PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rocherre Velassco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teo Christofi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Velassco
vs
Christofi

178 cm
27
188 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

183 cm
26
195 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Polar Bear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rocherre Velassco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Teo Christofi!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Chris Edwards and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Christofi throws a body punch but Velassco moves out of range.
Christofi blocks a head kick by Velassco.
Christofi misses with a double jab.
Velassco definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Velassco connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Christofi misses with a hook.
Christofi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Velassco tries to clinch up but Christofi circles away and keeps his distance.
Christofi throws a hook but Velassco avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Velassco misses its intended target.
Christofi takes a swing at Velassco's ribcage but misses.
Christofi takes a kick to the side of the head.
Velassco looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Christofi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Christofi cracks Velassco with a right hand to the side of the head.
Christofi dives in for a single leg takedown but Velassco sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Velassco doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Christofi as Velassco tries to tie him up.
Velassco working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christofi blocking some punches.
Velassco avoiding damage.
Velassco prevents Christofi from breaking the clinch.
Velassco has a couple of punches blocked by Christofi.
Velassco lands a left hand that snaps the head of Christofi backwards.
Velassco misses with the head strike.
A knee to the head by Velassco.
Christofi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Velassco avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Velassco is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Christofi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Velassco avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rocherre Velassco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Teo Christofi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velassco looking to slow down the pace here.
Velassco can't find room to land a body shot as Christofi controls the action.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A frustrated look appears on Christofi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Velassco manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Velassco tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Christofi's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Velassco.
Christofi managing to block the knees to the body from Velassco.
Velassco using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Christofi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Christofi blocks a body shot from Velassco.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Christofi can't get the takedown.
A nice left hand lands by Velassco.
Velassco trying to land knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Velassco.
Christofi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Velassco swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Christofi is looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Velassco.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Christofi has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Velassco after a bit of a struggle.
Velassco tries to throw a body punch but Christofi avoids it by throwing Velassco back against the cage.
Christofi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Velassco scores with a shot to the side of Christofi's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Velassco is pushing Christofi up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velassco tries to throw a body punch but Christofi avoids it by throwing Velassco back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocherre Velassco dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Christofi misses with a hook. Velassco ducked under it nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Christofi. Velassco does a little dance to reset his feet.
Christofi throws a right hand that Velassco ducks under and follows up with a left that Velassco also avoids with ease.
Christofi just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Christofi is defended easily by Velassco.
Velassco stuffs the takedown attempt from Christofi. Christofi gets slowly back to his feet.
Christofi shoots in for a takedown but Velassco shows good takedown defense.
Rocherre Velassco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Teo Christofi.
Christofi shoots and misses
and Velassco cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Christofi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Christofi showed some decent athleticism there.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Christofi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Christofi has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at The Seven Sins Grappling Academy . Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Christofi wants to pass the guard but Velassco is defending well.
Velassco is looking to control Christofi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Velassco avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velassco gets back to full guard.
Christofi throws a big elbow that misses.
Christofi trying to control but Velassco is working from the bottom.
Velassco is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Christofi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Christofi is looking to work some ground and pound but Velassco has wrist control.
Christofi trying to control but Velassco is working from the bottom.
Velassco has momentary wrist control but Christofi slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christofi postures up in Velassco's guard and throws a big left but Velassco blocks it.
Christofi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Christofi trying to control but Velassco is working from the bottom.
Velassco has control of Christofi's left arm, preventing Christofi from doing any damage.
Velassco tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Christofi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Velassco keeping moving, preventing Christofi from controlling successfully.

Teo Christofi has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Christofi slips a jab from Velassco.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Velassco pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Teo Christofi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velassco is looking to clinch but Christofi is avoiding it.
Christofi fails to land the takedown.
Velassco avoids a punch combination nicely.
Christofi throws a body punch but Velassco moves out of range.
Christofi sizes up Velassco with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Velassco misses the shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Velassco. That's going to slow Christofi down.
Christofi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Christofi throws a hook but Velassco avoids it easily.
A big left from Christofi misses.
A head kick misses from Velassco.
Velassco throws a big shot that misses.
Christofi throws a series of punches but Velassco moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christofi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Christofi misses with a combination
and Velassco counters with a left to the body.
Velassco misses with a wild body shot.
Velassco moves out of range of the strikes.
A jab lands there for Christofi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Velassco keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Christofi.
Christofi throws an overhand right that lands on Velassco's shoulder, as Velassco tries to avoid the shot.
Christofi misses with a right hand
and Velassco counters with an outside leg kick.
Velassco is looking to clinch.
Christofi with a hook.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velassco uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Christofi.
Teo Christofi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Velassco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Velassco waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Christofi.
A big left from Velassco misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teo Christofi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Christofi looks to land a combination but Velassco avoids it well.
Christofi misses with a combination
and Velassco counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Velassco throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Christofi's head.

Christofi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Velassco did well to prevent Christofi getting side control.

Christofi is looking for a kimura here.
Velassco wants to control but Christofi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Christofi is keen to just control but Velassco is a slippery customer.
Velassco is holding on to half guard well.
Velassco regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christofi looking to sit in guard and control but Velassco gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Velassco wants to stand but Christofi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Christofi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Teo Christofi has got the better of the ground game so far.

Christofi has his foot on Velassco's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Velassco works his way back into a safe position though.
Velassco controls from within his opponent's guard.
Velassco trying to stand up but can't free himself from Christofi's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Christofi working for a triangle but Velassco defends it easily.
Christofi keeping moving, preventing Velassco from controlling successfully.
Velassco would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velassco trying to control but Christofi is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rocherre Velassco wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Christofi throws a lazy uppercut
and Velassco counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Christofi.
Velassco misses with a hook.
Velassco ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Christofi moves out of range of the strikes.
Christofi throws a right hand that Velassco ducks under and follows up with a left that Velassco also avoids with ease.
Velassco takes one on the button.
Rocherre Velassco is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Christofi throws a jab but it's blocked by Velassco.
Sloppy strikes from Christofi. Those never looked like landing.
Christofi moves forwards but Velassco connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Velassco misses with a looping left.
Christofi misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christofi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Christofi misses with a series of wild punches.
Christofi tries to bum rush Velassco with a series of wild strikes but Velassco uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Christofi misses with a takedown
and Velassco counters with a left to the body.
Christofi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Christofi fails with a takedown attempt.
Velassco is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Velassco throws a nice outside leg kick.
Velassco scores with a body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
That kick from Velassco tenderised Christofi's leg. Christofi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Velassco takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Christofi misses with a series of wild punches.
Velassco ducks under a wild hook from Christofi.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocherre Velassco showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Velassco has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocherre Velassco!
Rocherre Velassco thanked the fans post fight for their support.