PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Desmond Flannery (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabricio Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Flannery's entrance music is Dropkick Murphys - I'm Shipping Up To Boston. A fine choice. Velasquez is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by El Camino . Desmond Flannery could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Fabricio Velasquez's chin.

Flannery
vs
Velasquez

192 cm
34
270 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

185 cm
32
240 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Desmond Flannery!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Fabricio Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velasquez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Velasquez moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A big right from Flannery misses.
Flannery misses with a takedown
enabling Velasquez to counter with a crisp jab.
Flannery showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Velasquez.
Velasquez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Desmond Flannery. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Flannery shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Velasquez as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez's jab looks to have found its range, popping Flannery under the eye.
Flannery looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Velasquez fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Flannery throws out a powerful jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Velasquez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Flannery has time to react.

Flannery looking to score a takedown here. Velasquez is defending well but Flannery drives through and ends up in Velasquez's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velasquez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Flannery gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Velasquez has his foot on Flannery's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Flannery works his way back into a safe position though.

Flannery drops back, looking for a kneebar! Velasquez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Velasquez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Velasquez!

Velasquez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Flannery is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Flannery is trying to work for a sweep but Velasquez has mounted him!
Flannery working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Velasquez looking to ground and pound but Flannery is blocking nicely.
Flannery working to try and regain half guard.
Velasquez scoring with strikes but Flannery is staying in there.
Velasquez throws some wild stikes that Flannery manages to avoid easily.

Velasquez has hold of Flannery's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Flannery manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Velasquez looking to control but Flannery is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Velasquez with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flannery slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Flannery looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Velasquez not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Velasquez is looking for a kimura here.
Velasquez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Velasquez wants to control but Flannery is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Velasquez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Flannery has managed to free his arm - good work.
Velasquez looks to land a strike but Flannery avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Flannery is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Velasquez is aware though and is defending well.

Flannery working for a triangle but Velasquez defends it easily.
Velasquez postures up in Flannery's guard and throws a big left but Flannery blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabricio Velasquez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Velasquez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Flannery tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Velasquez defends well and Flannery ends up having to push Velasquez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Velasquez doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Fabricio Velasquez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Flannery waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Velasquez.
Desmond Flannery is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Velasquez slaps away a takedown attempt from Flannery, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Velasquez throws a right hand that Flannery ducks under and follows up with a left that Flannery also avoids with ease.
A cross from Flannery lands.
Flannery's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Velasquez connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Flannery scrambles back to his feet.

Flannery fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Velasquez to the ground. Flannery is now in Velasquez's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Flannery passes Velasquez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Velasquez. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Flannery is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Velasquez is defending against the submission attempts here by Flannery.

Flannery is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Flannery seems to be working for a kimura but Velasquez defends the submission attempt.

Flannery is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Flannery is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Velasquez actively working from the bottom here.

Flannery wants to work for an arm triangle but Velasquez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Velasquez manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Flannery stands up over Velasquez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Velasquez is looking for a triangle but Flannery pushes his legs off easily.
Flannery won't allow Velasquez to sweep him here.
Desmond Flannery overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Flannery keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Velasquez's head.
Flannery stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Velasquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Flannery working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Velasquez's head.

Velasquez is rocked!

Flannery thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Velasquez is still in real trouble! Can Flannery finish him?

Flannery is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Flannery thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Flannery is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Flannery is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Flannery working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Velasquez's head.

Flannery drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Flannery jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Flannery is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flannery pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Velasquez is keeping the position for now.

Velasquez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Velasquez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Flannery drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Flannery jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Flannery passes into half guard.

Flannery is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Velasquez defends it well.

Flannery is working for a kimura but Velasquez is defending it quite comfortably.

Velasquez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Flannery pulls his head out easily.
Flannery passes to side control.
Velasquez is trying to control Flannery's posture but Flannery avoids it.

Flannery is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Velasquez looks calm but he's in trouble here. Flannery gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Velasquez is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Flannery lets go of the hold and Velasquez can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Desmond Flannery!
An out of breath Desmond Flannery thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
In defeat, Fabricio Velasquez stepped up to the mic, saying 'My camp trained hard, but the better fighter won on the day. I won't let it keep me down. I'll be back, training, at the first chance I get.'.