PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Noel Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Noel Jackson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Cain Velasquez's chin.

Velasquez
vs
Jackson

185 cm
22
238 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

200 cm
25
276 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cain Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Noel Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velasquez swats away the attempt to clinch by Jackson.
Jackson shoots in and drives through. Velasquez sprawls well.

Velasquez scores with a takedown into Jackson's guard.
Velasquez could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Jackson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Velasquez.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velasquez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Velasquez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jackson's head.
Velasquez cracks Jackson with a solid left hand.
Velasquez throws and elbow that misses. Jackson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Velasquez's guard. Nice move by Jackson!
Velasquez trying to strike off his back.
Velasquez trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Jackson wants to pass the guard but Velasquez is keeping the position.
Velasquez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Velasquez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Jackson's guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Jackson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Velasquez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Velasquez lands a couple of digs.
Velasquez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Velasquez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Velasquez manages to get himself to full guard.
Jackson tries to free his leg and advance position but Velasquez is retaining full guard.

Jackson drops back looking for a leg! Velasquez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Velasquez manages to kick Jackson off! Jackson jumps back into Velasquez's guard.
Jackson looks gassed!
Velasquez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jackson is controlling him.

Velasquez is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Jackson wants to break the clinch but can't.

Jackson breaks the clinch.

Velasquez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Jackson!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Velasquez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Velasquez lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Jackson is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez looking to finish Jackson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Jackson!
Velasquez unloading with bombs!
Jackson is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Velasquez lands a big elbow.
Velasquez prevents Jackson from getting the reversal.
Velasquez lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Jackson working to try and regain half guard.
Velasquez is landing with some decent strikes but Jackson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Velasquez unloading with bombs!
Velasquez sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Velasquez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Jackson gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jackson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Jackson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Velasquez scoring with some ground and pound.

Velasquez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jackson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Velasquez has managed to get both his arms back between Jackson's legs - danger averted.
Jackson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Velasquez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Jackson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Velasquez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Velasquez throws and elbow that misses. Jackson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Velasquez's guard. Nice move by Jackson!
Velasquez looking for a sweep. Not yet Velasquez, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Velasquez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Velasquez trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Velasquez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Jackson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Velasquez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jackson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Velasquez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Velasquez is defended easily by Jackson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jackson clinches with his opponent.

Jackson pulls guard.

Jackson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Velasquez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Velasquez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jackson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Noel Jackson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Velasquez.
Velasquez landing strikes.
Jackson pushes Velasquez away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Velasquez gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Velasquez in side control, throwing shots but Jackson defends.
Velasquez is working Jackson over with some ground and pound from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Velasquez.
Velasquez creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Jackson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Jackson is looking to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Velasquez closes the distance and clinches up with Jackson, looking for a takedown. Velasquez pushes Jackson against the cage but Jackson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Velasquez is defended easily by Jackson.

Jackson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Velasquez napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Jackson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Velasquez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Velasquez wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

Jackson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Velasquez has escaped the position, nice work there.

Jackson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Noel Jackson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Velasquez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Jackson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Velasquez gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Velasquez missing with punches from the bottom.
Velasquez wants to get back to full guard.
Jackson uses his free foot to push down on Velasquez's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Velasquez.

Jackson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jackson is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Velasquez can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Jackson blocks Velasquez's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Velasquez flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

Jackson is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Velasquez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jackson.
Velasquez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Velasquez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jackson feints and as Velasquez raises his hands in defense, Jackson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Jackson wants to stand but Velasquez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Jackson tries to free his leg and advance position but Velasquez is retaining full guard.
Velasquez working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jackson manages to get himself to full guard.

Jackson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Velasquez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Velasquez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Velasquez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jackson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Velasquez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Velasquez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Velasquez throws and elbow that misses. Jackson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Velasquez's guard. Nice move by Jackson!
Velasquez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jackson advances position into side control!

Jackson tries for a kimura but Velasquez is defending well.
Velasquez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Velasquez can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noel Jackson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Velasquez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jackson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Velasquez swivels and escapes.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Jackson stuffs the takedown attempt from Velasquez. Velasquez gets slowly back to his feet.
Jackson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Velasquez circles away.
Velasquez shoots in for a takedown but Jackson shows good takedown defense.
Jackson slaps away a takedown attempt from Velasquez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jackson shoots in but no luck this time.
Jackson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Velasquez swivels and escapes.
Jackson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Velasquez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jackson wants to clinch up but Velasquez keeps it at a distance.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt.
Jackson closes the distance and clinches up with Velasquez, looking for a takedown. Jackson pushes Velasquez against the cage but Velasquez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Noel Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jackson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Velasquez defends it nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Velasquez as Jackson shoots in.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jackson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Velasquez defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Velasquez is trying to control the position but Jackson postures up.
Velasquez striking off his back but it's not causing Jackson any problems.
Jackson pushes down on Velasquez's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Velasquez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Jackson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Velasquez is proving hard to escape from.

Jackson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Velasquez is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Jackson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Velasquez throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Velasquez will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Velasquez dives in and grabs Jackson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jackson pushes down on Velasquez's head and hops out.

Jackson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Velasquez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Velasquez is trying to get back to half guard.
Velasquez throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Velasquez striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Velasquez can't do much from the bottom here.
Jackson works to advance to full mount. Velasquez defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Velasquez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is trying desperately to improve position.
Velasquez swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Velasquez is trying to escape the mount.
Velasquez flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Velasquez is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Velasquez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Velasquez throwing hammer fists to the chest of Jackson. What's that going to do exactly?

Jackson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Velasquez working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Velasquez is trying to reverse the position but instead Jackson has taken his back - oops!

Jackson looking to break Velasquez's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Velasquez remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Jackson will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Velasquez fending off the submission attempt from Jackson.
Velasquez turns into Jackson and is now in his guard.
Velasquez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Velasquez is pushing down on Jackson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Jackson is fighting to maintain full guard but Velasquez has managed to sneak the leg through.
Velasquez working over Jackson with some ground and pound. Jackson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Jackson is pressing down on Velasquez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Velasquez trying to control but Jackson is working from the bottom.

Jackson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Noel Jackson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Jackson 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight for Noel Jackson!
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Noel Jackson!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Noel Jackson!

Noel Jackson wins by unanimous decision!