PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mohsen Velayati (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jude Driscoll (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Velayati
vs
Driscoll

225 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mohsen Velayati!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jude Driscoll!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Driscoll closes the distance and pushes Velayati back into the cage.

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

Driscoll instigates a clinch.
Velayati changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Driscoll fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Driscoll moves into the clinch.

Driscoll manages to break the clinch.

Driscoll has closed the distance and engaged Velayati in a clinch.
Driscoll tries a body shot but Velayati blocks it.

Driscoll has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Velayati uses from the top position.
Driscoll has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Velayati has passed into side control.

Velayati is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Driscoll is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Driscoll is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velayati stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Driscoll moves out of range of the body kick.
Driscoll has a takedown stuffed.
Velayati tries to clinch up.
Driscoll keeps the fight on the outside.
Velayati shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Driscoll but Driscoll pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velayati avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Velayati misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Velayati dives in for a single leg takedown but Driscoll sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mohsen Velayati. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice elbow from Driscoll.

It looks like Mohsen Velayati has been cut.

Driscoll pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Driscoll tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Driscoll fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Driscoll gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Velayati gets underhooks to prevent Driscoll's takedown attempt.
Velayati goes for a takedown attempt but Driscoll pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Driscoll misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velayati throws a nice looking combination but Driscoll bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Driscoll tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Velayati manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Driscoll darts in looking for a takedown but Velayati gets double underhooks and turns Driscoll into the cage.

Driscoll gets control of Velayati's arms and successfully pulls guard. Driscoll will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Driscoll can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Velayati controls the pace.
Velayati pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Driscoll is keeping the position for now.
Velayati pushes down on Driscoll's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Velayati missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velayati is keen to just control but Driscoll is a slippery customer.
Velayati is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Velayati wants to take a breather but Driscoll is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Driscoll trying to hold on to Velayati's head to control him but Velayati postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Driscoll wants to improve his position but Velayati is controlling well.

Mohsen Velayati has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Driscoll wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jude Driscoll dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mohsen Velayati's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Driscoll shoots in looking for a takedown but Velayati manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Driscoll's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Driscoll tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Driscoll throws a series of punches but Velayati moves out of range.
Velayati lands the left hand.
Driscoll shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Velayati sprawls well. Velayati wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Driscoll gets slowly back to his feet.
Velayati really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Velayati closes the distance and clinches.
Velayati tries to pull guard but Driscoll holds him up against the cage and eventually Velayati drops back down to his feet.
Velayati tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Driscoll just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velayati tries to pull guard but Driscoll holds him up against the cage and eventually Velayati drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mohsen Velayati. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Driscoll pulls guard effortlessly.
Velayati trying to control but Driscoll is working from the bottom.

Driscoll has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Velayati can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Velayati wants to pass the guard but Driscoll is keeping the position.
Velayati wants to control from the top but Driscoll keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Driscoll working for a triangle but Velayati defends it easily.
Driscoll is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Driscoll working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Velayati doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Velayati manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Velayati sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Driscoll is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Velayati is aware though and is defending well.

Velayati stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Driscoll darts in and clinches Velayati up against the cage.
Velayati is looking to control Driscoll's arms but Driscoll gets an underhook and turns him. Now Velayati has his back to the cage.

Driscoll breaks the clinch.
Driscoll dives in for a single leg takedown but Velayati sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Driscoll is breathing heavily.
Driscoll tries to circle away but Velayati has him pinned against the cage.
Driscoll managing to block the knees to the body from Velayati.
Velayati is looking for a takedown.

Driscoll escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Velayati shoots for a double leg takedown but Driscoll sprawls well. He's pushed Velayati's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Driscoll fails to land with a series of punches.
Driscoll dives in and grabs Velayati's left leg, looking for a takedown. Velayati pushes down on Driscoll's head and hops out.
Velayati tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Driscoll paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Velayati doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Driscoll counters with a low kick, right behind Velayati 's knee.
Velayati throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Driscoll shoots in looking for a takedown but Velayati manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Driscoll's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Velayati misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velayati fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Driscoll throws a half hearted mid kick.
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 Mohsen Velayati will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mohsen Velayati's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Driscoll connects with an inside leg kick.
Driscoll throws a right and a left that both miss.

Velayati gets tackled into the cage by Driscoll. Driscoll maintains the clinch.
Velayati tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Driscoll is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Velayati to keep the fight standing.
Velayati is looking for a takedown.
Driscoll creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Velayati's defenses.
Velayati is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Velayati fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mohsen Velayati. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Driscoll ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Driscoll no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Velayati looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Driscoll utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Driscoll is trying to keep Velayati in close.

Velayati gets to his feet - Driscoll follows without any prompting.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Driscoll is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Driscoll clinches with his opponent.
Velayati is trying to break the clinch but Driscoll is controlling him.
Velayati is trying to pull guard but Driscoll turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Driscoll decides to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Driscoll tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Velayati has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Driscoll is proving hard to escape from.
Velayati trying to control but Driscoll is working from the bottom.
Driscoll has his hands on Velayati's head, controlling the position.
Velayati will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Driscoll is looking to sweep but instead, Velayati has passed into half guard.
Velayati trying to control the action but Driscoll is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velayati passes to full mount!
Driscoll wants to control but Velayati is having none of it.
Velayati thowing shots but they're missing.
Velayati sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velayati with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Driscoll is wriggling around trying to escape.
Velayati trying to control but Driscoll is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velayati punching from mount but Driscoll doing a good job of avoiding damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mohsen Velayati.
I think Velayati 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mohsen Velayati!