PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dante Velazquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxi Alonso (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!

Velazquez
vs
Alonso

194 cm
25
256 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

191 cm
19
225 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dante Velazquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Maxi Alonso!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Radbod Blank and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alonso tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Alonso closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Velazquez to the mat! Velazquez manages to get full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Velazquez has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Alonso's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Maxi Alonso wasn't active enough on the ground.

Alonso drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Velazquez stops Alonso from passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alonso tries to stand but Velazquez is controlling his head.
Velazquez prevents Alonso from improving position.
Alonso just content to control the position.

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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Velazquez struggling a bit here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Maxi Alonso.
Velazquez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Alonso tries to avoid it but Velazquez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Alonso to the ground. Alonso escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alonso decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Alonso controlling the action here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Velazquez controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Maxi Alonso was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Velazquez shoots in for a takedown but Alonso shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Alonso.
Alonso fails with a takedown attempt.
Velazquez dives in and grabs Alonso's left leg, looking for a takedown. Alonso pushes down on Velazquez's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dante Velazquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Velazquez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxi Alonso dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Alonso looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Velazquez is fending him off so far but Alonso persists. Nope, Velazquez circles away and we're back to standing.
Alonso shoots in looking for a takedown but Velazquez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Alonso's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Alonso has his takedown stuffed

and Velazquez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Dante Velazquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxi Alonso.
Alonso wants to improve his position but Velazquez is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Velazquez wants to work for an arm triangle but Alonso is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Alonso is staying active underneath Velazquez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velazquez stops Alonso from getting back to his feet.
Velazquez trying to control from Alonso's half guard. Alonso has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Alonso keeping moving, preventing Velazquez from controlling successfully.

Alonso has an active guard here but Velazquez has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Velazquez prevents Alonso from improving his position.
Alonso tries to kick Velazquez off in order to stand up. Velazquez Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Velazquez working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Maxi Alonso has got the better of the ground game so far.
Velazquez has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Alonso!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velazquez has hold of Alonso's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Alonso manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Velazquez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Alonso keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velazquez jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Alonso is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Alonso and Velazquez has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Velazquez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alonso keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Velazquez dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Velazquez leaves Alonso with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Alonso throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Velazquez's waist but Velazquez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Alonso off to one side.

Alonso shoots in and gets a takedown into Velazquez's guard.
Alonso wants to control from the top but Velazquez keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Maxi Alonso.
Alonso looks for a takedown but Velazquez sprawls well.
Dante Velazquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxi Alonso.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velazquez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Alonso sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Velazquez somewhat.
Velazquez doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Alonso counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Alonso trying to control the position from guard on top but Velazquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Maxi Alonso hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Velazquez shoots in for a takedown but Alonso shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alonso fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dante Velazquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Alonso, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice takedown defense from Velazquez. No joy for Alonso on that attempt.
Velazquez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Velazquez stuffs the takedown attempt from Alonso. Alonso gets slowly back to his feet.
Alonso shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Velazquez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Alonso knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Alonso has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Velazquez is working away from the top position though.
Velazquez trying to control the action but Alonso is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Velazquez wants to work for an arm triangle but Alonso is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velazquez looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Velazquez in particular looking to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Maxi Alonso.
I think Alonso 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maxi Alonso!