PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikola Veljanovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikel Mcgee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Veljanovski
vs
Mcgee

182 cm
28
222 lbs
24 - 15 - 0

183 cm
27
215 lbs
7 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikola Veljanovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikel Mcgee!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Veljanovski forces Mcgee back against the cage and clinches.

Mcgee breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mcgee gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Veljanovski connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Mikel Mcgee has been cut.
Veljanovski fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mcgee shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Veljanovski pinned against the cage. Veljanovski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mcgee tries to clinch up.
Veljanovski seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Mcgee throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Veljanovski's waist but Veljanovski gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mcgee off to one side.
Nikola Veljanovski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikel Mcgee.
Veljanovski is looking to clinch.
Veljanovski looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Veljanovski shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mcgee pinned against the cage. Mcgee gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mcgee gets caught napping as Veljanovski dives in and scores a takedown. Mcgee manages to retain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mcgee swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Veljanovski trying to control the position from guard on top but Mcgee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mcgee working a defensive guard here.
Veljanovski advances to half guard.
Veljanovski trying to control the action but Mcgee is working from the bottom.

Veljanovski is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mcgee is just riding it out for now. Veljanovski eventually gives up the hold.
Mcgee trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Veljanovski seems to be working for a kimura but Mcgee defends the submission attempt.
Mcgee connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Mcgee is looking for a sweep. Veljanovski is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Veljanovski drops an elbow to the side of Mcgee's head.
Mcgee is looking for a sweep. Veljanovski is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Veljanovski seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mcgee does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Veljanovski missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcgee moves into full guard.

Mcgee has his foot on Veljanovski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Veljanovski works his way back into a safe position though.
Veljanovski working some strikes from top position.
Mcgee is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Mcgee is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Veljanovski is controlling him.
Veljanovski works over Mcgee with some ground and pound from guard.
Veljanovski postures up.

Mcgee is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Veljanovski postures up in Mcgee's guard and throws a big left but Mcgee blocks it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Veljanovski misses with a takedown attempt - Mcgee sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A nice side step and Mcgee releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Veljanovski shoots in looking for a takedown. Mcgee tries to sprawl out of it but Veljanovski keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mcgee manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Mcgee clinches up with Veljanovski and pushes him back against the cage.
Veljanovski is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Veljanovski leaning his opponent against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Veljanovski breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mcgee dives in for a single leg takedown but Veljanovski sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikola Veljanovski dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mikel Mcgee's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Veljanovski closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mcgee changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Veljanovski fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Veljanovski misses with a takedown attempt - Mcgee sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Veljanovski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mcgee feints the counter takedown.
Mcgee throws a head kick but Veljanovski moves out of range.

Veljanovski fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mcgee to the ground. Veljanovski is now in Mcgee's guard.
Veljanovski won't allow Mcgee to sweep him here.
Veljanovski with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Veljanovski postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

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

Mcgee wants to stand but Veljanovski is controlling his arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski tries to buck Mcgee off but Mcgee is having none of it.
Veljanovski gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Mcgee looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Veljanovski with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Veljanovski wants to control but Mcgee is keeping busy.
Mcgee tries to stand but can't do so whilst Veljanovski controls his leg.
Veljanovski manages to get to full guard.
Veljanovski is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Veljanovski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mcgee accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Veljanovski manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mcgee manages to get himself to full guard.

Mcgee lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Mcgee is in close to Veljanovski's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nikola Veljanovski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mcgee preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Veljanovski is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mcgee slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mcgee wants to control but Veljanovski is keeping him busy.
Veljanovski is trying to control Mcgee's posture but Mcgee avoids it.
Mcgee wants to stand but Veljanovski is controlling his arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Veljanovski manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Veljanovski tries to kick Mcgee off but Mcgee keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Veljanovski manages to get to full guard.
Veljanovski manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mcgee manages to get himself to full guard.

Mcgee avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mcgee wants to stand and escape but Veljanovski is having none of it.
Veljanovski trying to control the position from guard on top but Mcgee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mcgee is adopting a defensive guard.
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 Nikola Veljanovski will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mikel Mcgee's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Mcgee misses with a hook.
Veljanovski looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mcgee is fending him off so far but Veljanovski persists. Nope, Mcgee circles away and we're back to standing.

Veljanovski rushes Mcgee and presses him up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Veljanovski.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Veljanovski.
Mcgee keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Veljanovski's efforts to push away.
The referee calls for Veljanovski to work.
Veljanovski tries a body shot but Mcgee blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Veljanovski tries a body shot but Mcgee blocks it.

Veljanovski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mcgee dives in and grabs Veljanovski's left leg, looking for a takedown. Veljanovski pushes down on Mcgee's head and hops out.
Veljanovski feinted with a counter takedown.
The fight stays on the outside here - Veljanovski looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcgee leaves Veljanovski with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mcgee throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mcgee has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Veljanovski finds it's way round the side to connect with Mcgee's head.
Nikola Veljanovski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Veljanovski misses with a double jab.
Veljanovski tries for a takedown but Mcgee sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
As Veljanovski backs off Mcgee throws a huge counter combo but Veljanovski manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikola Veljanovski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mcgee shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Veljanovski as he jumps to the side.
Veljanovski fails with a takedown attempt.
Mcgee shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Veljanovski pinned against the cage. Veljanovski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Veljanovski appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Veljanovski feints and as Mcgee raises his hands in defense, Veljanovski changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Veljanovski wants to control from the top but Mcgee keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcgee wants to stand and escape but Veljanovski is having none of it.
Veljanovski slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mcgee tries to bench press Veljanovski off him but Veljanovski keeps the position.
Mcgee takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Veljanovski misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Mcgee is looking to regain half guard here but Veljanovski keeps moving and retains side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Veljanovski is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mcgee has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ground and pound from Veljanovski seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Veljanovski working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Mcgee on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Veljanovski working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Mcgee is rocked!
Veljanovski scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Mcgee is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Veljanovski can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nikola Veljanovski!