PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Curt Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Velo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Tommy Velo was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Howard
vs
Velo

188 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
19
189 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Curt Howard!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tommy Velo!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard has a takedown stuffed.
Howard shoots in for a takedown but Velo shows good takedown defense.
Howard scores with a head kick.
Velo shoots in but Howard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Howard is defended easily by Velo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Curt Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howard looks for a takedown but Velo sprawls well.
Howard fails to land the takedown.
Howard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Howard tries to clinch there but Velo circles away.
Howard wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard moves to clinch but Velo breaks away

and Velo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A bit of stalling here from Velo.
Howard tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Howard takes a knee right on the jaw!
Velo will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Howard up against the cage.
Howard is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Velo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Howard tries to stall but Velo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Velo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Velo looks gassed!
Howard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Velo keeps control of Howard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard avoids a wild elbow strike from Velo.
Velo looking to throw knees to the head but Howard is blocking nicely.
Velo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Howard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Velo keeps control of Howard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Velo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Howard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Howard jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Velo walks away with a smile on his face. Howard gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Howard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Velo pinned against the cage. Velo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That kick from Howard tenderised Velo's leg. Velo is trying to keep his angry face on.
Howard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Velo. No joy for Howard on that attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Howard tries to close the distance and clinch but Velo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Howard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Howard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Velo sprawls well. Velo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Howard gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slapping body kick lands there for Howard.

Velo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Velo misses with an elbow strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Velo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Howard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Velo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Howard jumps guard but Velo stands there with Howard around his waist. Howard gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Velo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Velo lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Howard tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Howard changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Velo fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Velo clinches.
Velo misses with an elbow strike.
Howard lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Velo or not.
Howard jumps guard but Velo stands there with Howard around his waist. Howard gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Velo content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Howard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Velo just stands there and leans against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Velo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Howard blocks the elbow strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Howard tries to pull guard but Velo won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tommy Velo will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Velo has a takedown stuffed.
Velo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Howard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Howard looks for a takedown but Velo sprawls well.
Velo wants to clinch.
Velo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Howard scores with a head kick. Velo tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Velo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Howard wants to clinch.
Howard dives in and grabs Velo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Velo pushes down on Howard's head and hops out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Howard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Velo takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Velo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Howard shoots for a takedown but Velo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Curt Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Velo moves into range and clinches up with Howard.
Velo tries to land a knee to the head but Howard blocks with his arms.
Velo tries to land a knee to the head but Howard blocks with his arms.
Howard taking a breather.
Velo landing knees to the head.
Howard is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Velo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard blocks the elbow strike.
A right hand to the body from Howard.
Howard is looking to break free of the clinch but Velo has double underhooks.
Howard fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Howard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Velo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Howard is trying to stall.
Velo misses with an elbow over the top.
Howard tries to pull guard but Velo won't allow it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Howard goes for a takedown in the clinch but Velo prevents it.
Velo throws an elbow that misses.
Velo misses with a knee to the head.
Howard tries to break free but Velo pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Howard's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Velo working hard to break the clinch.
Howard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Howard lands a nice shot to the body.
Howard scores with a knee to the head.
Velo prevents Howard from breaking the clinch.
Howard lands a hook to the side of the head.
Howard trying to stall but Velo improves his position.
Velo prevents Howard from breaking the clinch.
Tommy Velo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Velo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Howard misses with a body punch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Velo just misses with a elbow thrown towards Howard's brow.

Howard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Howard shoots for a takedown but Velo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velo drives through and clinches with Howard against the cage.
Howard blocks an elbow strike.
Velo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Velo looking to slow down the pace here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Velo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Howard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Velo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Howard wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Velo throws a knee to the head but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard tries to pull guard but Velo won't allow it.
Velo misses with a knee strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Howard is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Velo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Curt Howard dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Howard gets tackled into the cage by Velo. Velo maintains the clinch.
Howard tries to circle away but Velo has him pinned against the cage.
Velo throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Velo avoiding damage.
Velo wants to get back to striking at distance but Howard won't allow it.
Howard unloads a knee to the mid-section. Velo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Howard tries to pull guard but Velo holds him up against the cage and eventually Howard drops back down to his feet.
Howard goes for a takedown in the clinch but Velo prevents it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Howard obliges.
Howard lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Howard tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Curt Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Velo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard looking to stall.
Howard has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Velo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Velo throws an elbow but misses.
Velo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Velo looking to throw knees to the head but Howard is blocking nicely.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Velo as Howard tries to tie him up.
Howard jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Velo walks away with a smile on his face. Howard gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Howard shoots in and drives through. Velo sprawls well.
Velo tries to clinch but Howard moves out of range.
Curt Howard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Howard changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Velo tries to avoid it but Howard manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Velo to the ground. Velo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howard tries to close the distance and clinch but Velo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Howard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Curt Howard is winning the standup battle so far.
Velo is looking to clinch but Howard is avoiding it.
Howard keeps the fight on the outside.
Howard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Velo swivels and escapes.
Howard tries a head kick but it misses.

Velo has Howard up against the cage in a clinch.
Velo misses with an elbow strike.
Howard looking for a takedown.
Velo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Howard fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Velo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Howard is trying to break the clinch but Velo is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velo throws an elbow but it misses.
Howard stalling in the clinch but Velo improves position.
Velo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Howard jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Velo walks away with a smile on his face. Howard gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Howard throws a series of strikes that have Velo backpedaling.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Howard.
Howard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Howard lands with a kick to the temple. Velo shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Velo doesn't manage to clinch there - Howard circles away.
Howard shoots in for a double leg but Velo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Velo is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Howard.

Velo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Howard working hard to break the clinch.
Howard avoids a wild elbow strike from Velo.
Howard taking a breather.
Velo tries to land a knee to the head but Howard blocks with his arms.
Velo misses with a knee strike.
Howard landing knees to the body.
Velo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Howard has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Velo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Velo misses with a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Howard landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Howard blocks an elbow strike from Velo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Howard blocks the elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Tommy Velo just about did enough to take it.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Howard fails with a takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Howard misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Howard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Howard tries for a takedown but Velo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Velo tries to clinch but Howard is having none of it.
Howard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Velo.
Velo fails with the takedown.
Howard fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Curt Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Howard tries to keep at a distance but Velo has taken the fight into the clinch.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Howard jumps guard but Velo stands there with Howard around his waist. Howard gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Velo throws an elbow that misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Velo stops a takedown attempt from Howard.
Velo lands a left hand.
Velo misses with an elbow strike.
Velo throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Howard jumps guard but Velo stands there with Howard around his waist. Howard gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Velo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Velo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Howard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Howard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Velo.
Howard throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Velo's head.
Howard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Velo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Howard, pushing him back against the cage.
Howard is looking to break free of the clinch but Velo has double underhooks.
Velo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Howard's efforts to push away.
Velo effectively controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Velo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Howard.
Velo throws an elbow but it misses.
Howard has had enough of the clinch but Velo keeps him there for the moment.
Velo stops a takedown attempt from Howard.
Velo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Howard tries to score a body lock takedown but Velo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Howard takes a knee right on the jaw!
Howard is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Velo misses with an elbow strike.
Howard is trying to break the clinch but Velo is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Velo just misses with a elbow thrown towards Howard's brow.
Velo misses with an elbow strike.
Velo misses with an elbow over the top.
Howard landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Velo misses with a body punch.
Howard is looking to control Velo's arms but Velo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Howard has his back to the cage.
Howard tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Howard tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Velo smiles and moves away.
Howard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Howard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Howard chopping away at his opponent's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Tommy Velo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Howard lands with a nice body kick.
No luck for Howard with that takedown attempt.
Howard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Velo as he avoids it easily.

Velo takes the fight into the clinch.
Velo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Howard has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Howard takes a knee right on the jaw!
Howard wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Curt Howard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Velo.
Howard takes an elbow to the forehead.
Velo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Howard dodges an elbow strike from Velo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Howard is trying to break the clinch but Velo has him pressed against the cage.
Howard tries to pull guard but Velo holds him up against the cage and eventually Howard drops back down to his feet.
Velo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Howard tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Velo smiles and moves away.

Velo clinches up with Howard and pushes him back against the cage.
Howard wants to break the clinch but can't.
Howard takes an elbow to the forehead.
Howard wants to break free but Velo has control.
Velo throws an elbow but it misses.
Howard lands an elbow inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velo looking to throw knees to the head but Howard is blocking nicely.
Howard tries to break free but Velo pushes him back against the cage.
Howard avoids the elbow strike from Velo, against the cage.
Howard jumps guard but Velo stands there with Howard around his waist. Howard gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Velo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Velo has Howard pushed against the cage.
Howard is trying to break free.
Howard wants to break the clinch but can't.
Howard fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Velo misses with an elbow over the top.
Velo taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Howard drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Howard gets control of Velo's arms and successfully pulls guard. Howard will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Velo chips away with some ground and pound.
Howard is looking to stand up but Velo isn't so interested in that idea.

Velo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Howard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Velo has managed to get both his arms back between Howard's legs - danger averted.
Howard being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Howard working for a triangle but Velo defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velo drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Velo seems to have locked his on tight now - Howard screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Velo, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Tommy Velo!
Tommy Velo is the new middleweight champion!