PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Vieira (ranked 2313 p4p, 315 weight class) and Marek Koltun (ranked 1916 p4p, 260 weight class). Vieira's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Machine Gun Kelly–Till I Die. Rafael Vieira has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Vieira
vs
Koltun

185 cm
31
186 lbs
15 - 11 - 1

182 cm
41
177 lbs
28 - 17 - 4

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rafael Vieira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 17 - 4, fighting out of Helsinki, Marek Koltun!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Elvis Blanc and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koltun tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vieira was well out of range. Poor timing from Koltun.
Vieira drops down looking for a counter takedown but Koltun sprawls and moves away.
Rafael Vieira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vieira shoots in for a takedown but Koltun shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Vieira feints a jab promting Koltun to slip. Vieira then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Koltun slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Koltun looks to score with a jab to the body but Vieira is just out of range.
Vieira misses with a two punch combination.

Vieira looking to score a takedown here. Koltun is defending well but Vieira drives through and ends up in Koltun's guard.
Vieira wants to control from the top but Koltun keeps moving.
Koltun being controlled here, momentarily.

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

Vieira is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vieira is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Koltun is aware though and is defending well.
Vieira is adopting a defensive guard.
Koltun scoring with some ground and pound.
Koltun chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koltun slips nicely into half guard.
Koltun is thwarting Vieira's attempts to control the position.
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. Koltun connects with a nice short shot to Vieira's temple.
Vieira wants to control but Koltun is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vieira regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vieira trying to keep a closed guard but Koltun is proving a slippery customer.

Koltun drops back looking for a leg! Vieira is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vieira manages to kick Koltun off! Koltun jumps back into Vieira's guard.
Koltun loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Koltun postures up in Vieira's guard and throws a big left but Vieira blocks it.

Vieira is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Vieira preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vieira controls Koltun momentarily but Koltun frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vieira looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Koltun puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Koltun is working for a kimura but Vieira is defending it quite comfortably.
Vieira avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Koltun.
Koltun throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Vieira trying to control but Koltun postures up.
Koltun is stalling here. Vieira is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Koltun seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Vieira has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Vieira in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koltun is not content to let Vieira control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koltun is looking to reverse the position.
Vieira misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Koltun tries to buck Vieira off but Vieira is having none of it.
Vieira taking a break here but Koltun is having none of it and regains half guard.
Koltun tries to get to full guard but Vieira has control of the leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vieira looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Koltun is trying to maintain the position but Vieira is very close to passing his half guard.
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 Rafael Vieira will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vieira shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Koltun napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Vieira scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Koltun to see if he's OK.
Vieira trying to control the action but Koltun is working from the bottom.
Koltun has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vieira looking to control but instead Koltun has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

Vieira is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Koltun is pressing down on Vieira's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rafael Vieira overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vieira postures up.
Koltun can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Vieira controls the pace.
Vieira passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vieira wants to advance to full mount but Koltun doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Vieira wants to control from the top but Koltun keeps moving.
Vieira throws a big right hand that misses.
Vieira trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Koltun keeping moving, preventing Vieira from controlling successfully.
Koltun lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Vieira keeping moving, preventing Koltun from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koltun postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vieira wants to improve his position but instead Koltun has moved into half guard.
Vieira is looking for a sweep. Koltun is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Koltun slips a nice elbow through Vieira's hands, connecting with Vieira's forehead.
Koltun wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vieira keeps working.
Koltun throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Koltun prevents Vieira from improving his position.
Koltun working over Vieira with some ground and pound. Vieira looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Koltun is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vieira is trying to get back to full guard.
Vieira wants to control but Koltun is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Koltun wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vieira keeps working.
Koltun missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Vieira keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vieira has hold of Koltun's hands but Koltun slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Koltun lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Vieira wants to get back to full guard.
Koltun working over Vieira with some ground and pound. Vieira looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Vieira looking for submissions off his back.
Vieira is looking to control Koltun's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vieira avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vieira is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Koltun is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Koltun working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Koltun lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
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. Koltun connects with a nice short shot to Vieira's temple.
Vieira makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vieira.
Koltun trying to control the position from guard on top but Vieira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koltun is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marek Koltun showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Vieira's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Vieira moves into range and clinches up with Koltun.
Vieira lands a good knee to the midsection. Koltun won't want to take too many of those.
Koltun gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Vieira.
Koltun lands a hook to the side of the head.

Koltun's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A punch lands to the side of Koltun 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Vieira is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Vieira misses.
Vieira looks to land a body kick but Koltun moved away.
Vieira looks to throw the jab but Koltun is out of range.
Koltun on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Vieira is trying hard to land a takedown here. Koltun sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Koltun is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Rafael Vieira is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koltun shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vieira as he avoids it easily.
Vieira fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Koltun on the side of the head.
A chopping leg kick lands by Vieira.
Vieira shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Koltun as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Vieira. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vieira throws a looping overhand right but Koltun ducks down to avoid it.
Vieira misses with a low kick as Koltun jumps back.
Koltun throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vieira tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Koltun cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Koltun shoots in for a takedown but Vieira shows good takedown defense.
Vieira throws the left hand but Koltun avoids the punch easily.

Vieira instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Vieira obliges.
Vieira stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Vieira.
Vieira letting Koltun take a breather here.
Koltun lands a body punch in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A shot in the inside from Vieira.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Vieira obliges.
Koltun takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vieira blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Koltun throws a head punch that misses.
Koltun is pressed up against the cage. Vieira has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Koltun down to the mat. Koltun avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Vieira scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Vieira misses with a hook.
Vieira misses with a low kick.
Vieira throws out a loose jab but Koltun uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vieira tries to clinch up
and Koltun counters with a left to the body.
Vieira misses with a double jab

and Koltun counters with a takedown into side control.
Vieira is working to avoid the ground and pound but Koltun connects with a decent elbow.
Vieira is looking for a sweep.
Koltun working the body and head with strikes.
Koltun in side control lands a decent elbow.
Koltun lands a few punches from side control.
Koltun is putting a hurting on Vieira here, landing some big shots from side control.
Koltun is putting a hurting on Vieira here, landing some big shots from side control.
Koltun wants to control but Vieira is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koltun controlling the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vieira is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Koltun works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Koltun wants to control but Vieira is keeping him busy.
Koltun scores with punches from side control.
Vieira tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Koltun easily slips into full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Marek Koltun.
I think Koltun 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 William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Marek Koltun!
A victorious Marek Koltun thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.