PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikola Veljanovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Canavan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Veljanovski
vs
Canavan

182 cm
27
222 lbs
22 - 9 - 0

190 cm
25
205 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

The Adrenaline Matrix

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikola Veljanovski!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Liam Canavan!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Konstantin Menshow and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Veljanovski moves into the clinch.
Canavan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Veljanovski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Veljanovski dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Canavan blocks an elbow strike.

Veljanovski breaks the clinch.
Veljanovski fails with the takedown.
Canavan bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Veljanovski's head backwards.
Veljanovski shoots in but no luck this time.
Canavan scores with a nice strike.
Canavan lands a two punch combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Veljanovski shoots in and gets a takedown into Canavan's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Veljanovski with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Veljanovski 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.
Veljanovski wants to control from the top but Canavan keeps moving.
Canavan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canavan keeping moving, preventing Veljanovski from controlling successfully.
Veljanovski connects with a couple of short punches.
Veljanovski landing some decent shots from guard.
Canavan controls Veljanovski momentarily but Veljanovski frees himself.
Veljanovski advances position into side control!

Veljanovski is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Canavan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Canavan is trying to get back to his feet.
Veljanovski lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Canavan down.
Canavan tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
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!
Veljanovski is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Veljanovski is landing with strikes from the back.

It looks like Liam Canavan has been cut.
Canavan looks winded!
Veljanovski scores with punches to the body.
Canavan is trying to remain composed but Veljanovski is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Veljanovski has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Canavan is in real trouble here. Veljanovski gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Canavan is tapping out! Veljanovski wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Nikola Veljanovski!
Nikola Veljanovski retains his light heavyweight title!