PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maro Veljanovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bjorn Heinrich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Veljanovski
vs
Heinrich

182 cm
23
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
23
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Maro Veljanovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bjorn Heinrich!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paul Aken and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Veljanovski tries to sprawl but Heinrich drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Veljanovski wants to control but Heinrich is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Heinrich lands strikes from half guard.
Veljanovski trying to control from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Veljanovski is pressing down on Heinrich's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Heinrich is looking to pass into half guard but Veljanovski pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Veljanovski is in guard.

Veljanovski controlling from the top position.
Veljanovski trying to control but Heinrich is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Heinrich has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Veljanovski has passed into side control.
Heinrich manages to get back to half guard.

Veljanovski decides to stand up.

Veljanovski shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Veljanovski not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Veljanovski is looking to take a break and control but Heinrich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Heinrich tries to get to full guard but Veljanovski has control of the leg.
Veljanovski controlling the pace.
Veljanovski trying to control from half guard but Heinrich is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heinrich is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Heinrich can do anything to dispel that myth.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Heinrich controlling the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Veljanovski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Heinrich moves away.
Veljanovski fails with the takedown.
Heinrich displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Veljanovski.
The fighters circling - Heinrich throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Heinrich throws a head kick but Veljanovski moves out of range.
Heinrich looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Veljanovski.

Heinrich looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Veljanovski!
Veljanovski tries to improve position but can't.
Heinrich working the ground and pound.
Heinrich wants to control for a moment but Veljanovski uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Veljanovski is controlling Heinrich's position as best he can from this difficult position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Maro Veljanovski will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Heinrich tries for a takedown but Veljanovski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Heinrich feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Veljanovski has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Heinrich has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Veljanovski is looking for a takedown.
Veljanovski is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Heinrich to keep the fight standing.
Veljanovski has Heinrich pushed against the cage.

Heinrich pulls guard effortlessly.
Heinrich trying to keep a closed guard but Veljanovski is proving a slippery customer.
Heinrich keeping moving, preventing Veljanovski from controlling successfully.

Heinrich is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Veljanovski is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Veljanovski stands up and waves to Heinrich to follow him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Heinrich looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Veljanovski tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Heinrich paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Heinrich tries to sprawl but Veljanovski drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Well, if Veljanovski is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Veljanovski wants to control but Heinrich is keeping him busy.
Heinrich is trying to maintain the position but Veljanovski is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Veljanovski connects with a nice short shot to Heinrich's temple.
Veljanovski scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Veljanovski is thwarting Heinrich's attempts to control the position.
Veljanovski wants to take a breather but Heinrich is having none of it.
Heinrich wants to control but Veljanovski is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Heinrich wants to get back to his feet.
Veljanovski is trying to control. Heinrich wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Heinrich misses with a hook. Veljanovski ducked under it nicely.
Veljanovski is looking to counter punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Veljanovski looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Heinrich!

Heinrich throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Heinrich is breathing heavily.
Heinrich dives in for a single leg takedown but Veljanovski sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Heinrich tries to clinch but Veljanovski moves out of range.
No luck for Heinrich with that takedown attempt.
Maro Veljanovski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bjorn Heinrich.
Veljanovski throws the kick towards the body but Heinrich avoids it.
Heinrich steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Veljanovski.
Heinrich fails with an attempt to clinch.
Veljanovski throws a hook but Heinrich blocks it.
Heinrich with the counter takedown but Veljanovski avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Heinrich.
Veljanovski throws a big counter combination but Heinrich scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Veljanovski is defended easily by Heinrich.
Heinrich drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Veljanovski defends it well.
Veljanovski throws a sloppy head kick and Heinrich moves out of range easily.
Heinrich fails with a takedown attempt.
Heinrich shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Veljanovski as he jumps to the side.

Heinrich gets caught napping as Veljanovski dives in and scores a takedown. Heinrich manages to retain guard.
Veljanovski landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maro Veljanovski dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Veljanovski takes the fight into the clinch.
Heinrich jumps guard but Veljanovski turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Heinrich gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Veljanovski regains guard.
Veljanovski looking to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Heinrich's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Veljanovski is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Veljanovski working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Heinrich doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Heinrich manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski keeping moving, preventing Heinrich from controlling successfully.
Veljanovski utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Heinrich wants to stand but Veljanovski is controlling his posture from full guard.
Veljanovski manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Heinrich manages to get himself to full guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Heinrich tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Heinrich controls Veljanovski momentarily but Veljanovski frees himself.
Heinrich wants to control the position but Veljanovski says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Heinrich keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Veljanovski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Heinrich keeps working.
Heinrich moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heinrich looking to control but Veljanovski passes into half guard.
Veljanovski content to control rather than advance.
Veljanovski wants to pass the guard but Heinrich is defending well.
Veljanovski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Veljanovski is looking to take a break and control but Heinrich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Veljanovski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Veljanovski shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Heinrich defends it nicely.

Veljanovski gets a double leg takedown into Heinrich's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Heinrich looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Heinrich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Veljanovski trying to control but Heinrich is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maro Veljanovski showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Veljanovski has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight for Maro Veljanovski!
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight for Maro Veljanovski!
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Maro Veljanovski!

Maro Veljanovski wins by unanimous decision!