PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vunipola Veainu (ranked 1325 p4p, 1394 weight class) and Smile Telheiras (ranked 160 p4p, 174 weight class). The key to victory for Vunipola Veainu has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Veainu
vs
Telheiras

178 cm
24
255
4 - 1 - 0

193 cm
26
260
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Knockout power

CHURCH OF ZOIDBERG WAREHOUSE

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Vunipola Veainu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Smile Telheiras!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Santiago Holmes and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Veainu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Telheiras.
Telheiras tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Veainu throws an overhand right that lands on Telheiras's shoulder, as Telheiras tries to avoid the shot.
Veainu throws a jab but it's blocked by Telheiras.
Telheiras drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Veainu defends it well.
Telheiras darts in looking for a takedown but Veainu gets double underhooks and turns Telheiras into the cage.
Veainu throws the left hand but Telheiras avoids the punch easily.
Veainu has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Tez’s Stand N Bang ! in the buildup to the fight.
Veainu getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

It looks like Smile Telheiras has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice straight punches there by Veainu. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Veainu.
Veainu looks to throw the jab but Telheiras is out of range.
Telheiras tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Telheiras closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Telheiras wants to get back to his feet.
Veainu might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Telheiras is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Telheiras working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Veainu throws a poor cross that misses

and Telheiras decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Veainu's guard.
Telheiras wants to stand but Veainu has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Veainu is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Telheiras is looking to stand up but Veainu won't let him.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Veainu lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Telheiras circles away quickly and effectively.

Telheiras drives through with a takedown into Veainu's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Telheiras wants to stand but Veainu has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Telheiras wants to stand and escape but instead Veainu has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Telheiras can do anything to dispel that myth.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Telheiras throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Telheiras is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Veainu is aware though and is defending well.
Telheiras bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Veainu's guard.

Telheiras trying to stand up but can't free himself from Veainu's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vunipola Veainu will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Smile Telheiras's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Veainu looks to throw the jab but Telheiras is out of range.
Veainu digs a good body shot into Telheiras's ribs.
Veainu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Telheiras uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Veainu.
Veainu misses with an uppercut.
Veainu drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Telheiras right on the button. Telheiras goes down! Veainu follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Veainu gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vunipola Veainu!