PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Kirks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ato Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny Kirks has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kirks
vs
Velasquez

180 cm
28
222 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

211 cm
20
261 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny Kirks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ato Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Dean Styles and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Velasquez moves away.
Kirks scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Ato Velasquez has been cut.

Velasquez closes the distance and pushes Kirks back into the cage.
Kirks missing with knees to the body.
Velasquez is trying to break the clinch but Kirks is controlling him.
Velasquez is trying to push Kirks away but Kirks has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kirks keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Velasquez's efforts to push away.
Velasquez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Velasquez softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kirks tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Velasquez avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirks trying to control the position but instead, Velasquez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kirks into the cage.
Kirks stalling in the clinch but Velasquez improves position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velasquez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kirks misses with a two punch combination.
Velasquez avoids the head kick by Kirks.
We've been told by Kirks's head coaches at Devils Den New York that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Kirks gets tackled into the cage by Velasquez. Velasquez maintains the clinch.
Velasquez wants to break free but Kirks has control.
Velasquez blocks an uppercut.
Kirks lands with a left to the head.
Velasquez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Velasquez dodges an elbow strike from Kirks.
Kirks pushes Velasquez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kirks with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Velasquez is trying to break the clinch but Kirks is controlling him.
Kirks keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Velasquez's efforts to push away.

Kirks breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirks lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kirks scores with a head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Velasquez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Velasquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kirks looking to stall.
Velasquez blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Velasquez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ato Velasquez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Velasquez pushes Kirks up against the cage in a clinch.
Kirks misses with a punch on the inside.
Kirks doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kirks misses with some punches.
Kirks using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Velasquez blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirks creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kirks misses with a knee strike.
Velasquez is looking to break free of the clinch but Kirks has double underhooks.
Velasquez avoiding damage as Kirks throws knees to the body.
Velasquez is trying to force a seperation but Kirks has the dominant position.
Kirks lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kirks pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Velasquez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kirks throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Velasquez blocks it with crossed arms.
A frustrated look appears on Velasquez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kirks lands a knee to the body.
Kirks scores a nice knee to the body.
Velasquez looks winded!
Kirks lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirks throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Velasquezs head.
Velasquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Velasquez.
Kirks misses with the head strike.
Velasquez blocks an elbow strike.
Velasquez blocking some punches.

Kirks breaks the clinch.

Velasquez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Velasquez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Velasquez avoiding damage as Kirks throws knees to the body.
Kirks looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A short right from Kirks.
Kirks has a couple of punches blocked by Velasquez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Kirks dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ato Velasquez's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Velasquez closes the distance and clinches.
Kirks misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kirks.
Velasquez avoiding damage as Kirks throws knees to the body.
Kirks lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Johnny Kirks has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kirks tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kirks softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kirks lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kirks misses with an elbow over the top.
Velasquez blocking some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirks pushes off an throws an elbow but Velasquez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Velasquez has had enough of the clinch but Kirks keeps him there for the moment.
Velasquez tries to break the clinch but Kirks is controlling the position.
Velasquez can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirks working Velasquez over with knees to the body.
Kirks tries to land knees in the clinch but Velasquez avoids the damage to the body.
Velasquez is trying to break the clinch but Kirks has him pressed against the cage.
Kirks looking to stall.
Kirks pushes Velasquez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kirks lands an elbow inside that Velasquez shrugs off.
Velasquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kirks has him pressed against the cage.
Velasquez stalling against the cage.
Velasquez is trying to break the clinch but Kirks has him pressed against the cage.
Kirks misses with a punch on the inside.
Kirks throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kirks unloads a knee to the mid-section. Velasquez lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kirks tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kirks pushes off an throws an elbow but Velasquez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Velasquez avoids the elbow strike from Kirks, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kirks.
Kirks misses with an elbow over the top.
Velasquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kirks has him pressed against the cage.
Kirks lands a knee to the body.
Velasquez effectively controlling the action here.
A short right from Kirks on the inside.
Kirks prevents Velasquez from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez avoids the elbow strike from Kirks, against the cage.
Kirks throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Velasquez is trying to push Kirks away but Kirks has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kirks lands an uppercut.
Kirks tries to land knees in the clinch but Velasquez avoids the damage to the body.
Kirks working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Velasquez blocking some punches.
Kirks digs a right hand underneath Velasquez's ribcage. Velasquez let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Velasquez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kirks.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kirks throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Velasquez instigates a clinch.
Kirks tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kirks is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Velasquez is defending well for now.
Velasquez is trying to push Kirks away but Kirks has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kirks lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kirks looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kirks lands a damaging elbow.
Kirks working aggressively here.
Velasquez takes an elbow to the temple.
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!
Velasquez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kirks working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Velasquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Kirks dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ato Velasquez's cut.
That's time! Kirks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Decent striking displayed by Kirks there.
Velasquez doesn't manage to clinch there - Kirks circles away.
Kirks throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kirks is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Velasquez can do to turn this around?
Velasquez tries to clinch but Kirks is having none of it.
Kirks throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kirks misses with a right hand
and Velasquez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kirks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Velasquez gets a clinch.
Kirks taking a breather.
Velasquez working hard to break the clinch.
Kirks misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kirks throws a punch but it's blocked by Velasquez.
Kirks throws an elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez takes an elbow to the forehead.

Velasquez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johnny Kirks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Velasquez rushes Kirks and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Velasquez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kirks misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Velasquez.
Kirks lands a nice elbow.
Kirks is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kirks is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kirks seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Velasquez is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Kirks tries to land knees in the clinch but Velasquez avoids the damage to the body.
Kirks misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kirks.
Ato Velasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez breaks the clinch.
Kirks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kirks throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That has opened up Ato Velasquez's cut even more.
Velasquez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kirks is looking to counter with a body kick.
Kirks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Velasquez circles away quickly and effectively.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kirks scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kirks looks to land a combination but Velasquez avoids it well.

Velasquez forces Kirks back against the cage and clinches.
Velasquez is trying to break the clinch but Kirks has him pressed against the cage.
Velasquez working hard to break the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Kirks fails to land.
Kirks lands a damaging elbow.
A short body shot lands from Velasquez as the two fighters clinch.

Kirks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez instigates a clinch.
Kirks throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Velasquezs head.
A head punch on the inside from Kirks fails to land.

Kirks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Velasquez moves in looking to clinch but Kirks pushes him off.
Kirks went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Velasquez gets a clinch.
Kirks keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Velasquez's efforts to push away.
Velasquez tries to break the clinch but Kirks is controlling the position.
Velasquez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Velasquez is trying to break the clinch but Kirks has him pressed against the cage.
Velasquez avoiding damage as Kirks throws knees to the body.
Velasquez working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirks keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Velasquez's efforts to push away.
Kirks swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kirks tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kirks misses with a hook from the clinch.
Velasquez has had enough of the clinch but Kirks keeps him there for the moment.
Kirks stalling in the clinch but Velasquez improves position.
Velasquez lands with a light punch inside.
Kirks tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Velasquez avoids it.
Velasquez blocks an elbow strike.
Velasquez lands a shoulder strike.
Kirks working Velasquez over with knees to the body.

Velasquez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
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!
A swing and a miss from Velasquez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Kirks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kirks 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Kirks!
Johnny Kirks tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.