PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juan Verelea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clay Rawls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juan Verelea had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Verelea
vs
Rawls

180 cm
22
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
178 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Improved boxing
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Forbidden Apple

Hell's Balls Fightwear

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 2 - 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Clay Rawls!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Verelea takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Verelea wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nice jab there from Verelea.

Rawls is rocked!
Verelea will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rawls is still on wobbly legs! Can Verelea finish him?
Verelea loads up on a big right hand but Rawls slips the punch.
Verelea thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rawls seems to have recovered his senses.
Oh, that's a big right hand from Verelea and Rawls goes tumbling to the canvas! Verelea follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.
Verelea controlling the action here.
Verelea not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Verelea trying to control the action but Rawls is working from the bottom.
Rawls tries to get to full guard but Verelea has control of the leg.
Rawls makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rawls.
Verelea won't allow Rawls to sweep him here.

Rawls has his foot on Verelea's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Verelea works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rawls 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.

Verelea is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Verelea lands a couple of digs.
Verelea looking to sit in guard and control but Rawls gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rawls trying to control but Verelea is working from the bottom.
Verelea tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Verelea keeping moving, preventing Rawls from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rawls closes the distance and clinches.
Verelea wants to get back to striking at distance but Rawls won't allow it.
Rawls prevents Verelea from breaking the clinch.
Verelea wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rawls makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Verelea is breathing heavily.
Rawls blocks an uppercut.
Verelea wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Verelea letting Rawls take a breather here.
Rawls prevents Verelea from breaking the clinch.
Verelea has had enough of the clinch but Rawls keeps him there for the moment.
Verelea can't break the clinch.

Rawls breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Verelea throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rawls.
Nice defenses there by Rawls.

Rawls closes the distance and clinches.

Rawls breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Rawls.

Rawls gets a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rawls lands strikes from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rawls lands a nice short elbow.
Verelea throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Rawls drops an elbow to the side of Verelea's head.
Rawls prevents Verelea from improving his position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rawls looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Verelea with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Rawls is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rawls tries to pass to full mount but Verelea defends it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Verelea manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Verelea is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rawls is not content to let Verelea control the position.
Verelea passes the guard and advances to mount!

Verelea has control of Rawls's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Rawls regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Rawls tries to hold on but Verelea postures up.
Verelea scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rawls working to try and regain half guard.
Verelea can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rawls is looking to escape.
Rawls regains half guard.
Verelea trying to control the action but Rawls is working from the bottom.
Rawls works his way to full guard. Good work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rawls will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Verelea is looking to stand up but Rawls won't let him.
Verelea with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Juan Verelea will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Verelea with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rawls takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Verelea misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rawls.
Juan Verelea is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Verelea throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rawls counters with a single leg into guard. Verelea didn't expect that.
Verelea throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Verelea looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rawls is one step ahead there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rawls accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rawls passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rawls wants to control but Verelea is keeping him busy.
Verelea prevents Rawls from improving position.
Rawls trying to control the action but Verelea is working from the bottom.

Rawls is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Verelea has escaped the position, nice work there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rawls is looking to take a break and control but Verelea is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rawls is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Verelea has escaped the position, nice work there.
Verelea tries to bench press Rawls off him but Rawls keeps the position.
Verelea is not content to let Rawls control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rawls fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Verelea sprawls well initially but Rawls persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rawls is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rawls seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Verelea does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rawls stops Verelea from getting back to his feet.
Verelea punching from the bottom.
Verelea trying to hold on to Rawls's head to control him but Rawls postures up.
Rawls lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verelea is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Rawls is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rawls wants to pass to mount but Verelea is defending the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rawls throws a body punch but Verelea moves out of range.
Verelea jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rawls bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Verelea misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Rawls counters by moving into the clinch.

Rawls breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rawls takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Verelea cracks a nice hook into Rawls's ribs.
Rawls takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rawls shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Verelea scores with a one two! Rawls had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
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!
Verelea lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verelea throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Verelea misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rawls.
Verelea misses with a jab, cross combination.
No joy there for Rawls, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Juan Verelea is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rawls avoids the body shot from Verelea.
Verelea throws a right and a left that Rawls avoids nicely.

Rawls moves into the clinch successfully.
Verelea has a couple of punches blocked by Rawls.
Verelea tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Verelea is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Verelea tries to break the clinch but Rawls is controlling the position.
Verelea wants to break free but Rawls has control.
Verelea is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Verelea has had enough of the clinch but Rawls keeps him there for the moment.

Rawls gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rawls is thwarting Verelea's attempts to control the position.
Verelea is trying to get back to full guard.
Rawls passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rawls throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Rawls looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Verelea manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Verelea tries to kick Rawls off but Rawls keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Verelea trying to hold on to Rawls's head to control him but Rawls postures up.

Rawls is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Verelea is trying to maintain the position but Rawls is very close to passing his half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rawls working over Verelea with some ground and pound. Verelea looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rawls trying to control the action but Verelea is working from the bottom.
Verelea is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rawls scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clay Rawls showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rawls gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rawls blocks an uppercut.

Rawls has Verelea pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rawls pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Verelea tumbling to the mat - Rawls dives into Verelea's guard.
Verelea keeping moving, preventing Rawls from controlling successfully.
Rawls is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rawls lands a couple of digs.
Rawls lands a couple of digs.
Rawls is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rawls advances position into side control!
Verelea tries to bench press Rawls off him but Rawls keeps the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
You can see the frustration on Verelea's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Rawls working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rawls advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verelea tries to lock up and control but Rawls gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Verelea sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Rawls missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Verelea tries to get to full guard but Rawls has control of the leg.
Verelea misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Verelea is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rawls's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rawls's back!
Rawls breaks Verelea's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Verelea throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rawls with a flurry of punches that miss.
Verelea lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rawls!
Verelea postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rawls looks a forlorn figure.
Rawls is looking to improve his position but Verelea isn't that keen on the idea.
Rawls has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rawls flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Rawls is trying to escape the mount.
Verelea blocks Rawls's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Rawls tries to reverse the position but Verelea maintains control.
Rawls is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Verelea landing punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rawls throwing hammer fists to the chest of Verelea. What's that going to do exactly?
Verelea dominating with strikes here.
Rawls keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rawls bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rawls forces his way into half guard.

Rawls is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Verelea defends it well.
Verelea is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rawls's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rawls's back!
Rawls looking very determined here, making life difficult for Verelea.
Verelea scores with punches from the back.
Rawls rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Verelea seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rawls does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rawls tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Verelea has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verelea landing strikes from the mount and Rawls is in trouble!
Rawls is working to get back to half guard.
Verelea looking to control but Rawls is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Verelea is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rawls is surviving well by controlling Verelea's body position as best he can.
Verelea trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Verelea lands a heavy elbow.
Rawls really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Verelea dominating with strikes here.
Rawls wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Verelea.
Rawls tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Clay Rawls comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rawls has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clay Rawls!