PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hank Gordon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raul Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velasquez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. El Grande kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gordon
vs
Velasquez

190 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hank Gordon!
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, Raul Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, David Schapiro and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velasquez is looking to clinch but Gordon is avoiding it.
No joy there for Velasquez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Velasquez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Velasquez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gordon punishes Velasquez's body with a nice straight punch.

Velasquez gets caught flat footed, as Gordon shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Gordon drops back looking for a leg! Velasquez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Velasquez manages to kick Gordon off! Gordon jumps back into Velasquez's guard.
Gordon could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gordon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gordon works over Velasquez with some ground and pound from guard.
Gordon landing some decent shots from guard.
Gordon wants to stand but Velasquez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Velasquez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gordon is looking to stand up but Velasquez won't let him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gordon wants to pass the guard but Velasquez is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gordon wants to get up but he can't break Velasquez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Velasquez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gordon is one step ahead there.
Gordon keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Velasquez's head.
Gordon lands a couple of digs.
Gordon wants to stand but Velasquez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Gordon from controlling successfully.
Gordon missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gordon is standing up over Velasquez. Velasquez looks to escape but Gordon dives into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velasquez regains half guard.
Velasquez looks gassed!
Velasquez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gordon is working away from the top position though.
Gordon trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Gordon stands up from Velasquez's guard - Gordon perhaps looking for a knockout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gordon shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Gordon was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gordon punishing his opponent with strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gordon cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Gordon looking to finish Velasquez with some ground and pound. This is bad for Velasquez!

Gordon is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Velasquez to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Velasquez shrugs it off.
Velasquez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gordon is landing with some decent strikes but Velasquez is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Gordon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gordon lands a big shot there that rocks Velasquez but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Gordon putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Gordon looking to control but Velasquez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gordon unloading with bombs!
Velasquez is bucking up trying to escape but Gordon cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Gordon landing strikes from the mount.
Gordon looking to control but Velasquez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gordon is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Velasquez has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Gordon lands a big shot there that rocks Velasquez but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gordon is working for a guillotine from mount but Velasquez frees his head quite easily.
Gordon unloading with bombs!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gordon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gordon landing strikes from the mount and Velasquez is in trouble!
Gordon with good strikes from the mount here!
Gordon controlling from mount.
Gordon landing punches.
Gordon controlling from mount.
Gordon lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Velasquez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gordon pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Gordon working Velasquez over with strikes here.
Velasquez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Gordon dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gordon takes the fight into the clinch.
Velasquez keeps control of Gordon as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Gordon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hank Gordon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gordon swats away the attempt to clinch by Velasquez.
Gordon works over Velasquez's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Raul Velasquez has been cut.
Velasquez is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gordon.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Velasquez tries to clinch but Gordon moves out of range.
Velasquez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gordon swivels and escapes.
Gordon connects with a body shot that sends Velasquez's belly button to the back.

Gordon clinches up against the cage.
Velasquez avoiding damage as Gordon throws knees to the body.

Gordon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Velasquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gordon wants to break free but Velasquez has control.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.
Gordon is trying to break the clinch but Velasquez is controlling him.

Gordon breaks the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Velasquez. Those never looked like landing.
Velasquez drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Velasquez walks into a jab.
Velasquez takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gordon.
Gordon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Velasquez can do to turn this around?
Gordon with a hook.

Gordon takes the fight into the clinch.
Velasquez keeps control of Gordon as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Velasquez has Gordon pressed against the cage, preventing Gordon from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gordon looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Velasquez misses with an elbow strike.
Gordon taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Gordon tries to break free but Velasquez pushes him back against the cage.
Gordon has had enough of the clinch but Velasquez keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Gordon - that landed with a thud.
Gordon is trying to break free.
Gordon wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gordon is pushing Velasquez up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Velasquez is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gordon is trying to break free.

Gordon has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Velasquez uses from the top position.
Gordon wants to stand and escape but Velasquez is having none of it.
Gordon trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Gordon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Velasquez is one step ahead there.
Gordon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Velasquez on the ground.
Gordon controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Hank Gordon just wasn't active enough.
Nice jab there from Gordon.
Velasquez is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gordon.
Gordon tests Velasquez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gordon throws a one two combo.
Velasquez takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gordon fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Velasquez, pushing him back against the cage.

Gordon breaks the clinch.
Gordon leaves Velasquez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gordon works over Velasquez's head and body with a nice combination.

That has opened up Raul Velasquez's cut even more.
Gordon is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Gordon throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Velasquez on the side of the head.
The crowd cheers as Gordon lands an impressive looking overhand right. Velasquez doesn't seem phased though.

Gordon gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Velasquez has Gordon pressed against the cage, preventing Gordon from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gordon tries to break free but Velasquez pushes him back against the cage.
Gordon is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Velasquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gordon has him pressed against the cage.

Gordon manages to break the clinch.

Velasquez tries to sprawl but Gordon drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Gordon lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
It looks like Gordon is going to stand back up.
Velasquez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gordon scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gordon tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Velasquez.
Velasquez tries to get to full guard but Gordon has control of the leg.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gordon scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Velasquez works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Gordon dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Raul Velasquez's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gordon scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Gordon closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Velasquez checks a leg kick.
A nice combination there by Gordon.
Velasquez tries to close the distance and clinch but Gordon swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Velasquez wants to clinch.
Gordon dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Gordon shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Velasquez is trying to defend but Gordon finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Gordon scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gordon looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Velasquez tries to kick Gordon off but Gordon keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Velasquez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gordon tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Velasquez.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gordon stands up out of the half guard.
An inside leg kick lands from Gordon.
Velasquez takes one to the chin there.
Hank Gordon is winning the standup battle so far.
Gordon thuds his right hand into Velasquez's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Velasquez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Gordon darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Gordon takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Velasquez takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hank Gordon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gordon pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Velasquez back to the cage. Gordon follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gordon changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gordon looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gordon is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Gordon throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Velasquez stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gordon lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Gordon feints a jab promting Velasquez to slip. Gordon then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Velasquez slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Gordon.
Velasquez tries to clinch but Gordon moves away
and Gordon cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gordon scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Velasquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gordon paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gordon lands with a cross.
Gordon displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Gordon lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Gordon throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Velasquez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gordon is in Velasquez's guard.
Velasquez wants to stand and escape but Gordon is having none of it.
Gordon tries to stand but Velasquez is controlling from the bottom.
Velasquez wants to stand and escape but Gordon is having none of it.
Velasquez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gordon is one step ahead there.
Gordon postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez trying to control the position.

Gordon stands up from Velasquez's guard - Gordon perhaps looking for a knockout.
Gordon lands with a nice body punch.
Gordon moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A left lands for Gordon.

Gordon closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Velasquez quickly recovers to half guard.
Gordon working over Velasquez with some ground and pound. Velasquez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Velasquez wants to get back to his feet.
Velasquez is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Velasquez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gordon's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gordon's back!
Gordon trying to control the hands but Velasquez won't let him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gordon looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Raul Velasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gordon avoids the strikes from Velasquez.
Gordon can't escape the position.
Velasquez avoiding Gordon 's attempts to control his hands.
Gordon is trying to break free.
Gordon is working hard here to advance position.
Hank Gordon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Velasquez missing with strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Even with his hooks in, Velasquez manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Gordon holding both Velasquez 's hands and preventing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hank Gordon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gordon 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hank Gordon!