PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stipe Velasquez (ranked 4281 p4p, 4424 weight class) and Jim Duggan (ranked 427 p4p, 436 weight class). Velasquez comes to the cage accompanied by Gaining Momentum by MC Hammer. Duggan comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Five Finger Death Punch- Bad Company kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Velasquez
vs
Duggan

187 cm
33
240
10 - 16 - 0

200 cm
35
250
16 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
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 10 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Stipe Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Jim Duggan!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paul Aken and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velasquez loads up on a big right hand but Duggan slips the punch.
Velasquez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Duggan looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A nice inside leg kick there by Duggan. That's going to slow Velasquez down.
Velasquez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Duggan.

Duggan drives through and clinches with Velasquez against the cage.
Velasquez cracks Duggan with a nice body shot.
Duggan tries to score a body lock takedown but Velasquez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Duggan wants to take the fight to the mat but Velasquez manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Duggan avoids a wild elbow strike from Velasquez.
Velasquez misses with a punch to the body.
Velasquez lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Duggan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Duggan swats away the attempt to clinch by Velasquez.
Duggan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Velasquez defends it nicely.
Stipe Velasquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Duggan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez throws a right and a left that Duggan avoids nicely.
Velasquez throws a series of punches but Duggan avoids them all with ease.
Duggan looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Velasquez closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A jab from Velasquez does it's job there.
Stipe Velasquez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Velasquez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Duggan, pushing him back against the cage.

Duggan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Duggan fails to land the takedown.
Velasquez throws a lazy right hand but Duggan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Velasquez has been working on his boxing with his coaches at 3Band MMA in the buildup to the fight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Duggan is defended easily by Velasquez.
Velasquez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Duggan. Duggan obviously looking to wear him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez misses with a two punch combination.
It seemed like Duggan was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Velasquez fails to land with a series of punches.
Velasquez moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromDuggan.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Duggan walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Velasquez checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Velasquez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Velasquez is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nice uppercut there from Velasquez.
A looping hook to the body misses from Velasquez. Duggan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Velasquez throws out a loose jab but Duggan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Velasquez misses with a wild body shot.
Duggan lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Velasquez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Duggan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Velasquez misses with a double jab.
Velasquez fails in his attempt to clinch.

Duggan closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duggan scores with a shot to the side of Velasquez's head.
Velasquez misses with an elbow over the top.
Velasquez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Duggan will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Velasquez up against the cage.
Duggan blocks an elbow strike.
Velasquez gets underhooks to prevent Duggan's takedown attempt.
Duggan blocks the elbow strike.
Velasquez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Duggan blocks an elbow strike.
Duggan is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Duggan is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Velasquez can't fight it off and eventually Duggan manages to take the fight to the floor. Velasquez looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Duggan lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duggan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Duggan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Velasquez can't keep his opponent in guard - Duggan advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Duggan stops Velasquez from getting back to his feet.
Velasquez taking some punishment here, with Duggan in his half guard.
Velasquez tries to get to full guard but Duggan has control of the leg.
Velasquez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Duggan scores with a couple of nice shots.
Velasquez is staying active underneath Duggan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Velasquez looking for submissions off his back.
Velasquez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stipe Velasquez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Velasquez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Velasquez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stipe Velasquez is winning the standup battle so far.
Velasquez just misses with a punch to the body.

Velasquez clinches up with Duggan and pushes him back against the cage.
Velasquez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Velasquez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Velasquez pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Duggan avoids a wild elbow strike from Velasquez.
Duggan effectively controlling the action here.
Duggan dodges an elbow strike from Velasquez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Duggan gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Duggan there.
Velasquez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Duggan's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Duggan's back!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Duggan wants to control his opponent's hands but Velasquez gets his hands free.
Will Velasquez go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velasquez is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Duggan is defending well though. Velasquez let's go of the attempt for now.
Velasquez trying to control.

Velasquez goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Duggan escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Velasquez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Duggan can do to turn this around?
Velasquez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Duggan working over Velasquez with some ground and pound. Velasquez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ground and pound from Duggan.
Duggan working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to get back to his feet.
Velasquez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Duggan scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Duggan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Duggan stands up and beckons Velasquez to join him on the feet.

Duggan clinches up with Velasquez and pushes him back against the cage.
Duggan lands a nice shot to the body.
Velasquez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Duggan scores with a shoulder strike.

Duggan gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Velasquez is trying to stand up here but Duggan is controlling him well.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Duggan connects with a nice short shot to Velasquez's temple.
Duggan working over Velasquez with some ground and pound. Velasquez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Duggan winds up and cracks Velasquez with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez looks like he's trying to stand up.

Duggan is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Velasquez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Duggan is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Velasquez is trying to stand back up but Duggan is controlling him

Velasquez looking for submissions off his back.
Nice strikes from Duggan there.

Velasquez is rocked!
Duggan is sitting in half guard. He's postured up and lands a nice elbow. Oh, Velasquez is hurt! He's hurt bad - Duggan fires away with more strikes and the referee jumps in to save Velasquez from any more punishment! Congratulations to Duggan! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jim Duggan!
An out of breath Jim Duggan thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.