PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikola Veljanovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reggie Coleman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reggie Coleman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Veljanovski
vs
Coleman

182 cm
28
222 lbs
25 - 15 - 0

188 cm
32
228 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

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 25 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikola Veljanovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Reggie Coleman!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Coleman shoots in and bounces Veljanovski off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Veljanovski has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Veljanovski wants to sweep but no luck.
Coleman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Veljanovski wants to stand but Coleman is controlling the position.

Veljanovski looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Coleman passes into side control.
Veljanovski gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Coleman is landing with some decent strikes but Veljanovski is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Coleman with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Veljanovski is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Coleman.
Coleman avoids the attempt from Veljanovski to control.
Veljanovski really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Coleman has hold of Veljanovski's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Veljanovski manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Coleman looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coleman raining down hammerfists from mount.
BOOM! Coleman connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Veljanovski on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Veljanovski tries to get out of the position.

Coleman moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Veljanovski has worked his arm free - good work by Veljanovski!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Veljanovski is looking to reverse the position.
Veljanovski is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Coleman off and has taken his back!
Coleman trying to get back to his feet but Veljanovski is in full control for now.

Veljanovski working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coleman is trying to get back to his feet but Veljanovski has full control of the position and if anything, Coleman has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Veljanovski scores with strikes from the back.
Veljanovski wants to control the position but Coleman frees himself and scrambles - Veljanovski manages to regain control in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski misses with the ground and pound.
Coleman is trying to get back to his feet.
Veljanovski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Coleman keeps working.

Coleman explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Coleman connects with a solid leg kick.
Coleman shoots in for a takedown but Veljanovski shows good takedown defense.
Veljanovski slips a jab and a cross from Coleman.
Veljanovski drops down looking for a counter takedown but Coleman sprawls and moves away.
Coleman misses with a takedown attempt - Veljanovski sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Veljanovski has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reggie Coleman dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Coleman moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Veljanovski shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Coleman pushes Veljanovski off and gets back to his feet.

Coleman closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Veljanovski's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Veljanovski keeping moving, preventing Coleman from controlling successfully.
Veljanovski looking for a sweep. Not yet Veljanovski, not yet.

Veljanovski is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Coleman working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski is looking to stand back up but Coleman counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Veljanovski.
Coleman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Coleman throwing shots but Veljanovski is blocking nicely.
Veljanovski makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Veljanovski.

Coleman is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Veljanovski is trying to control the position but Coleman postures up.
Coleman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Veljanovski utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Coleman passes Veljanovski's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Coleman performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Reggie Coleman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Veljanovski is staying active underneath Coleman, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Coleman sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Coleman is looking to stall here but Veljanovski recovers full guard.
Coleman wants to pass the guard but Veljanovski is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Coleman gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Veljanovski is defended easily by Coleman.

Coleman scores with a takedown into Veljanovski's guard.
Coleman lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Veljanovski is adopting a defensive guard.

Coleman drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Veljanovski manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Coleman has Veljanovski in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coleman keeping moving, preventing Veljanovski from controlling successfully.
Veljanovski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Coleman manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Veljanovski is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Veljanovski trying to control the position but instead, Coleman has worked for underhooks and has pushed Veljanovski into the cage.
Veljanovski seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Coleman is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reggie Coleman 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! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Veljanovski tries to clinch but Coleman moves out of range.
Veljanovski with a poor takedown
and Coleman counters with a left and a right that stings Veljanovski.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Veljanovski.
Nikola Veljanovski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Veljanovski dives in and grabs Coleman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Coleman pushes down on Veljanovski's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikola Veljanovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Veljanovski shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Coleman as he jumps to the side.

Coleman shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Coleman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Coleman postures up in Veljanovski's guard and throws a big left but Veljanovski blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Coleman cracks Veljanovski with a solid left hand.
Coleman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Coleman wants to control from the top but Veljanovski keeps moving.
Veljanovski keeping full guard, as Coleman tries to pass.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Coleman passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Coleman trying to control the position but Veljanovski is working away.
Coleman is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Veljanovski's shoulder. That is not cool.
Coleman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Veljanovski keeps working.
Coleman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Veljanovski is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Coleman working the ground and pound.
Coleman takes a little break here. Veljanovski wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Veljanovski is trying to improve his position.
Veljanovski wants to get back to his feet.
Veljanovski tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coleman pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Veljanovski is trying desperately to improve position.
Coleman trying to control but Veljanovski is having none of it.
Veljanovski is desperately trying to improve his position but Coleman has a good base and remains in mount.
Coleman looking to control but Veljanovski is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Veljanovski is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Coleman cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Coleman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Veljanovski is squirming around, avoiding Coleman's attempts to control the action.
Veljanovski keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nikola Veljanovski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Coleman can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Veljanovski is looking to escape.
Reggie Coleman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Coleman takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reggie Coleman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Coleman 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reggie Coleman!