PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sinisa Veljko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melvin Manhoef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Veljko comes into the arena with Stemm - Face the pain blaring out of the sound system. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Veljko
vs
Manhoef

184 cm
34
201 lbs
29 - 19 - 2

177 cm
28
190 lbs
8 - 16 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

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 29 - 19 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Sinisa Veljko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Melvin Manhoef!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Topper Green and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Veljko on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Veljko scores with a head kick. Manhoef tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Veljko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Veljko checks the leg kick.
Manhoef throws a big shot that misses.
Veljko throws a sloppy head kick and Manhoef moves out of range easily.
Veljko throws a lazy head kick
and Manhoef counters with a left and a right that stings Veljko.
Veljko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Veljko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Veljko throws a head kick but Manhoef moves out of range.
Veljko stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Manhoef.
Manhoef throws out a powerful jab.
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!
Veljko moves in looking to clinch but Manhoef pushes him off.
Manhoef lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Manhoef throws a hook but Veljko avoids it easily.
Manhoef scores with a head kick. Veljko tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Manhoef misses with a series of wild punches.
Veljko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Melvin Manhoef seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Veljko goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Veljko throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick misses from Veljko.
Veljko tries to clinch but Manhoef is having none of it.
Manhoef paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Manhoef wants to slow Veljko down by chopping away at his legs.
Manhoef tries to close the distance and clinch but Veljko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Manhoef dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Veljko. That did some damage!
Veljko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A slow jab from Manhoef misses its intended target.
Manhoef lands a slapping body shot.
Veljko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A clash of legs there as Veljko blocks the low kick.
Manhoef throws a nice outside leg kick.
Manhoef wants to clinch up but Veljko keeps it at a distance.
Manhoef missing with a left hand there. Veljko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A chopping leg kick lands by Manhoef.
Manhoef looks to land a left hand but Veljko moved out of range nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Veljko ducks under a wild hook from Manhoef.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veljko slips under a jab.
Veljko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A big left from Manhoef misses.
Manhoef throws a head kick that Veljko semi-blocks.
Manhoef throws a combination that misses
and Veljko counters with a low kick, right behind Manhoef 's knee.

Veljko has closed the distance and engaged Manhoef in a clinch.
Veljko blocks a body shot from Manhoef.
Manhoef softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Manhoef looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Manhoef tries a body shot but Veljko blocks it.
Veljko wants a takedown but no success here.
Veljko wants a takedown but no success here.
Veljko is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sinisa Veljko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Veljko has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Manhoef after a bit of a struggle.
Veljko is breathing heavily.
Manhoef is trying to push Veljko away but Veljko has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Veljko can't get the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef tries to break the clinch but Veljko is controlling the position.

Veljko is trying to trip Manhoef. He has hold of a leg but Manhoef is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Veljko persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Veljko scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
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.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Veljko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Veljko controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Veljko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Veljko is working Manhoef over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Veljko content to stall in guard here.
Veljko advances position into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Veljko moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Veljko advances to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljko lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Veljko controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Veljko 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.
Manhoef taking shots to the head.
Veljko controlling from mount.
Veljko with shots to the head and body - Manhoef looks very uncomfortable down there.

Manhoef is rocked!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Veljko postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Manhoef bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Veljko and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sinisa Veljko!