PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bethany Noel (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. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Noel
vs
Veljko

188 cm
23
199 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

184 cm
29
201 lbs
17 - 12 - 2

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bethany Noel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Sinisa Veljko!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Summer Carpenter and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Veljko with a hook.
Veljko wants to clinch.
Veljko tests Noel's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Veljko gets a takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Noel has hold of Veljko's hands but Veljko slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Veljko is trying to control. Noel wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Veljko tries to pass to full mount but Noel defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Veljko landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Noel looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljko is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Noel!
Noel bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Veljko keeping full guard, as Noel tries to pass.
Veljko wants to stand and escape but Noel is having none of it.
Veljko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Noel pushing down on Veljko's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Noel is looking for a kimura here.

Noel is working for a kimura here but Veljko manages to reverse the position and he's now in Noel's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Noel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Veljko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Veljko controls from within his opponent's guard.

Noel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Veljko defends it easily.
Veljko distracts Noel with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Veljko lands a couple of decent looking shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Veljko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Noel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Veljko working some strikes from top position.
Veljko trying to control the position from guard on top but Noel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Noel can't keep his opponent in guard - Veljko advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Veljko landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Veljko decides to stand and escape the position.

Veljko instigates a clinch.

Veljko has clasped his hands together around Noel's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Noel tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Noel is working hard here to advance position.
Veljko lands a few punches from side control.
Veljko working the ground and pound.
Noel is trying to improve his position.
Veljko scoring with punches from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Noel takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljko remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Noel prevents Veljko from moving into mount.
Veljko lands a nice forearm strike.
Noel is not content to let Veljko control the position.
Noel tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Veljko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Check out the look on Veljko's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Veljko trying to control the position but Noel is working away.
Noel gets back to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Noel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Noel looking for a kimura from the bottom but Veljko passes into side control!
Veljko is looking to take a break and control but Noel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sinisa Veljko dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Veljko tries to close the distance and clinch but Noel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Veljko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Noel's guard.
Veljko landing some decent shots from guard.

Noel working for a triangle but Veljko defends it easily.
Veljko is in close to Noel's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Noel is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Noel is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Veljko defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Noel is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Veljko is aware though and is defending well.
Veljko 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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Veljko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Veljko trying to control the position from guard on top but Noel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Veljko content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Veljko trying to control the position from guard on top but Noel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Veljko is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Noel throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Veljko postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Veljko 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Veljko lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Veljko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Noel's head.
Veljko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Veljko wants to pass the guard but Noel is keeping the position.

Noel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Veljko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Veljko is in close to Noel's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Veljko stands up over Noel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Veljko scoring with punches to the head and body.

Noel is rocked!

Noel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Veljko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Oh Noel is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Noel on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Noel tries to get out of the position.
Veljko engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Noel seems to have got his legs back now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veljko keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Noel's head.
Veljko trying to control but Noel is working from the bottom.
Veljko 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.

Noel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Veljko defends it easily.

Noel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Veljko forces his way into half guard.

Noel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Noel is not content to let Veljko control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Noel is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Veljko pulls his head out easily.
Veljko scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Veljko trying to control the pace.
Veljko lands with a punch from half guard.

Noel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Veljko is looking to advance position but Noel won't allow it.
Veljko is controlling the pace.
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!
Let's hope that Veljko has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Veljko is trying to control the action in half guard but Noel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
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.
That's time! Noel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Veljko throws a wild body kick that Noel sees coming a mile off.

Veljko manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Noel on his heels. He'll look to pass Noel's guard now, I'm sure.

Noel looking for a guillotine here but Veljko defends easily.
Veljko looking to pass the guard.

Noel throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Veljko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Noel's head.
Veljko is in close to Noel's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Veljko landing some decent shots from guard.
Noel has momentary wrist control but Veljko slips an elbow through the middle.
Veljko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Noel looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Veljko passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljko working the head and body with strikes.
Veljko is working Noel over with some ground and pound from side control.
Noel on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Noel is not content to let Veljko control the position.
Veljko is chipping away with strikes.
The referee asks Veljko politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Veljko prefers to stall for the moment though.
Noel is looking for a sweep.
Veljko is looking to take a break and control but Noel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Noel tries to buck Veljko off but Veljko is having none of it.
Veljko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Noel keeps working.
Noel is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Veljko in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veljko winds up and cracks Noel with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Veljko is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Noel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Veljko winds up and cracks Noel with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Noel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Veljko drops an elbow to the side of Noel's head.
Veljko trying to control the pace.
Noel tries to roll over but Veljko keeps him under control.
Sinisa Veljko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Veljko looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Noel with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Veljko working the head and body with strikes.
Veljko content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noel on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Veljko controlling the pace.
Noel is staying active underneath Veljko, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Noel has hold of Veljko's hands but Veljko slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Veljko trying to control from half guard but Noel is working away.
Nice strikes from Veljko there.
Noel tries to get to full guard but Veljko has control of the leg.
Veljko trying to mount his opponent but Noel defends it.
Veljko slows the pace down in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Veljko connects with a nice short shot to Noel's temple.
Sinisa Veljko is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljko trying to control the action but Noel is working from the bottom.
Veljko takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Noel taking some punishment here, with Veljko in his half guard.
Veljko working the head and body with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Veljko passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Noel!
Noel sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Bethany Noel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Veljko looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Noel with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Noel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Noel is pressing down on Veljko's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Veljko trying to control but Noel is working from the bottom.

Noel looking for a guillotine here but Veljko defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sinisa Veljko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Veljko has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sinisa Veljko!