PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zane Archavin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velasquez has chosen Not Afraid-Eminem as his entrance music. 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.

Archavin
vs
Velasquez

216 cm
22
235 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

185 cm
25
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zane Archavin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cain Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Archavin wants to clinch.
Archavin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Velasquez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Archavin tries to clinch up.

Archavin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Archavin keeping full guard, as Velasquez tries to pass.
Velasquez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Archavin is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez staying calm.
Velasquez sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Archavin is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Archavin struggling a bit here.
Velasquez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Archavin keeps working.
A lull in the action here as Velasquez stalls from top position.
Archavin is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Archavin is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez scores with a couple of short elbows.
Velasquez lands an elbow.
Velasquez trying to control the position but Archavin is working away.

Velasquez tries for a kimura but Archavin is defending well.

Velasquez decides to stand back up. Velasquez steps back and let's Archavin get back to his feet.
Archavin circles away from the clinch attempt
and Archavin counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Velasquez cracks Archavin with a big elbow.
Archavin tries to improve position but can't.
Velasquez landing strikes.

Velasquez tries for a kimura but Archavin is defending well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Archavin is not content to let Velasquez control the position.
Archavin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Velasquez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Archavin haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez lands a nice forearm strike.
Archavin is not content to let Velasquez control the position.
Velasquez is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Archavin's shoulder. That is not cool.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velasquez trying to control the position but Archavin is working away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Velasquez in side control, just content to control the action for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasquez dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Velasquez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Velasquez should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Velasquez throws a series of punches but Archavin avoids them all with ease.
Archavin is looking to clinch.
Archavin looks to clinch
and Velasquez counters with a one-two to the body.
Archavin fails to land the takedown.
Velasquez fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Velasquez.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velasquez closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Archavin's guard.
Velasquez trying to control but Archavin is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Velasquez wants to stand but Archavin has a closed guard, so he can'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 drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Archavin keeping moving, preventing Velasquez from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez preventing the sweep.

Velasquez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Archavin, up you get!
Velasquez throws a leg kick but Archavin checks it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Velasquez connects with a single shot there.

Archavin is rocked!

Velasquez lands a huge takedown. Archavin is out but the ref is slow to react and Velasquez lands 3 more undefended punches before the fight is stopped. Brutal finish. Archavin lies on the canvas for a good minute before the doctors bring him round. Good to see he's OK.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Cain Velasquez!
After winning the bout, Cain Velasquez thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.