PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Velas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reece Macdonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Antonio Velas has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Velas
vs
Macdonald

169 cm
18
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Versus

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Antonio Velas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Reece Macdonald!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Phil Schofield and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Velas sends Macdonald crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Velas is motioning to the referee to let Macdonald up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Macdonald is rocked!

It looks like Reece Macdonald has been cut.

Macdonald scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Macdonald is still in real trouble! Can Velas finish him?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Velas tries to escape but Macdonald is in control.
Macdonald fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Macdonald seems to have recovered his senses.
Velas is trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Macdonald thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Macdonald is looking to take a break and control but Velas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Macdonald is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Velas knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The ground and pound from Macdonald seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Macdonald sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Velas is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Macdonald lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Macdonald trying to control the action but Velas is working from the bottom.

Macdonald is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Velas is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Macdonald trying to control the action but Velas is working from the bottom.
Macdonald moves into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macdonald wants to control the pace but Velas is squirming around nicely.
Macdonald won't let Velas get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Macdonald throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Macdonald misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Macdonald should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Macdonald throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
You get the feeling that Velas really doesn't like being in this position too much.
The referee warns Velas that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Macdonald has eaten all the pies!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Macdonald jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Velas manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Macdonald scores with a couple of short elbows.
Macdonald working the head and body with strikes.
Macdonald wants to control but Velas is keeping him busy.
Velas managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Macdonald.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Velas is not content to let Macdonald control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reece Macdonald dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Reece Macdonald's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Velas fails to land with a series of punches.
A slow jab from Velas misses its intended target.
Velas sets himself, and Macdonald steps forward looking for the clinch! Velas avoids it this time.
Velas misses the shot to the body.
Velas swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Macdonald fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Velas to the ground. Macdonald is now in Velas's guard.
Macdonald has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Macdonald accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Macdonald pushes down on Velas's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Macdonald throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Macdonald throwing shots but Velas is blocking nicely.
Macdonald is trying to control the action in half guard but Velas is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Macdonald not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Macdonald is looking for a kimura here.
Macdonald lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Macdonald throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Velas is not content to let Macdonald control the position.
Macdonald not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Velas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Macdonald.
Macdonald wants to lay and pray for a moment but Velas keeps working.

Velas kicks off Macdonald and gets to his feet.
Velas misses with a series of wild punches.
A left lands for Velas.
Velas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Macdonald.
Macdonald steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Velas.
Velas lands a really nice looking cross but Macdonald seems unphased.
A slow jab from Velas misses its intended target.
Antonio Velas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velas digs a good body shot into Macdonald's ribs.

Macdonald shoots in and bounces Velas off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Macdonald is looking to work some ground and pound but Velas has wrist control.
Macdonald is looking to work some ground and pound but Velas has wrist control.
Macdonald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Velas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Macdonald keeps trying to improve his position.
Macdonald postures up and lands a big shot to Velas's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Macdonald loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Macdonald looking to pass the guard.
Macdonald prevents Velas from getting back to his feet.
Macdonald trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Velas keeping moving, preventing Macdonald from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A left lands for Velas.
No joy there for Velas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Macdonald shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Velas's guard.
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 Antonio Velas will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Reece Macdonald's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Velas throws a right and a left that both miss.

Velas gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Macdonald is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Velas can't keep his opponent in guard - Macdonald advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Macdonald is trying to control the action in half guard but Velas is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Velas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Macdonald.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macdonald not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Velas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Macdonald.
Velas taking some punishment here, with Macdonald in his half guard.
Macdonald not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Reece Macdonald has got the better of the ground game so far.
Velas is trying to stand back up but Macdonald is controlling him

Macdonald is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Velas doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Macdonald.
Macdonald with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Macdonald sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Velas defending well though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Macdonald takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Antonio Velas is winning the standup battle so far.
Sloppy strikes from Velas. Those never looked like landing.
Velas lands a nice shot to the body.
Velas throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Velas is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Velas gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Macdonald to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Macdonald accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Macdonald postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Macdonald forces his way into half guard.
Macdonald thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Macdonald seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Velas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Macdonald might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Velas haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Well, if Macdonald is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Macdonald tries to pass the half guard into mount. Velas knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Velas is staying active underneath Macdonald, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Velas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Macdonald.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Velas throws a hook to the side of Macdonald's head but Macdonald sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reece Macdonald comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Macdonald 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reece Macdonald!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Reece Macdonald waved his t-shirt featuring Versus's logo in front of the cameras.