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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abel Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalib Richarson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abel Velasquez looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.
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| 185 cm
23
243 lbs
1 - 0 - 0 |
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195 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident |
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BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed |
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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
1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Abel 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, Kalib Richarson!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Franklyn Lucas and Steve Montenegro.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richarson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Velasquez circles away.
Velasquez fails to land with a series of punches.
Velasquez lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
It looks like Kalib Richarson has been cut.
Richarson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Velasquez as he jumps to the side.
Velasquez throws a sloppy head kick and Richarson moves out of range easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richarson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Richarson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Abel Velasquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kalib Richarson.
Velasquez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Richarson.
Velasquez throws a push kick but Richarson slaps the foot to one side.
Richarson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez forces Richarson back against the cage and clinches.
Richarson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Velasquez smiles and moves away.
Velasquez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Richarson sprawls well initially but Velasquez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Velasquez passes to full mount!
Velasquez goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Richarson is on top in guard.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.
Velasquez looking to control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to stand but Richarson is controlling the position.
Richarson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Velasquez is proving hard to escape from.
Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Richarson from controlling successfully.
Richarson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Velasquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Velasquez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Richarson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Richarson closes the distance looking to clinch
so Velasquez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richarson wants to sweep here but Velasquez controlling him for the moment.
Velasquez wants to control from the top but Richarson keeps moving.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez postures up.
Velasquez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Velasquez postures up in Richarson's guard and throws a big left but Richarson blocks it.
Richarson wants to sweep but no luck.
Richarson wants to get back to his feet but Velasquez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Richarson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Richarson fails with the takedown
and Velasquez counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Richarson can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Abel Velasquez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kalib Richarson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!
Velasquez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Richarson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Richarson staying out of range there.
Some wild striking there from Velasquez.
Richarson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Velasquez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Richarson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Richarson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Velasquez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Velasquez throws and elbow that misses. Richarson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Velasquez's guard. Nice move by Richarson!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Velasquez kicks Richarson off and gets to his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez gets a takedown into half guard.
Abel Velasquez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Velasquez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Velasquez slips a nice elbow through Richarson's hands, connecting with Richarson's forehead.
Velasquez is keen to just control but Richarson is a slippery customer.
Velasquez throwing shots but Richarson is blocking nicely.
Velasquez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Velasquez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Velasquez connects with a nice short shot to Richarson's temple.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richarson wants to control but Velasquez is keeping busy.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Richarson looks to clinch
and Velasquez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Velasquez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Richarson tries to pull guard but Velasquez won't allow it.
Velasquez stalls.
Velasquez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Velasquez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Richarson.
Abel Velasquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kalib Richarson.
Velasquez gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Velasquez looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Richarson wants to get back to his feet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez throwing shots but Richarson is blocking nicely.
Richarson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Velasquez.
Richarson pushes Velasquez off looking to stand but Velasquez dives back in and keeps control.
Velasquez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Velasquez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Velasquez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Richarson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Velasquez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Velasquez throws a strike but Richarson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Velasquez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richarson looking to sit in guard and control but Velasquez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Richarson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Richarson managing to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Let's hope that Richarson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Abel Velasquez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kalib Richarson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!
Velasquez has managed to clinch.
Richarson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Velasquez taking a breather.
Richarson fails to pull guard.
Velasquez blocks an elbow strike.
Richarson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Velasquez has him pressed against the cage.
Velasquez has Richarson pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Richarson backwards.
Richarson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Velasquez wants to break free but Richarson has control.
Velasquez has Richarson pressed against the cage, preventing Richarson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Richarson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Velasquez's efforts to push away.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Richarson has him pressed against the cage.
Richarson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Velasquez walks away with a smile on his face. Richarson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Abel Velasquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kalib Richarson.
Richarson fails with the takedown
and Velasquez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Velasquez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Richarson is refusing to be controlled, as Velasquez sits in half guard.
Velasquez drops an elbow to the side of Richarson's head.
Richarson is not content to let Velasquez control the position.
Velasquez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Velasquez is nestled in close to Richarson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Richarson defends it well.
Velasquez misses with a head shot. Richarson uses the momentum to regain guard.
Velasquez is looking to work some ground and pound but Richarson has wrist control.
Velasquez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Richarson is looking for a triangle but Velasquez pushes his legs off easily.
Richarson is looking to stand up but Velasquez isn't so interested in that idea.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to pass the guard but Richarson is keeping the position.
Velasquez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Richarson wants to sweep but no luck.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Richarson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Velasquez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Richarson can't break the clinch.
Velasquez is pressed up against the cage. Richarson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Velasquez down to the mat. Velasquez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Velasquez wants to land a leg kick but Richarson is out of range.
Velasquez is looking to land body kicks.
Velasquez scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Richarson shoots and misses
and Velasquez counters with a takedown into side control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richarson regains half guard.
Richarson 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.
Velasquez trying to control from Richarson's half guard. Richarson has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Velasquez connects with a couple of short punches.
Velasquez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Velasquez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Velasquez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Richarson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Velasquez drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Richarson dives on top into guard.
Velasquez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Richarson is one step ahead there.
And that's the end of the fight!
Abel Velasquez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Velasquez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abel Velasquez!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
46% |
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