PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yrjoe Velmu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pehr Erik Liljestrand (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pehr Erik Liljestrand told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Velmu
vs
Erik Liljestrand

192 cm
20
200 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
175 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Hardcore Nutrition

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yrjoe Velmu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pehr Erik Liljestrand!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velmu throws a looping overhand right but Liljestrand ducks down to avoid it.
Velmu throws a looping overhand right but Liljestrand ducks down to avoid it.
Liljestrand explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Velmu takes a swing at Liljestrand's ribcage but misses.

Liljestrand moves into the clinch.
Liljestrand tries to stall but Velmu uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Come on Velmu - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Velmu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Liljestrand has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Good body shot from Liljestrand.
Knees to the body from Velmu.
Liljestrand struggles to land a body shot inside as Velmu controls his hands.
Velmu misses with a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Liljestrand fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Velmu trying to land knees to the body.
Velmu lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Pehr Erik Liljestrand has been cut.
Liljestrand's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Liljestrand throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Velmus head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Velmu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Liljestrand has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Velmu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Velmu takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nice body punch from Velmu - that landed with a thud.
Velmu can't find room to land a body shot as Liljestrand controls the action.
Velmu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Velmu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Liljestrand creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Velmu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Liljestrand wants to stall.
Velmu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Velmu just leaning against Liljestrand, taking a breather.
Liljestrand stalling in the clinch but Velmu improves position.
Velmu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Liljestrand swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Velmu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Liljestrand has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Velmu obliges.
Liljestrand creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Velmu's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Velmu can't find room to land a body shot as Liljestrand controls the action.
Velmu connects with a nasty looking knee right to Liljestrand's face.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Liljestrand.
Velmu's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Liljestrand lands an uppercut.
Liljestrand is trying to maintain a safe position but Velmu gets an underhook and turns Liljestrand into the cage.
Velmu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Liljestrand blocks it with crossed arms.
Velmu lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A bit of stalling here from Velmu.
Liljestrand is trying to maintain a safe position but Velmu gets an underhook and turns Liljestrand into the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Velmu.
Liljestrand misses with a punch on the inside.
Liljestrand doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A shot in the inside from Velmu.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but Liljestrand blocks with his arms.
Velmu tries a knee to the head but Liljestrand blocks it.
Velmu lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Liljestrand tries a body shot but Velmu blocks it.
Velmu tries a body shot but Liljestrand blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liljestrand lands a body shot in the clinch.
Liljestrand throws a punch but it's blocked by Velmu.
Velmu avoids a wild elbow strike from Liljestrand.
Velmu missing with knees to the body.
Liljestrand fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Liljestrand blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Liljestrand is trying to stall.
Velmu lands with a light punch inside.
Velmu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Velmu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Liljestrand is defending well for now.
Velmu missing with knees to the body.
Velmu taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Liljestrand is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Velmu is defending well for now.
A body shot lands from Velmu.
Liljestrand misses with a punch to the body.
Velmu blocks a body shot from Liljestrand.
Velmu blocking some punches.
Velmu misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velmu blocks an uppercut.
Velmu misses with a knee to the head.
Velmu throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Liljestrand blocks it with crossed arms.
Velmu misses with a knee to the head.
Liljestrand lands a left hand that snaps the head of Velmu backwards.
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!
Velmu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Liljestrand stalls.
Liljestrand fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Liljestrand lands with a short shot to the head.
Velmu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Liljestrand controlling the action here for a moment.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Velmu.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A head punch on the inside from Velmu fails to land.
Liljestrand lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Good body shot from Velmu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yrjoe Velmu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pehr Erik Liljestrand's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Liljestrand throws an overhand right that lands on Velmu's shoulder, as Velmu tries to avoid the shot.
Velmu cracks the inside of Liljestrand's front leg.
Velmu scores with a crisp jab that stopped Liljestrand in his tracks.
Nice body punch from Liljestrand.
Velmu is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Velmu throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Liljestrand is looking to land body kicks.
Liljestrand lands a slapping body shot.
Velmu misses with a leg kick
and Liljestrand counters with a straight right hand.
Liljestrand throws out a loose jab but Velmu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Liljestrand avoids the head kick by Velmu.

Liljestrand has managed to clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Liljestrand.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Velmu.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Velmu misses with a knee strike.
Velmu avoids a wild elbow strike from Liljestrand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Velmu looking to throw knees to the head but Liljestrand is blocking nicely.
Liljestrand is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Velmu is keeping busy.
Velmu trying to control the position but instead, Liljestrand has worked for underhooks and has pushed Velmu into the cage.
Velmu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice left hand lands by Velmu.
Velmu misses with a knee strike.
A short uppercut from Liljestrand.
Velmu tries a knee to the head but Liljestrand blocks it.
Velmu dodges an elbow strike from Liljestrand.
Velmu is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Velmu misses with a knee to the head.
Velmu with a knee to the head.
Liljestrand trying to control the position but instead, Velmu has worked for underhooks and has pushed Liljestrand into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velmu tries to stall but Liljestrand uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Liljestrand is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Velmu is keeping busy.
Liljestrand throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Velmus head.
Velmu throws a knee to the head but misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Velmu blocks an elbow strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Liljestrand.
Velmu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Liljestrand.
Liljestrand tries to throw a body punch but Velmu avoids it by throwing Liljestrand back against the cage.
Velmu struggles to land a body shot inside as Liljestrand controls his hands.
Liljestrand looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Liljestrand doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the head but Liljestrand blocks with his arms.
Liljestrand misses with a short punch on the inside.
Velmu tries to work over Liljestrand's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Liljestrand misses with an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liljestrand lands an elbow inside.
Velmu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Liljestrand avoiding damage as Velmu throws knees to the body.
Velmu manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Liljestrand taking a breather.
Velmu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Liljestrand is defending well for now.
Velmu misses with some punches.
Liljestrand tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Liljestrand lands a right hand.
Velmu scores with a nice hook to the head.
Velmu landing knees to the head.
Velmu takes an elbow to the temple.
Velmu landing knees to the head.
Velmu takes an elbow to the temple.
Velmu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Yrjoe Velmu has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Liljestrand.
Liljestrand throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Liljestrand.
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!
Liljestrand softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Liljestrand tries a body shot but Velmu blocks it.
Liljestrand blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Velmu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Velmu misses with a knee to the head.
Liljestrand has a couple of punches blocked by Velmu.
Liljestrand throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Velmu.
Liljestrand blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Velmu lands a body shot.
A knee to the head by Velmu.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Liljestrand takes a knee right on the jaw!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Velmu gets through Liljestrand's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Velmu lands with a left to the head.
Liljestrand is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Yrjoe Velmu will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pehr Erik Liljestrand's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Liljestrand misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Velmu.
Liljestrand scores with a kick to the midsection.
Liljestrand pivots, looking for a leg kick but Velmu is out of range and Liljestrand settles back down.
Velmu slips a jab from Liljestrand.
Velmu checks the leg kick nicely there.
Velmu takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Liljestrand throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Velmu counters with a straight right hand.
Liljestrand keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Velmu swings for the body but Liljestrand moves out of range.
Liljestrand looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Liljestrand darts in and clinches Velmu up against the cage.
Liljestrand has a couple of punches blocked by Velmu.
Velmu works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Liljestrand is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liljestrand has a couple of punches blocked by Velmu.
A knee to the head by Velmu.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Velmu as Liljestrand tries to tie him up.
Velmu using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Liljestrand has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Velmu prevents a body shot from Liljestrand.
Velmu with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Liljestrand just misses with a elbow thrown towards Velmu's brow.
Velmu tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Liljestrand avoids it.
Liljestrand doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Velmu avoiding damage as Liljestrand throws knees to the body.
Velmu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A head punch on the inside from Liljestrand fails to land.
Velmu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Velmu is trying to maintain a safe position but Liljestrand gets an underhook and turns Velmu into the cage.
A short right from Liljestrand on the inside.
Liljestrand lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Velmu misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liljestrand's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Liljestrand can't find room to land a body shot as Velmu controls the action.
Velmu misses with a knee to the head.
Velmu has a couple of punches blocked by Liljestrand.
Liljestrand is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Velmu avoids the elbow strike from Liljestrand, against the cage.
Liljestrand lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Velmu backwards.
Velmu blocks a body shot from Liljestrand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Velmu just leaning against Liljestrand, taking a breather.
Liljestrand swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Yrjoe Velmu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Liljestrand.

It looks like Yrjoe Velmu has been cut.
Liljestrand throws a head punch that misses.
Liljestrand stalling.
Liljestrand misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liljestrand looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Velmu obliges.
Liljestrand taking a breather.
A head punch on the inside from Liljestrand fails to land.
Liljestrand fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Liljestrand throws a punch but it's blocked by Velmu.
Liljestrand tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Velmu avoids it.
Liljestrand goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Liljestrand misses with the head strike.
Liljestrand lands a shoulder strike.
Velmu avoids a wild elbow strike from Liljestrand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liljestrand scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Liljestrand throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Liljestrand goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Liljestrand scores with a shoulder strike.
Velmu blocks an elbow strike.
Velmu prevents a body shot from Liljestrand.
Liljestrand working aggressively here.
Pehr Erik Liljestrand has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Liljestrand tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Liljestrand tries a body shot but Velmu blocks it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Velmu as Liljestrand tries to tie him up.
Velmu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pehr Erik Liljestrand comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Velmu 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Yrjoe Velmu!
A very excited looking Yrjoe Velmu made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.