PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anhel Batista (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Velasqs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Batista
vs
Velasqs

190 cm
25
211 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

209 cm
25
208 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Red Belt
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anhel Batista!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cain Velasqs!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Batista misses with a takedown attempt - Velasqs sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Velasqs displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Batista.
Velasqs cracks the inside of Batista's front leg.

Batista closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Velasqs to the mat! Velasqs manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velasqs lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Batista!
Velasqs has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Batista's face.
Velasqs looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batista is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Velasqs is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Batista takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Velasqs sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batista wants to control but Velasqs is having none of it.
Velasqs takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Batista tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasqs connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velasqs with shots to the head and body - Batista looks very uncomfortable down there.
Batista is in all sorts of trouble here.
Velasqs working Batista over with strikes here.
Batista tries to lock up and control but Velasqs gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Velasqs controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Batista wants to hold on but Velasqs pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velasqs working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Velasqs looking to control but Batista is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Velasqs has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Velasqs working Batista over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasqs dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Velasqs wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Velasqs stuffs the takedown attempt from Batista. Batista gets slowly back to his feet.
Batista on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A head kick from Velasqs lands but Batista takes it in his stride.
Velasqs chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Batista takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Batista is defended easily by Velasqs.
Velasqs fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Batista has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasqs throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Batista's head.
Batista misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anhel Batista. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Batista just misses with a punch to the body.
Batista tries to clinch but Velasqs moves out of range.
Velasqs throws a nice head kick!
Batista tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Velasqs paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick from Velasqs lands but Batista takes it in his stride.
A chopping leg kick lands by Velasqs.
Batista misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batista shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Velasqs but Velasqs pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Batista tries to close the distance and clinch but Velasqs swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Velasqs lands a head kick!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Velasqs avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Batista takes one on the button.
Batista tries to close the distance and clinch up but Velasqs swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasqs scores with a hook to the body. Batista takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Batista fails with a takedown attempt.
Batista shoots in for a takedown but Velasqs shows good takedown defense.
Velasqs slips under a jab.
Velasqs throws a head kick that misses.
Batista throws a hook to the side of Velasqs's head but Velasqs sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Velasqs buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Batista rushes Velasqs and presses him up against the cage.
Velasqs leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasqs works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Batista is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Velasqs breaks the clinch.
Velasqs scores with a hook to the body. Batista takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Batista tries for a takedown but Velasqs circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Batista. Velasqs does a little dance to reset his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Batista closes the distance but Velasqs moves to the side
and Velasqs counters with an outside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Batista needs to keep his hands up - Velasqs had a free shot at his head there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasqs showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Batista's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Batista is defended easily by Velasqs.
Batista is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Batista shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Batista showed some decent athleticism there.
Batista tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Velasqs.
Velasqs trying to control but Batista postures up.
Cain Velasqs has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasqs keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Batista throws a strike but Velasqs avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Batista looking to sit in guard and control but Velasqs gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Batista controls Velasqs momentarily but Velasqs frees himself.

Batista is looking for a triangle here but Velasqs uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasqs lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Batista taking a bit of punishment here - Velasqs scoring with strikes.
Velasqs working the head and body with strikes.
Velasqs happy to just control the position for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Batista is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batista seems a little lost for a moment, as Velasqs dominates the positioning.
Velasqs trying to control the action but Batista is working from the bottom.
Velasqs remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Cain Velasqs hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Batista is trying hard to land a takedown here. Velasqs sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Velasqs plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Cain Velasqs seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velasqs lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Anhel Batista has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Velasqs cracks Batista with an open hand slap.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Velasqs comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Velasqs has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cain Velasqs!
In his post fight interview, Cain Velasqs started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.