PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juan Verelea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalervo Rauhala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Verelea
vs
Rauhala

180 cm
22
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
172 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Improved boxing
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Forbidden Apple

Powder for your success

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juan Verelea!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kalervo Rauhala!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rauhala throws a sloppy head kick and Verelea moves out of range easily.
Rauhala throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Verelea.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rauhala!
Verelea fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rauhala manages to avoid it.
Verelea lands a jab to the head.
Rauhala looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Verelea stalks Rauhala and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rauhala's face. Rauhala staggers backwards, shaken.
Rauhala rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Verelea moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A jab from Rauhala misses.
Rauhala is looking to land body kicks.
Rauhala gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Verelea throws a body punch but Rauhala moves out of range.
Verelea lands a nice hook to Rauhala's body. Rauhala takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Verelea avoids a punch combination nicely.
Verelea throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Verelea jabs at Rauhala's body.
Rauhala moves out of range of the strikes.
Verelea avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rauhala fails to land with a series of punches.
Rauhala throws a combination that misses
and Verelea counters with a nice body shot.
Rauhala looks gassed!
Verelea misses the shot to the body.

Rauhala gets the takedown into side control.
Verelea gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rauhala throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verelea makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Verelea.

Rauhala avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Verelea looking for a sweep. Not yet Verelea, not yet.
Rauhala postures up in Verelea's guard and throws a big left but Verelea blocks it.
Verelea keeping full guard, as Rauhala tries to pass.
Verelea looking for a sweep. Not yet Verelea, not yet.
Verelea keeping full guard, as Rauhala tries to pass.
Rauhala throwing strikes from guard but Verelea blocks nicely.
Verelea keeping moving, preventing Rauhala from controlling successfully.
Verelea has a closed guard, preventing Rauhala from standing up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Verelea comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rauhala misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rauhala throws a series of strikes that have Verelea backpedaling.
Rauhala throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rauhala misses with a few strikes there.
Rauhala misses with a body kick.
Verelea throws a right hand that Rauhala ducks under and follows up with a left that Rauhala also avoids with ease.
Rauhala uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Verelea.
Verelea lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Rauhala throws a right hand that Verelea ducks under and follows up with a left that Verelea also avoids with ease.
Rauhala misses with a body kick.
Verelea dodges the punch combination from Rauhala.
A punch combination from Rauhala misses.
Verelea throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Rauhala shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
It looks like Rauhala is going to stand back up.
Verelea is pressing down on Rauhala's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rauhala preventing the sweep.
Rauhala looking to pass the guard.
Verelea manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rauhala is bucking up trying to escape but Verelea cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rauhala is looking to improve his position but Verelea isn't that keen on the idea.
Verelea trying to control but Rauhala is having none of it.
Rauhala is working to get back to half guard.
Rauhala takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Rauhala is trying desperately to improve position.
Rauhala wants to hold on but Verelea pushes him away.
Rauhala is trying desperately to improve position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rauhala can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Verelea cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rauhala wants to hold on but Verelea pushes him away.
Rauhala taking shots to the head.
Verelea lands a heavy elbow.
Verelea is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Verelea has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rauhala's face.
Rauhala is working to get back to half guard.
Rauhala taking shots to the head.
Rauhala is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Verelea landing punches.
Rauhala avoids a series of strikes thrown by Verelea.
Verelea looking to control but Rauhala is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Verelea working Rauhala over with strikes here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Verelea prevents Rauhala from getting the reversal.
Rauhala is bucking up trying to escape but Verelea cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Verelea looking to control but Rauhala is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Verelea landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Verelea dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Verelea throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rauhala swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Verelea counters with a straight right hand.
Juan Verelea is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some wild striking there from Rauhala.
Verelea thows a body shot but no joy.
A combination from Rauhala does no damage.
Rauhala misses with the combination.
Rauhala doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Verelea jabs at Rauhala's body.
Verelea stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Verelea lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rauhala backs up against the cage.
Juan Verelea is winning the standup battle so far.
Verelea lands a nice shot to the body.
Rauhala lands a nice looking kick to the body. Verelea takes a step back to recover.
Rauhala throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Verelea.
Rauhala throws a left and a right that both miss
and Verelea counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rauhala scores with a jab to the head.

Rauhala closes the distance and clinches.
Rauhala keeps control of Verelea as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Verelea escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rauhala will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rauhala throws a one two combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from Rauhala.
Verelea showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rauhala.
Verelea slips a jab and a cross from Rauhala.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rauhala avoids the body shot from Verelea.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Verelea stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Verelea dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Verelea will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Verelea misses with a body shot.
Verelea is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rauhala looks to land a combination but Verelea avoids it well.
Rauhala is breathing heavily.
Rauhala misses with a double jab
enabling Verelea to counter with a crisp jab.
Verelea scores with a three punch combo!
Verelea takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Verelea throws a series of punches but Rauhala avoids them all with ease.
Rauhala takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Verelea thows a body shot but no joy.
Verelea throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Verelea throws an overhand right that lands on Rauhala's shoulder, as Rauhala tries to avoid the shot.
Verelea tries to bum rush Rauhala with a series of wild strikes but Rauhala uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Verelea dodges the punch combination from Rauhala.
Verelea fails to land the takedown.
Verelea scores with the left hand. Rauhala knows he should have avoided that one.
Verelea throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Verelea is looking to wear down Rauhala with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Verelea misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verelea throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rauhala will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rauhala tries to move into range but Verelea moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rauhala slips under a jab.
Rauhala slips under a jab from Verelea.
Verelea connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rauhala walks into a jab.
Verelea connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Verelea swings for the body but Rauhala moves out of range.
Rauhala throws a right and a left that Verelea avoids nicely.
Verelea missing with a left hand there. Rauhala was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Verelea scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rauhala throws a series of punches but Verelea avoids them all with ease.
Rauhala falls off balance throwing a combination
and Verelea counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Rauhala gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Verelea.
Rauhala falls off balance throwing a combination
and Verelea counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Verelea slips a jab from Rauhala.
Verelea looks to score with a jab to the body but Rauhala is just out of range.
Verelea will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A nice combination there by Verelea.
Verelea misses with a straight right.
Rauhala misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Verelea misses.
Kalervo Rauhala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Verelea misses the shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Verelea throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Verelea dodges the punch combination from Rauhala.
Rauhala throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A combination from Rauhala does no damage.
Rauhala shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rauhala has a takedown stuffed.
Rauhala misses with a series of wild punches.
A combination from Rauhala does no damage.
Rauhala tries to bum rush Verelea with a series of wild strikes but Verelea uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Verelea scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Rauhala clinches.
Rauhala blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rauhala is working for takedown but Verelea is calmly controlling the position for now.
Juan Verelea has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kalervo Rauhala.
Verelea working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Verelea lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rauhala backwards.
Verelea wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Verelea is looking to break free of the clinch but Rauhala has double underhooks.
Rauhala tries to pull guard but Verelea won't allow it.
Verelea wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rauhala has him pressed against the cage.

Rauhala pulls guard.
Rauhala throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Rauhala looking to hit a scissor sweep but Verelea is one step ahead there.

Rauhala has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Verelea can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rauhala is trying to keep Verelea in close.

Rauhala is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Rauhala working for a triangle but Verelea defends it easily.
Verelea throws a big right hand that misses.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rauhala throws a combination that misses
letting Verelea counter with a right hand.
Rauhala fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rauhala tries to clinch there but Verelea circles away.
Verelea avoids a punch combination nicely.
Verelea with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rauhala to score with a decent uppercut.
Rauhala throws a series of punches but Verelea avoids them all with ease.
Rauhala throws a right and a left that Verelea avoids nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Verelea dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rauhala throws a combination. Verelea tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rauhala swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A left and a right from Rauhala both land. Nice combination.
Rauhala tries for a takedown but Verelea sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Rauhala clinches.
Verelea wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Verelea wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Verelea is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rauhala keeps control of Verelea as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Verelea is looking to break free of the clinch but Rauhala has double underhooks.

Rauhala breaks from the clinch.
Verelea keeps the fight on the outside.
Verelea shoots in but Rauhala avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Verelea throws a series of punches but Rauhala avoids them all with ease.
Verelea throws a series of punches but Rauhala avoids them all with ease.
Danga de danga de dang - Verelea scores with a four punch combination!
Rauhala has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Verelea thows a body shot but no joy.
Verelea throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Verelea thows a left - swing and a miss!
Verelea is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rauhala.
Rauhala misses with a wild combination.
Verelea ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rauhala moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Verelea misses with a lunging right hand
and Rauhala counters with a three punch combo that has Verelea backing up. Verelea nods at Rauhala to acknowledge the strikes.
Rauhala throws a left and a right that both miss
and Verelea counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rauhala tries to clinch there but Verelea circles away.
Verelea walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verelea fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rauhala clobbers Verelea with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rauhala throws a left and a right that both miss
and Verelea counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A cross from Verelea lands.
Rauhala fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rauhala misses with a two punch combination.
Verelea throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Verelea fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rauhala manages to avoid it.
Rauhala throws a series of punches but Verelea moves out of range.
Rauhala keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rauhala throws a series of punches but Verelea avoids them all with ease.
Verelea scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rauhala.
Verelea dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Verelea looks to land a right hand but Rauhala moved out of range.
Verelea slips a jab and a cross from Rauhala.
Verelea throws the left hand but Rauhala avoids the punch easily.
Rauhala fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rauhala misses with a few strikes there.
Rauhala is looking to chop away at Verelea's legs.
Rauhala lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Verelea lands an overhand right.
Rauhala closes this distance looking for a takedown but Verelea circles away.
Juan Verelea has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kalervo Rauhala.
Some wild striking there from Rauhala.
A head kick by Rauhala misses
and Verelea counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rauhala throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rauhala shoots in for a double leg but Verelea sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Verelea misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rauhala throws a sloppy head kick and Verelea moves out of range easily.
Rauhala stalks Verelea and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Verelea's face. Verelea staggers backwards, shaken.
Rauhala pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Verelea misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Rauhala feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Rauhala trying to control but Verelea is working from the bottom.
Verelea 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.
Verelea trying to keep a closed guard but Rauhala is proving a slippery customer.
Verelea throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Verelea keeping full guard, as Rauhala tries to pass.
Rauhala really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Verelea. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Verelea is on top in guard.
Verelea passes into half guard.
Verelea working Rauhala over with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Verelea wants to control but Rauhala is keeping him busy.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Verelea connects with a nice short shot to Rauhala's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rauhala tries to get to full guard but Verelea has control of the leg.
Verelea is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Rauhala looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Rauhala is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Verelea.
Verelea can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rauhala is looking to escape.
Rauhala is working to get back to half guard.

Verelea is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Rauhala can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Rauhala tries to reverse the position but Verelea maintains control.
Verelea lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
BOOM! Verelea connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Verelea connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rauhala really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Juan Verelea overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rauhala is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Verelea throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Rauhala tries to reverse the position but Verelea maintains control.
Verelea is landing with some decent strikes but Rauhala is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Kalervo Rauhala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rauhala throwing hammer fists to the chest of Verelea. What's that going to do exactly?
Verelea lands a big elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Verelea showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Verelea, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Verelea!