PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alistair Velazquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryant Whitaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Velazquez
vs
Whitaker

200 cm
25
290 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

225 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alistair Velazquez!
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, Bryant Whitaker!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Whitaker manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Velazquez on his heels. He'll look to pass Velazquez's guard now, I'm sure.
Velazquez looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Whitaker is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Velazquez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Velazquez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Whitaker drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Whitaker jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Velazquez wants to stand up but Whitaker is controlling him.
Whitaker really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Velazquez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whitaker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Whitaker wants to pass the guard but Velazquez is keeping the position.
Velazquez is looking to stand up but Whitaker isn't so interested in that idea.
Whitaker is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Whitaker tries to free his leg and advance position but Velazquez is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bryant Whitaker was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Whitaker moves into the clinch.
Velazquez is trying to push Whitaker away but Whitaker has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Whitaker is trying to break the clinch but Velazquez has him pressed against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Whitaker.
Whitaker missing with knees to the body.

Whitaker lands a takedown into guard.
Whitaker showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Velazquez keeping full guard, as Whitaker tries to pass.
Whitaker in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Whitaker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Velazquez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whitaker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Velazquez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Whitaker advances position into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Whitaker tries to advance to mount but Velazquez denies him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whitaker content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Whitaker tries for a kimura but Velazquez is defending well.
Whitaker in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez prevents Whitaker from moving into mount.
Velazquez is pushing Whitaker's head away, looking to escape. Whitaker manages to hold on to the position though.
An elbow from Whitaker crashes against the mat.

Whitaker decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Whitaker!

It looks like Alistair Velazquez has been cut.

Whitaker fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Velazquez sprawls well initially but Whitaker persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Whitaker with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Whitaker frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Velazquez is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Whitaker throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Velazquez because Whitaker loaded up on that one.
Whitaker sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Whitaker won't let Velazquez get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whitaker looking to finish with strikes here!
Whitaker misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryant Whitaker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alistair Velazquez's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Whitaker lands a jab-cross combination.

Velazquez gets caught flat footed, as Whitaker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Whitaker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Whitaker is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Velazquez wants to get back to his feet but Whitaker is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Whitaker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Velazquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Velazquez wants to stand and escape but Whitaker is having none of it.
Whitaker not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Bryant Whitaker.
Whitaker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Whitaker gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Whitaker breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Whitaker gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Whitaker successfully pulls guard.

Whitaker working for a triangle but Velazquez defends it easily.
Whitaker trying to control the position here.
Velazquez is looking to stand up but Whitaker won't let him.

Whitaker kicks Velazquez off and gets to his feet.

Whitaker clinches up with Velazquez and pushes him back against the cage.

Whitaker tightens his grip and picks Velazquez up, before dumping him to the ground. Velazquez manages to land in guard.
Whitaker stops Velazquez from standing up.

Whitaker gets to his feet - Velazquez follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Whitaker closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Velazquez quickly recovers to half guard.
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!
Whitaker stops Velazquez from getting back to his feet.
Whitaker is taking a breather. Velazquez says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Whitaker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Velazquez is trying to stand back up but Whitaker is controlling him

Whitaker is working for a submission of some sort.
Whitaker wants to free his trapped foot but Velazquez is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bryant Whitaker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Whitaker is controlling the pace.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Velazquez wants to get back to his feet.
Velazquez wants to stand back up but Whitaker manages to pass into side control.
Whitaker moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The ground and pound from Whitaker seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez prevents Whitaker from moving into mount.

Whitaker tries for a kimura but Velazquez is defending well.
Velazquez prevents Whitaker from moving into mount.
Velazquez pushes Whitaker away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Whitaker gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The ground and pound from Whitaker seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Velazquez wants to get back to his feet but Whitaker is dominant here and he's now got Velazquez's back!
Velazquez looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Whitaker is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velazquez is trying to get back to his feet but Whitaker has full control of the position and if anything, Velazquez has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Whitaker controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryant Whitaker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alistair Velazquez's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Velazquez gets caught flat footed, as Whitaker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Whitaker won't allow Velazquez to get back to his feet.

Whitaker gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Whitaker stalks Velazquez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Velazquez's face. Velazquez staggers backwards, shaken.

Whitaker looking to score a takedown here. Velazquez is defending well but Whitaker drives through and ends up in Velazquez's guard.
Whitaker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Velazquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Whitaker stops Velazquez from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Velazquez wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Whitaker manages to pass to side control.
Whitaker controlling the action here.

Whitaker decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Whitaker closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Whitaker lands in his opponent's guard.
Velazquez wants to stand but Whitaker is controlling the position.

Velazquez is working an open guard so Whitaker takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Velazquez throws a combination that misses

and Whitaker counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Velazquez!
Whitaker looking to ground and pound but Velazquez is blocking nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Whitaker controlling his opponent.
Whitaker landing shots from mount.
Alistair Velazquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez tries to buck Whitaker off but Whitaker takes his back!
Velazquez is trying to get back to his feet but Whitaker has full control of the position and if anything, Velazquez has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Whitaker controlling the position well here. Velazquez rolled but Whitaker kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Velazquez trying to get back to his feet but Whitaker is in full control for now.
Whitaker controlling the position well here. Velazquez rolled but Whitaker kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Velazquez holding both Whitaker 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Velazquez looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Whitaker tightening his grip on Velazquez, looking for the choke.
Velazquez wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez covering up well and avoiding damage.
Good control from Whitaker.
Velazquez is trying to stand back up.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Velazquez has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velazquez avoids the strikes from Whitaker.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryant Whitaker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Whitaker has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryant Whitaker!