PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cj Bower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chicharito 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!

Bower
vs
Velasquez

168 cm
25
155 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
155 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cj Bower!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chicharito Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Damien Edna and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bower is looking to land body kicks.

Velasquez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bower did well to prevent Velasquez getting side control.
Velasquez with the ground and pound but Bower uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Velasquez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Velasquez throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Velasquez stands up and waves to Bower to follow him.

Velasquez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Bower is working an open guard so Velasquez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Velasquez misses with a takedown attempt - Bower sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bower misses with a takedown

and Velasquez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bower's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bower trying to control the position here.
Bower keeping full guard, as Velasquez tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bower is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Velasquez is controlling him.
Velasquez won't allow Bower to sweep him here.
Bower is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Velasquez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bower swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Cj Bower just wasn't active enough.

Bower gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez has gone for a leg lock! Bower slips out almost immediately though and dives into Velasquez's guard.
Velasquez looks gassed!
Bower advances position into side control!
Bower happy to just control the position for now.

Bower tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Velasquez is trying to control Bower's posture but Bower avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is looking to reverse the position.
Bower trying to control the position but Velasquez is working away.

Bower stands up.
Bower closes the distance looking to clinch

and Velasquez counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bower looking to control.
Bower wants to sweep but no luck.
Velasquez passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bower stops Velasquez from passing to mount.

Velasquez goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Bower has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Velasquez but great work by Bower.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bower tries to advance to mount but can't.
Bower has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Velasquez!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chicharito Velasquez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bower moves to clinch but Velasquez breaks away

and Velasquez counters with a single leg into guard. Bower didn't expect that.
Bower might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Velasquez preventing the sweep.
Velasquez postures up.
Velasquez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bower works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bower preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Velasquez won't allow Bower to sweep him here.
Velasquez throws and elbow that misses. Bower uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Velasquez's guard. Nice move by Bower!

Velasquez looking for a guillotine here but Bower defends easily.
Bower trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bower stopping the sweep attempt from Velasquez.
Velasquez seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Bower gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Bower looks to clinch

and Velasquez counters with a takedown into side control.
Bower struggling a bit here.

Velasquez swings around for an armbar but Bower sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Velasquez's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bower passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bower working away.

Bower has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Bower shoots in looking for a takedown. Velasquez tries to sprawl out of it but Bower keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Velasquez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bower tries to clinch up.
Bower closes the distance but Velasquez moves to the side

so Velasquez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
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!
Bower seems keen to control Velasquez's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bower bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Velasquez's guard.
Bower working some strikes from top position.
Bower preventing the sweep.
Bower missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bower missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Bower drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bower jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Velasquez is looking to stand up but Bower isn't so interested in that idea.
Bower trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Velasquez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bower trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
Chicharito Velasquez has got the better of the ground game so far.

We're going to have a standup here because Cj Bower wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A nice combination there by Bower.
Bower wants to clinch up but Velasquez keeps it at a distance.
Bower with a poor takedown

and Velasquez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bower gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chicharito Velasquez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Velasquez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bower has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Velasquez is working away from the top position though.
Velasquez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Velasquez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Velasquez is looking to advance position but Bower won't allow it.
Velasquez works his foot free and advances to mount.
Bower is trying desperately to improve position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bower avoids a series of strikes thrown by Velasquez.
Bower blocking the ground and pound.
Bower really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Velasquez moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Bower has worked his arm free - good work by Bower!
Bower is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Velasquez off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bower tries to get the hooks in deep but Velasquez pushed the leg off.
Velasquez is trying to break free.

Bower tightening his grip on Velasquez, looking for the choke.
Velasquez staying busy and making it hard for Bower to control.
Bower softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Bower is riding his opponent, not letting Velasquez buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez trying to control the position but Bower manages to sink in the hooks.
Cj Bower has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Velasquez is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Bower off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Bower is landing with strikes. Velasquez can't take much more of this.

Bower has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Velasquez is defending well but eventually Bower manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Velasquez has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Cj Bower!