PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hunter Risley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Van De Velde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Robert Van De Velde will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Risley
vs
Van De Velde

189 cm
20
209 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

225 cm
27
205 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hunter Risley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Robert Van De Velde!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Risley tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Van De Velde manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van De Velde lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Van De Velde bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Risley is breathing heavily.

Risley is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Van De Velde's half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Van De Velde pushes Risley off looking to stand but Risley dives back in and keeps control.
Risley perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Risley is trying to work for a kimura but Van De Velde is defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Risley is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Van De Velde still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Van De Velde has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
A bit of a lull in the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van De Velde wants to stand but Risley has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Risley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Van De Velde is one step ahead there.
Risley is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Risley is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Van De Velde is aware though and is defending well.
Risley pulls Van De Velde in to control the position.
Risley might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Van De Velde would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Risley looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Hunter Risley just wasn't active enough.
Van De Velde throws a right and a left that Risley avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van De Velde takes the fight into the clinch.
Van De Velde has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Van De Velde is trying to break the clinch but Risley is controlling him.
Van De Velde is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Van De Velde tries to break free but Risley pushes him back against the cage.
Risley keeps control of Van De Velde as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Risley keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Van De Velde's efforts to push away.
Risley tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Van De Velde just stands there and leans against the cage.
Van De Velde looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Van De Velde is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Van De Velde has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van De Velde is trying to break the clinch but Risley is controlling him.

Risley jumps guard and drags Van De Velde to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Risley uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Risley is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Van De Velde's half guard.

Risley decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Risley throws a front kick aimed at Van De Velde's knee but Van De Velde avoids it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Risley scores with a takedown into Van De Velde's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van De Velde is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hunter Risley dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Risley closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Van De Velde to the mat! Van De Velde manages to get full guard.
Risley looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Risley throwing strikes from guard but Van De Velde blocks nicely.
Risley prevents Van De Velde from getting back to his feet.

Risley stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van De Velde throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
No joy there for Risley, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Van De Velde, right into the meat.
Van De Velde tries to clinch up.

Van De Velde gets tackled into the cage by Risley. Risley maintains the clinch.
Risley has Van De Velde pressed against the cage, preventing Van De Velde from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Risley is looking to break free of the clinch but Van De Velde has double underhooks.
Risley tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Van De Velde avoids it.
Risley fails to pull guard.
Risley has Van De Velde pressed against the cage, preventing Van De Velde from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Van De Velde wants to break free but Risley has control.
Risley keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Van De Velde's efforts to push away.
Van De Velde is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Risley keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Van De Velde's efforts to push away.
Van De Velde is trying to break free.
Risley is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Van De Velde wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Van De Velde escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Van De Velde tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Risley manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van De Velde moves to clinch but Risley breaks away

so Risley counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Risley pushes down on Van De Velde's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Van De Velde is looking to get back to is feet but Risley passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Risley tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Risley has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Risley is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Van De Velde will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Van De Velde gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Risley controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Risley connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Risley controlling his opponent.
Hunter Risley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Risley's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hunter Risley dominated that second round.
That's time! Risley's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Van De Velde. Those never looked like landing.
Risley moves in looking to clinch but Van De Velde pushes him off.
Van De Velde tries a head kick but it misses.
Van De Velde dodges the punch combination from Risley.

Risley changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Van De Velde looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Van De Velde pushes Risley away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Risley gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Van De Velde is looking to get back to his feet here but Risley is keeping cool and he's managed to take Van De Velde's back.
Risley lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van De Velde holding both Risley 's hands and preventing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Risley controlling the position well here. Van De Velde rolled but Risley kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van De Velde fending off the submission attempt from Risley.
Risley has good solid back control here.

Risley looking for the choke from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van De Velde fending off the submission attempt from Risley.
Van De Velde has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Risley has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Van De Velde's body.
Van De Velde looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Risley has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Van De Velde's body.

Risley tightening his grip on Van De Velde, looking for the choke.
Risley is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Van De Velde. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Good control from Risley.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hunter Risley showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Risley, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hunter Risley!