PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pep El Marino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaanus Veensalu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

El Marino
vs
Veensalu

180 cm
22
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pep El Marino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jaanus Veensalu!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Felipe Paraventi and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
El Marino misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
El Marino fails to land with a series of punches.
El Marino tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Veensalu counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Some wild striking there from El Marino.

El Marino drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Veensalu looking to hit a scissor sweep but El Marino is one step ahead there.
El Marino looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
El Marino postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Marino wants to stand but Veensalu has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Veensalu looking for a sweep. Not yet Veensalu, not yet.
Veensalu trying to keep a closed guard but El Marino is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
El Marino fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Veensalu has closed the distance and engaged El Marino in a clinch.
Veensalu is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables El Marino to keep the fight standing.

Veensalu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Veensalu fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Veensalu gets a clinch.
El Marino wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
El Marino looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pep El Marino. That's going to take a lot out of him.

El Marino successfully pulls guard.
Veensalu slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
El Marino seems keen to control Veensalu's posture.
El Marino controls Veensalu momentarily but Veensalu frees himself.

El Marino is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Veensalu stops El Marino from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veensalu postures up.

El Marino has an active guard here but Veensalu has managed to pass into half guard.
El Marino is breathing heavily.
El Marino keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Veensalu is keen to just control but El Marino is a slippery customer.
El Marino won't allow Veensalu to pass to mount.
El Marino is looking for a sweep. Veensalu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Veensalu is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. El Marino doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Veensalu.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Veensalu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El Marino blocking the ground and pound attempt from Veensalu.
El Marino is not content to let Veensalu control the position.
El Marino is looking to control Veensalu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can El Marino avoid being mounted?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Veensalu with the ground and pound but El Marino uses the opportunity to regain guard.

El Marino is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
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 Pep El Marino will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Veensalu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but El Marino paws at him with a jab and circles away.
El Marino fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
El Marino swats away the attempt to clinch by Veensalu.
El Marino fails to land the takedown.
El Marino is looking to clinch.
Veensalu shoots in looking for a takedown but El Marino manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Veensalu's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
El Marino leaves Veensalu with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Veensalu attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from El Marino is defended easily by Veensalu.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pep El Marino. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veensalu throws the kick towards the body but El Marino avoids it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Veensalu.
El Marino wants to clinch.
El Marino shoots in for a double leg but Veensalu sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
El Marino looks for a takedown but Veensalu sprawls well.

Veensalu forces El Marino back against the cage and clinches.

Veensalu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Veensalu has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Marino tries to pull guard but Veensalu holds him up against the cage and eventually El Marino drops back down to his feet.
El Marino misses with a punch on the inside.

Veensalu breaks from the clinch.
Pep El Marino is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Veensalu moves into the clinch successfully.

Veensalu jumps guard and drags El Marino to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
El Marino wants to control from the top but Veensalu keeps moving.
El Marino loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
El Marino with a nice head shot there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
El Marino showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veensalu looking for a sweep. Not yet Veensalu, not yet.

Veensalu wriggles free and stands up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Veensalu enables El Marino to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Veensalu manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Veensalu wants to sweep here but El Marino controlling him for the moment.
El Marino trying to move into half guard but instead Veensalu has managed to sweep!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El Marino keeping moving, preventing Veensalu from controlling successfully.
Veensalu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Veensalu is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

El Marino throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
El Marino looking for a sweep. Not yet El Marino, not yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Veensalu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. El Marino swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
El Marino looking to hit a scissor sweep but Veensalu is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jaanus Veensalu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Veensalu shoots in and drives through. El Marino sprawls well.
El Marino circles away from the clinch attempt.
Veensalu misses with a lunging right hand

and El Marino counters with a single leg into guard. Veensalu didn't expect that.
Veensalu keeping moving, preventing El Marino from controlling successfully.
El Marino stays in close to Veensalu's body and controls the position.

El Marino has gone for a leg lock! Veensalu slips out almost immediately though and dives into El Marino's guard.
Veensalu tries to free his leg and advance position but El Marino is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

El Marino wriggles free and stands up.
Veensalu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

El Marino closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - El Marino lands in his opponent's guard.
Veensalu is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veensalu is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
El Marino seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Veensalu pulls El Marino in close to his closed guard and prevents El Marino from doing any damage or advancing position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jaanus Veensalu.
Veensalu shoots for a double leg takedown but El Marino sprawls well. He's pushed Veensalu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Marino is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Veensalu misses with a takedown attempt

and El Marino counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Pep El Marino has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jaanus Veensalu.
El Marino performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

El Marino is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Veensalu sees it coming and defends easily.
Veensalu wants to improve his position but El Marino is controlling well.
El Marino not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El Marino controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Pep El Marino wasn't doing enough on the ground.
El Marino misses with a double jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
El Marino tries to clinch up but Veensalu circles away and keeps his distance.
Veensalu changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. El Marino tries to avoid it but Veensalu manages to keep hold of a leg and drag El Marino to the ground. El Marino escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

El Marino shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than El Marino was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

And that's the end of the fight!
Pep El Marino showed his dominance in that final round.
I think El Marino 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight for Pep El Marino!
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Pep El Marino!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Pep El Marino!

Pep El Marino wins by unanimous decision!