PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iron Fist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cain Velasquez is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Fist
vs
Velasquez

195 cm
20
220 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
238 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Iron Fist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cain Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Edson Gomes and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fist tries to clinch but Velasquez is having none of it.
Velasquez closes the distance and clinches up with Fist, looking for a takedown. Velasquez pushes Fist against the cage but Fist circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Velasquez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Fist defends it nicely.
Velasquez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Iron Fist has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cain Velasquez.
Velasquez looks gassed!
Fist doesn't manage to clinch there - Velasquez circles away.
Fist is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fist wants to clinch.
Fist fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fist is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Velasquez keeps the fight on the outside.

Velasquez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Velasquez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Fist is looking to escape.
Velasquez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Fist's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fist avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Velasquez.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velasquez thows a huge punch but Fist dodges it nicely.
Fist is trying to stand.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Velasquez keeps the fight on the outside.
Fist is looking to clinch.
Velasquez swats away the attempt to clinch by Fist.
Fist fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fist tries to close the distance and clinch but Velasquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fist doesn't manage to clinch there - Velasquez circles away.
Fist tries to close the distance and clinch up but Velasquez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fist fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fist tries to clinch there but Velasquez circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fist is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fist wants to clinch up but Velasquez keeps it at a distance.
Velasquez keeps the fight on the outside.
Fist fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fist is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fist tries to clinch there but Velasquez circles away.
Fist tries to clinch but Velasquez is having none of it.
Fist is looking to clinch but Velasquez is avoiding it.
Fist is looking to clinch but Velasquez is avoiding it.
Fist is looking to clinch.
Iron Fist seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fist wants to clinch.
Fist tries to close the distance and clinch but Velasquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fist tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fist tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Velasquez should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Velasquez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Fist tries to close the distance and clinch but Velasquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fist is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fist fails in his attempt to clinch.
Velasquez swats away the attempt to clinch by Fist.

Fist has managed to clinch.
A shot in the inside from Fist.
Fist tries to break the clinch but Velasquez is controlling the position.
Fist lands with a light punch inside.
Velasquez is trying to break free.
Fist wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Fist lands with a right to the head.
Fist lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Velasquez backwards.
Fist makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fist lands with a light punch inside.
Fist scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Fist prevents a takedown attempt there.
Fist working hard to break the clinch.
Velasquez is trying to drag Fist to the mat but Fist just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A nice right hand lands inside from Fist.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Fist lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Fist wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Fist is trying to break the clinch but Velasquez has him pressed against the cage.
Fist misses with a punch on the inside.
Fist wants to break free but Velasquez has control.
Velasquez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Fist pulls his leg out and moves away.
Fist is looking to clinch but Velasquez is avoiding it.
Fist tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Velasquez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Fist is trying to defend but Velasquez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Velasquez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Fist with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Velasquez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fist blocking the ground and pound attempt from Velasquez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasquez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Iron Fist's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Velasquez.
Velasquez misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
An elbow from Velasquez crashes against the mat.
Velasquez in side control, throwing shots but Fist defends.
The strikes coming from Velasquez are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The ground and pound from Velasquez seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Velasquez decides to stand back up. Velasquez steps back and let's Fist get back to his feet.
Fist wants to clinch.
Fist tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Velasquez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fist is looking to clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Velasquez.
Fist tries to clinch but Velasquez is having none of it.
Fist tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Velasquez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fist tries to close the distance and clinch but Velasquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Fist tries to keep at a distance but Velasquez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fist landing knees to the head.

Velasquez gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Fist blocking the ground and pound attempt from Velasquez.
Velasquez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Velasquez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Velasquez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Velasquez drops an elbow to the side of Fist's head.
Velasquez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Fist's head.
Velasquez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fist defending well though.
Velasquez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Velasquez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Velasquez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Fist blocking the ground and pound attempt from Velasquez.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Velasquez circles away from the clinch attempt

and Velasquez counters with a shoot takedown. Fist fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fist utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fist knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Velasquez on the ground.
Velasquez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Velasquez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fist utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Velasquez distracts Fist with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Velasquez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Velasquez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Velasquez with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fist tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Velasquez moves into the clinch.
Velasquez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Fist gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Fist prevents a takedown attempt there.
Iron Fist has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cain Velasquez.

Velasquez works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Fist keeping moving, preventing Velasquez from controlling successfully.
Cain Velasquez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Velasquez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fist avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Velasquez landing with the ground and pound.
Velasquez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fist swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Velasquez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasquez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Iron Fist's cut.
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. 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.

Fist closes the distance looking to clinch

and Velasquez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Fist's guard.
Velasquez thows a big elbow that misses.
Fist utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Velasquez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Velasquez is looking to work some ground and pound but Fist has wrist control.
Velasquez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Velasquez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Velasquez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Velasquez with a nice head shot there.
Fist utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Fist wants to clinch but Velasquez slips to the side

and Velasquez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Velasquez.
Velasquez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fist works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Velasquez throws a big right hand that misses.
Velasquez cracks Fist with a solid left hand.
Velasquez throwing strikes but missing.
Velasquez pushes down on Fist's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Velasquez trying to mount his opponent but Fist defends it.
Velasquez thows a huge punch but Fist dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez thows a huge punch but Fist dodges it nicely.
Fist keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Velasquez throwing shots but Fist is blocking nicely.
Velasquez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Velasquez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Fist was covering up waiting for the punch and Velasquez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Velasquez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fist works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Velasquez's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez looking to pass the guard.

Velasquez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Fist darts in trying to clinch

and Velasquez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Velasquez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Fist blocking the ground and pound attempt from Velasquez.
Velasquez throwing shots but Fist is blocking nicely.
Nice strikes from Velasquez there.
Velasquez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez passes to side control.
Fist is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Velasquez has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Velasquez throws an elbow but Fist slips to the side and avoids it well.
Velasquez tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The strikes coming from Velasquez are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Velasquez is looking to take a break and control but Fist is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
An elbow from Velasquez crashes against the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Velasquez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Velasquez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 26:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 26:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cain Velasquez!