PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jyrska Velmu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Holden Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velmu kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Doctor Doctor by UFO. Gracie is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Metallica Enter Sandman. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Velmu
vs
Gracie

177 cm
32
184 lbs
34 - 12 - 1

190 cm
30
179 lbs
26 - 10 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
The Big Kabosh

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jyrska Velmu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 10 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Holden Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Chris Edwards and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velmu fails with a takedown attempt.
Velmu looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.
Velmu tries to work over Gracie's front leg with a kick but Gracie checks it.
Velmu motions for Gracie to come forward. Velmu throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A low kick from Velmu is predictable there
and Gracie counters with a good low kick that Velmu was not able to check.
Gracie moves out of range of the body kick from Velmu.
Gracie tries a low kick but Velmu avoids it.
Velmu throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Velmu looking to score a takedown here. Gracie is defending well but Velmu drives through and ends up in Gracie's guard.
Gracie has momentary wrist control but Velmu slips an elbow through the middle.
Velmu won't allow Gracie to get back to his feet.
Velmu makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Velmu won't allow Gracie to get back to his feet.
Velmu might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velmu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Velmu tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Gracie wants to stand and escape but Velmu is having none of it.
Velmu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Velmu wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Velmu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Velmu prevents Gracie from getting back to his feet.
Velmu throws a big right hand that misses.
Velmu throwing strikes but missing.
Gracie is looking to stand up but Velmu isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie pushes Velmu off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Velmu tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Velmu looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Velmu working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gracie's head.
Velmu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Velmu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Velmu 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Velmu from controlling successfully.
Velmu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.
Velmu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Velmu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie wants to stand up but Velmu is controlling him.
Velmu trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Velmu misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short left from Velmu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gracie swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Velmu has Gracie pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Velmu pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Gracie tumbling to the mat - Velmu dives into Gracie's guard.
Velmu postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie wants to stand but Velmu is controlling the position.
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!
Velmu stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velmu trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Velmu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jyrska Velmu dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gracie shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Gracie throws a leg kick that is checked

and Velmu counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Velmu.
Velmu throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Velmu tries to pass.
Gracie is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Velmu is controlling him.

Velmu drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Velmu jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Gracie wriggles free and stands up.
Gracie attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Velmu misses
letting Gracie counter with a right hand.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gracie.
Gracie misses with a low kick.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gracie works the jab nicely.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Gracie enables Velmu to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Gracie manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Velmu from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velmu slips nicely into half guard.

Gracie kicks Velmu off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Velmu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Gracie throws a shot from downtown. Velmu moves away and avoids it.
Velmu misses with a leg kick
and Gracie counters with a low kick, right behind Velmu 's knee.
Velmu tries to score with a low kick but Gracie moves his leg out of the way.
Gracie moves out of range of the leg kick from Velmu.
Gracie displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Velmu.
Velmu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Holden Gracie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velmu shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Velmu trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Gracie throws a leg kick which misses Velmu's front leg but catches the back leg as Velmu tries to avoid it.
Gracie connects with a leg kick. Velmu looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Velmu is looking to chop away at Gracie's legs.
Velmu tries a low kick but Gracie avoids it.
Gracie throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie stuffs the takedown.
Gracie lands with a kick to the temple. Velmu shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Velmu fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gracie has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Velmu avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Velmu throws a leg kick that misses.
Velmu finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Velmu throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Velmu wants to slow Gracie down by chopping away at his legs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie checks a low kick from Velmu.
A chopping leg kick lands by Velmu.

Velmu fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gracie sprawls well initially but Velmu persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jyrska Velmu dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Velmu takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Velmu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Velmu shoots for a takedown but Gracie saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Gracie. Velmu shrugs it off though.
Gracie throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Velmu darts in looking for a takedown but Gracie gets double underhooks and turns Velmu into the cage.
Velmu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gracie misses with some punches.
Gracie gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Velmu.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jyrska Velmu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Velmu tries for a takedown but Gracie manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Velmu has him pressed against the cage.
Velmu is trying to drag Gracie to the mat but Gracie just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gracie.
Velmu is trying to maintain a safe position but Gracie gets an underhook and turns Velmu into the cage.
Velmu blocks an uppercut.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Gracie has a couple of punches blocked by Velmu.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The referee calls for Velmu to work.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jyrska Velmu.
Nice takedown defense from Gracie. No joy for Velmu on that attempt.
Velmu tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velmu avoids the head kick by Gracie.
Gracie tries to work over Velmu's front leg with a kick but Velmu checks it.
Holden Gracie seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gracie steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Velmu.
Gracie throws a nice outside leg kick.
Jyrska Velmu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Velmu.
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Velmu checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Jyrska Velmu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie misses with a low kick as Velmu jumps back.
Velmu gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velmu throws a leg kick that is checked
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Gracie tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Velmu tried to score with a low kick but Gracie checks it.
A bone on bone clash there as Gracie blocks the leg kick.
Gracie misses with a head kick.
Velmu dives in for a single leg takedown but Gracie sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Gracie struggles to land a body shot inside as Velmu controls his hands.
Gracie swings wildly with an uppercut but Velmu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Holden Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Velmu blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Velmu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gracie throws a punch but it's blocked by Velmu.

Velmu gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Velmu takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Gracie is staying active underneath Velmu, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Velmu stops Gracie from getting back to his feet.

Gracie kicks Velmu off and gets back to his feet.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Velmu fails with the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Holden Gracie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Velmu 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jyrska Velmu!
During a confident post fight interview, Jyrska Velmu thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.