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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikola Veljanovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikola Veljanovski has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 182 cm
27
222 lbs
20 - 9 - 0 |
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191 cm
30
195 lbs
12 - 10 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced |
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Good takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikola Veljanovski!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rafael Almeida!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Phil Schofield and James Ackerman.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Veljanovski has a takedown stuffed.
Almeida moves in looking to clinch but Veljanovski pushes him off.
Veljanovski darts in looking for a takedown but Almeida gets double underhooks and turns Veljanovski into the cage.
Almeida has Veljanovski pressed against the cage, preventing Veljanovski from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Almeida is trying to maintain a safe position but Veljanovski gets an underhook and turns Almeida into the cage.
Still in the clinch, Veljanovski scores with a nice short uppercut.
It looks like Rafael Almeida has been cut.
Veljanovski keeps control of Almeida as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Veljanovski just leaning against Almeida, taking a breather.
Almeida has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Almeida is trying to break the clinch but Veljanovski is controlling him.
Almeida tries to circle away but Veljanovski has him pinned against the cage.
Veljanovski has Almeida pressed against the cage, preventing Almeida from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Veljanovski pressing his opponent against the cage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Veljanovski tries to break the clinch but Almeida is controlling the position.
Almeida wants to get back to striking at distance but Veljanovski won't allow it.
Veljanovski controlling the action here for a moment.
Almeida is trying to break free.
Veljanovski stalling the fight.
Veljanovski lands a body shot.
Veljanovski misses with the head strike.
Veljanovski stalling the fight.
Veljanovski seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Veljanovski wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Almeida has him pressed against the cage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski is looking to break free of the clinch but Almeida has double underhooks.
Veljanovski manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Veljanovski or perhaps it was just good defense by Almeida, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikola Veljanovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Veljanovski changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Almeida tries to avoid it but Veljanovski manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Almeida to the ground. Almeida escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Veljanovski fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Almeida, pushing him back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Almeida is looking to break free of the clinch but Veljanovski has double underhooks.
Almeida is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Veljanovski keeps control of Almeida as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Almeida is trying to break free.
Veljanovski softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Almeida is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida is trying to break the clinch but Veljanovski is controlling him.
Veljanovski misses with the head strike.
Almeida takes a shot to the head.
Veljanovski keeps control of Almeida as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Veljanovski tries a body shot but Almeida blocks it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Almeida has Veljanovski pressed against the cage, preventing Veljanovski from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Almeida struggles to land a body shot inside as Veljanovski controls his hands.
Veljanovski lands an uppercut.
Veljanovski misses with the head strike.
Veljanovski misses with a short punch on the inside.
Veljanovski digs a right hand into Almeida's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Almeida's gas tank.
Veljanovski slowing the pace effectively.
Almeida wants to break the clinch but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Veljanovski wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Veljanovski is trying to break the clinch but Almeida has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Nikola Veljanovski dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Almeida's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Veljanovski shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Almeida sprawls well. Almeida wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Veljanovski gets slowly back to his feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Almeida!
Veljanovski closes the distance and clinches.
Almeida tries to circle away but Veljanovski has him pinned against the cage.
Veljanovski is looking to break free of the clinch but Almeida has double underhooks.
Almeida is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A bit of stalling here from Veljanovski.
Almeida can't break the clinch.
Veljanovski scores with a hook to the body.
Veljanovski lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Veljanovski wants to get back to striking at distance but Almeida won't allow it.
Almeida working hard to break the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski manages to break the clinch.
Veljanovski pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Almeida displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Veljanovski throws out the jab.
Veljanovski tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Almeida manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Almeida goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Veljanovski wants to clinch up but Almeida keeps it at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Veljanovski.
Veljanovski fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikola Veljanovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Veljanovski tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Almeida defends well and Veljanovski ends up having to push Almeida into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Veljanovski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Almeida tries to break free but Veljanovski pushes him back against the cage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida blocking some punches.
Almeida breaks from the clinch.
Veljanovski with a poor takedown
and Almeida counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Almeida leaves Veljanovski with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Veljanovski gets a clinch.
Veljanovski lands a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Veljanovski stalling in the clinch.
Veljanovski looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Veljanovski has Almeida pressed against the cage.
Almeida has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Almeida tries to break free but Veljanovski pushes him back against the cage.
Veljanovski is struggling to control the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski prevents Almeida from breaking the clinch.
Almeida is trying to force a seperation but Veljanovski has the dominant position.
Veljanovski displaying some good clinch control by pressing Almeida up against the cage.
Veljanovski gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Nikola Veljanovski.
Almeida stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Almeida wants it to stay on the feet.
Almeida connects with an inside leg kick.
Veljanovski doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Almeida counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski tries to clinch but Almeida moves out of range.
Veljanovski shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Veljanovski darts in looking for a takedown but Almeida gets double underhooks and turns Veljanovski into the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Almeida looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Veljanovski wants to get back to striking at distance but Almeida won't allow it.
Veljanovski is trying to break free.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Almeida stalling in the clinch but Veljanovski improves position.
Veljanovski holding his opponent close, against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Veljanovski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Nikola Veljanovski dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Almeida's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Veljanovski.
Almeida rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Veljanovski moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Almeida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Veljanovski rushes Almeida and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Almeida trying to stall but Veljanovski improves his position.
Veljanovski prevents Almeida from breaking the clinch.
Almeida wants to stall.
Almeida has had enough of the clinch but Veljanovski keeps him there for the moment.
A frustrated look appears on Veljanovski's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Almeida can't break the clinch.
Veljanovski lands a left hand that snaps the head of Almeida backwards.
Veljanovski taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida manages to break the clinch.
Veljanovski throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Almeida's waist but Almeida gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Veljanovski off to one side.
Veljanovski looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Almeida is fending him off so far but Veljanovski persists. Nope, Almeida circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikola Veljanovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Veljanovski looks for a takedown but Almeida sprawls well.
Almeida stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Almeida wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Veljanovski misses with a takedown attempt - Almeida sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Almeida stuns Veljanovski with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Veljanovski fails with the takedown
and Almeida counters with a nice kick to the body.
Almeida tries to close the distance and clinch but Veljanovski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Almeida as Veljanovski shoots in.
Rafael Almeida seems to be getting the better of the standup.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Almeida tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Veljanovski manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Veljanovski throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nikola Veljanovski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Veljanovski takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Veljanovski misses with a takedown attempt
and Almeida cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Almeida moves in looking to clinch but Veljanovski pushes him off.
Veljanovski shoots in looking for a takedown but Almeida manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Veljanovski's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Almeida wants to clinch.
Almeida tries to close the distance and clinch but Veljanovski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Veljanovski shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nice uppercut lands for Almeida. That snapped Veljanovski's head back.
Almeida slaps away a takedown attempt from Veljanovski, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Almeida stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Almeida wants it to stay on the feet.
Veljanovski walks forward, straight into a front kick from Almeida.
Danga de danga de dang - Almeida scores with a four punch combination!
Almeida connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Veljanovski takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Veljanovski misses with a takedown
and Almeida counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Almeida clobbers Veljanovski with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Almeida connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Veljanovski's hands.
Nikola Veljanovski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sloppy strikes from Almeida. Those never looked like landing.
Veljanovski goes for a double leg but Almeida avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Almeida continues to drive forward.
Almeida looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Veljanovski can't find room to land a body shot as Almeida controls the action.
Veljanovski tries to work over Almeida's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Almeida wants to get back to striking at distance but Veljanovski won't allow it.
Veljanovski is looking to break free of the clinch but Almeida has double underhooks.
Almeida blocking some punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Almeida is looking to break free of the clinch but Veljanovski has double underhooks.
Almeida trying to land knees to the body.
Almeida blocking some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rafael Almeida really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Almeida's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Veljanovski looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Almeida lands a jab to the head.
Veljanovski has a takedown stuffed.
Veljanovski tries for a takedown but Almeida sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikola Veljanovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Almeida doesn't manage to clinch there - Veljanovski circles away.
Veljanovski throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Almeida tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Veljanovski is in Almeida's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Veljanovski wants to control from the top but Almeida keeps moving.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Veljanovski accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski wants to pass the guard but Almeida is keeping the position.
Veljanovski looking to sit in guard and control but Almeida gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Veljanovski working a defensive guard but Almeida manages to pass into side control anyway.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A control attempt from Veljanovski but he's now mounted!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski is working to get back to half guard.
Almeida stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Veljanovski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Almeida counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Veljanovski shoots in and drives through. Almeida sprawls well.
Veljanovski drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Almeida sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Almeida reverses the position - he's now on top in Veljanovski's guard.
Veljanovski is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
A frustrated look appears on Almeida's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Veljanovski's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Almeida has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski has a couple of punches blocked by Almeida.
Veljanovski misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Veljanovski on the inside.
Almeida tries to break free but Veljanovski pushes him back against the cage.
Veljanovski is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Veljanovski is pushing Almeida up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Almeida tries to break the clinch but Veljanovski is controlling the position.
Veljanovski holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Almeida tries to break free but Veljanovski pushes him back against the cage.
Veljanovski tries to break the clinch but Almeida is controlling the position.
A frustrated look appears on Almeida's face as he tries to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Nikola Veljanovski had his way with Rafael Almeida in that round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Almeida's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Almeida keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Veljanovski tries to clinch up.
Almeida misses with a jab, cross combination.
Veljanovski is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Veljanovski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Almeida misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Veljanovski dives in and scores a takedown into Almeida's guard.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Veljanovski from controlling successfully.
Veljanovski throws an elbow that misses. Almeida uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Veljanovski's guard. Nice move by Almeida!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski has a closed guard, preventing Almeida from standing up.
Almeida is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Veljanovski wants to improve his position but instead Almeida has moved into half guard.
Veljanovski trying to control from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski wants to improve his position but Almeida is controlling well.
Veljanovski trying to hold on to Almeida's head to control him but Almeida postures up.
We're going to have a standup here because Nikola Veljanovski wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Veljanovski tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Veljanovski fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Almeida avoids it really well and circles away.
Veljanovski tries to clinch but Almeida is having none of it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski shoots in looking for a takedown but Almeida manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Veljanovski's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikola Veljanovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Veljanovski tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Almeida manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Almeida tries to close the distance and clinch but Veljanovski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Veljanovski shoots in and drives through. Almeida sprawls well.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Almeida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Veljanovski tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Almeida swivels and escapes.
Almeida stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Almeida wants it to stay on the feet.
A nice inside leg kick there by Almeida. That's going to slow Veljanovski down.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Almeida. Veljanovski shrugs it off though.
Veljanovski swats away the attempt to clinch by Almeida.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Almeida wants it to stay on the feet.
Veljanovski fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Almeida tries to clinch up.
Veljanovski shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Almeida defends it nicely.
Veljanovski swats away the attempt to clinch by Almeida.
Rafael Almeida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Almeida throws a nice looking combination but Veljanovski bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Veljanovski misses with a takedown
and Almeida counters with a nice low kick that buckles Veljanovski's knee momentarily.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nikola Veljanovski.
I think Veljanovski 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 49:46
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 49:47
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 48:47
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikola Veljanovski!
Nikola Veljanovski is the new light heavyweight champion!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
79% |
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