PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Stroud (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stroud has chosen Vallenfyre - Iconoclast as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Velasquez
vs
Stroud

174 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

HITME! Nutrition

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Fernando Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Stroud!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Colin Fotheringham and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velasquez staying out of range there.
Velasquez lands with a good body shot.
Velasquez lands a high kick!
Stroud has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Velasquez.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Stroud.
Velasquez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Velasquez chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Velasquez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Stroud throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Velasquez scores with a jab to the body.
Stroud fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stroud tries to close the distance and clinch up but Velasquez swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Stroud rushes Velasquez and presses him up against the cage.
Stroud is trying to force a seperation but Velasquez has the dominant position.
Stroud misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Velasquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Velasquez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez tries to pull guard but Stroud won't allow it.

Stroud's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Velasquez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stroud tries to clinch there but Velasquez circles away.
Velasquez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Stroud's head.
Stroud lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Velasquez misses with a body kick.
Velasquez throws a head kick that Stroud semi-blocks.
Stroud fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Velasquez avoids it really well and circles away.
Velasquez lands a front kick.
Velasquez chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A head kick from Velasquez lands but Stroud takes it in his stride.
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!
Stroud shoots in for a double leg but Velasquez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fernando Velasquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Stroud.
Stroud shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Velasquez defends it nicely.
Stroud tries to close the distance and clinch but Velasquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stroud is defended easily by Velasquez.
Stroud tries to clinch up but Velasquez circles away and keeps his distance.
Some wild striking there from Stroud.
Velasquez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Velasquez keeps the fight on the outside.
Fernando Velasquez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Velasquez lets loose with a powerful body kick. Stroud will feel that in the morning.

Stroud shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Velasquez is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Velasquez wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Stroud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stroud dominating with strikes here.
Stroud with good strikes from the mount here!
Velasquez holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Stroud tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Stroud raining down hammerfists from mount.
Stroud tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Stroud working for a submission but Velasquez is keeping him at bay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroud tries to control but Velasquez wriggling away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stroud thowing shots but they're missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Stroud 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.

Stroud throws a wild body kick that Velasquez sees coming a mile off.
Velasquez throws a series of punches but Stroud moves out of range.
Stroud misses with a double jab.
Stroud swinging wildly here.
Velasquez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stroud misses with a kick to the body
and Velasquez counters with a good, hard body kick but Stroud shrugs it off.
Stroud blocks a head kick by Velasquez.

Stroud clinches.
Stroud tries to throw a body punch but Velasquez avoids it by throwing Stroud back against the cage.

Stroud manages to pull guard.
Stroud controlling Velasquez's posture.
Stroud not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stroud is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Stroud pushes Velasquez off and gets back to his feet.
Stroud tries to clinch but Velasquez is having none of it.
Stroud throws a right and a left that Velasquez avoids nicely.
Velasquez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Stroud gets a clinch.
Velasquez jumps guard but Stroud stands there with Velasquez around his waist. Velasquez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Velasquez goes for a takedown attempt but Stroud pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez lands a jab-cross combination.
Stroud chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Velasquez can pounce on him.
Velasquez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Velasquez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stroud.
Stroud moves in looking to clinch but Velasquez pushes him off.
Nice shot by Velasquez.
Stroud tries to score a power double leg takedown but Velasquez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stroud somewhat.
Stroud moves in looking to clinch but Velasquez pushes him off.
Stroud misses with a double jab.

Stroud clinches up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Velasquez tries to pull guard but Stroud forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fernando Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Stroud successfully pulls guard.
Stroud is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Velasquez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stroud is proving hard to escape from.

Velasquez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Velasquez throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Stroud goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Stroud fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stroud misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stroud misses with a body kick.
Stroud takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Stroud tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Velasquez swivels and escapes.
Velasquez connects with a high kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Stroud clinches with his opponent.
Velasquez scores with a shot to the side of Stroud's head.
Velasquez can't find room to land a body shot as Stroud controls the action.
Velasquez tries to stall but Stroud uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Velasquez wants a takedown but no success here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velasquez tries for a takedown. No joy.
The referee calls for Stroud to work.

Stroud pulls guard successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Stroud showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Velasquez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Stroud tries a low kick but Velasquez avoids it.
Stroud will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stroud motions for Velasquez to come forward. Stroud throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Stroud tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Fernando Velasquez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Velasquez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice uppercut there from Velasquez.
Stroud misses with a body shot.
Velasquez throws a nice looking combination but Stroud bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Velasquez, right into the meat.
Velasquez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Stroud's head.
Velasquez thows a body kick. Stroud tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Stroud on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Velasquez pushes Stroud away with a front kick.
Stroud tries to clinch but Velasquez is having none of it.
Stroud tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Velasquez paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez throws a sloppy head kick and Stroud moves out of range easily.
Fernando Velasquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Stroud clinches up against the cage.

Stroud has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Velasquez uses from the top position.
Velasquez stopping the sweep attempt from Stroud.
Velasquez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stroud wants to stand but Velasquez is controlling the position.
Stroud is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Stroud has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stroud is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stroud scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Velasquez throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Good standup being displayed there by Velasquez as he connects with a hook.
Stroud has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Velasquez.
Stroud looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Velasquez lands a front kick.
Nice defenses there by Velasquez.
Stroud moves out of range of the body kick.
Stroud tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stroud shoots in for a takedown but Velasquez shows good takedown defense.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd cheers as Velasquez lands an impressive looking overhand right. Stroud doesn't seem phased though.
Fernando Velasquez is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stroud dodges the punch combination from Velasquez.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stroud takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Velasquez swats away the attempt to clinch by Stroud.
Stroud wants to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stroud is defended easily by Velasquez.
Stroud wants to clinch up but Velasquez keeps it at a distance.
Stroud tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fighters circling - Stroud throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Velasquez cracks Stroud with an open hand slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stroud looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stroud misses with a double jab.
Velasquez blocks the body kick.
Stroud fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fernando Velasquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Stroud.
Stroud throws a right and a left that both miss.
No luck for Stroud with that takedown attempt.
Velasquez lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Stroud throws an off balance right hand
and Velasquez counters with a left and a right that stings Stroud.
Stroud has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Velasquez.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stroud swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Stroud clinches.
Fernando Velasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tom Stroud is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Velasquez tries to pull guard but Stroud forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tom Stroud.
I've got Stroud winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Stroud!