PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mike Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Vellucci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ross comes to the cage accompanied by Neck of the Woods. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ross
vs
Vellucci

169 cm
31
163 lbs
22 - 12 - 1

172 cm
34
165 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Spartan 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 22 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mike Ross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Leo Vellucci!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ross lands a nice leg kick that just misses Vellucci's sensitive parts.
Vellucci tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ross goes for a double leg but Vellucci avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Vellucci continues to drive forward.
Vellucci wants to slow Ross down by chopping away at his legs.
Ross slips under a jab from Vellucci.
Ross tries to counter with a takedown but Vellucci is quick to defend against it.
Ross scores with a nice body kick.
Ross thuds a left hand into Vellucci's body.
Vellucci has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ross.
Ross moves out of range of the body kick.
Ross tries to counter with a takedown but Vellucci is quick to defend against it.
Ross wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ross throws a sloppy head kick and Vellucci moves out of range easily.
Vellucci feints a counter leg kick.
Ross lands a front kick.
Ross throws a leg kick
and Vellucci counters with a thumping low kick.
Ross takes a kick to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ross throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vellucci throws a fast counter high kick but Ross manages to duck under it in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Vellucci.
Vellucci throws a leg kick

and Ross counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ross won't allow Vellucci to sweep him here.
Vellucci utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ross is stalling in the full guard.
Ross distracts Vellucci with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Vellucci looking for a sweep. Not yet Vellucci, not yet.
Ross stays in close to Vellucci's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross cracks Vellucci with a solid left hand.
Ross missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vellucci wants to stand up but Ross is controlling him.
Ross postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ross trying to control but Vellucci is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Vellucci misses with a straight right.

Ross tries to keep at a distance but Vellucci has taken the fight into the clinch.
I was talking to Ross's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vellucci misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ross.
Ross stalling.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ross creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Vellucci tries to work over Ross's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ross lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vellucci.
Vellucci blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vellucci lands a nice elbow.
Vellucci trying to land knees to the body.
Vellucci tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ross lands with a short shot to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Vellucci just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ross's brow.
Ross tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vellucci's elbow.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ross - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ross avoids a wild elbow strike from Vellucci.
A bit of stalling here from Ross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross stalling against the cage.
Vellucci trying to control the position but instead, Ross has worked for underhooks and has pushed Vellucci into the cage.
Vellucci working aggressively here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Ross pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vellucci looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Vellucci jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vellucci blocks a low kick nicely.

Vellucci clinches up with Ross and pushes him back against the cage.

Ross gets control of Vellucci's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ross will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Vellucci wants to stand but Ross has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ross controls Vellucci momentarily but Vellucci frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Ross dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ross has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Vellucci.
Ross scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Vellucci wants to clinch.
Ross tries to counter with a takedown but Vellucci is quick to defend against it.
Vellucci fails to land with a series of punches.
Vellucci's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Ross connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Vellucci scrambles back to his feet.
Ross is trying hard to land a takedown here. Vellucci sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vellucci tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ross was well out of range. Poor timing from Vellucci.
Vellucci explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Vellucci goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Vellucci pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ross throws a hook but Vellucci avoids it easily.
Leo Vellucci seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vellucci throws a hook but Ross blocks it.
Ross blocks a head kick by Vellucci.
Ross tries to counter with a takedown but Vellucci is quick to defend against it.
Vellucci takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ross takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Vellucci lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ross has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ross and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ross lands a jab.
Vellucci lands a nice looking kick to the body. Ross takes a step back to recover.
Vellucci is looking to clinch.
Vellucci keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Leo Vellucci is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vellucci stuns Ross with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ross checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vellucci pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vellucci throws a leg kick but Ross sees it coming and moves out of range.
Ross attempts a counter takedown but Vellucci avoids it well and moves away.
Ross throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Vellucci.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vellucci wants to land a leg kick but Ross is out of range.
Vellucci tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Vellucci changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ross checks the leg kick nicely there.
Vellucci avoids a kick to the body.
A little jabbing left from Vellucci on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ross chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ross connects with a solid leg kick.
Vellucci misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ross.
Ross throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ross looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vellucci scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nice uppercut there from Ross.
Vellucci throws a big shot that misses.
Vellucci throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Ross fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vellucci manages to avoid it.
A jab from Ross misses.
Ross goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Vellucci tries to counter by closing the distance.
Vellucci is looking to land body kicks.
Ross lands a nice shot that snaps Vellucci's head back.
Vellucci tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vellucci swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ross tries to counter with a takedown but Vellucci is quick to defend against it.
Ross lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vellucci connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Vellucci uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ross.
Ross scores with a head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ross dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ross jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ross thumps Vellucci with a low kick.
Vellucci fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ross drops down looking for a counter takedown but Vellucci sprawls and moves away.
Vellucci throws a head kick that half lands.
Vellucci scores with a nice strike.
Vellucci will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ross feinted with a counter takedown.
Leo Vellucci seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ross looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Vellucci throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Vellucci fakes the leg kick and cracks Ross in the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Leo Vellucci will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Vellucci moves into the clinch successfully.
Ross lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ross tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Vellucci presses Ross against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Vellucci tries to land knees in the clinch but Ross avoids the damage to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Vellucci lands an elbow that stopped Ross in his tracks for a moment.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ross - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Vellucci missing with knees to the body.
Ross displaying some good clinch control by pressing Vellucci up against the cage.
Vellucci misses with an elbow over the top.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice left hand lands by Ross.
Vellucci displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ross up against the cage.
Vellucci lands an elbow that stopped Ross in his tracks for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vellucci gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Vellucci has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Ross seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Vellucci can turn it around.
Ross is trying to pull guard but Vellucci turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Vellucci lands with a right to the head.
Vellucci landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Vellucci throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Vellucci is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Vellucci fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ross tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vellucci smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Ross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ross's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Vellucci connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ross scrambles back to his feet.
Ross throws a push kick but Vellucci slaps the foot to one side.
Vellucci throws a fast counter high kick but Ross manages to duck under it in time.
Ross feints and then cracks Vellucci's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Vellucci down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross throws a chopping leg kick but Vellucci manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Vellucci tries a head kick but it misses.
Ross tries to counter with a takedown but Vellucci is quick to defend against it.
Vellucci pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Vellucci moves into range and clinches up with Ross.
Vellucci tries to land knees in the clinch but Ross avoids the damage to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ross.
Ross managing to block the knees to the body from Vellucci.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ross breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ross ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Vellucci misses with the body kick

and Ross counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ross.
Vellucci takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ross working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ross throws a strike but Vellucci rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross wants to sweep here but Vellucci controlling him for the moment.

Ross working for a triangle but Vellucci defends it easily.
Vellucci in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vellucci wants to stand but Ross is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ross keeping moving, preventing Vellucci from controlling successfully.

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.

Vellucci avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Vellucci got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ross has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vellucci has managed to get both his arms back between Ross's legs - danger averted.

Ross looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Vellucci has picked Ross up and slammed him! Ross can't keep hold of the triangle and Vellucci manages to pass to side control!
Ross tries to bench press Vellucci off him but Vellucci keeps the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mike Ross overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vellucci trying to control the action but Ross is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Vellucci comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vellucci has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Leo Vellucci!