PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vincent Escargesa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yrjoe Velmu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velmu is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Andrea Bocelli - Por ti volare. Yrjoe Velmu has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Escargesa
vs
Velmu

189 cm
34
197 lbs
26 - 15 - 0

192 cm
33
200 lbs
19 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 26 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vincent Escargesa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yrjoe Velmu!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velmu ducks right into an uppercut from Escargesa.

It looks like Yrjoe Velmu has been cut.
Escargesa keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Escargesa scores with a punch to the head.
Escargesa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Velmu.
Escargesa definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Escargesa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Velmu.
Escargesa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Escargesa looks to land a right hand but Velmu moved out of range.

Escargesa clinches.
Velmu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Escargesa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Velmu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Escargesa.
Velmu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Velmu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Escargesa blocks it with crossed arms.
Escargesa lands a left hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Velmu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Velmu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Escargesa fails to land.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Escargesa avoids it.
Escargesa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escargesa misses with some punches.
Escargesa trying to stall but Velmu improves his position.
Velmu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Velmu landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Velmu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Escargesa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Escargesa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Escargesa lands with a left to the head.
Velmu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but Escargesa blocks with his arms.
Escargesa misses with a punch on the inside.
Velmu blocking some punches.
The referee calls for Escargesa to work.
Velmu using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Velmu blocks a body shot from Escargesa.
Velmu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Escargesa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velmu working Escargesa over with knees to the body.
Escargesa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Stalling in the clinch from Escargesa.
Velmu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Escargesa tries to break the clinch but Velmu is controlling the position.
Escargesa working aggressively here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Velmu is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Velmu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Escargesa swings wildly with an uppercut but Velmu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Velmu misses with a knee to the head.
Velmu misses with a knee strike.
Still in the clinch, Escargesa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but Escargesa blocks with his arms.
Escargesa lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Velmu or not.
Escargesa tries a body shot but Velmu blocks it.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Escargesa.
Escargesa lands a hook that snaps the head of Velmu backwards.
Escargesa tries to throw a body punch but Velmu avoids it by throwing Escargesa back against the cage.
Velmu lands a nice knee to the body.
Escargesa avoiding damage as Velmu throws knees to the body.
Escargesa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Velmu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Velmu unloads a knee to the mid-section. Escargesa lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Velmu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Escargesa blocks it with crossed arms.
Escargesa stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Escargesa pushes Velmu back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Escargesa misses with a punch on the inside.
Escargesa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Velmu misses with a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Escargesa's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escargesa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Escargesa lands a right hand that snaps the head of Velmu backwards.
Velmu working Escargesa over with knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Escargesa leaning his opponent against the cage.
Velmu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Velmu lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Velmu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Escargesa is defending well for now.
Velmu looking to throw knees to the head but Escargesa is blocking nicely.
Velmu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Velmu being controlled against the cage.
Escargesa throws a head punch that misses.

Escargesa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yrjoe Velmu will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Yrjoe Velmu's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Escargesa throws a shot from downtown. Velmu moves away and avoids it.
Velmu throws a head kick but Escargesa moves out of range.
Escargesa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Velmu.
Escargesa avoids the head kick by Velmu.
Nice uppercut there from Escargesa.
Velmu tries to close the distance and clinch but Escargesa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Escargesa scores with a jab.
Yrjoe Velmu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Velmu lands a nice looking body shot.

Velmu has closed the distance and engaged Escargesa in a clinch.
Escargesa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Escargesa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Escargesa swings wildly with an uppercut but Velmu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Escargesa effectively controlling the action here.
Velmu crunches a lovely knee into Escargesa's ribcage.
Velmu lands a knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Escargesa has a couple of punches blocked by Velmu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velmu lands a knee to the body.
Escargesa lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Velmu keeps control of Escargesa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Escargesa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Escargesa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Escargesa can't find room to land a body shot as Velmu controls the action.
A short right from Escargesa.
Velmu connects with a nasty looking knee right to Escargesa's face.
Yrjoe Velmu seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Velmu lands a good knee to the midsection. Escargesa won't want to take too many of those.
Velmu with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Escargesa avoids it.
Velmu blocking some punches.
Velmu misses with a knee strike.
Escargesa is trying to break free.
A head punch on the inside from Escargesa fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escargesa throws a head punch that misses.

Escargesa breaks the clinch.
Velmu slips a straight right by Escargesa.
Velmu takes a shot to the body in his stride.
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 closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Velmu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Escargesa.
Velmu missing with knees to the body.
Velmu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Velmu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Velmu tries a knee to the head but Escargesa blocks it.
Velmu tries a knee to the head but Escargesa blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Velmu.
Velmu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Escargesa tries to throw a body punch but Velmu avoids it by throwing Escargesa back against the cage.
Velmu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Escargesa is defending well for now.
Velmu with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escargesa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Escargesa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Velmu trying to land knees to the body.
Velmu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Escargesa throws a punch but it's blocked by Velmu.

Escargesa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vincent Escargesa is winning the standup battle so far.

Escargesa closes the distance and pushes Velmu back into the cage.
Velmu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Velmu blocks a body shot from Escargesa.
Escargesa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Velmu looking to throw knees to the head but Escargesa is blocking nicely.
Velmu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Velmu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Escargesa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Velmu looking to throw knees to the head but Escargesa is blocking nicely.
Escargesa misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velmu connects with a nasty looking knee right to Escargesa's face.
Escargesa wants to get back to striking at distance but Velmu won't allow it.
Escargesa lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Escargesa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Escargesa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Escargesa.
Escargesa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Escargesa swings wildly with an uppercut but Velmu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Escargesa lands with a right to the head.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Velmu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Escargesa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Velmu misses with a knee to the head.
Escargesa lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Escargesa lands a nice shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yrjoe Velmu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Yrjoe Velmu's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Velmu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Escargesa.
Velmu catches Escargesa with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Escargesa rushes Velmu and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Velmu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Velmu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Velmu tries a knee to the head but Escargesa blocks it.
Escargesa holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Velmu connects with a nasty looking knee right to Escargesa's face.
Velmu lands a nice knee to the body.
Escargesa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Escargesa lands with a short head shot on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velmu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Escargesa is defending well for now.
A knee to the head by Velmu.
Escargesa gets through Velmu's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Velmu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Escargesa blocks it with crossed arms.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Escargesa avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Escargesa lands a left hand.
Escargesa swings wildly with an uppercut but Velmu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Escargesa lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Velmu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Velmu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Escargesa stalling in the clinch but Velmu improves position.
Escargesa throws a head punch that misses.
Escargesa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Velmu backwards.
Escargesa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Escargesa tries to break the clinch but Velmu is controlling the position.
Velmu tries to land knees in the clinch but Escargesa avoids the damage to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Escargesa fails to land.
Escargesa misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velmu misses with a knee strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Velmu.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Escargesa creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Escargesa misses with a body punch.
Escargesa misses with some punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Velmu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Escargesa.
Velmu misses with a knee to the head.
Escargesa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Velmu misses with a knee to the head.
Escargesa swings wildly with an uppercut but Velmu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Escargesa misses with some punches.
Escargesa working aggressively here.
Velmu blocks a body shot from Escargesa.
Escargesa misses with the head strike.
Escargesa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Yrjoe Velmu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escargesa tries to break the clinch but Velmu is controlling the position.
Velmu misses with a knee to the head.
Velmu blocks a body shot from Escargesa.
Escargesa tries a body shot but Velmu blocks it.
Velmu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Escargesa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Velmu lands a good knee to the midsection. Escargesa won't want to take too many of those.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Escargesa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Escargesa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Velmu's elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Escargesa fails to land.
Velmu scores with a knee to the head.
Escargesa is looking to break free of the clinch but Velmu has double underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Velmu.
Escargesa lands with a short shot to the head.
Escargesa taking a breather.
Vincent Escargesa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escargesa lands a body punch in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Velmu.
Velmu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Escargesa.
Escargesa misses with a body punch.
Escargesa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Velmu tries a knee to the head but Escargesa blocks it.
Escargesa lands a left hand that snaps the head of Velmu backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Velmu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Velmu misses with a knee strike.
Escargesa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Velmu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Velmu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Escargesa struggles to land a body shot inside as Velmu controls his hands.
Escargesa working aggressively here.

Escargesa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

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 Vincent Escargesa.
I think Velmu has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Yrjoe Velmu!
Yrjoe Velmu spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.