PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Cat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Whitepride Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Whitepride Velasquez will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Cat
vs
Velasquez

200 cm
28
265 lbs
18 - 17 - 0

219 cm
29
279 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Good kicks
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 18 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Cat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Whitepride Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Velasquez as Cat shoots in.
Cat misses with a takedown
and Velasquez counters with a straight right hand.
Cat tries for a takedown but Velasquez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Cat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cat tries for a takedown but Velasquez circles away easily

and Velasquez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Cat is looking for a sweep. Velasquez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Velasquez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cat is just riding it out for now. Velasquez eventually gives up the hold.
Velasquez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velasquez trying to control from half guard but Cat is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez uses his free foot to push down on Cat's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Cat.

Velasquez swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Cat is now in Velasquez's guard. A big mistake from Velasquez there, giving up the dominant position!
Cat postures up.

Velasquez has an active guard here but Cat has managed to pass into half guard.
Cat landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Velasquez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Cat tries to pass the half guard into mount. Velasquez knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Cat is nestled in close to Velasquez, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

It looks like Whitepride Velasquez has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Velasquez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cat.
Velasquez wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is trying to maintain the position but Cat is very close to passing his half guard.
Velasquez gets back to full guard.
Cat tries to free his leg and advance position but Velasquez is retaining full guard.
Velasquez controls Cat momentarily but Cat frees himself.
Cat won't allow Velasquez to sweep him here.
Velasquez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cat manages to get himself to full guard.
Velasquez preventing the sweep.
Cat is pulling down on Velasquez's head to control his posture.
Velasquez wants to control from the top but Cat keeps moving.
Velasquez tries to free his leg and advance position but Cat is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez trying to move into half guard but instead Cat has managed to sweep!
Cat trying to control the position from guard on top but Velasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cat throws a big right hand that misses.
Cat wants to pass the guard but Velasquez is keeping the position.
Cat trying to control the position from guard on top but Velasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Velasquez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Cat trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
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.
Cat might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Cat from controlling successfully.

Velasquez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cat gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cat chips away with some ground and pound.
Cat stays in close to Velasquez's body and controls the position.
Velasquez is trying to keep Cat in close.

Velasquez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Velasquez trying to keep a closed guard but Cat is proving a slippery customer.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velasquez working a defensive guard but Cat manages to pass into side control anyway.
Velasquez tries to buck Cat off but Cat is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Whitepride Velasquez will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Whitepride Velasquez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cat shoots in looking for a takedown but Velasquez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cat's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Velasquez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cat throws out the jab.
Velasquez leaves Cat with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tom Cat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cat misses with a takedown attempt - Velasquez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Cat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cat will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cat tries for a takedown but Velasquez circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cat shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Velasquez counters with a right hand to the body.
Velasquez slips a jab and a cross from Cat.
Cat shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Velasquez but Velasquez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cat misses with a takedown
and Velasquez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cat throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cat fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cat fails with the takedown

and Velasquez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Velasquez.
Velasquez preventing the sweep.
Cat keeping moving, preventing Velasquez from controlling successfully.
Cat 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.
Velasquez wants to control from the top but Cat keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Velasquez tries to free his leg and advance position but Cat is retaining full guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Whitepride Velasquez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Cat shoots in but Velasquez avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Cat closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Velasquez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Velasquez tries to get to full guard but Cat has control of the leg.
Cat scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Velasquez moves into full guard.
Velasquez working a defensive guard here.
Whitepride Velasquez has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cat defends well.
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!
Cat postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cat wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.
Cat has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Velasquez looking for a sweep. Not yet Velasquez, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velasquez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cat trying to control the position from guard on top but Velasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velasquez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tom Cat will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Whitepride Velasquez's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Velasquez avoids the body shot from Cat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cat is defended easily by Velasquez.
Cat misses with a hook

and Velasquez counters with a single leg into guard. Cat didn't expect that.
Velasquez looking to pass the guard.
Velasquez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Cat looking for a sweep. Not yet Cat, not yet.
Velasquez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cat works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cat is looking to sweep but instead, Velasquez has passed into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez blocks the strikes from Cat.
Velasquez wants to pass the guard but Cat is defending well.
Velasquez is thwarting Cat's attempts to control the position.

Cat is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Velasquez pulls his head out easily.

Velasquez maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Cat could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Velasquez has cracked it and Cat is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Velasquez!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Whitepride Velasquez!
A relieved looking Whitepride Velasquez thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.