PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ramazan Abdulkerimov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikola Veljanovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Nikola Veljanovski was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Abdulkerimov
vs
Veljanovski

188 cm
25
250 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

182 cm
26
227 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
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 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ramazan Abdulkerimov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikola Veljanovski!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Veljanovski moves out of range as Abdulkerimov strikes.

Abdulkerimov has Veljanovski up against the cage in a clinch.

Veljanovski breaks the clinch.
Veljanovski thows a left - swing and a miss!
Abdulkerimov is looking to clinch but Veljanovski is avoiding it.
Abdulkerimov misses with a few strikes there.
A big left from Abdulkerimov misses.
Abdulkerimov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Veljanovski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Abdulkerimov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Abdulkerimov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Veljanovski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Abdulkerimov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Abdulkerimov tries to clinch there but Veljanovski circles away.

Veljanovski shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Veljanovski gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Veljanovski drives through with a takedown into Abdulkerimov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Veljanovski stands up from Abdulkerimov's guard - Veljanovski perhaps looking for a knockout.

Veljanovski closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Abdulkerimov to the mat! Abdulkerimov manages to get full guard.
Veljanovski trying to control but Abdulkerimov is working from the bottom.
Veljanovski might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Abdulkerimov haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abdulkerimov seems keen to control Veljanovski's posture.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nikola Veljanovski wasn't active enough on the ground.

Veljanovski shoots in and bounces Abdulkerimov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abdulkerimov pulls Veljanovski in close to his closed guard and prevents Veljanovski from doing any damage or advancing position.
Abdulkerimov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Abdulkerimov tries to get out of the position.
Abdulkerimov controls Veljanovski momentarily but Veljanovski frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Abdulkerimov holds on and takes a little breather.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Abdulkerimov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Veljanovski working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Veljanovski looking to sit in guard and control but Abdulkerimov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Veljanovski looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ramazan Abdulkerimov just wasn't active enough.
Abdulkerimov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Veljanovski drives through with a takedown into guard.
Veljanovski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Veljanovski is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Veljanovski tries to free his leg and advance position but Abdulkerimov is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Veljanovski trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Veljanovski landing some decent shots from guard.
Veljanovski trying to control the position from guard on top but Abdulkerimov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikola Veljanovski dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Veljanovski looking to score a takedown here. Abdulkerimov is defending well but Veljanovski drives through and ends up in Abdulkerimov's guard.
Veljanovski controlling from the top position.
Abdulkerimov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Veljanovski's guard.
Abdulkerimov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Veljanovski trying to control the position here.
Abdulkerimov wants to get up but he can't break Veljanovski's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Nikola Veljanovski hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Veljanovski keeps the fight on the outside.
Ramazan Abdulkerimov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Abdulkerimov thows a left - swing and a miss!

Veljanovski shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Abdulkerimov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Veljanovski in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Abdulkerimov keeping moving, preventing Veljanovski from controlling successfully.
Veljanovski with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski throws a big right hand that misses.
Veljanovski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Abdulkerimov pulls Veljanovski in close to prevent any damage.
Abdulkerimov is trying to keep Veljanovski in close.

Ramazan Abdulkerimov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Veljanovski drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Veljanovski gets to his feet. Abdulkerimov looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Abdulkerimov gets caught flat footed, as Veljanovski shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Veljanovski has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Abdulkerimov keeping moving, preventing Veljanovski from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Veljanovski gets to his feet - Abdulkerimov follows without any prompting.
Abdulkerimov wants to clinch up but Veljanovski keeps it at a distance.
Veljanovski circles away from the clinch attempt.

Veljanovski clinches.
Abdulkerimov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Veljanovski is struggling to control the position.
Veljanovski avoids a wild elbow strike from Abdulkerimov.
Abdulkerimov is trying to break the clinch but Veljanovski has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Abdulkerimov's efforts to push away.
Veljanovski swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Veljanovski.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Veljanovski.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Veljanovski throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Abdulkerimov being controlled for a moment.
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.

Nikola Veljanovski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Abdulkerimov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Abdulkerimov moves in looking to clinch but Veljanovski pushes him off.
Abdulkerimov moves to clinch but Veljanovski breaks away

and Veljanovski counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Veljanovski being controlled here momentarily.
Abdulkerimov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Veljanovski trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Veljanovski throwing strikes from guard but Abdulkerimov blocks nicely.

Veljanovski drops back, looking for a kneebar! Abdulkerimov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Abdulkerimov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Abdulkerimov!

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Veljanovski's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Abdulkerimov wants to stand but Veljanovski is controlling his arm.
Veljanovski is trying to control Abdulkerimov's posture but Abdulkerimov avoids it.
Veljanovski is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abdulkerimov tries to stand but Veljanovski is controlling his head.
Veljanovski sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Veljanovski is trying to maintain the position but Abdulkerimov is very close to passing his half guard.
Veljanovski wants to sweep but Abdulkerimov has passed to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdulkerimov tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Veljanovski is looking for a sweep.
Veljanovski tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Veljanovski is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikola Veljanovski has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ramazan Abdulkerimov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Veljanovski taking shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikola Veljanovski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Veljanovski winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikola Veljanovski!