PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rico Verhoeven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maksim Veremko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Veremko has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Rico Verhoeven has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Verhoeven
vs
Veremko

196 cm
27
242 lbs
2 - 10 - 0

194 cm
27
237 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

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 2 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rico Verhoeven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maksim Veremko!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Fedor Mirinova and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Veremko stuffs the takedown attempt from Verhoeven. Verhoeven gets slowly back to his feet.

Veremko gets the takedown into side control.
Verhoeven tries to improve position but can't.
Verhoeven dodges the ground and pound from Veremko.
Veremko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Veremko trying to control the position but Verhoeven is working away.
Verhoeven is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Veremko tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Verhoeven is looking to regain half guard here but Veremko keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Veremko stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Verhoeven tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Veremko swivels and escapes.
Verhoeven scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Veremko doesn't seem bothered though.
Veremko looks winded!

Verhoeven gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Veremko wants to control from the top but Verhoeven keeps moving.
Verhoeven controls Veremko momentarily but Veremko frees himself.
Veremko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Verhoeven is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veremko sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Veremko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Verhoeven works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Verhoeven wants to sweep but no luck.
Veremko works over Verhoeven with some ground and pound from guard.
Verhoeven looking to hit a scissor sweep but Veremko is one step ahead there.
Veremko pushes down on Verhoeven's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verhoeven is trying to get back to full guard.

Veremko is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Verhoeven sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Verhoeven trying to control but Veremko postures up.
Veremko works his way into full mount!
Veremko wants to control the pace but Verhoeven is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verhoeven tries to hold on but Veremko pushes him away.
Verhoeven is trying to escape the mount.
Veremko postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Verhoeven looks a forlorn figure.
Veremko takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Verhoeven is looking to improve his position but Veremko isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maksim Veremko dominated that round.
That's time! Verhoeven's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Veremko scores with a takedown into Verhoeven's guard.
Verhoeven keeping moving, preventing Veremko from controlling successfully.
Veremko passes Verhoeven's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Veremko is looking for a kimura here.
Verhoeven is looking for a sweep. Veremko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Veremko is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Veremko is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Veremko perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Veremko is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Veremko passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Verhoeven!

Veremko working for a guillotine from mount but Verhoeven is in no mood to give up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verhoeven tries to hold on but Veremko pushes him away.
Maksim Veremko has got the better of the ground game so far.

Veremko swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Verhoeven is now in Veremko's guard. A big mistake from Veremko there, giving up the dominant position!
Verhoeven pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Veremko is keeping the position for now.

Veremko is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Verhoeven drops down looking for an ankle pick but Veremko pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Veremko closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Verhoeven quickly recovers to half guard.
Verhoeven is looking to improve his position.
Veremko thows a huge punch but Verhoeven dodges it nicely.

Verhoeven actively working from the bottom here.
Verhoeven trying to control from the bottom.
Verhoeven moves into full guard.
Veremko tries to free his leg and advance position but Verhoeven is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verhoeven working a defensive guard here.
Verhoeven being controlled here, momentarily.
Verhoeven working a defensive guard but Veremko passes into half guard.

Veremko is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Verhoeven doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Veremko.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Veremko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Verhoeven's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maksim Veremko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Verhoeven fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Veremko closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Verhoeven did well to prevent Veremko getting side control.
Veremko trying to control the action but Verhoeven is working from the bottom.
Verhoeven trying to control here.
Veremko wants to pass the guard but Verhoeven is defending well.
Verhoeven is trying to control but can't.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Veremko in particular looking to stall.
Veremko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Verhoeven is trying to maintain the position but Veremko is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Verhoeven gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Veremko to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Veremko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Verhoeven is keeping the position for now.
Verhoeven is trying to control the position but Veremko postures up.
Verhoeven wants to improve his position but instead Veremko has moved into half guard.
Veremko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verhoeven is trying to maintain the position but Veremko is very close to passing his half guard.
Veremko wants to free his trapped foot but Verhoeven is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Veremko is trying for a kimura here. Verhoeven looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Veremko wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Maksim Veremko!