ground and pound.
Veljko misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Fabbri stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Veljko happy to just control the position for now.
Fabbri takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Veljko working the ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veljko sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Fabbri is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Fabbri gets back to half guard.
Fabbri gets full guard.
Fabbri wants to stand up but Veljko is controlling him.
Veljko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Veljko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fabbri swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fabbri working a defensive guard here.
Veljko trying to control but Fabbri is working from the bottom.
Veljko keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Fabbri's head.
Veljko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fabbri works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Veljko looking to sit in guard and control but Fabbri gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Fabbri looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljko wants to stand up but Fabbri is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sinisa Veljko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Massimo Fabbri's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Veljko fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Fabbri checks it well.
Fabbri takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Fabbri stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fabbri wants it to stay on the feet.
Fabbri pushes Veljko away with a front kick.
Veljko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Fabbri moves into range and clinches up with Veljko.
Fabbri lands an elbow inside.
Veljko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Fabbri pulls his leg out and moves away.
Fabbri shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Veljko throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Fabbri's head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fabbri.
Fabbri shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Veljko counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljko shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fabbri as he jumps to the side.
Massimo Fabbri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sinisa Veljko.
Fabbri stuffs the takedown attempt from Veljko. Veljko gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck for Veljko with that takedown attempt.

Fabbri fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Veljko sprawls well initially but Fabbri persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Veljko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Fabbri.
Veljko is refusing to be controlled, as Fabbri sits in half guard.
Fabbri looks to land a strike but Veljko avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fabbri pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Veljko is keeping the position for now.
Veljko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Fabbri trying to control but Veljko is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fabbri accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fabbri tries to free his leg and advance position but Veljko is retaining full guard.
Fabbri trying to control but Veljko is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Massimo Fabbri wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Veljko misses with a hook. Fabbri ducked under it nicely.

Fabbri has Veljko up against the cage in a clinch.
Fabbri creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Fabbri lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Veljko is looking for a takedown.
Veljko can't get the takedown.
Veljko looking to stall.
Fabbri tries to stall but Veljko uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Fabbri is looking for a takedown.
Veljko tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fabbri creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Veljko goes for a takedown in the clinch but Fabbri prevents it.
Veljko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fabbri blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nice elbow from Fabbri.
Veljko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Fabbri pulls his leg out and moves away.
Fabbri fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Veljko moves into the clinch.
Fabbri is pushing Veljko up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Fabbri is defending well against a takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fabbri lands an elbow that stopped Veljko in his tracks for a moment.
Veljko has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Fabbri avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Massimo Fabbri showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Fabbri has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Massimo Fabbri!
Massimo Fabbri really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Syndicate Nutrition logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.