PBP Commentary

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

Rzeznik
vs
Velasquez

220 cm
24
295 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Michal Rzeznik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cain Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Albert Achterberg and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Velasquez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rzeznik to the mat! Rzeznik manages to get full guard.
Velasquez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Velasquez is in close to Rzeznik's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Velasquez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rzeznik swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rzeznik is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Velasquez forces his way into half guard.
Rzeznik is looking to control Velasquez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rzeznik avoid being mounted?
Velasquez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rzeznik wants to sweep but Velasquez has passed to side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velasquez in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
A lull in the action here.
Velasquez tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Velasquez controls the position from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rzeznik manages to work his way to half guard, despite Velasquez's best efforts.
Velasquez is nestled in close to Rzeznik, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rzeznik trying to control here.
Velasquez trying to control the pace.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Velasquez tries to stand but can't do so whilst Rzeznik controls his leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to free his trapped foot but Rzeznik is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rzeznik trying to hold on to Velasquez's head to control him but Velasquez postures up.
Velasquez seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Velasquez swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Velasquez clinches up with Rzeznik and pushes him back against the cage.
Velasquez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rzeznik smiles and moves away.
Velasquez throws a lazy right hand but Rzeznik sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Rzeznik gets caught napping as Velasquez dives in and scores a takedown. Rzeznik manages to retain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rzeznik striking off his back but it's not causing Velasquez any problems.
Rzeznik working a defensive guard here.
Rzeznik has control of Velasquez's left arm, preventing Velasquez from doing any damage.
Rzeznik working a defensive guard here.
Velasquez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Michal Rzeznik just wasn't active enough.
Velasquez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasquez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rzeznik tries to close the distance and clinch but Velasquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A combination from Velasquez does no damage.

Velasquez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rzeznik throws a few strikes from the bottom but Velasquez takes advantage and mounts!
Rzeznik wants to control but Velasquez is having none of it.
Rzeznik bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Velasquez keeping full guard, as Rzeznik tries to pass.
Velasquez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rzeznik's guard.
Velasquez lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez tries to free his leg and advance position but Rzeznik is retaining full guard.
Rzeznik trying to keep a closed guard but Velasquez is proving a slippery customer.
Velasquez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Velasquez wants to stand but Rzeznik has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Velasquez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rzeznik seems keen to control Velasquez's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Michal Rzeznik has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rzeznik misses with a takedown attempt - Velasquez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Velasquez gets a takedown into half guard.
Rzeznik gets full guard.
Velasquez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Velasquez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rzeznik works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Velasquez sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Cain Velasquez.
Nice sprawl there from Velasquez as Rzeznik shoots in.
Velasquez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Velasquez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rzeznik.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michal Rzeznik. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez moves into range and clinches up with Rzeznik.
Rzeznik tries to pull guard but Velasquez won't allow it.
Rzeznik is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Velasquez is keeping busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rzeznik avoiding damage as Velasquez throws knees to the body.
Velasquez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rzeznik.

Velasquez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Velasquez scores with a takedown into Rzeznik's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velasquez trying to control but Rzeznik is working from the bottom.
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.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rzeznik circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rzeznik fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Rzeznik clinches.
Rzeznik misses with a knee strike.
Velasquez tries to pull guard but Rzeznik holds him up against the cage and eventually Velasquez drops back down to his feet.

Rzeznik manages to break the clinch.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Velasquez crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rzeznik - the referee stops the clock and Velasquez gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rzeznik. Velasquez manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rzeznik shoots and misses

and Velasquez counters by clinching up.
Rzeznik can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michal Rzeznik. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Velasquez misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velasquez lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rzeznik wants to get back to full guard.
Velasquez moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Rzeznik.
Rzeznik is trying to control Velasquez's posture but Velasquez avoids it.
Velasquez takes a little break here. Rzeznik wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Velasquez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rzeznik knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Rzeznik is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Velasquez is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Cain Velasquez has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rzeznik looks to move to half guard but instead Velasquez has passed into mount! Damn!
Rzeznik looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Rzeznik is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Velasquez gets his way!
Velasquez softening up his opponent with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez not allowing Rzeznik to control his hands.

Rzeznik preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Velasquez.
Velasquez controlling well, preventing Rzeznik from escaping the position.
Michal Rzeznik has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cain Velasquez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velasquez slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cain Velasquez!