PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Blaine (ranked 4949 p4p, 5976 weight class) and Esmael Velez (ranked 598 p4p, 664 weight class). Velez has chosen Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe - Kendrick Lamar as his entrance music. Esmael Velez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Blaine
vs
Velez

190 cm
25
210
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
20
200
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jason Blaine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Esmael Velez!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Steve Montenegro and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blaine throws a shot to the body.
Velez looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Velez tries to keep at a distance but Blaine has taken the fight into the clinch.
Blaine stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Velez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Velez's coach down at Cozad MMA Las Vegas was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Velez's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Blaine lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Blaine tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Velez.
Velez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Blaine. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blaine controlling the action here.

Blaine wants to work for an arm triangle but Velez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Blaine is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Blaine has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Blaine closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velez is fighting off a takedown attempt but Blaine is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Velez to the mat. Velez regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Velez is trying to hold Blaine in close to prevent damage but Blaine has managed to pass into half guard.
Ground and pound from Blaine.
Blaine wants to stand up but Velez is controlling the position.
Velez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Blaine gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Blaine tries for a takedown but Velez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Blaine drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaine passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blaine controlling the action here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Blaine 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.

Blaine dives in and scores a takedown into Velez's guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Blaine decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Blaine bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Velez is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blaine rushes Velez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Blaine turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Blaine manages to end up in side control.
Velez is letting Blaine control him for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaine throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Blaine grinds an elbow into Velez's temple.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Velez can do anything to dispel that myth.

Blaine tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Jason Blaine overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Blaine decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Blaine bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Blaine scoring with punches from side control.
Blaine staying calm.

Blaine decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaine throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Velez.

Blaine gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Blaine breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Blaine rushes Velez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Blaine has clasped his hands together around Velez's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Blaine is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Velez will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blaine tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Blaine has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
A lull in the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blaine scoring with punches from side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Blaine dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Blaine shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Velez is trying to defend but Blaine finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Blaine's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Blaine scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blaine controlling the action here.
Velez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Blaine works his way into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaine looking to control and managing it successfully.
A nice elbow there by Blaine.
Blaine landing punches.
Blaine sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blaine landing strikes from the mount and Velez is in trouble!
Blaine lands with some strikes.
Blaine sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Blaine stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Blaine gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blaine drags the fight down to the ground.
Blaine is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Blaine is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Blaine controlling his opponent.
Blaine breaks from Velez's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Blaine looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blaine fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Blaine looking for a guillotine from mount but Velez is having none of it.
Blaine raining down hammerfists from mount.
Blaine controlling from the full mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Blaine showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Blaine has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:24
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:24
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Blaine!
In defeat, Esmael Velez stepped up to the mic, saying 'I'm still cummin' for all you mothafuckaz!'.