PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maito Poika (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Poika
vs
Velasquez

160 cm
21
163 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

170 cm
26
150 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Maito Poika!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ryan Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Radbod Blank and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Velasquez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Velasquez avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Poika swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Poika throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Poika misses with a two punch combination.
Velasquez avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Poika rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Velasquez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A punch combination from Poika misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Velasquez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Poika does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Maito Poika seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A thudding body kick lands there by Poika!
Velasquez tries to close the distance and clinch but Poika swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Poika swings for the body but Velasquez moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poika misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Velasquez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Poika.
Poika throws a right hand that Velasquez ducks under and follows up with a left that Velasquez also avoids with ease.
Poika just misses with a punch to the body.
Poika chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poika looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Poika misses with a wild body shot.
Velasquez checks a low kick from Poika.
Velasquez moves out of range of the body kick.
Velasquez avoids the head kick by Poika.
Poika tried to score with a low kick but Velasquez checks it.
Velasquez tries to clinch there but Poika circles away.
Velasquez checks a leg kick nicely.
Poika misses with a double jab.
Poika throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Poika scores with a hook.
Poika throws a front kick aimed at Velasquez's knee but Velasquez avoids it well.
Poika walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Velasquez checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Velasquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Poika paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Velasquez slips a jab and a cross from Poika.
Poika throws a right hand that Velasquez ducks under and follows up with a left that Velasquez also avoids with ease.

Velasquez has managed to clinch.
Velasquez prevents Poika from breaking the clinch.
Poika wants to break the clinch but can't.
Velasquez throws an elbow but it misses.

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 is struggling to control the position.
Poika on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Velasquez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Velasquez lands an elbow inside.
Velasquez tries to land knees in the clinch but Poika avoids the damage to the body.
Poika avoiding damage as Velasquez throws knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Velasquez.
Velasquez lands a damaging elbow.
Poika working hard to break the clinch.
Poika is trying to break free.
Poika wants to break free but Velasquez has control.
Velasquez lands an elbow inside.
Poika tries to circle away but Velasquez has him pinned against the cage.
Poika tries to break the clinch but Velasquez is controlling the position.
Velasquez creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Velasquez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Poika is trying to push Velasquez away but Velasquez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Poika breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Velasquez wants to clinch up but Poika keeps it at a distance.
Poika throws a right and a left that both miss.
Poika throws out a leg kick but Velasquez moves out of range and Poika only half commits.
Poika fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez has Poika up against the cage in a clinch.

Poika breaks from the clinch.
Velasquez moves in looking to clinch but Poika pushes him off.
Velasquez is looking to clinch.
Poika misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Poika pivots, looking for a leg kick but Velasquez is out of range and Poika settles back down.
Poika throws a series of punches but Velasquez moves out of range.
Poika throws a series of punches but Velasquez avoids them all with ease.
Velasquez doesn't manage to clinch there - Poika circles away.

Velasquez drives through and clinches with Poika against the cage.
Poika tries to break the clinch but Velasquez is controlling the position.
Velasquez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Velasquez throws a knee to the head but misses.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Velasquez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Poika has had enough of the clinch but Velasquez keeps him there for the moment.
Poika wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Velasquez lands an elbow inside that Poika shrugs off.
Velasquez lands an elbow inside.

That's four 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.

Poika escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Velasquez moves into the clinch.
Velasquez throws an elbow that misses.

Poika breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Poika lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Velasquez circles away quickly and effectively.
Poika looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Poika tries to bum rush Velasquez with a series of wild strikes but Velasquez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Velasquez checks the leg kick nicely there.
Velasquez avoids the head kick by Poika.
Poika is breathing heavily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Poika has had enough of the clinch but Velasquez keeps him there for the moment.
Velasquez pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Poika can't break the clinch.

Poika escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Poika misses with a head kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Poika throws a leg kick but Velasquez moved away.
Poika does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Poika thumps Velasquez with a low kick.
Velasquez slips a jab and a cross from Poika.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Maito Poika will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Velasquez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Poika throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Maito Poika is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Velasquez tries to close the distance and clinch but Poika swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Poika throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Velasquez.
Velasquez slips a jab and a cross from Poika.
Velasquez tries to clinch up.
Poika throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Velasquez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Poika swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Velasquez blocks the body kick.
Poika circles away from the clinch attempt.
Poika scores with a nice head shot.
Sloppy strikes from Poika. Those never looked like landing.
Velasquez is looking to clinch but Poika is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez slips a jab and a cross from Poika.
Poika circles away from the clinch attempt.
Velasquez is looking to clinch but Poika is avoiding it.
Poika swats away the attempt to clinch by Velasquez.
Poika misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez checks a leg kick.
Poika throws a nice looking combination but Velasquez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Velasquez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Velasquez tries to clinch but Poika is having none of it.
A good leg kick by Poika.
Sloppy strikes from Poika. Those never looked like landing.
Velasquez doesn't manage to clinch there - Poika circles away.
Poika keeps the fight on the outside.

Velasquez darts in and clinches Poika up against the cage.
Poika has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Poika tries to break the clinch but Velasquez is controlling the position.
Poika tries to break the clinch but Velasquez is controlling the position.
Poika is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Poika is trying to push Velasquez away but Velasquez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Velasquez is looking to control Poika's arms but Poika gets an underhook and turns him. Now Velasquez has his back to the cage.
Velasquez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Poika's defenses.
Poika wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Velasquez has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poika is trying to break the clinch but Velasquez has him pressed against the cage.
Velasquez lands an elbow that stopped Poika in his tracks for a moment.
Poika is trying to break the clinch but Velasquez is controlling him.
Poika is looking to break free of the clinch but Velasquez has double underhooks.
Velasquez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Velasquez is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Velasquez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Poika can't break the clinch.
Velasquez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Poika is trying to break free.
Velasquez trying to land knees to the body.
Poika wants to break free but Velasquez has control.
Poika wants to break free but Velasquez has control.
Poika tries to break free but Velasquez pushes him back against the cage.
Velasquez creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Poika's defenses.
Velasquez taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Poika on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Poika looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Poika is trying to push Velasquez away but Velasquez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Velasquez is struggling to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poika is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Poika tries to break the clinch but Velasquez is controlling the position.
Poika is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Velasquez pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Poika is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Poika wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Velasquez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Poika is trying to break the clinch but Velasquez is controlling him.
Poika working hard to break the clinch.
Poika wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Velasquez has him pressed against the cage.
Poika looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Velasquez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Poika is trying to push Velasquez away but Velasquez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Poika wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Poika is trying to force a seperation but Velasquez has the dominant position.
Poika wants to get back to striking at distance but Velasquez won't allow it.
Poika is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Velasquez keeps control of Poika as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Velasquez keeps control of Poika as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Knees in the clinch landing for Velasquez.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Velasquez keeps control of Poika as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Poika manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Poika circles away from the clinch attempt.
Velasquez blocks a low kick nicely.
Poika misses with a wild combination.
Poika throws a leg kick that misses.
Velasquez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Poika manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Poika misses with a series of wild punches.
Poika misses with a leg kick.

Velasquez gets a clinch.
Poika is trying to force a seperation but Velasquez has the dominant position.
Poika wants to get back to striking at distance but Velasquez won't allow it.

Poika breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Velasquez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Poika motions for Velasquez to come forward. Poika throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Poika throws a right hand that Velasquez ducks under and follows up with a left that Velasquez also avoids with ease.
Velasquez dodges the punch combination from Poika.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Maito Poika will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Poika circles away from the clinch attempt.
Velasquez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Poika manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sloppy strikes from Poika. Those never looked like landing.
Poika keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Velasquez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Velasquez dodges the punch combination from Poika.
Poika avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Velasquez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Poika, pushing him back against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Velasquez throws an elbow but misses.
Poika tries to circle away but Velasquez has him pinned against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poika is looking to break free of the clinch but Velasquez has double underhooks.
Velasquez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Velasquez slowing the pace effectively.
Velasquez lands an elbow inside that Poika shrugs off.
Velasquez throws an elbow that misses.
Poika has had enough of the clinch but Velasquez keeps him there for the moment.
Poika has had enough of the clinch but Velasquez keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Velasquez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Poika looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Velasquez throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Poika on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Poika is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Poika has had enough of the clinch but Velasquez keeps him there for the moment.
Poika is trying to break the clinch but Velasquez is controlling him.
Velasquez lands an elbow that stopped Poika in his tracks for a moment.
Velasquez gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Poika tries to break the clinch but Velasquez is controlling the position.
Poika is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Poika breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Poika misses with a straight right.
Velasquez avoids a punch combination nicely.
A bone on bone clash there as Velasquez blocks the leg kick.
Velasquez checks a low kick from Poika.
Poika fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Some wild striking there from Poika.
Poika misses with the combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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 avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Poika looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Poika misses with a jab, cross combination.
Poika looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Poika throws a right and a left that both miss.
Poika lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Velasquez circles away quickly and effectively.
Velasquez avoids a punch combination nicely.
A nice inside leg kick there by Poika. That's going to slow Velasquez down.
Velasquez fails with an attempt to clinch.

Velasquez has closed the distance and engaged Poika in a clinch.
Poika blocks an elbow strike from Velasquez.
Poika takes an elbow to the forehead.
A frustrated look appears on Poika's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Velasquez throws an elbow but it misses.
Poika wants to break free but Velasquez has control.
Poika has had enough of the clinch but Velasquez keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Poika is looking to break free of the clinch but Velasquez has double underhooks.
Poika blocks the elbow strike.
Poika dodges an elbow strike from Velasquez.
Poika tries to break free but Velasquez pushes him back against the cage.
Velasquez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Poika pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Poika looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Poika is looking to chop away at Velasquez's legs.
Velasquez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Poika swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Velasquez keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Poika misses with a two punch combination.
Poika misses with a wild combination.
Velasquez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Velasquez rushes Poika and presses him up against the cage.
Poika takes an elbow to the forehead.
Stalling in the clinch from Velasquez.
Velasquez throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Poika is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Poika working hard to break the clinch.
Poika has had enough of the clinch but Velasquez keeps him there for the moment.
Velasquez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Poika's efforts to push away.
With the fighters up against the cage, Velasquez throws an elbow but misses.
Poika wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Velasquez has him pressed against the cage.
Poika is trying to break the clinch but Velasquez has him pressed against the cage.
Velasquez scores a nice knee to the body.
Poika wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Velasquez throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Velasquez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Poika takes an elbow to the forehead.
Poika is looking to break free of the clinch but Velasquez has double underhooks.
Poika is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Velasquez landing knees to the head.
Poika is trying to push Velasquez away but Velasquez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Velasquez stalling the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Poika tries to break free but Velasquez pushes him back against the cage.
Velasquez prevents Poika from breaking the clinch.
Poika takes an elbow to the forehead.
Velasquez slowing the pace effectively.
Ryan Velasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Velasquez lands an elbow that stopped Poika in his tracks for a moment.
Poika takes an elbow to the temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Velasquez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Poika 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Maito Poika!