PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dimitrije Jr Stamenkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dimitrije Jr Stamenkov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Velasquez
vs
Jr Stamenkov

185 cm
24
244 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

187 cm
18
222 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cain Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dimitrije Jr Stamenkov!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paul Aken and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stamenkov with a poor takedown

and Velasquez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Stamenkov trying to keep a closed guard but Velasquez is proving a slippery customer.
Stamenkov keeping full guard, as Velasquez tries to pass.
Velasquez throwing strikes from guard but Stamenkov blocks nicely.

Velasquez stands up and waves to Stamenkov to follow him.
A low kick from Stamenkov is predictable there

and Velasquez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Stamenkov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Velasquez manages to break the clinch.

Velasquez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Stamenkov looking for a sweep. Not yet Stamenkov, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velasquez looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez trying to control but Stamenkov is working from the bottom.
Velasquez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Velasquez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stamenkov wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Cain Velasquez.
Velasquez wants to clinch.

Velasquez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez content to control rather than advance.
Velasquez could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Velasquez blocks the strikes from Stamenkov.

Velasquez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Stamenkov pushes Velasquez off looking to stand but Velasquez dives back in and keeps control.
Velasquez is looking to take a break and control but Stamenkov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Stamenkov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stamenkov actively working from the bottom here.
Stamenkov looks gassed!
Velasquez content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Velasquez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Velasquez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Stamenkov's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Velasquez trying to control the action but Stamenkov is working from the bottom.
Velasquez trying to mount his opponent but Stamenkov defends it.

Velasquez stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Stamenkov gets caught flat footed, as Velasquez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Velasquez content to stall in guard here.

Velasquez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Stamenkov, up you get!
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 Cain Velasquez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stamenkov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Velasquez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Velasquez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stamenkov closes the distance looking to clinch

and Velasquez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Stamenkov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Stamenkov is trying to control but can't.

Velasquez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stamenkov is just riding it out for now. Velasquez eventually gives up the hold.
Cain Velasquez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Velasquez trying to control from half guard but Stamenkov is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stamenkov is looking to control Velasquez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stamenkov avoid being mounted?
Velasquez wants to control but Stamenkov is keeping him busy.
Velasquez tries to pass to full mount but Stamenkov defends it.

Velasquez gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Stamenkov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Velasquez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stamenkov tries to get to full guard but Velasquez has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is taking a breather. Stamenkov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Velasquez works his way into full mount!
Velasquez controlling the pace for now.
Velasquez lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Stamenkov shoots and misses

and Velasquez counters with a takedown into side control.

Velasquez stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Velasquez darts in and clinches Stamenkov up against the cage.
Stamenkov letting Velasquez take a breather here.
Velasquez fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Velasquez breaks the clinch.

Velasquez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Stamenkov to the mat! Stamenkov manages to get full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Velasquez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stamenkov keeping moving, preventing Velasquez from controlling successfully.
Stamenkov trying to keep a closed guard but Velasquez is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Velasquez has taken the fight to the clinch.

Velasquez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Velasquez shoots in and gets a takedown into Stamenkov's guard.
Stamenkov controls Velasquez momentarily but Velasquez frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sloppy strikes from Velasquez. Those never looked like landing.

Velasquez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Stamenkov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Stamenkov tries to improve position but can't.
Velasquez trying to control the action but Stamenkov is working from the bottom.
Stamenkov manages to get back to half guard.
Velasquez is thwarting Stamenkov's attempts to control the position.
Stamenkov wants to control the action here but instead Velasquez manages to pass to full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez content just to control the position here.
Velasquez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Velasquez with shots to the head and body - Stamenkov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Velasquez scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Stamenkov?
Velasquez controlling from mount.
Velasquez lands a heavy elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Velasquez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Velasquez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stamenkov can do to turn this around?
Stamenkov tries to hold on but Velasquez postures up.
Velasquez lands with some strikes.
Velasquez with the ground and pound from mount.
Velasquez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez landing strikes from the mount.

Velasquez wants to finish this one by submission but Stamenkov is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Velasquez.
Stamenkov tries to hold on but Velasquez pushes him away.

Velasquez gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Velasquez jabs Stamenkov to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Velasquez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Stamenkov's guard.
Stamenkov looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stamenkov is on top in guard.

Velasquez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Velasquez is looking to sweep but instead, Stamenkov has passed into half guard.
Velasquez wants to improve his position but Stamenkov is controlling well.
Velasquez trying to control from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Velasquez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Velasquez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:25
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:25
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:25

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