PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kurtis Velasquez (ranked 25014 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harley Liversedge (ranked 5465 p4p, 0 weight class). Liversedge has chosen sucker for pain as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Velasquez
vs
Liversedge

168 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

180 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Kurtis Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Harley Liversedge!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Liversedge gets a clinch.
Velasquez unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Velasquez utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Velasquez jumps guard and drags Liversedge to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Liversedge throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Velasquez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Velasquez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Velasquez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Liversedge defends it easily.
Liversedge showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Liversedge gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Liversedge throws a left and a right that both miss
and Velasquez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Liversedge thinking.

Liversedge shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Velasquez's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez looking for a sweep. Not yet Velasquez, not yet.
Liversedge throws an elbow that misses. Velasquez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Liversedge's guard. Nice move by Velasquez!

Velasquez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Velasquez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Liversedge controls Velasquez momentarily but Velasquez frees himself.
Liversedge wants to sweep but no luck.
Liversedge is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.

Liversedge looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Liversedge is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Velasquez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Liversedge has his hands on Velasquez's head, controlling the position.
Velasquez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Liversedge is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Velasquez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Liversedge gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Velasquez landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Velasquez digs a right hand into Liversedge's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Liversedge's gas tank.
Velasquez pushes Liversedge back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Liversedge is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Velasquez lands a nice shot to the body.

Velasquez works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Velasquez preventing the sweep.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Liversedge is on top in guard.

Liversedge wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.
Liversedge working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liversedge throwing strikes but missing.
Liversedge has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Liversedge wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.
Liversedge preventing the sweep.
Liversedge trying to control the position from guard on top but Velasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Liversedge decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurtis Velasquez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Velasquez takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Liversedge dives in and scores a takedown into Velasquez's guard.

Velasquez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Liversedge doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Liversedge manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Liversedge gets to his feet - Velasquez follows without any prompting.

Liversedge changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Velasquez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Velasquez is rocked!
Liversedge trying to control the position but Velasquez is working away.
Liversedge might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Velasquez haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liversedge is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Velasquez tries to improve position but can't.
Liversedge tries to score with some ground and pound. Velasquez controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Liversedge trying to control the action but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
Velasquez manages to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Liversedge wants to take a breather but Velasquez is having none of it.
Liversedge not throwing his punches with enough precision 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.
Velasquez is trying to get back to full guard.

Liversedge seems to be looking for submissions.
Velasquez wants to improve his position but Liversedge is controlling well.
Velasquez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Liversedge is working for a submission of some sort.
Liversedge is trying to control. Velasquez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Liversedge trying to control from half guard but Velasquez is working away.

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

Liversedge instigates a clinch.
Velasquez lands a good knee to the midsection. Liversedge won't want to take too many of those.
Velasquez scores with a hook to the body.

Velasquez jumps into guard, dragging Liversedge to the mat.
Liversedge sitting in guard here, content to control.
Velasquez looking for a sweep. Not yet Velasquez, not yet.
Velasquez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Liversedge has gone for a leg lock! Velasquez slips out almost immediately though and dives into Liversedge's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liversedge manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Velasquez manages to get himself to full guard.

Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Liversedge from controlling successfully.
Liversedge working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Liversedge wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.
Velasquez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Liversedge is one step ahead there.

Liversedge decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harley Liversedge showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Liversedge closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Liversedge lands in his opponent's guard.
Liversedge throwing strikes from guard but Velasquez blocks nicely.
Liversedge wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.
Velasquez lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liversedge looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liversedge is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Liversedge thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Velasquez's head.
Velasquez is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Liversedge seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Velasquez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Liversedge controlling the action here.
Velasquez wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Liversedge trying to control the position from guard on top but Velasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Velasquez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Liversedge.
Harley Liversedge has got the better of the ground game so far.
Liversedge trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.

Liversedge decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Liversedge cracks Velasquez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Liversedge has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Velasquez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Liversedge.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liversedge misses with a jab, cross combination.
Velasquez changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Velasquez has closed the distance and engaged Liversedge in a clinch.

Velasquez is trying to trip Liversedge. He has hold of a leg but Liversedge is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Velasquez persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Liversedge wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Velasquez manages to pass to side control.

Velasquez is thwarting Liversedge's attempts to control the position.
Liversedge wants to get back to his feet.
Liversedge is trying to control but can't.
Liversedge is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liversedge has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Velasquez is working away from the top position though.
Liversedge works his way to full guard. Good work.
Velasquez preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Velasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Liversedge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Liversedge is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harley Liversedge comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Liversedge 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harley Liversedge!
Harley Liversedge made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'good luck on your next fight'.