PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tolek Banan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vicktor Velazquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velazquez has chosen Since the Flood- "Valor and Vengeance as his entrance music. Tolek Banan had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Banan
vs
Velazquez

179 cm
20
163 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30)
Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tolek Banan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vicktor Velazquez!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Velazquez moves to clinch but Banan breaks away
and Banan counters with a straight right hand.
Banan swats away the attempt to clinch by Velazquez.
Velazquez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Banan counters with a two punch combo.
Banan keeps the fight on the outside.
Velazquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Banan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Velazquez tries to clinch up but Banan circles away and keeps his distance.
Velazquez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Banan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Velazquez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Banan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Velazquez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Banan keeps the fight on the outside.
Velazquez moves to clinch but Banan breaks away
and Velazquez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Banan swats away the attempt to clinch by Velazquez.
Vicktor Velazquez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Banan lands a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banan takes one to the chin there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velazquez is looking to clinch but Banan is avoiding it.
Banan misses with a straight right.
Banan throws a good cross that connects.
Velazquez tries to clinch but Banan moves away
and Banan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Banan throws a hook but Velazquez blocks it.
Banan lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Velazquez tries to clinch but Banan moves out of range.
Velazquez is looking to clinch.
Velazquez misses with an uppercut. Banan saw that one coming.
Velazquez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Velazquez scores with a jab to the body.
Velazquez tries to clinch but Banan moves away
and Banan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Velazquez tries to clinch up
and Banan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Velazquez takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Velazquez is looking to clinch.
Velazquez fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banan cracks Velazquez with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Left hook, right uppercut from Banan.

It looks like Vicktor Velazquez has been cut.
Vicktor Velazquez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Banan misses with a body shot.
Velazquez tries to clinch but Banan moves out of range.
Banan is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Velazquez loads up on a big right hand but Banan slips the punch.
Banan thows a body shot but no joy.
Banan lands with a hook. Velazquez tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Banan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Velazquez throws a hook but Banan avoids it easily.
Velazquez slips under a jab from Banan.

Velazquez moves into the clinch.
Velazquez misses with some punches.
Banan swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Velazquez misses with some punches.
Velazquez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Banan swings wildly with an uppercut but Velazquez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Velazquez swings wildly with an uppercut but Banan uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banan tries to work over Velazquez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Velazquez throws a punch but it's blocked by Banan.
Velazquez misses with a punch on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Velazquez as Banan tries to tie him up.
Velazquez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Velazquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Velazquez misses with some punches.
Banan has a couple of punches blocked by Velazquez.
A head punch on the inside from Velazquez fails to land.
Banan blocks an uppercut.
Velazquez throws a head punch that misses.
Banan takes a shot to the head.
Banan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Banan tries to break free but Velazquez pushes him back against the cage.
A short left from Velazquez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Banan stalling the fight.
Velazquez throws a punch but it's blocked by Banan.
Velazquez blocks a body shot from Banan.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Banan.
Velazquez has a couple of punches blocked by Banan.
Velazquez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Velazquez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Banan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Velazquez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Velazquez wants to break free but Banan has control.
Velazquez lands a right hand.
Velazquez pushes Banan back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Velazquez throws a punch but it's blocked by Banan.
Banan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Velazquez lands with a right to the head.
Velazquez scores with a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vicktor Velazquez will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vicktor Velazquez'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.

Velazquez tries to clinch there but Banan circles away.
Banan stalks Velazquez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Velazquez's face. Velazquez staggers backwards, shaken.
Banan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Velazquez.
Velazquez misses with a right hand
enabling Banan to counter with a crisp jab.
Velazquez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tolek Banan is winning the standup battle so far.
Banan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Banan lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Velazquez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice uppercut there from Velazquez.
Banan thows a body shot but no joy.
Velazquez moves to clinch but Banan breaks away
and Banan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Banan throws a hook to the side of Velazquez's head but Velazquez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Banan keeps the fight on the outside.
Velazquez is looking to clinch.
Banan connects with a crisp jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banan lands with a shot to the body.
Banan looks to score with a jab to the body but Velazquez is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banan bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Nice defenses there by Velazquez.

Velazquez pushes Banan up against the cage in a clinch.
Velazquez has had enough of the clinch but Banan keeps him there for the moment.
Banan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Banan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Banan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Banan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Banan is trying to stall.
Banan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Velazquez fails to land.
Velazquez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Banan.
Velazquez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Velazquez.

Banan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Banan connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Velazquez clinches with his opponent.
Banan keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Velazquez's efforts to push away.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Velazquez as Banan tries to tie him up.
Banan blocks an uppercut.
Velazquez misses with a hook from the clinch.
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!
Velazquez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Velazquez working aggressively here.
Velazquez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Velazquez has a couple of punches blocked by Banan.
Velazquez misses with a punch on the inside.
Banan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Velazquez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banan stalling.
Velazquez misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Banan.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Velazquez.
Velazquez throws a punch but it's blocked by Banan.
A shot in the inside from Banan.
Velazquez misses with some punches.
Banan slowing the pace effectively.
Velazquez is trying to break the clinch but Banan is controlling him.
A head punch on the inside from Velazquez fails to land.
Vicktor Velazquez seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Banan will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Velazquez up against the cage.
Banan throws a punch but it's blocked by Velazquez.
Velazquez throws a head punch that misses.
Velazquez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Banan effectively controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez has a couple of punches blocked by Banan.
Velazquez working aggressively here.
Banan blocking some punches.
Velazquez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Banan has had enough of the clinch but Velazquez keeps him there for the moment.
Velazquez misses with some punches.
Banan looking to slow down the pace here.
Banan wants to break free but Velazquez has control.
Velazquez working aggressively here.
Velazquez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velazquez scores with a shot to the side of Banan's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Velazquez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Velazquez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Banan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vicktor Velazquez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Vicktor Velazquez's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Velazquez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Banan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Banan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Banan takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Banan throws a hook but Velazquez avoids it easily.
Banan scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Banan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Velazquez walks into a left hand.
Velazquez wants to clinch.
Banan clobbers Velazquez with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Banan swats away the attempt to clinch by Velazquez.
Banan wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Velazquez takes a jab right on the kisser.
Banan bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Velazquez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Banan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Banan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Velazquez tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velazquez tries to clinch
and Banan counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The fight stays on the outside here - Velazquez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Velazquez moves into the clinch.

Velazquez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Velazquez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Velazquez misses with an uppercut. Banan saw that one coming.

Banan fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Velazquez to the ground. Banan is now in Velazquez's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Velazquez keeping moving, preventing Banan from controlling successfully.
Banan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Banan throws a big right hand that misses.
Banan controlling from the top position.
Velazquez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Banan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Velazquez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Banan controls the pace.
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!

The ref stands the fighters back up because Tolek Banan just wasn't active enough.
Banan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Banan misses with a double jab.
Velazquez gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Banan circles away from the clinch attempt
and Banan counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Banan swats away the attempt to clinch by Velazquez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Banan scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Banan is pressing down on Velazquez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Velazquez is holding on for now.
Banan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Banan seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Velazquez has hold of Banan's hands but Banan slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banan has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Velazquez holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Banan tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Banan controlling his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tolek Banan clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Vicktor Velazquez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Velazquez ducks under a wild hook from Banan.
Banan thows a body shot but no joy.
Velazquez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Banan counters with a nice uppercut.
Velazquez misses with a hook.
Velazquez fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Velazquez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Velazquez tries to clinch there but Banan circles away.
Banan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Velazquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Banan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Banan misses with a hook.
Velazquez tries to clinch but Banan is having none of it.
Velazquez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Velazquez wants to clinch
and Banan counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velazquez is looking to clinch.
Velazquez tries to clinch but Banan moves away
and Banan counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Banan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Velazquez at a distance.
A jab from Banan finds it's way through Velazquez's defenses.
Velazquez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Banan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Banan misses the jab.
Velazquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Banan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A telegraphed right hand from Banan misses the target.
Velazquez is looking to clinch but Banan is avoiding it.
Velazquez tries to clinch up.
Velazquez moves to clinch but Banan breaks away
and Velazquez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Banan throws a series of punches but Velazquez moves out of range.
Velazquez wants to clinch up but Banan keeps it at a distance.
Banan moves into range and connects with a jab.
Velazquez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Velazquez.
Banan throws a sloppy head kick and Velazquez moves out of range easily.
Velazquez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Banan.
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!
Velazquez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Velazquez tries to clinch there but Banan circles away.
Velazquez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Banan's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Velazquez connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Banan scrambles back to his feet.
Velazquez tries to clinch up.
Banan lands a jab.
Banan swats away the attempt to clinch by Velazquez.
Banan tries to bum rush Velazquez with a series of wild strikes but Velazquez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Velazquez looks to land a combination but Banan avoids it well.
Velazquez tries to clinch there but Banan circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Banan counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Velazquez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Velazquez misses with a hook
and Banan counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Velazquez thinking.
Banan scores with a nice strike.
Banan throws a shot to the body.
Velazquez takes a jab right on the kisser.
Velazquez tries to clinch up.
Banan lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Velazquez might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Banan feints a jab promting Velazquez to slip. Banan then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Velazquez slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Velazquez clinches with his opponent.
Velazquez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Banan tries to work over Velazquez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Velazquez scores with a shoulder strike.
Velazquez lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez being controlled against the cage.
Banan tries to stall but Velazquez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Velazquez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Velazquez has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Velazquez throws a punch but it's blocked by Banan.
Velazquez misses with a hook from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head punch on the inside from Velazquez fails to land.
Velazquez misses with a punch on the inside.
Banan stalling in the clinch but Velazquez improves position.
Velazquez lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Tolek Banan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vicktor Velazquez's cut.
That's time! Banan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Velazquez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Banan counters with a one-two to the body.
Banan misses with a straight right.
Banan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Velazquez doesn't manage to clinch there - Banan circles away.
Velazquez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Velazquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Banan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Velazquez wants to clinch.
Banan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Banan throws a series of punches but Velazquez avoids them all with ease.
Velazquez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Banan.
Velazquez wants to clinch up but Banan keeps it at a distance.
Velazquez staying out of range there.
Banan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Banan keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velazquez tries to clinch there but Banan circles away.
Velazquez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Banan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Velazquez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Banan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Banan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Velazquez was well out of range. Poor timing from Banan.
Velazquez tries to clinch but Banan is having none of it.
Banan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Velazquez.
Velazquez is looking to clinch.
Velazquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Banan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Velazquez tries to clinch there but Banan circles away.
A decent looking cross lands there for Banan.
Banan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Velazquez wants to clinch
letting Banan counter with a right hand.
Banan misses with a two punch combination.
Banan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Velazquez is looking to clinch.
Velazquez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Banan finds it's target.
Velazquez wants to clinch
and Banan counters with a nice uppercut.
Velazquez tries to clinch
letting Banan counter with a right hand.
Velazquez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Banan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Banan scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Banan swinging wildly here.
Velazquez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Banan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Velazquez.
The fight stays on the outside here - Velazquez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Velazquez wants to clinch up but Banan keeps it at a distance.
Velazquez fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banan throws the left hand but Velazquez avoids the punch easily.
Velazquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Banan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Banan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Velazquez.
Banan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Velazquez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Velazquez blocks a jab.
Velazquez tries to clinch but Banan moves out of range.
Velazquez is looking to clinch but Banan is avoiding it.
Banan swats away the attempt to clinch by Velazquez.
Banan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Velazquez clinches up with Banan and pushes him back against the cage.
Velazquez misses with some punches.
Velazquez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Banan blocking some punches.
Velazquez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Velazquez swings wildly with an uppercut but Banan uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Banan.
Velazquez misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Banan.
Banan is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Velazquez is keeping busy.
Velazquez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Velazquez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Velazquez.
Velazquez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A shot in the inside from Velazquez.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch on the inside from Velazquez fails to land.
Velazquez lands a nice uppercut.
Banan misses with a shot to the kidneys.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vicktor Velazquez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Velazquez 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Tolek Banan!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Vicktor Velazquez!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Tolek Banan!

Tolek Banan wins by split decision!
Tolek Banan retains his lightweight title!
Our winner, Tolek Banan, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.