PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Mateusz Gorny (ranked 23576 p4p, 464 weight class) and Stipe Velasquez (ranked 2154 p4p, 224 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Gorny
vs
Velasquez

210 cm
27
265 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

187 cm
28
240 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Basic striking
Very strong

Decent boxing
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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mateusz Gorny!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Stipe Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Edson Gomes and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gorny thows a left - swing and a miss!
The fighters circling - Gorny throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gorny throws a shot from downtown. Velasquez moves away and avoids it.
Velasquez slips under a jab from Gorny.
We've been informed that Velasquez has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Velasquez scores with the left hand. Gorny knows he should have avoided that one.
Danga de danga de dang - Velasquez scores with a four punch combination!
Gorny throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Velasquez.

Velasquez moves into range and clinches up with Gorny.
Gorny goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Velasquez manages to break the clinch.
Gorny ducks right into an uppercut from Velasquez.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Velasquez, as that shot connected.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sloppy strikes from Gorny. Those never looked like landing.
Velasquez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gorny was well out of range. Poor timing from Velasquez.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gorny misses with a hook to the ribs.
Velasquez creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorny lands an uppercut.
Gorny tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Velasquez is trying to force a seperation but Gorny has the dominant position.
Gorny has Velasquez pressed against the ropes.
Gorny stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Velasquez creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Gorny blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Velasquez can't break the clinch.

Velasquez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Velasquez dodges the punch combination from Gorny.

Gorny rushes Velasquez and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Velasquez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A frustrated look appears on Velasquez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Velasquez tries to break free but Gorny pushes him back against the ropes.

Velasquez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Velasquez.

Gorny rushes Velasquez and presses him up against the ropes.
Gorny misses with a punch to the body.

Velasquez breaks the clinch.
Gorny misses with an uppercut.
Velasquez is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Gorny throws a right and a left that Velasquez avoids nicely.
Velasquez wants to clinch up but Gorny keeps it at a distance.

Gorny closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gorny being controlled against the ropes.
Gorny can't find room to land a body shot as Velasquez controls the action.
Gorny is trying to maintain a safe position but Velasquez gets an underhook and turns Gorny into the ropes.
Gorny throws a head punch that misses.
Velasquez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gorny blocks a body shot from Velasquez.
Gorny misses with a punch to the body.
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 Mateusz Gorny will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gorny lands a jab to the nose.

Velasquez tries to keep at a distance but Gorny has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gorny tries a body shot but Velasquez blocks it.
Gorny misses with a punch to the body.
Gorny tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Velasquez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gorny misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gorny misses with a body punch.
Velasquez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Velasquez has had enough of the clinch but Gorny keeps him there for the moment.
Velasquez has had enough of the clinch but Gorny keeps him there for the moment.
Gorny working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez looking to stall.
A left hand lands to the body for Gorny.
Velasquez prevents a body shot from Gorny.
Gorny stalling.
Velasquez misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorny has Velasquez pressed against the ropes, preventing Velasquez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gorny is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Velasquez can do to turn this around?
Velasquez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gorny is keeping busy.
Mateusz Gorny has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Velasquez manages to break the clinch.
A jab from Velasquez does it's job there.
Velasquez takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Velasquez misses with a wild combination.
Velasquez ducks under a wild hook from Gorny.
Gorny thows a left - swing and a miss!
Velasquez listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Gorny swats away the attempt to clinch by Velasquez.
Velasquez misses with a two punch combination.
Velasquez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gorny.
Velasquez misses with a body shot.
Some wild striking there from Velasquez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gorny on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Velasquez tries to close the distance and clinch but Gorny swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gorny throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Velasquez clinches up against the ropes.
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!

Velasquez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Gorny moves into the clinch.
Gorny stalling in the clinch.

Velasquez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gorny throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice shot by Gorny.
Velasquez misses with a looping right.
An attempted straight right counter from Gorny misses the target.
Gorny takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Sloppy strikes from Gorny. Those never looked like landing.
Velasquez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gorny is looking to counter the offense by Velasquez and move into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mateusz Gorny will probably get the nod.
That's time! Gorny's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Velasquez connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gorny's hands.
Gorny takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Gorny misses with a series of wild punches.
Gorny throws a looping overhand right but Velasquez ducks down to avoid it.
Velasquez avoids the body shot from Gorny.
Velasquez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gorny gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Velasquez.

Velasquez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gorny tries a body shot but Velasquez blocks it.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Gorny creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Velasquez breaks from the clinch.
A big right from Gorny misses.

Gorny instigates a clinch.
Gorny misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gorny blocks an elbow strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gorny has Velasquez pressed against the ropes, preventing Velasquez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorny blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gorny stalling in the clinch but Velasquez improves position.
Gorny swings wildly with an uppercut but Velasquez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gorny lands a body shot.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Gorny lands a body punch in the clinch.
Good body shot from Gorny.
Velasquez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gorny tries to throw a body punch but Velasquez avoids it by throwing Gorny back against the ropes.
Gorny tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Velasquez's elbow.
Velasquez wants to stall.
Velasquez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gorny lands a left hand that snaps the head of Velasquez backwards.

Velasquez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gorny takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Gorny closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Gorny.
A hook to the body from Gorny.
Velasquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gorny has him pressed against the ropes.
Gorny has Velasquez pushed against the ropes.
Gorny scores with a nice hook to the head.
Gorny has Velasquez pressed against the ropes, preventing Velasquez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Velasquez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Velasquez blocks a body shot from Gorny.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Gorny creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A frustrated look appears on Velasquez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gorny tries a body shot but Velasquez blocks it.
Velasquez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gorny lands a left hand that snaps the head of Velasquez backwards.
Stipe Velasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Gorny creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Velasquez tries to break free but Gorny pushes him back against the ropes.
Velasquez can't break the clinch.
Velasquez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mateusz Gorny showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gorny, 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mateusz Gorny!