PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arek Rendziok (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velasquez's entrance music is UFC - Face the Pain. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Rendziok's choice of entrance music: Sen. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Velasquez
vs
Rendziok

186 cm
30
244 lbs
22 - 10 - 0

200 cm
29
215 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 22 - 10 - 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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Arek Rendziok!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Sergei Dronov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rendziok with a poor takedown

and Velasquez counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Rendziok!
Velasquez scores with a couple of short elbows.
Rendziok dodges the ground and pound from Velasquez.
Velasquez tries to score with some ground and pound. Rendziok controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Velasquez is chipping away with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Velasquez trying to control the position but Rendziok is working away.
Velasquez works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Rendziok is trying to get back to half guard.
Rendziok avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Velasquez.
Rendziok takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez with the ground and pound but Rendziok regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Velasquez misses with a head shot. Rendziok uses the momentum to regain guard.
Velasquez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Velasquez trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Rendziok manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Velasquez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rendziok trying to control the position from guard on top but Velasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rendziok missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rendziok won't allow Velasquez to get back to his feet.
Velasquez lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rendziok!
Velasquez lands with some strikes.
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.
Velasquez landing strikes from the mount and Rendziok is in trouble!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Velasquez looking to finish with strikes here!
Velasquez wants to control the pace but Rendziok is squirming around nicely.
Velasquez thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Velasquez is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rendziok can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez punching from mount but Rendziok doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Velasquez looking to control but Rendziok is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rendziok keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Velasquez with shots to the head and body - Rendziok looks very uncomfortable down there.
Velasquez lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rendziok hang on?
Velasquez punishing his opponent with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Velasquez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rendziok is looking to escape.
Velasquez looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rendziok avoids a series of strikes thrown by Velasquez.
Rendziok holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Velasquez tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Velasquez is landing with some decent strikes but Rendziok is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Velasquez is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rendziok can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rendziok wants to control but Velasquez is having none of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Velasquez working the ground and pound effectively.
Velasquez controlling his opponent.
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!

Velasquez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rendziok counters with a nice uppercut.
Rendziok has a takedown stuffed.
Rendziok shoots in looking for a takedown but Velasquez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rendziok's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rendziok throws a hook but Velasquez avoids it easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rendziok.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez pushes Rendziok away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rendziok gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Velasquez trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Rendziok scoring with punches from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velasquez tries to improve position but can't.
Velasquez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Velasquez taking a bit of punishment here - Rendziok scoring with strikes.
Velasquez is looking for a sweep.
Velasquez is trying to get back to his feet.
Velasquez wants to control but Rendziok postures up.
Velasquez is pushing Rendziok's head away, looking to escape. Rendziok manages to hold on to the position though.
Rendziok fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Velasquez is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rendziok off and has taken his back!
Rendziok wants to control his opponent's hands but Velasquez gets his hands free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Rendziok really must keep his cool here. He's controlling one of Velasquez's hands and whilst he does that, he's got a chance of escaping the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Velasquez is looking to control Rendziok but Rendziok is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Rendziok is trying to break free.
Velasquez scores with punches from the back.
Velasquez misses with punches from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rendziok covering up well and avoiding damage.
Velasquez misses with punches from the back.

Velasquez is persistently looking for the submission but Rendziok is defending it well.
Rendziok turns into Velasquez and is now in his guard.
Rendziok trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
Velasquez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rendziok tries to free his leg and advance position but Velasquez is retaining full guard.
Velasquez has control of Rendziok's left arm, preventing Rendziok from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is trying to control the position but Rendziok postures up.

We're going to have a standup here because Cain Velasquez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Rendziok gets caught flat footed, as Velasquez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Velasquez drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rendziok dives on top into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Velasquez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rendziok connects with a couple of short punches.
Rendziok in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velasquez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Velasquez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
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 Cain Velasquez will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rendziok shoots for a double leg takedown but Velasquez sprawls well. He's pushed Rendziok's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rendziok shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Velasquez as he jumps to the side.
Nice sprawl there from Rendziok as Velasquez shoots in.
A jab from Rendziok does it's job there.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rendziok.
Cain Velasquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arek Rendziok.
Velasquez shoots in looking for a takedown. Rendziok tries to sprawl out of it but Velasquez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rendziok manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rendziok slaps away a takedown attempt from Velasquez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Velasquez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rendziok sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Velasquez somewhat.
Arek Rendziok has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rendziok.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Rendziok shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Velasquez defends it nicely.
Rendziok scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rendziok shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Velasquez pinned against the cage. Velasquez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rendziok misses with a looping right.
A punch lands to the side of Velasquez 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez avoids the body shot from Rendziok.
Rendziok throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rendziok misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Velasquez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Velasquez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Velasquez showed some decent athleticism there.
Cain Velasquez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cain Velasquez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rendziok manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Velasquez is in close to Rendziok's body, working some short punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Arek Rendziok.
I think Velasquez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28

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