PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shane Velazquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takashi Ishimura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ishimura has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Velazquez
vs
Ishimura

187 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shane Velazquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takashi Ishimura!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Velazquez has Ishimura up against the cage in a clinch.
Ishimura tries to break free but Velazquez pushes him back against the cage.
Velazquez lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Velazquez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ishimura rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Velazquez moves into the clinch.

Velazquez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ishimura falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ishimura takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ishimura looks gassed!
Velazquez cracks Ishimura with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A jab lands there for Velazquez.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Oh, that's a big right hand from Velazquez and Ishimura goes tumbling to the canvas! Velazquez follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.

Ishimura is rocked!
Velazquez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ishimura defending well though.
Ishimura is still in real trouble! Can Velazquez finish him?
Velazquez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ishimura defending well though.
Ishimura seems to have recovered his senses.
Velazquez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Velazquez wants to pass the guard but Ishimura is defending well.
Velazquez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ishimura defending well though.
Velazquez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velazquez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Velazquez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Velazquez thows a huge punch but Ishimura dodges it nicely.
Velazquez is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Velazquez throwing strikes here but Ishimura is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Poor strikes thrown by Velazquez there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Velazquez looking to finish with strikes here!
Velazquez misses with a head shot.
Ishimura avoids a series of strikes thrown by Velazquez.
Poor strikes thrown by Velazquez there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Velazquez content just to control the position here.
Velazquez has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ishimura's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Velazquez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ishimura on the ground.
Velazquez misses with a head shot.
Velazquez trying to control but Ishimura is having none of it.
Velazquez thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Ishimura tries to hold on but Velazquez postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velazquez misses with a head shot.
Velazquez thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Ishimura blocking the ground and pound.
Velazquez throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Velazquez thowing shots but they're missing.
Velazquez looking to finish with strikes here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez looking to finish with strikes here!
Velazquez thowing shots but they're missing.
Velazquez throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Velazquez with the ground and pound from mount.
Velazquez with good strikes from the mount here!
Velazquez thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velazquez thowing shots but they're missing.
Velazquez misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Ishimura is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Ishimura wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Velazquez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez throwing strikes here but Ishimura is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Velazquez looking to finish Ishimura with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ishimura!
Velazquez thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Velazquez looking to ground and pound but Ishimura is blocking nicely.
Ishimura blocking the ground and pound.
Velazquez throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Velazquez sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Velazquez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ishimura is looking to escape.
Velazquez misses with a head shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velazquez trying to control but Ishimura is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Velazquez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Velazquez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ishimura, pushing him back against the cage.

Velazquez breaks from the clinch.
Ishimura swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Velazquez counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Takashi Ishimura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ishimura with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Velazquez to score with a decent uppercut.
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!
Velazquez with a nice cross.
Velazquez with a jab.
Ishimura takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Velazquez has managed to clinch.

Velazquez manages to break the clinch.
Velazquez throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Velazquez misses with a low kick.
Shane Velazquez is winning the standup battle so far.
Velazquez fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ishimura walks into a straight right hand from Velazquez.
Velazquez smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Ishimura is breathing heavily.

Velazquez throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Ishimura tumbling to the canvas!
Velazquez throwing strikes from guard but Ishimura blocks nicely.
Velazquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Ishimura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velazquez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Velazquez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ishimura. Ishimura circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Velazquez lands with a nice combination. Ishimura backs away looking to recover.
Velazquez cracks Ishimura with an open hand slap.

Velazquez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Velazquez lands with a right to the head.

Velazquez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Velazquez fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ishimura on the side of the head.
Velazquez lands a really nice looking cross but Ishimura seems unphased.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ishimura takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Velazquez steps into range and cracks Ishimura with a monster punch that buckles his knees! Ishimura flops backwards and Velazquez dives into his guard looking to finish!
Velazquez postures up in Ishimura's guard and throws a big left but Ishimura blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez forces his way into half guard.
Velazquez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Velazquez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ishimura with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Velazquez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ishimura defending well though.
Ishimura keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Velazquez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Velazquez is trying to control. Ishimura wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ishimura trying to hold on to Velazquez's head to control him but Velazquez postures up.
Ishimura avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Velazquez.
Velazquez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Velazquez is looking to take a break and control but Ishimura is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez throws a strike but Ishimura avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Velazquez thows a big elbow that misses.
Velazquez looking to pass the guard.
Velazquez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Velazquez throws a big right hand that misses.
Velazquez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Velazquez stops Ishimura from standing up.
Velazquez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ishimura keeping full guard, as Velazquez tries to pass.
Velazquez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Velazquez postures up and lands a big shot to Ishimura's brow.

That's four 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.
Velazquez thows a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Velazquez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ishimura utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Velazquez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ishimura avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Velazquez wants to control from the top but Ishimura keeps moving.
Ishimura utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Velazquez trying to control but Ishimura is working from the bottom.
Velazquez postures up in Ishimura's guard and throws a big left but Ishimura blocks it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ishimura keeping moving, preventing Velazquez from controlling successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Velazquez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Velazquez dominated that second round.
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!

Jab, jab by Velazquez - just one landing.
Velazquez catches Ishimura with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Velazquez drops Ishimura with a right and a left! Velazquez comes rushing in but Ishimura regains his composure and manages to keep Velazquez in guard.
Velazquez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Velazquez is looking to work some ground and pound but Ishimura has wrist control.
Velazquez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Velazquez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Velazquez stands up and waves to Ishimura to follow him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ishimura avoids a punch combination nicely.
Velazquez connects with a jab.
Velazquez darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Velazquez is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Ishimura's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Velazquez connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ishimura scrambles back to his feet.

Ishimura ducks straight into an uppercut from Velazquez and tumbles to the canvas! It’s a flash knockdown though - Ishimura manages to regain guard straight away.
Ishimura takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Velazquez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ishimura works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velazquez tries to free his leg and advance position but Ishimura is retaining full guard.
Ishimura avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Velazquez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Velazquez postures up in Ishimura's guard and throws a big left but Ishimura blocks it.
Velazquez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Velazquez wants to control from the top but Ishimura keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Shane Velazquez just wasn't active enough.
Velazquez throws a series of strikes that have Ishimura backpedaling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ishimura moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Velazquez has closed the distance and engaged Ishimura in a clinch.

Velazquez breaks the clinch.
Ishimura walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Velazquez lands an overhand right.

Velazquez has closed the distance and engaged Ishimura in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Velazquez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Velazquez smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Velazquez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Velazquez breaks the clinch.
Velazquez scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Velazquez drops Ishimura with a big left hand and mounts him. Ishimura is in big trouble!
Poor strikes thrown by Velazquez there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Velazquez misses with a head shot.
Velazquez throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Velazquez 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez thowing shots but they're missing.
Velazquez throwing strikes here but Ishimura is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Velazquez throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Ishimura blocking the ground and pound.
Velazquez looking to ground and pound but Ishimura is blocking nicely.
Velazquez looking to finish with strikes here!
Velazquez throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Ishimura because Velazquez loaded up on that one.
Ishimura is looking to get to half guard.
Ishimura in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Velazquez misses with a head shot.
Velazquez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Velazquez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Velazquez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ishimura can do to turn this around?
Ishimura is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Velazquez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ishimura looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Velazquez looking to finish with strikes here!
Takashi Ishimura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ishimura wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Velazquez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Velazquez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Velazquez 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:24
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:24
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shane Velazquez!