PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lamont Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velasquez's entrance music is UFC - Face the Pain. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Velasquez
vs
Banner

186 cm
30
244 lbs
21 - 8 - 0

185 cm
29
218 lbs
15 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cain Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lamont Banner!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Banner shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Velasquez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Velasquez pulls Banner in to control the position.
Velasquez wants to stand but Banner is controlling the position.
Velasquez has a closed guard, preventing Banner from standing up.
Banner prevents Velasquez from getting back to his feet.

Velasquez has his feet on Banner's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Velasquez slips a jab and a cross from Banner.
Banner throws a right and a left that both miss.

Banner throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Velasquez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Banner is in Velasquez's guard.

Velasquez is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banner tries to circle away but Velasquez has him pinned against the cage.

Velasquez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Banner is trying to keep an underhook but Velasquez manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Banner tries to kick Velasquez off but Velasquez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez is pressing down on Banner's thigh, looking to free his foot. Banner is holding on for now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Velasquez lands strikes from half guard.
Banner is staying active underneath Velasquez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Velasquez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Banner actively working from the bottom here.

Banner actively working from the bottom here.
Banner taking some punishment here, with Velasquez in his half guard.
Banner is refusing to be controlled, as Velasquez sits in half guard.
Velasquez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Banner looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Velasquez controlling the pace.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Banner looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner is looking to improve his position.
Velasquez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Banner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Banner is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Velasquez scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ground and pound from Velasquez.
Velasquez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Banner keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Banner actively working from the bottom here.

Banner looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Velasquez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Banner looks winded!
Velasquez drops an elbow to the side of Banner's head.

Banner looking for submissions off his back.
Banner wants to improve his position but Velasquez is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Velasquez wants to take a breather but Banner is having none of it.
Velasquez lands strikes from half guard.
Velasquez is controlling the pace.
Velasquez is nestled in close to Banner, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Velasquez working the head and body with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Velasquez moves into full mount! Banner won't be happy about that!
Velasquez landing strikes from the mount.
Banner regains half guard.
Velasquez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Velasquez trying to pass the guard but Banner defending well.
Velasquez drops an elbow to the side of Banner's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Velasquez scores with a couple of nice shots.
Velasquez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Banner is rocked!
Banner tries to kick Velasquez off in order to stand up. Velasquez Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Banner is still in real trouble! Can Velasquez finish him?
Velasquez in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Banner looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Velasquez turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Cain Velasquez!