PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Billie Bourne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rory Velko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velko has chosen Wild Eyes as his entrance music. Rory Velko will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Bourne
vs
Velko

170 cm
19
265 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

190 cm
25
260 lbs
5 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Billie Bourne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Rory Velko!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Hugh Johnson and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Velko.
Bourne shoots for a double leg takedown but Velko sprawls well. He's pushed Bourne's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bourne fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Bourne shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Velko manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velko wants to get back to his feet but Bourne is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Bourne has gone for a leg lock! Velko slips out almost immediately though and dives into Bourne's guard.

Bourne working for a triangle but Velko defends it easily.
Velko tries to stand but Bourne is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourne is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Velko wants to control from the top but Bourne keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Rory Velko has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Bourne fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billie Bourne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Velko leaves Bourne with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Velko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Velko gets caught flat footed, as Bourne shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Bourne drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Velko manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Bourne has Velko in his guard.

Bourne scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bourne changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Velko tries to avoid it but Bourne manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Velko to the ground. Velko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Bourne gets the takedown into side control.
Bourne prevents Velko from escaping the position.

Bourne goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Velko rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Bourne's guard! Nice work there by Velko!
Velko is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bourne has his hands on Velko's head, controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Billie Bourne wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Bourne fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Velko sprawls well initially but Bourne persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billie Bourne dominated that 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.

Bourne shoots for a takedown but Velko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Velko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bourne.

Bourne shoots in and bounces Velko off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Billie Bourne overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Bourne is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Velko is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Velko has escaped and now he's on top!
Bourne wants to stand up but Velko is controlling him.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourne trying to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Bourne pushes Velko off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Velko fails to land with a series of punches.
Bourne shoots for a takedown but Velko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billie Bourne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bourne is trying hard to land a takedown here. Velko sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velko displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bourne.
Velko throws a head kick but Bourne moves out of range.
Billie Bourne is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bourne will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Velko throws a series of punches but Bourne moves out of range.
Bourne shoots in but no luck this time.
Rory Velko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Bourne scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Bourne is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Velko has escaped the position, nice work there.
Velko struggling a bit here.

Bourne goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Velko has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Bourne but great work by Velko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bourne wants to get back to his feet but Velko is dominant here and he's now got Bourne's back!
Velko trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Bourne trying to get back to his feet but Velko is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Bourne right now.
Velko trying to control momentarily.
Velko trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Bourne doesn't escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rory Velko was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Bourne fails with the takedown
and Velko counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billie Bourne dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bourne shoots and misses
and Velko counters with a nice kick to the body.
Bourne throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Velko's waist but Velko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bourne off to one side.
Velko misses with a double jab.
Velko fails to land with a series of punches.
Bourne has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billie Bourne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bourne avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bourne looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Velko is fending him off so far but Bourne persists. Nope, Velko circles away and we're back to standing.
Velko stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Velko wants it to stay on the feet.
Bourne shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Velko counters with a big head kick but Bourne shrugs it off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bourne shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Velko as he jumps to the side.
Velko throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Velko misses.
Velko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Velko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rory Velko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Velko looks to land a combination but Bourne avoids it well.
Velko uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Bourne has time to react.
Bourne has his takedown stuffed
and Velko counters with a left and a right that stings Bourne.
Velko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bourne.
Bourne fails with a takedown attempt.
Bourne slips a jab and a cross from Velko.
Billie Bourne is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bourne slips a jab and a cross from Velko.
Bourne fails with the takedown.
Bourne tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Velko swivels and escapes.
Velko misses with a wild combination.
Bourne has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Velko.
Velko connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Bourne throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Velko's waist but Velko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bourne off to one side.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bourne takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Velko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bourne fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Velko fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bourne has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velko misses with a two punch combination.
Bourne looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Velko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bourne looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bourne takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The crowd cheers as Velko lands an impressive looking overhand right. Bourne doesn't seem phased though.
Velko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bourne looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Velko is fending him off so far but Bourne persists. Nope, Velko circles away and we're back to standing.

Bourne gets a double leg takedown into Velko's guard.
Rory Velko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bourne wants to control from the top but Velko keeps moving.
Bourne is really struggling to control Velko but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velko keeping full guard, as Bourne tries to pass.
Bourne not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Billie Bourne wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Bourne slips a jab and a cross from Velko.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rory Velko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bourne 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billie Bourne!