PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ching Ling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maksim Veremko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Ling
vs
Veremko

198 cm
28
257 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

194 cm
26
237 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ching Ling!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maksim Veremko!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Veremko. No joy for Ling on that attempt.

Ling gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ling lands strikes from half guard.
Ling throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ling thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Veremko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ling.
Ground and pound from Ling.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ling is looking for submissions but instead, Veremko has regained full guard.

Ling drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Veremko dives on top into guard.

Ling kicks Veremko off and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veremko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ling manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Maksim Veremko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick misses from Veremko.
Veremko tries to close the distance and clinch but Ling swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No luck for Ling with that takedown attempt.
Veremko tries to clinch there but Ling circles away.
Veremko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maksim Veremko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ling fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ching Ling. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Veremko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Veremko lands with a straight right. Ling didn't see that one coming.
Veremko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ling swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ling looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ling slips a jab and a cross from Veremko.

Veremko moves into the clinch successfully.
Veremko can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ling goes for a takedown in the clinch but Veremko prevents it.
Veremko is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Veremko manages to break the clinch.
Veremko stuffs the takedown attempt from Ling. Ling gets slowly back to his feet.
Veremko lands with a slapping head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Veremko tries to clinch up but Ling circles away and keeps his distance.
Ling shoots in looking for a takedown. Veremko tries to sprawl out of it but Ling keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Veremko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ling avoids the head kick by Veremko.
Ling fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Veremko lands a high kick!

Veremko has closed the distance and engaged Ling in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ling tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ling is looking to take this one to the mat.
Veremko is trying to push Ling away but Ling has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Veremko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ling shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Veremko defends it nicely.
Ling shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Veremko sprawls well. Veremko wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ling gets slowly back to his feet.
Veremko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Veremko rushes Ling and presses him up against the cage.

Veremko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ling closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veremko is trying to stand up here but Ling is controlling him well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ling throwing shots but Veremko is blocking nicely.
Ling not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Veremko is trying to stand back up but Ling is controlling him
Ling has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
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!

Ling is looking for a kimura but Veremko is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ling to get the leverage.
Ling missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ling scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ling thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Ling is working for a kimura but Veremko is defending it quite comfortably.
Ling lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
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 Ching Ling will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ling fails to land the takedown.

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

Ling has gone for a leg lock! Veremko slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ling's guard.

Ling pushes Veremko off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Veremko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ling closes this distance looking for a takedown but Veremko circles away.

Ling shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ling trying to mount his opponent but Veremko defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ling is working hard here to advance position.
Ling with the ground and pound but Veremko uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Ling drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Veremko dives on top into guard.

Ling working for a triangle but Veremko defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ling looking for a sweep. Not yet Ling, not yet.
Ling wants to stand up but Veremko is controlling him.
Ling pulls Veremko in to control the position.
Ling wants to sweep here but Veremko controlling him for the moment.
Ling is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ling wants to stand and escape but Veremko is having none of it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Ching Ling has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ling misses with a takedown attempt - Veremko sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ching Ling. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Veremko moves in looking to clinch but Ling pushes him off.
Veremko changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Veremko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Ling fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Veremko to the ground. Ling is now in Veremko's guard.
Ling throws an elbow that misses. Veremko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ling's guard. Nice move by Veremko!
Ling is trying to control the position but Veremko postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ling is looking to sweep but instead, Veremko has passed into half guard.
Ling is trying to control but Veremko passes into side control!
Ling can't do much from the bottom here.
Ling is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Veremko asserts his dominance and retains side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ching Ling dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ling avoids the head kick by Veremko.
Veremko throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Ling.

Veremko closes the distance and pushes Ling back into the cage.

Veremko breaks the clinch.
Veremko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ling paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Veremko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ling manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ling circles away from the clinch attempt.

Veremko rushes Ling and presses him up against the cage.
Veremko is trying to push Ling away but Ling has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Veremko gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ling.
Ling is trying to drag Veremko to the mat but Veremko just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Veremko tries to circle away but Ling has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Veremko breaks the clinch.
Veremko throws a nice looking combination but Ling bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Veremko fails to land with a series of punches.
Veremko throws a series of punches but Ling avoids them all with ease.
Ling shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ching Ling. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ling looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Veremko is fending him off so far but Ling persists. Nope, Veremko circles away and we're back to standing.
Ling shoots in but no luck this time.
Veremko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Veremko tries to clinch up.
Veremko is looking to clinch.
Veremko tries a head kick but it misses.
Ling shoots in for a double leg but Veremko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Ling darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ling tries to pass the half guard into mount. Veremko knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Veremko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ling. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ling is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Veremko doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ling working over Veremko with some ground and pound. Veremko looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Veremko wants to get back to his feet.
Veremko on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Veremko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ling sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Veremko defending well though.
Ling misses with a head shot. Veremko uses the momentum to regain guard.
Ling wants to pass the guard but Veremko is keeping the position.
Ling stands up over Veremko, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Maksim Veremko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ling passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Ling grinds an elbow into Veremko's temple.
Veremko is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ling is controlling him well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ling landing strikes.

Veremko is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ling in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Veremko looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Ling turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ching Ling!
Ching Ling made sure to mention his sponsor, SAVE A FIGHTER in his post fight interview.