PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Wesley Gattuso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gattuso comes to the cage accompanied by doo doo doo. The key to victory for Wesley Gattuso has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Gattuso
vs
Velasquez

170 cm
25
153 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

170 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Determined

MFS´s Natural Nutrition and Laundry service

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wesley Gattuso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ryan Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Radbod Blank and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velasquez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gattuso is looking to clinch but Velasquez is avoiding it.

Velasquez gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Gattuso ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gattuso no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Velasquez stands up from Gattuso's guard - Velasquez perhaps looking for a knockout.
Velasquez looks to clinch

and Gattuso counters with a takedown into side control.
Velasquez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Velasquez is trying to control Gattuso's posture but Gattuso avoids it.
Gattuso scoring with punches and elbows.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Velasquez is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Gattuso asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Gattuso trying to control the action but Velasquez is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez is looking for a sweep.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Velasquez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Velasquez clinches up against the cage.
Gattuso works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Velasquez pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Velasquez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Gattuso breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Velasquez closes the distance but Gattuso moves to the side

and Gattuso counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gattuso pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Velasquez is keeping the position for now.
Gattuso trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
Velasquez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gattuso manages to get himself to full guard.
Velasquez wants to get up but he can't break Gattuso's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gattuso is looking for a triangle but Velasquez pushes his legs off easily.
Gattuso looking for a sweep. Not yet Gattuso, not yet.

Gattuso is looking for a triangle but Velasquez pushes his legs off easily.

Velasquez stands up from Gattuso's guard - Velasquez perhaps looking for a knockout.

Gattuso closes the distance and pushes Velasquez back into the cage.
Velasquez throws an elbow that misses.
Gattuso using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Velasquez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Velasquez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Velasquez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Gattuso misses with a knee strike.
Gattuso blocks an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Velasquez pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Gattuso tries to circle away but Velasquez has him pinned against the cage.
Velasquez is trying to stall.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Velasquez just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gattuso's brow.
Gattuso avoids a wild elbow strike from Velasquez.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Gattuso.
Velasquez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Velasquez utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Gattuso tries to stall but Velasquez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gattuso tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Velasquez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Velasquez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gattuso blocks it with crossed arms.
Velasquez looks gassed!
With the fighters up against the cage, Velasquez throws an elbow but misses.
Velasquez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Velasquez throws an elbow that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Velasquez just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gattuso's brow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Velasquez.
Velasquez using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Gattuso tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Velasquez just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wesley Gattuso. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gattuso avoids a wild elbow strike from Velasquez.
Gattuso is trying to force a seperation but Velasquez has the dominant position.
Velasquez dodges an elbow strike from Gattuso.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Velasquez.
Velasquez pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Gattuso throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Velasquez blocks it with crossed arms.
Gattuso lands a left hand that snaps the head of Velasquez backwards.
Velasquez tries to land knees in the clinch but Gattuso avoids the damage to the body.
Gattuso misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gattuso lands a knee to the head.
Velasquez lands an elbow just above Gattuso 's eye.
Gattuso misses with a knee to the head.

Gattuso breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gattuso looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Velasquez tries to clinch but Gattuso moves away

and Gattuso counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gattuso.
Velasquez misses with an elbow strike.
Gattuso takes an elbow to the forehead.
Gattuso throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Velasquez blocks it with crossed arms.
Velasquez misses with an elbow over the top.

Gattuso breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ryan Velasquez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gattuso shoots for a double leg takedown but Velasquez sprawls well. He's pushed Gattuso's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Velasquez slaps away a takedown attempt from Gattuso, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gattuso circles away from the clinch attempt

and Gattuso decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Velasquez's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gattuso prevents Velasquez from getting back to his feet.
Velasquez managing to control the position.
Velasquez looking to control but Gattuso passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wesley Gattuso dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Velasquez tries to clinch up but Gattuso circles away and keeps his distance.
Velasquez looks to clinch

and Gattuso counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Velasquez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Gattuso from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gattuso wants to pass the guard but Velasquez is keeping the position.
Wesley Gattuso overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gattuso is working hard here to advance position.
Gattuso won't allow Velasquez to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velasquez pulls Gattuso in close to prevent any damage.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.
Gattuso trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gattuso fails with a takedown attempt.

Velasquez closes the distance and pushes Gattuso back into the cage.
Gattuso throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Velasquez blocks it with crossed arms.
Gattuso pushes Velasquez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gattuso tries for a takedown but Velasquez manages to get underhooks.
Velasquez pushes off an throws an elbow but Gattuso leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Velasquez trying to land knees to the body.
Gattuso working Velasquez over with knees to the body.
Gattuso lands an elbow that stopped Velasquez in his tracks for a moment.
Gattuso drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Velasquez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wesley Gattuso. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gattuso tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Velasquez lands an elbow just above Gattuso 's eye.
Gattuso drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Velasquez in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Gattuso putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Velasquez in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Velasquez lands an elbow inside.
Gattuso lands with a right to the head.
Velasquez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gattuso managing to block the knees to the body from Velasquez.
Gattuso fails to pull guard.
Gattuso looking to throw knees to the head but Velasquez is blocking nicely.
Velasquez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Gattuso changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Velasquez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gattuso circles away from the clinch attempt

and Gattuso counters with a takedown into side control.
Velasquez sneaks back into half guard.
Gattuso wants to control but Velasquez is keeping him busy.
Gattuso content to control rather than advance.
Velasquez is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez won't allow Gattuso to pass to mount.
Gattuso wants to take a breather but Velasquez is having none of it.
Velasquez is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gattuso circles away from the clinch attempt
and Gattuso counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Gattuso jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Gattuso tries to clinch but Velasquez is having none of it.
Velasquez closes the distance but Gattuso moves to the side

and Gattuso counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.
Gattuso is really struggling to control Velasquez but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Velasquez wants to stand but Gattuso is controlling the position.
Gattuso trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
Velasquez pulls Gattuso in close to his closed guard and prevents Gattuso from doing any damage or advancing position.
Velasquez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gattuso forces his way into half guard.
Velasquez is doing well to control the position and prevent Gattuso from advancing to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wesley Gattuso dominated that second round.
That's time! Gattuso's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Velasquez tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Gattuso counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gattuso.
Gattuso missing with knees to the body.
Gattuso stalling in the clinch but Velasquez improves position.
Velasquez creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Gattuso pushes off an throws an elbow but Velasquez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Gattuso on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Velasquez managing to block the knees to the body from Gattuso.

Gattuso is trying to trip Velasquez. He has hold of a leg but Velasquez is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Gattuso persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Velasquez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gattuso looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Velasquez is controlling Gattuso's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez keeping full guard, as Gattuso tries to pass.
Velasquez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Velasquez wants to stand and escape but Gattuso is having none of it.
Gattuso wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.
Velasquez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Gattuso sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Velasquez is looking to stand up but Gattuso isn't so interested in that idea.
Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Gattuso from controlling successfully.

That's two 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Velasquez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Velasquez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Gattuso is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Velasquez's half guard.
Gattuso works his way into full mount!
Velasquez working to try and regain half guard.
Gattuso trying to control but Velasquez is having none of it.
Gattuso controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is trying to escape the mount.
Velasquez doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
Gattuso content just to control the position here.
Gattuso trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Velasquez wants to get back to his feet.
Velasquez working to try and regain half guard.

That's four 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.
Gattuso wants to control the pace but Velasquez is squirming around nicely.
Velasquez can't escape the position.
Gattuso looking to control but Velasquez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Velasquez is trying desperately to improve position.
Gattuso tries to control but Velasquez wriggling away.
Gattuso with the ground and pound from mount.
Wesley Gattuso is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Velasquez tries to hold on but Gattuso pushes him away.

Gattuso is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Velasquez can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Ryan Velasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gattuso controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wesley Gattuso showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gattuso, 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wesley Gattuso!