PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between JR Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chuck Lidell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lidell has chosen Year Of The Dog...Again as his entrance music. JR Velasquez looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Velasquez
vs
Lidell

181 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, JR Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chuck Lidell!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lidell lands with a nice combination. Velasquez backs away looking to recover.

It looks like JR Velasquez has been cut.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Velasquez on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
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!
Lidell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Velasquez throws a right and a left that Lidell avoids nicely.
Lidell throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Velasquez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lidell, pushing him back against the cage.
Velasquez jumps guard but Lidell stands there with Velasquez around his waist. Velasquez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Velasquez manages to pull guard.
Lidell with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lidell postures up.

Lidell stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Velasquez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Velasquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lidell paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Velasquez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JR Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lidell is trying to break free.
Velasquez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lidell pulls his leg out and moves away.

Velasquez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lidell misses with a knee strike.
Velasquez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lidell.
Velasquez wants to break free but Lidell has control.
Lidell wants to break the clinch but can't.
Velasquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

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.
Velasquez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lidell walks away with a smile on his face. Velasquez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Lidell tries to clinch but Velasquez moves out of range.
A punch combination from Lidell misses.
Chuck Lidell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Velasquez tries to clinch but Lidell moves out of range.
Lidell lands a jab-cross combination.
Velasquez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lidell circles away.
Velasquez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lidell misses with a jab, cross combination.
Velasquez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Velasquez takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Lidell looks to score with a jab to the body but Velasquez is just out of range.
Velasquez with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Lidell drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Velasquez is pulling down on Lidell's head to control his posture.
Lidell trying to stand up but can't free himself from Velasquez's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez pushes Lidell off and gets back to his feet.
Lidell throws a series of punches but Velasquez avoids them all with ease.
A combination from Lidell does no damage.

Lidell looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velasquez manages to get to full guard.
Lidell forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to get back to full guard.
Velasquez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Lidell trying to control the position from guard on top but Velasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Velasquez controls Lidell momentarily but Lidell frees himself.
Lidell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Velasquez is keeping the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lidell wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.

Lidell decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Velasquez, up you get!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Lidell dominated that round.
The cut man is working on JR Velasquez's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lidell throws a right hand that Velasquez ducks under and follows up with a left that Velasquez also avoids with ease.
Velasquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lidell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Velasquez fails with the takedown

and Lidell counters with a single leg into guard. Velasquez didn't expect that.
Lidell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Velasquez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lidell controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Velasquez wants to get back to his feet but Lidell is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Velasquez trying to keep a closed guard but Lidell is proving a slippery customer.
Lidell lands a couple of digs.
Lidell wants to stand and escape but instead Velasquez has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Lidell trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Lidell has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Velasquez off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velasquez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Velasquez putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Lidell is squirming around, avoiding Velasquez's attempts to control the action.
Velasquez landing strikes from the mount.
Lidell can't escape the position.
Lidell is trying to stand.
Lidell working to try and regain half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lidell can do anything to dispel that myth.
Velasquez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lidell is trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Velasquez wants to control the pace but Lidell is squirming around nicely.
Velasquez is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lidell is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Lidell wants to hold on but Velasquez pushes him away.
Velasquez trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lidell is trying to stand.
Velasquez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Velasquez trying to control but Lidell is having none of it.

The referee stands the fighters back up. JR Velasquez just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Lidell shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to hold on but Lidell pushes him away.
Lidell can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Velasquez is looking to escape.
Lidell working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Velasquez slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Velasquez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Lidell is looking to stand up but Velasquez won't let him.

Velasquez is working an open guard so Lidell takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Lidell stuffs the takedown attempt from Velasquez. Velasquez gets slowly back to his feet.
JR Velasquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lidell misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Lidell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on JR Velasquez's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Velasquez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lidell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lidell throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Velasquez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lidell won't be happy with that.
Lidell tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Velasquez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Velasquez controls the position.
You can see the frustration on Lidell's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Velasquez working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Lidell tries to escape but Velasquez is in control.
Sloppy strikes there by Velasquez.
Lidell is not content to let Velasquez control the position.
Velasquez throws an elbow but Lidell slips to the side and avoids it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lidell misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lidell closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Lidell throws a series of punches but Velasquez avoids them all with ease.
Lidell misses with a combination

and Velasquez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Velasquez.
Velasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Lidell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Velasquez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lidell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lidell wants to stand up but Velasquez is controlling him.
Velasquez is standing up over Lidell. Lidell looks to escape but Velasquez dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lidell is being controlled here.
Velasquez has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Lidell!
Lidell is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Velasquez landing strikes, looking to finish!
Lidell is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Velasquez wants to control the pace but Lidell is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You get the feeling that Lidell really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Velasquez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lidell is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lidell is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Velasquez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lidell is looking to escape.
Lidell tries to lock up and control but Velasquez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Velasquez controlling the pace for now.
Lidell is trying to escape the mount.
Lidell is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

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.
Velasquez working the ground and pound effectively.
Velasquez wants to control the pace but Lidell is squirming around nicely.
Lidell wants to get back to his feet.
JR Velasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Velasquez prevents Lidell from getting the reversal.
Lidell taking shots to the head.
Lidell is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Chuck Lidell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Velasquez scoring with strikes but Lidell is staying in there.

And that's the end of the fight!
JR Velasquez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lidell 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chuck Lidell!