PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michel Colucci (ranked 1863 p4p, 227 weight class) and Jean Cristopher La Vellei (ranked 1807 p4p, 222 weight class). Colucci's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Le temps des cerises. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Colucci
vs
Cristopher La Vellei

176 cm
22
193 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

196 cm
20
185 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michel Colucci!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jean Cristopher La Vellei!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Ben Hemmingworth and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
La Vellei goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Colucci dives in and scores a takedown into La Vellei's guard.
La Vellei controls Colucci momentarily but Colucci frees himself.
Colucci wants to control from the top but La Vellei keeps moving.
Colucci is in close to La Vellei's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Colucci won't allow La Vellei to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Colucci would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Colucci tries to free his leg and advance position but La Vellei is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Vellei keeping moving, preventing Colucci from controlling successfully.
Colucci advances to half guard.
La Vellei desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Colucci thows a huge punch but La Vellei dodges it nicely.

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

Colucci is trying to work for a kimura but La Vellei is defending well.
Colucci looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
La Vellei is trying to get back to full guard.
Colucci missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if La Vellei can do anything to dispel that myth.
Colucci uses his free foot to push down on La Vellei's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for La Vellei.
Colucci tries to control but La Vellei wriggling away.
La Vellei wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Colucci.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Colucci unloads with some shots from mount but La Vellei bucks and avoids them well.
Colucci tries to control but La Vellei wriggling away.
La Vellei is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Colucci has hold of La Vellei's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and La Vellei manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Poor strikes thrown by Colucci there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
La Vellei wants to control but Colucci is having none of it.
Colucci 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Colucci pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Colucci postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. La Vellei looks a forlorn figure.

Colucci stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Colucci takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Colucci throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. La Vellei tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Colucci is in La Vellei's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Colucci won't allow La Vellei to get back to his feet.
La Vellei is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Colucci dives into side control.
Colucci trying to control the position but La Vellei is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michel Colucci dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Colucci shoots in but La Vellei avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by La Vellei.
Colucci is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on La Vellei's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Colucci looking for submissions off his back.
Colucci won't allow La Vellei to pass to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Colucci looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Colucci wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Vellei seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Colucci does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Colucci looking for submissions off his back.
Colucci is trying is best to control the position here.

Colucci looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
La Vellei trying to control from half guard but Colucci is working away.
La Vellei is stalling here. Colucci is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! La Vellei seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Colucci has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
La Vellei can't do much from the bottom here.
Colucci is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that La Vellei can do to turn this around?

Colucci tries for a kimura but La Vellei is defending well.
Colucci landing strikes.
La Vellei struggling a bit here.
Colucci prevents La Vellei from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Colucci is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. La Vellei knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Colucci tries for a kimura but La Vellei is defending well.
La Vellei tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Colucci working the body and head with strikes.

Colucci is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. La Vellei knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Colucci tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Colucci advances to full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The referee warns La Vellei that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
La Vellei wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michel Colucci dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

La Vellei throws a nice inside leg kick.
Colucci fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Colucci shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and La Vellei counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Colucci takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

La Vellei manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Colucci on his heels. He'll look to pass Colucci's guard now, I'm sure.

Colucci has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes La Vellei off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
La Vellei misses with a hook.
La Vellei throws a jab when Colucci was well out of range.
Colucci shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michel Colucci. That's going to take a lot out of him.
La Vellei cracks Colucci with an open hand slap.
La Vellei jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Colucci shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Vellei thuds his right hand into Colucci's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A left and a right from La Vellei both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Michel Colucci has been cut.
Colucci shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts La Vellei as he jumps to the side.
Colucci is trying hard to land a takedown here. La Vellei sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
La Vellei lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
La Vellei pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by La Vellei.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Colucci.
La Vellei rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Colucci moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
La Vellei feints a jab promting Colucci to slip. La Vellei then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Colucci slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
La Vellei thows a body kick. Colucci tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by La Vellei.
La Vellei throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Colucci sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jean Cristopher La Vellei has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
La Vellei looks for the body kick but Colucci saw that one coming.
La Vellei closes the distance and lands a one-two.
La Vellei is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
La Vellei thows a left - swing and a miss!
La Vellei lands with a cross.
A jab lands there for La Vellei.
Michel Colucci is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Colucci drives through with a takedown into La Vellei's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
La Vellei really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Colucci. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Colucci lands a couple of digs.
La Vellei can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Colucci controls the pace.
Our spies down at at Super Awesome Ninja McDojo inform us that La Vellei has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Colucci lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Colucci wants to pass the guard but La Vellei is keeping the position.
La Vellei has a closed guard, preventing Colucci from standing up.
La Vellei wants to stand up but Colucci is controlling him.
Colucci trying to control but La Vellei is working from the bottom.
La Vellei thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Colucci advances position into side control!

That's four 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.

Colucci stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Danga de danga de dang - La Vellei scores with a four punch combination!
La Vellei misses with a hook.
Colucci changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Colucci.
Colucci avoids a punch combination nicely.
Michel Colucci is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters circling - La Vellei throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
La Vellei throws a looping overhand right but Colucci ducks down to avoid it.
La Vellei will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jean Cristopher La Vellei comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Colucci has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michel Colucci!
An out of breath Michel Colucci thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.