PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikola Veljanovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thor Steinar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Veljanovski
vs
Steinar

182 cm
22
234 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Self confident

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite 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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikola Veljanovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thor Steinar!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Steinar manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Veljanovski on his heels. He'll look to pass Veljanovski's guard now, I'm sure.
Steinar is in close to Veljanovski's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Steinar throws a strike but Veljanovski rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Veljanovski not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Steinar looking for a sweep. Not yet Steinar, not yet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Steinar can do anything to dispel that myth.
Veljanovski's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Steinar wants to improve his position but instead Veljanovski has moved into half guard.
Veljanovski takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
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!
Steinar trying to control from the bottom.
Veljanovski passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Steinar!
Steinar really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Veljanovski. 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 one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski tries to control but Steinar wriggling away.
Veljanovski sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steinar is trying to reverse the position but instead Veljanovski has taken his back - oops!
Steinar is really stuck here.
Veljanovski trying to control.
Steinar tries to escape but Veljanovski has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steinar looking very determined here, making life difficult for Veljanovski.
Veljanovski slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Steinar trying to control the action but Veljanovski just sinks the hooks in.
Steinar can't escape the position.

Steinar showing good submission defense here.
Veljanovski is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steinar looking very determined here, making life difficult for Veljanovski.
Steinar can't escape the position.
Steinar is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Veljanovski looking for the choke from the back.
Steinar rolls, trying to escape but Veljanovski keeps control of the position.
Veljanovski gets his hands free as Steinar looks to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steinar rolls, trying to escape but Veljanovski keeps control of the position.
Veljanovski tries to get the hooks in deep but Steinar pushed the leg off.
Steinar is really stuck here.
Veljanovski is punishing Steinar with strikes - can he finish him?!
Steinar is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Veljanovski is riding his opponent, not letting Steinar buck him off.
Steinar tries to escape the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steinar trying to control the hands but Veljanovski won't let him.
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 Nikola Veljanovski will probably get the nod.
That's time! Veljanovski's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Steinar gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Veljanovski counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Steinar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Veljanovski is one step ahead there.
Veljanovski slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Steinar wants to hit a switch here but Veljanovski passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Steinar there!
Steinar tries to hold on but Veljanovski postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski scoring with strikes but Steinar is staying in there.
Veljanovski tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Veljanovski wants to stand but Steinar is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Steinar stops Veljanovski from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Steinar can't escape the position.
Steinar is squirming around, avoiding Veljanovski's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Veljanovski looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Steinar wants to control but Veljanovski is having none of it.
Steinar is looking to get to half guard.
Veljanovski wants to control the pace but Steinar is squirming around nicely.
Veljanovski with good strikes from the mount here!
Steinar is squirming around, avoiding Veljanovski's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski is really struggling to control Steinar but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Veljanovski landing punches.
Veljanovski tries to control but Steinar wriggling away.

Veljanovski with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Steinar tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Steinar can't escape the position.
Steinar tries to hold on but Veljanovski postures up.
Steinar is in all sorts of trouble here.

Veljanovski is working for a guillotine from mount but Steinar frees his head quite easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steinar is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikola Veljanovski dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Veljanovski. No joy for Steinar on that attempt.
Steinar displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Veljanovski.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Steinar.
Steinar shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Veljanovski holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nikola Veljanovski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thor Steinar.
Veljanovski is working for takedown but Steinar is calmly controlling the position for now.
Steinar changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Veljanovski fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Steinar fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Veljanovski to the ground. Steinar is now in Veljanovski's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Steinar scoring with punches to the head and body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Steinar makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nikola Veljanovski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Steinar working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steinar works over Veljanovski with some ground and pound from guard.
Veljanovski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Veljanovski has momentary wrist control but Steinar slips an elbow through the middle.

Veljanovski is rocked!
Steinar postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Veljanovski covers up, he's hurt! Steinar keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Steinar and the ref steps in to end the fight! Steinar can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Thor Steinar!
A determined Thor Steinar didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!