PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kane Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Polumbo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Velasquez
vs
Polumbo

185 cm
18
240 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
234 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kane Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Joey Polumbo!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Polumbo works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Velasquez moves forwards but Polumbo connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Velasquez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Velasquez showed some decent athleticism there.
Polumbo wants to get back to full guard.

Velasquez is looking for a kimura here.
Velasquez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Polumbo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Velasquez is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Polumbo has managed to free his arm - good work.
Polumbo is holding on to half guard well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polumbo is looking to control Velasquez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Polumbo avoid being mounted?

Velasquez is looking for a kimura here.

Velasquez looking for a submission but Polumbo manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Velasquez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Velasquez stays in close to Polumbo's body and controls the position.
Polumbo keeping moving, preventing Velasquez from controlling successfully.

Velasquez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Polumbo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Velasquez, into his guard.
Velasquez trying to keep a closed guard but Polumbo is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez looking for a guillotine here but Polumbo defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Velasquez looking for a guillotine here but Polumbo defends easily.
Polumbo distracts Velasquez with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Polumbo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Velasquez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez is looking for a triangle but Polumbo pushes his legs off easily.
Polumbo throws and elbow that misses. Velasquez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Polumbo's guard. Nice move by Velasquez!
Velasquez stays in close to Polumbo's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velasquez looking to pass the guard.
Polumbo wants to control the position but Velasquez says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Velasquez prevents Polumbo from improving his position.
Velasquez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kane Velasquez 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 fails with the takedown.
Polumbo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Polumbo works over Velasquez's head and body with a nice combination.
Polumbo jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Polumbo's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Polumbo duly obliges.
Velasquez shoots for a double leg takedown but Polumbo sprawls well. He's pushed Velasquez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Polumbo with a hook.

Velasquez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Polumbo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Velasquez cracks Polumbo with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Velasquez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Polumbo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Polumbo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Polumbo manages to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Velasquez avoids the attempt from Polumbo to control.
Polumbo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Velasquez in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Polumbo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Velasquez lands a heavy elbow.

Velasquez jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Polumbo is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Polumbo and Velasquez has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polumbo struggling a bit here.

Velasquez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Velasquez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Velasquez takes advantage of some sloppy striking from Polumbo to pass into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez lands a big elbow.

Velasquez get's back to his feet.
Velasquez misses with a takedown attempt - Polumbo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kane Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Polumbo lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Polumbo.
Velasquez takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Polumbo stuffs the takedown attempt from Velasquez. Velasquez gets slowly back to his feet.
Velasquez has a takedown stuffed.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Velasquez lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Polumbo has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Polumbo and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Velasquez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Polumbo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polumbo scores with a three punch combo!
Polumbo uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Polumbo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kane Velasquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Polumbo moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A right-left combo lands from Polumbo.
Polumbo with a jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Velasquez.
Polumbo lands with a nice body punch.
Polumbo clobbers Velasquez with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Polumbo connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Velasquez momentarily.
Polumbo stuns Velasquez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Joey Polumbo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Velasquez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velasquez shoots in and drives through. Polumbo sprawls well.
Joey Polumbo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Polumbo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Velasquez walks into a left hand.
Polumbo lands a really nice looking cross but Velasquez seems unphased.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Polumbo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Polumbo scores with a sloppy right hand. Velasquez should have avoided that one.
Polumbo thuds his right hand into Velasquez's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Velasquez on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Polumbo has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Polumbo connects with a good right hand that stumbles Velasquez. Velasquez circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Velasquez shoots for a takedown but Polumbo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Polumbo. No joy for Velasquez on that attempt.
Velasquez misses with a body kick.
Velasquez walks into a left hand.
Polumbo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A right-left combo lands from Polumbo.
Polumbo looks to land a combination. Velasquez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Polumbo lands with a nice combination. Velasquez backs away looking to recover.
Joey Polumbo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A right-left combo lands from Polumbo.

Velasquez is rocked!
A cross from Polumbo lands.
Oh Velasquez is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Polumbo lands with a nice combination. Velasquez backs away looking to recover.
Polumbo lands a two punch combo.
Velasquez looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Polumbo moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Polumbo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polumbo goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Polumbo looks to land a combination. Velasquez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Nice straight punches there by Polumbo. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Polumbo.
A jab-cross combination lands for Polumbo and sends Velasquez crashing to the mat! Polumbo follows him down to the mat - Velasquez regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Velasquez looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Polumbo pushes past his half guard into mount!
Velasquez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Velasquez seems to have got his legs back now.
Polumbo lands a big shot there that rocks Velasquez but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The referee warns Velasquez that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Velasquez regains half guard.
Polumbo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Polumbo is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Velasquez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Velasquez is looking to improve his position.
Polumbo is tying to control. Velasquez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is looking to improve his position.
Velasquez wants to control but Polumbo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Velasquez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Polumbo trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.

Velasquez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Velasquez working for a triangle but Polumbo defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polumbo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Velasquez working for a triangle but Polumbo defends it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velasquez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Polumbo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Polumbo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Polumbo!