PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maksim Veremko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Pits (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maksim Veremko has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Veremko
vs
Pits

194 cm
26
237 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maksim Veremko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrew Pits!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pits closes this distance looking for a takedown but Veremko circles away.
Pits fails with the takedown
and Veremko counters with a series of strikes. Pits will be more careful next time no doubt.
Pits circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Veremko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Pits changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Veremko looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Pits looks winded!
Veremko wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Veremko throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Veremko enables Pits to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Veremko manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
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!
Veremko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pits throws an elbow that misses. Veremko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pits's guard. Nice move by Veremko!
Pits looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Veremko decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A nice combination there by Veremko.
Pits has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Veremko lands a two punch combo.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Veremko throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Veremko throws a combination. Pits tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Andrew Pits seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Veremko lands a two punch combo.

Veremko clinches up against the cage.
Pits keeps control of Veremko as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

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

Veremko has taken the fight to the clinch.
Veremko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pits keeps control of Veremko as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Veremko's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Veremko.

Veremko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pits fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Maksim Veremko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Pits.
Pits shoots in for a takedown but Veremko shows good takedown defense.

Veremko closes the distance and clinches.

Veremko manages to break the clinch.
Veremko throws a nice head kick!

Veremko forces Pits back against the cage and clinches.
Veremko prevents a takedown attempt there.

Veremko manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veremko lands a jab-cross combination.
Veremko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Veremko lands a nice looking body kick.

Veremko closes the distance and pushes Pits back into the cage.
Veremko tries to break the clinch but Pits is controlling the position.
Veremko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Veremko lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Veremko tries to break free but Pits pushes him back against the cage.

Veremko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Veremko tries to clinch but Pits is having none of it.
Veremko pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Pits back to the cage. Veremko follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Veremko throws a nice head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Veremko scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Veremko rushes Pits and presses him up against the cage.
Veremko tries to break free but Pits pushes him back against the cage.

Veremko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pits shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Veremko as he jumps to the side.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Veremko.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Veremko, right into the meat.

Veremko has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pits has Veremko pressed against the cage, preventing Veremko from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Veremko is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Veremko breaks the clinch.

Veremko gets a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maksim Veremko dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Veremko lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Veremko scores with a head kick.
Veremko doesn't manage to clinch there - Pits circles away.
Veremko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pits shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Veremko but Veremko pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Veremko lands a head kick. Pits smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Pits misses with a takedown attempt
and Veremko counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Pits is lucky that one didn't land flush.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Danga de danga de dang - Veremko scores with a four punch combination!

Veremko rushes Pits and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Veremko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Veremko scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Veremko lands a head kick!
Veremko is working the combinations to good effect here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Veremko.

Veremko has Pits up against the cage in a clinch.
Pits is breathing heavily.
Veremko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Veremko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maksim Veremko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pits swats away the attempt to clinch by Veremko.
Veremko scores with a spinning back kick!
Veremko lands a head kick!
Maksim Veremko is winning the standup battle so far.

Veremko clinches up against the cage.
Veremko tries to break free but Pits pushes him back against the cage.
Veremko is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Veremko wants to break free but Pits has control.
Pits keeps control of Veremko as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Veremko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veremko wants to get back to striking at distance but Pits won't allow it.
Veremko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pits keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Veremko's efforts to push away.
Veremko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Veremko gets underhooks to prevent Pits's takedown attempt.
Maksim Veremko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Pits.

Veremko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Veremko rushes Pits and presses him up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Veremko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pits prevents Veremko from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veremko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Veremko is trying to push Pits away but Pits has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Veremko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Veremko tries to circle away but Pits has him pinned against the cage.
Veremko is trying to push Pits away but Pits has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Veremko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Veremko tries to sprawl but Pits drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Veremko wants to get back to his feet.
Pits throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Veremko wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pits looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Veremko with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Pits thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Veremko's head.
Pits stalling.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Veremko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pits.
Veremko tries to kick Pits off but Pits keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Pits seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Pits missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Andrew Pits has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pits throws a strike but Veremko avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Veremko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pits can do to turn this around?
Veremko wants to stand but Pits is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maksim Veremko dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Pits gets a double leg takedown into Veremko's guard.
Pits stops Veremko from standing up.
Pits must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pits missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pits works over Veremko with some ground and pound from guard.
Pits throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pits throwing strikes from guard but Veremko blocks nicely.
Pits scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Pits throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Veremko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pits throws a big elbow that misses.
Pits won't allow Veremko to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pits trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Veremko wants to get back to his feet but Pits is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pits working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Veremko's head.
Veremko wants to stand and escape but Pits is having none of it.
Pits distracts Veremko with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Pits with a flurry of punches that miss.
Veremko wants to get back to his feet but Pits is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pits is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Veremko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pits cracks Veremko with a solid left hand.
Pits working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Veremko's head.
Pits cracks Veremko with a solid left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pits landing some decent shots from guard.
Pits is looking to work some ground and pound but Veremko has wrist control.

Veremko pushes Pits off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pits manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Veremko on his heels. He'll look to pass Veremko's guard now, I'm sure.
Pits landing some decent shots from guard.
Pits missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pits postures up in Veremko's guard and throws a big left but Veremko blocks it.
Pits connects with a couple of short punches.
Pits really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Veremko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Pits prevents Veremko from getting back to his feet.
Pits missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pits postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pits throwing strikes from guard but Veremko blocks nicely.
Veremko will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pits throwing strikes but missing.
Pits throws an elbow that misses. Veremko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pits's guard. Nice move by Veremko!
Pits will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Veremko has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pits is proving hard to escape from.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pits is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pits trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrew Pits comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Veremko has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maksim Veremko!