PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demian Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cain Velasquez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Velasquez
vs
Santos

185 cm
23
238 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

204 cm
18
264 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
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 - 4 - 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Demian Santos!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Daniel Cesar and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santos shoots in but Velasquez avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Santos rushes Velasquez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Santos has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Velasquez goes for a takedown attempt but Santos pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Santos goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Santos lands a head kick!
Santos throws a series of punches but Velasquez moves out of range.
Santos fails with a takedown attempt.
Santos lands a high kick!
Velasquez looks for a takedown but Santos sprawls well.

Santos changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Velasquez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Velasquez is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velasquez manages to get back to half guard.
Santos wants to take a breather but Velasquez is having none of it.
Velasquez wants to control but Santos is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos passes the guard and advances to mount!
Velasquez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Santos looking to control but Velasquez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velasquez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Santos looking to control but Velasquez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Velasquez wants to hold on but Santos pushes him away.
Velasquez could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Santos can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Velasquez is looking to escape.
Velasquez manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.
Velasquez is looking for a sweep. Santos is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Velasquez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Velasquez is trying to maintain the position but Santos is very close to passing his half guard.
Velasquez is staying active underneath Santos, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Santos trying to pass the guard but Velasquez defending well.
Santos prevents Velasquez from improving his position.
Velasquez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Santos must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Santos from controlling successfully.
Santos advances position into side control!
Velasquez is looking for a sweep.

Santos decides to stand back up. Santos steps back and let's Velasquez get back to his feet.
Santos fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cain Velasquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demian Santos.
Santos fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez takes a kick to the side of the head.

Santos takes the fight into the clinch.
Santos is pressed up against the cage. Velasquez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Santos down to the mat. Santos avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Santos fakes the leg kick and cracks Velasquez in the body.
Santos looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Velasquez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Santos to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Santos is looking to stand up but Velasquez won't let him.
Velasquez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Velasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Velasquez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Velasquez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Santos is one step ahead there.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Velasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Santos!
Velasquez looking to finish with strikes here!
Velasquez throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Velasquez looking to ground and pound but Santos is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velasquez throws some wild stikes that Santos manages to avoid easily.
Velasquez thowing shots but they're missing.
Santos wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Velasquez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demian Santos dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Santos shoots for a takedown but Velasquez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Velasquez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Santos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Velasquez counters with a takedown into side control.
Velasquez lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Santos down.
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.
Santos can't do much from the bottom here.
Santos wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Velasquez lands some shots froms side control.
Santos is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez cracks Santos with a big elbow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Santos is looking for a sweep.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A combination from Santos does no damage.

Velasquez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Velasquez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Velasquez thows a huge punch but Santos dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Santos taking some punishment here, with Velasquez in his half guard.
Velasquez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Santos defending well though.
Velasquez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Velasquez looks to land a strike but Santos avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Santos preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Velasquez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Velasquez is defended easily by Santos.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Santos drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos preventing the sweep.
Santos tries to free his leg and advance position but Velasquez is retaining full guard.
Velasquez looking for a sweep. Not yet Velasquez, not yet.
Velasquez tries to strike from the bottom.
Santos controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Velasquez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cain Velasquez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Velasquez is working hard here to advance position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Santos wants to clinch but Velasquez slips to the side

and Velasquez counters with a takedown into side control.
Velasquez looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Santos is avoiding damage well.
Velasquez in side control, throwing shots but Santos defends.
Velasquez is working Santos over with some ground and pound from side control.
Velasquez tries to score with some ground and pound. Santos controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Santos sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Velasquez postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Velasquez landing strikes.
Velasquez working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Santos slaps away a takedown attempt from Velasquez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Santos throws a head kick that half lands.
Santos misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Santos throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Velasquez's head.
Velasquez misses with a takedown attempt - Santos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velasquez fails to land the takedown.
Santos lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Santos throws a nice outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasquez dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Santos stalks Velasquez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Velasquez's face. Velasquez staggers backwards, shaken.
Santos throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Velasquez's head.
Velasquez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Santos sprawls well. Santos wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Velasquez gets slowly back to his feet.
Santos fails to land the takedown.

Santos pushes Velasquez up against the cage in a clinch.
Velasquez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Santos gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Santos is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Santos tries to land knees in the clinch but Velasquez avoids the damage to the body.
Velasquez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Santos prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Velasquez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Velasquez tries to land a knee to the head but Santos blocks with his arms.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Santos manages to break the clinch.
Velasquez takes a kick to the side of the head.
Santos moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Santos pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Santos throws a head kick that Velasquez semi-blocks.
Santos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Velasquez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Santos somewhat.
Velasquez tries for a takedown but Santos circles away easily
and Santos counters with a left and a right that stings Velasquez.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Velasquez.
Santos connects with a high kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Velasquez.

Velasquez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Santos won't allow Velasquez to sweep him here.
Santos controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Velasquez looking for a sweep. Not yet Velasquez, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez trying to strike off his back.
Santos trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
Velasquez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Santos stuffs the takedown.

Santos clinches.
Santos prevents the takedown attempt.
Velasquez has Santos pressed against the cage, preventing Santos from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Santos pulls guard successfully.
Velasquez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Velasquez looking to pass the guard.
Velasquez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Santos looking for a sweep. Not yet Santos, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Santos is keeping the position for now.
Velasquez throws a strike but Santos rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Velasquez throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Santos won't allow Velasquez to sweep him here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Santos throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Velasquez.
Velasquez takes a kick to the side of the head.
Santos connects with a body shot.
Horrible takedown by Velasquez or perhaps it was just good defense by Santos which made him look bad.

Santos closes the distance and pushes Velasquez back into the cage.
Velasquez keeps control of Santos as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Santos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Demian Santos seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Velasquez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Santos plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Santos feints and as Velasquez raises his hands in defense, Santos changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Velasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Velasquez is on top in guard.
Santos is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Velasquez is controlling him.
Velasquez throws a strike but Santos rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Santos wants to stand but Velasquez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Velasquez looking for a sweep. Not yet Velasquez, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Demian Santos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Santos has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Demian Santos!