PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lavar Mustison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikola Veljanovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mustison has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Lavar Mustison could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Nikola Veljanovski's chin.

Mustison
vs
Veljanovski

199 cm
22
267 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

182 cm
22
234 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lavar Mustison!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikola Veljanovski!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Veljanovski clinches up against the cage.

Veljanovski has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Mustison uses from the top position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Veljanovski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mustison can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Veljanovski bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mustison's guard.

Veljanovski drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mustison dives on top into guard.

Veljanovski is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mustison defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mustison prevents Veljanovski from getting back to his feet.
Veljanovski seems keen to control Mustison's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mustison wants to pass the guard but Veljanovski is keeping the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Veljanovski can do anything to dispel that myth.
Veljanovski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mustison is one step ahead there.
Mustison has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Veljanovski is proving hard to escape from.
Veljanovski trying to control the position here.
Veljanovski really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mustison. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Veljanovski dives in and grabs Mustison's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mustison pushes down on Veljanovski's head and hops out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mustison has his takedown stuffed
and Veljanovski counters with a leg kick.
Mustison is breathing heavily.

Veljanovski pushes Mustison up against the cage in a clinch.

Veljanovski lands a takedown into guard.

Mustison looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mustison keeping full guard, as Veljanovski tries to pass.
Veljanovski 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.
Veljanovski trying to control but Mustison is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski tries to stand but Mustison is controlling from the bottom.
Mustison keeping full guard, as Veljanovski tries to pass.
Veljanovski is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Nikola Veljanovski.

Mustison gets tackled into the cage by Veljanovski. Veljanovski maintains the clinch.
Mustison is trying to pull guard but Veljanovski has him pressed against the cage.

Veljanovski has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Mustison is trying to keep an underhook but Veljanovski manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Veljanovski wants to pass the guard but Mustison is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mustison defending well though.
Veljanovski with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Mustison is trying to stand back up but Veljanovski is controlling him
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Veljanovski is keen to just control but Mustison is a slippery customer.

Nikola Veljanovski has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Veljanovski shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Veljanovski was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mustison is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikola Veljanovski dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Veljanovski scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Nice sprawl there from Mustison as Veljanovski shoots in.

Veljanovski scores with a takedown into Mustison's guard.
Veljanovski trying to control the position from guard on top but Mustison is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Veljanovski stays in close to Mustison's body and controls the position.
Mustison controls Veljanovski momentarily but Veljanovski frees himself.
Mustison wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski looking to pass the guard.
Veljanovski must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nikola Veljanovski wasn't active enough on the ground.
Mustison misses with a takedown attempt

and Veljanovski counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mustison's guard now.
Veljanovski looking to pass the guard.
Veljanovski keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mustison's head.
Veljanovski pushes down on Mustison's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Veljanovski trying to mount his opponent but Mustison defends it.

Veljanovski seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski is looking to advance position but Mustison won't allow it.
Veljanovski perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Mustison trying to control here.
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!
Veljanovski is taking a breather. Mustison says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Mustison trying to control but Veljanovski postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lavar Mustison.

Veljanovski drives through and clinches with Mustison against the cage.

Veljanovski has clasped his hands together around Mustison's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Veljanovski takes a little break here. Mustison wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Veljanovski trying to control the position but Mustison is working away.

Veljanovski working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Mustison's face as Veljanovski controls the position.

Veljanovski decides to stand back up. Veljanovski steps back and let's Mustison get back to his feet.
Mustison throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Veljanovski's waist but Veljanovski gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mustison off to one side.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Horrible takedown by Veljanovski or perhaps it was just good defense by Mustison which made him look bad.
Veljanovski swats away the attempt to clinch by Mustison.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikola Veljanovski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Veljanovski closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Mustison quickly recovers to half guard.
Veljanovski tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mustison knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Veljanovski is thwarting Mustison's attempts to control the position.
Veljanovski is trying to control the action in half guard but Mustison is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Veljanovski tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mustison knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Veljanovski wants to control but Mustison is keeping him busy.
Mustison tries to roll over but Veljanovski keeps him under control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nikola Veljanovski has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Mustison takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Veljanovski lands a jab to the head.

Veljanovski looking to score a takedown here. Mustison is defending well but Veljanovski drives through and ends up in Mustison's guard.
Veljanovski looking to sit in guard and control but Mustison gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mustison trying to control but Veljanovski is working from the bottom.
Veljanovski pulls Mustison in close to his closed guard and prevents Mustison from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski looking for a sweep. Not yet Veljanovski, not yet.
Veljanovski trying to control the position here.
Mustison passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Veljanovski has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Veljanovski struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Veljanovski bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Veljanovski fails with a takedown attempt.
Mustison shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Veljanovski as he avoids it easily.
Mustison shoots and misses

and Veljanovski counters by moving into the clinch.

Veljanovski has picked Mustison up - he's going for a ride! Veljanovski dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Well, if Veljanovski 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Mustison is trying to maintain the position but Veljanovski is very close to passing his half guard.
Lavar Mustison has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nikola Veljanovski is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Nikola Veljanovski.
Veljanovski ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikola Veljanovski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Veljanovski 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikola Veljanovski!