PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kristof Velez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ason Russell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Velez
vs
Russell

190 cm
23
260 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
245 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kristof Velez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ason Russell!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Alan Glass and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velez lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Russell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Velez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Velez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Velez throws out a powerful jab.
Russell takes a jab right on the kisser.
Russell takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Velez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Russell is rocked!
Velez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Russell is still in real trouble! Can Velez finish him?
Russell seems to have recovered his senses.
Russell manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Russell throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Velez because Russell loaded up on that one.
Velez tries to hold on but Russell pushes him away.
Russell lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Russell lands a big shot there that rocks Velez but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Russell has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Russell throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Velez tries to reverse the position but Russell maintains control.
Russell avoids the attempt from Velez to control.
Velez doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
Russell scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Velez tries to hold on but Russell postures up.
Velez tries to reverse the position but Russell maintains control.
Velez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Velez tries to get out of the position.
Velez tries to hold on but Russell postures up.
Russell punching from mount but Velez doing a good job of avoiding damage.

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.
Russell throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Russell looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Velez is trying desperately to improve position.
Velez is breathing heavily.
Russell has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Velez's face.
Russell with shots to the head and body - Velez looks very uncomfortable down there.
Velez tries to lock up and control but Russell gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Russell thowing shots but they're missing.
Russell has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Velez's face.
Russell punching from mount but Velez doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Velez is trying desperately to improve position.
Velez in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Velez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russell scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Russell lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Velez tries to reverse the position but Russell maintains control.
Russell thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Russell is landing with some decent strikes but Velez is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Russell is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Russell throwing strikes here but Velez is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Velez blocking the ground and pound.
Russell punching from mount but Velez doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Velez is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velez tries to reverse the position but Russell maintains control.
Russell avoids the attempt from Velez to control.
Russell scoring with strikes but Velez is staying in there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velez sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Velez trying to control from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Russell there.
Velez regains full guard. Nicely done.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Velez is on top in guard.
Russell is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Russell looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Velez puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russell is looking to improve his position.

Russell looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ason Russell will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Russell moves in looking to clinch but Velez pushes him off.
Velez connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Velez uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Russell works the jab nicely.
Russell doesn't manage to clinch there - Velez circles away.

Velez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ason Russell has got the better of the ground game so far.
Velez content to control rather than advance.
Russell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Velez is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russell is desperately trying to improve his position but Velez has a good base and remains in mount.
Velez controlling his opponent.
Russell is desperately trying to improve his position but Velez has a good base and remains in mount.
Velez content just to control the position here.
Russell can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Russell is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Velez controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kristof Velez just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Russell throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Velez scores with a jab to the head.
Velez lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Russell takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Russell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Velez misses with a series of wild punches.
Velez throws a combination. Russell tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Velez scores with a punch to the head.
Velez throws a nice looking combination but Russell bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Russell throws a combination that misses
and Velez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nice shot lands for Velez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velez lands a head shot.

Velez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Russell is wriggling around trying to escape.
Velez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Russell on the ground.
Velez controlling the pace for now.
Russell working to try and regain half guard.
Velez controlling from the full mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Russell is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kristof Velez dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Velez!
Russell on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Russell moves into range and clinches up with Velez.

Russell manages to break the clinch.
Velez lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Russell on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Russell doesn't manage to clinch there - Velez circles away.
A clash of legs there as Velez blocks the low kick.

Velez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Velez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Russell is looking to improve his position but Velez isn't that keen on the idea.
Velez controlling the pace for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Russell is looking to improve his position but Velez isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velez controlling from mount.
Russell is trying desperately to improve position.
Velez controlling the position easily from mount.

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.
Russell is looking to get to half guard.
Velez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kristof Velez just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Velez with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velez gets caught flat footed, as Russell shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Russell is fighting to break Velez's control of his arms but Velez is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Velez has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Velez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Velez pulls Russell in close to prevent any damage.
Russell wants to pass the guard but Velez is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velez pulls Russell in close to his closed guard and prevents Russell from doing any damage or advancing position.
Russell scoring with some ground and pound.
Velez is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Velez keeping full guard, as Russell tries to pass.
Russell throws and elbow that misses. Velez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Russell's guard. Nice move by Velez!
Velez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kristof Velez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Velez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kristof Velez!