PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocki Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Velasquez
vs
Balboa

188 cm
22
255 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

195 cm
27
245 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Russian Top Team Nutrition

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cain Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rocki Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velasquez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Balboa as he avoids it easily.
Balboa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Velasquez defends it nicely.
Cain Velasquez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Velasquez.
Balboa looks for a takedown but Velasquez sprawls well.
No luck for Velasquez with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A slow jab from Balboa misses its intended target.

Velasquez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Balboa to the ground. Velasquez is now in Balboa's guard.
Velasquez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Velasquez with a nice head shot there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Balboa is on top in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Balboa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Balboa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
Balboa wants to pass the guard but Velasquez is keeping the position.
Velasquez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Balboa on the ground.
Balboa pushes down on Velasquez's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Velasquez is not content to let Balboa control the position.

Balboa wants to work for an arm triangle but Velasquez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Balboa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez is defending against the submission attempts here by Balboa.
Velasquez is trying to get back to full guard.
Velasquez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Velasquez tries to get out of the position.

Balboa is working for a kimura but Velasquez is defending it quite comfortably.
Balboa tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Velasquez!
Balboa lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Balboa unloads with some shots from mount but Velasquez bucks and avoids them well.
Balboa lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Balboa throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Velasquez because Balboa loaded up on that one.
Velasquez is in all sorts of trouble here.

Balboa is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Velasquez to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Velasquez shrugs it off.
Velasquez is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balboa working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Balboa looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Balboa landing strikes from the mount and Velasquez is in trouble!
Velasquez is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Velasquez is squirming around, avoiding Balboa's attempts to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Balboa shoots in and drives through. Velasquez sprawls well.
Velasquez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Velasquez shoots for a double leg takedown but Balboa sprawls well. He's pushed Velasquez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Balboa 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.
Balboa lands an overhand right.
Velasquez tries for a takedown but Balboa circles away easily
and Balboa counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Horrible takedown by Balboa or perhaps it was just good defense by Velasquez which made him look bad.
Balboa chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velasquez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Balboa was covering up waiting for the punch and Velasquez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Balboa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Balboa 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. Oh but Balboa is tightening it up a little... Velasquez has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Velasquez reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Velasquez taps out! nice BJJ there by Balboa!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Rocki Balboa!