PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mitchell Velasquez (ranked 22965 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Lard (ranked 5896 p4p, 261 weight class). Mitchell Velasquez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Velasquez
vs
Lard

203 cm
25
140 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mitchell Velasquez!
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, Thomas Lard!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Columbo Gatti and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Velasquez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Lard is trying to control Velasquez's posture but Velasquez avoids it.
Lard looks to move to half guard but instead Velasquez has passed into mount! Damn!
Velasquez is looking to work his way around to Lard's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Lard really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Lard tries to lock up and control but Velasquez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lard trying desperately to get to his feet.
Velasquez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Lard manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Lard wants to improve his position but Velasquez is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lard keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Lard is looking to control Velasquez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lard avoid being mounted?
Lard wants to improve his position but Velasquez is controlling well.
Lard is trying to stand back up but Velasquez is controlling him
Lard regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Velasquez scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lard wants to sweep here but Velasquez controlling him for the moment.
Lard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Lard holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Velasquez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lard controls Velasquez momentarily but Velasquez frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez postures up and lands a big shot to Lard's brow.
Lard looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Velasquez puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Velasquez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lard on the ground.
Velasquez drops an elbow to the side of Lard's head.
Lard wants to control but Velasquez is keeping busy.
Lard is trying to stand back up but Velasquez is controlling him
Lard has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Velasquez is working away from the top position though.
Lard gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lard trying to control the position.
Velasquez stands up over Lard, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lard trying to keep a closed guard but Velasquez is proving a slippery customer.
Lard has Velasquez pulled in close to control his posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitchell Velasquez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Velasquez moves out of range of the body kick from Lard.

Lard darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velasquez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lard is working away from the top position though.
Lard is looking to take a break and control but Velasquez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Velasquez is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez won't allow Lard to pass to mount.
Lard wants to control but Velasquez is keeping him busy.
Velasquez trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lard wants to take a breather but Velasquez is having none of it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Lard trying to mount his opponent but Velasquez defends it.
Velasquez is concentrating on defense, preventing Lard from advancing position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Lard rushes Velasquez and presses him up against the cage.
Velasquez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Velasquez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lard pulls his leg out and moves away.

Velasquez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lard tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Velasquez is in Lard's guard.

Lard looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Velasquez is defending well. Lard quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Velasquez has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Lard celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Thomas Lard!