PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nebolath Nabochadnezzar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nabochadnezzar
vs
Velasquez

185 cm
22
235 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

186 cm
28
265 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nebolath Nabochadnezzar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cain Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Paul Gruel and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nabochadnezzar closes the distance looking to clinch

and Velasquez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nabochadnezzar misses with a knee to the head.
Nabochadnezzar looking to throw knees to the head but Velasquez is blocking nicely.
Velasquez managing to block the knees to the body from Nabochadnezzar.
Nabochadnezzar tries to land a knee to the head but Velasquez blocks with his arms.

Velasquez turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Nabochadnezzar is looking for a sweep.
Velasquez just content to control the position.
Velasquez connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Nabochadnezzar some visible discomfort.
Velasquez working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velasquez has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Nabochadnezzar tries to clinch up
and Velasquez counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nabochadnezzar is breathing heavily.
Nabochadnezzar wants to clinch but Velasquez slips to the side

and Velasquez counters by moving into the clinch.

Velasquez has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Nabochadnezzar clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Nabochadnezzar can't escape the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Velasquez is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Nabochadnezzar hold on?
Velasquez is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Velasquez's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Nabochadnezzar looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Velasquez cracks Nabochadnezzar with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Nabochadnezzar from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Nabochadnezzar doesn't escape.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Cain Velasquez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Velasquez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nabochadnezzar sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nabochadnezzar moves out of range of the strikes.
Nabochadnezzar closes the distance but Velasquez moves to the side

and Velasquez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nabochadnezzar's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Velasquez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Velasquez gets to his feet. Nabochadnezzar looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nabochadnezzar tries to clinch

and Velasquez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasquez 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.

Nabochadnezzar tries to clinch but Velasquez moves away

and Velasquez counters by clinching up.

Velasquez is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Nabochadnezzar can't fight it off and eventually Velasquez manages to take the fight to the floor. Nabochadnezzar looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nabochadnezzar looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nabochadnezzar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Velasquez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Velasquez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Nabochadnezzar is proving hard to escape from.
Nabochadnezzar wants to sweep here but Velasquez controlling him for the moment.
Velasquez stays in close to Nabochadnezzar's body and controls the position.
Velasquez wants to get up but he can't break Nabochadnezzar's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nabochadnezzar looking to control.
Nabochadnezzar can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Velasquez controls the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Cain Velasquez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Nabochadnezzar with a poor takedown

and Velasquez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Velasquez trying to control the pace.

Velasquez decides to stand up.
Nabochadnezzar blocks a leg kick.
Nabochadnezzar tries to clinch

and Velasquez moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Velasquez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nabochadnezzar prevents it.
Nabochadnezzar using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Velasquez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nabochadnezzar misses with a knee strike.
Nabochadnezzar tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nabochadnezzar tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Velasquez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Velasquez wants a takedown.
Velasquez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nabochadnezzar fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nebolath Nabochadnezzar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cain Velasquez.
Nabochadnezzar tries to clinch but Velasquez moves away

and Velasquez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Velasquez.
Nabochadnezzar is trying to control the position but Velasquez postures up.
Velasquez content to stall in guard here.
Nabochadnezzar looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Velasquez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Cain Velasquez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sloppy strikes from Velasquez. Those never looked like landing.
Nabochadnezzar closes the distance but Velasquez moves to the side

and Velasquez moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is working for takedown but Nabochadnezzar is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nabochadnezzar with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Velasquez is working for takedown but Nabochadnezzar is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nabochadnezzar misses with a knee to the head.
Nabochadnezzar tries to land a knee to the head but Velasquez blocks with his arms.
Nabochadnezzar tries to land a knee to the head but Velasquez blocks with his arms.

Velasquez has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Nabochadnezzar clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Nabochadnezzar looking very determined here, making life difficult for Velasquez.
Velasquez controls the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nabochadnezzar rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nabochadnezzar wants to improve his position but Velasquez is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasquez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Velasquez clinches with his opponent.
Nabochadnezzar throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nabochadnezzar gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Velasquez.
Nabochadnezzar using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Velasquez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nabochadnezzar gets underhooks to prevent Velasquez's takedown attempt.
Velasquez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Velasquez is trying to drag Nabochadnezzar to the mat but Nabochadnezzar just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Nebolath Nabochadnezzar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cain Velasquez.
Nabochadnezzar is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Velasquez is defending well for now.

Velasquez wants the takedown. Nabochadnezzar is fighting it off but Velasquez persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Nabochadnezzar's guard against the cage.
Velasquez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nabochadnezzar wants to sweep here but Velasquez controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nabochadnezzar lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Velasquez!
Nabochadnezzar can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Velasquez is looking to escape.
Velasquez can't escape the position.
Nabochadnezzar looking to control but Velasquez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Nabochadnezzar goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Velasquez turns into him and now he's in Nabochadnezzar's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nabochadnezzar trying to control the position.
Velasquezis looking to pass into half guard but Nabochadnezzar pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Nabochadnezzar is in guard.
Nabochadnezzar trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Velasquez seems keen to control Nabochadnezzar's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Nebolath Nabochadnezzar.
Nabochadnezzar keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Velasquez.
Nabochadnezzar wants to clinch

and Velasquez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Cain Velasquez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nabochadnezzar trying to control but Velasquez postures up.
Nabochadnezzar regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Nabochadnezzar is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cain Velasquez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Velasquez stands and steps away. Nabochadnezzar gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Nebolath Nabochadnezzar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nabochadnezzar wants to clinch.
Nabochadnezzar fails with an attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Velasquez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Velasquez 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Cain Velasquez!
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight for Cain Velasquez!
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight for Cain Velasquez!

Cain Velasquez wins by unanimous decision!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Cain Velasquez made sure he mentioned Hellraiser Fightgear ($10 and above), along with how happy he was to win his fight.