PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Douglas Veloso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miodrag Stefanovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Veloso
vs
Stefanovic

185 cm
23
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

184 cm
22
194 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Resistance

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Douglas Veloso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Miodrag Stefanovic!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stefanovic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stefanovic lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Stefanovic leaves Veloso with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Veloso or perhaps it was just good defense by Stefanovic which made him look bad.
Stefanovic looks to land a combination but Veloso avoids it well.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Veloso is defended easily by Stefanovic.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Douglas Veloso. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Veloso looks for a takedown but Stefanovic sprawls well.
Stefanovic fails to land with a series of punches.
Stefanovic looks to throw the jab but Veloso is out of range.
Veloso gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Stefanovic throws a right and a left that Veloso avoids nicely.
Veloso moves out of range as Stefanovic strikes.
Veloso moves out of range as Stefanovic strikes.
Veloso showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stefanovic.
Veloso changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stefanovic tries to avoid it but Veloso manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stefanovic to the ground. Stefanovic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stefanovic misses with a jab, cross combination.

Veloso shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Veloso was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Veloso is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Stefanovic to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Stefanovic shrugs it off.

Veloso is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Stefanovic can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Veloso is breathing heavily.
Stefanovic is trying desperately to improve position.
Stefanovic throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Veloso with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Stefanovic is looking to get to half guard.

Veloso looking for a guillotine from mount but Stefanovic is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stefanovic can't escape the position.

Veloso is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Stefanovic is surviving well by controlling Veloso's body position as best he can.

Veloso working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Stefanovic is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Stefanovic wants to control but Veloso is having none of it.

Veloso is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Stefanovic to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Stefanovic shrugs it off.
Stefanovic is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Stefanovic is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Veloso is staying active.
Stefanovic might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Veloso kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Veloso looking to secure an arm triangle but Stefanovic defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stefanovic slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Stefanovic has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Veloso is working away from the top position though.
Stefanovic wants to improve his position but Veloso is controlling well.
Stefanovic has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Veloso is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Veloso is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Stefanovic doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Veloso.
Stefanovic wants to control but Veloso is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Veloso looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Stefanovic is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Veloso is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stefanovic misses with a series of wild punches.
Veloso moves out of range as Stefanovic strikes.
Stefanovic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Stefanovic gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Veloso to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Veloso drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Veloso jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Veloso 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.
Stefanovic bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Veloso's 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 Douglas Veloso will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fighters circle momentarily. Stefanovic darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
No joy there for Stefanovic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stefanovic swinging wildly here.
Stefanovic throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Veloso sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stefanovic connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Stefanovic scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Veloso fails to land the takedown.
Stefanovic cracks Veloso with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Stefanovic throws a looping overhand right but Veloso ducks down to avoid it.

Veloso 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stefanovic has his feet on Veloso's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Stefanovic connects with a crisp jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Veloso looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stefanovic is fending him off so far but Veloso persists. Nope, Stefanovic circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stefanovic throws the left hand but Veloso avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veloso dodges the punch combination from Stefanovic.
Veloso shoots in but Stefanovic avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Douglas Veloso. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stefanovic misses with a two punch combination.
The crowd cheers as Stefanovic lands an impressive looking overhand right. Veloso doesn't seem phased though.
Some wild striking there from Stefanovic.
Douglas Veloso is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stefanovic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Veloso moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stefanovic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Veloso moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stefanovic leaves Veloso with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Veloso drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Stefanovic throws a hook but Veloso avoids it easily.
Jab by Stefanovic.
Miodrag Stefanovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stefanovic throws a right and a left that both miss.
Veloso dives in and grabs Stefanovic's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stefanovic pushes down on Veloso's head and hops out.
Veloso tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stefanovic swivels and escapes.
Stefanovic lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A punch combination from Stefanovic misses.
Veloso keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stefanovic.
Stefanovic throws a right and a left that both miss.
Stefanovic lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Veloso circles away quickly and effectively.
Stefanovic keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Stefanovic misses with a looping left.
Nice sprawl there from Stefanovic as Veloso shoots in.
Veloso looks for a takedown but Stefanovic sprawls well.
Stefanovic scores with a three punch combo!
Stefanovic lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stefanovic lands a nice shot that snaps Veloso's head back.
Stefanovic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stefanovic throws a jab when Veloso was well out of range.
Stefanovic cracks Veloso with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Stefanovic throws a looping overhand right but Veloso ducks down to avoid it.
Stefanovic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Veloso bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Stefanovic dips to his left and cracks Veloso with an uppercut!
Stefanovic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stefanovic misses with a hook. Veloso ducked under it nicely.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Stefanovic!
Stefanovic misses with a straight right.
Veloso shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stefanovic pinned against the cage. Stefanovic gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A cross from Stefanovic lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veloso shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stefanovic but Stefanovic pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Veloso dodges the punch combination from Stefanovic.
Stefanovic misses with a double jab.
Stefanovic lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Veloso.
Stefanovic lands a head shot.
Stefanovic throws a nice looking combination but Veloso bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Veloso moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stefanovic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stefanovic throws a good cross that connects.
Stefanovic throws a series of punches but Veloso avoids them all with ease.
Veloso changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Stefanovic tries to avoid it but Veloso manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Stefanovic to the ground. Stefanovic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miodrag Stefanovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Stefanovic misses with the combination.
A combination from Stefanovic does no damage.
The fighters circling - Stefanovic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Veloso closes this distance looking for a takedown but Stefanovic circles away.
Stefanovic fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Veloso on the side of the head.
A punch combination from Stefanovic misses.
Veloso has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Stefanovic finds it's way round the side to connect with Veloso's head.
Miodrag Stefanovic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stefanovic waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Veloso.
Stefanovic throws a series of punches but Veloso avoids them all with ease.
Stefanovic misses with a two punch combination.
Veloso shoots in for a takedown but Stefanovic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stefanovic misses with a two punch combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Veloso slips a jab from Stefanovic.
Veloso steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stefanovic.
Stefanovic is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Veloso.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stefanovic misses with the combination.

Veloso scores with a takedown into Stefanovic's guard.
Stefanovic wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Veloso thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Veloso drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Veloso jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Veloso 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.
Stefanovic looking for a sweep. Not yet Stefanovic, not yet.

Veloso thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Stefanovic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Veloso being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Veloso on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Stefanovic stuffs the takedown attempt from Veloso. Veloso gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Douglas Veloso. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stefanovic misses with a wild combination.
A nice combination there by Stefanovic.
Left hook, right uppercut from Stefanovic.
A decent looking cross lands there for Stefanovic.
Stefanovic might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Veloso gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Stefanovic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Veloso fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stefanovic scores with a nice head shot.
Stefanovic fails to land with a series of punches.
Veloso closes the distance and clinches up with Stefanovic, looking for a takedown. Veloso pushes Stefanovic against the cage but Stefanovic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stefanovic jabs Veloso right on the nose. Veloso blinks but takes it well.
Veloso avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stefanovic connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Veloso's hands.
A left and a right from Stefanovic both land. Nice combination.
A combination from Stefanovic does no damage.
Stefanovic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stefanovic misses the jab.
Stefanovic scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Veloso ducks under a wild hook from Stefanovic.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Veloso is defended easily by Stefanovic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Stefanovic.
Stefanovic misses with a looping left.
Stefanovic throws a jab but it's blocked by Veloso.
Stefanovic scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Stefanovic dips to his left and cracks Veloso with an uppercut!
Stefanovic misses with a few strikes there.
Stefanovic misses with a jab, cross combination.
Miodrag Stefanovic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stefanovic is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Veloso.
Stefanovic lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Veloso avoids a punch combination nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Stefanovic misses the target.
Stefanovic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Veloso moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Miodrag Stefanovic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stefanovic 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miodrag Stefanovic!