PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nicky Salita (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JR Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Salita
vs
Velasquez

194 cm
18
217 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nicky Salita!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, JR Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salita closes the distance and clinches up with Velasquez, looking for a takedown. Salita pushes Velasquez against the cage but Velasquez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Velasquez. No joy for Salita on that attempt.
Salita is looking to clinch but Velasquez is avoiding it.

Velasquez moves into range and clinches up with Salita.
Velasquez landing knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Velasquez.
Velasquez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Velasquez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Salita goes for a takedown in the clinch but Velasquez prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicky Salita. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Velasquez has Salita pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Velasquez pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Salita tumbling to the mat - Velasquez dives into Salita's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Salita holds on and takes a little breather.
Salita trying to control the position.
Velasquez throwing strikes from guard but Salita blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to stand but Salita has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Salita is trying to control the position but Velasquez postures up.
Velasquez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Velasquez wants to get up but he can't break Salita's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Salita not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Velasquez misses with a wild combination.
Salita misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice takedown defense from Velasquez. No joy for Salita on that attempt.
Velasquez throws a head kick that misses.
Salita lands a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez has closed the distance and engaged Salita in a clinch.
Salita tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Velasquez wants the takedown. Salita is fighting it off but Velasquez persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Salita's guard against the cage.
Salita is trying to control the position but Velasquez postures up.
Salita looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Salita keeping moving, preventing Velasquez from controlling successfully.
Salita utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Salita is pulling down on Velasquez's head. It's preventing any offense from Velasquez, at least for the moment.
Salita is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez stands and throws Salita's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salita is trying to improve his position.
Velasquez working away.
Salita is looking to regain half guard here but Velasquez keeps moving and retains side control.
Salita regains half guard.
Velasquez looks gassed!
Salita regains full guard. Nicely done.
Salita controls Velasquez momentarily but Velasquez frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Salita tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Salita is working an open guard so Velasquez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Salita has a takedown stuffed.
Nicky Salita seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salita throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Velasquez's waist but Velasquez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Salita off to one side.

Velasquez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Velasquez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Salita has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Velasquez is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Salita.
Salita is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JR Velasquez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Velasquez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Velasquez trying to control from half guard but Salita is working away.
Salita trying to hold on to Velasquez's head to control him but Velasquez postures up.

Salita looking for submissions off his back.
Salita wants to control but Velasquez is keeping busy.

Salita looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salita looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Velasquez pushes past his half guard into mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Salita is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Salita working to try and regain half guard.
Velasquez misses with a head shot.
Salita avoids a series of strikes thrown by Velasquez.
Velasquez avoids the attempt from Salita to control.

Velasquez is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Salita is surviving well by controlling Velasquez's body position as best he can.
Salita is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Velasquez thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Velasquez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Salita. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Salita tries to reverse the position but Velasquez maintains control.

Velasquez moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Salita has worked his arm free - good work by Salita!
Salita tries to bench press Velasquez off him but Velasquez keeps the position.
Salita can't do much from the bottom here.
Salita is looking for a sweep.
Salita trying to remain calm as Velasquez controls from the top position.
You can see the frustration on Salita's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Salita gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salita trying to hold on to Velasquez's head to control him but Velasquez postures up.
Salita blocking the ground and pound attempt from Velasquez.
Salita trying to control here.
Salita slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Velasquez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Velasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Salita is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salita pulls Velasquez in close to his closed guard and prevents Velasquez from doing any damage or advancing position.

Velasquez is sitting in close to Salita's body. Salita has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Velasquez is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Velasquez is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Salita.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Nicky Salita!