PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Velasqs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Poldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cain Velasqs had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Velasqs
vs
Poldi

209 cm
37
216 lbs
15 - 17 - 1

188 cm
33
220 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Cain Velasqs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jack Poldi!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Poldi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Velasqs did well to prevent Poldi getting side control.

Poldi seems to be working for a kimura but Velasqs defends the submission attempt.

Velasqs looking for submissions off his back.
Poldi is pressing down on Velasqs's thigh, looking to free his foot. Velasqs is holding on for now.
Velasqs is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poldi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Poldi is trying to control. Velasqs wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Poldi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Velasqs is not content to let Poldi control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poldi might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Velasqs haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Poldi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Velasqs is trying to get back to full guard.

Velasqs actively working from the bottom here.
Still in half guard, Poldi seems content to control.
Poldi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Velasqs keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Velasqs is not content to let Poldi control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Poldi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Velasqs looking for submissions off his back.

Velasqs is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Poldi pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Poldi is looking for a kimura but Velasqs is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Poldi to get the leverage.

Velasqs is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Poldi pulls his head out easily.
Velasqs misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Poldi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Poldi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Poldi trying to pass the guard but Velasqs defending well.
Velasqs is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Poldi scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poldi not doing much here.

Velasqs looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Poldi content to control rather than advance.
Poldi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Poldi trying to control the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Poldi stuns Velasqs with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
No luck for Velasqs with that takedown attempt.

Poldi clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Poldi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Velasqs swats away the attempt to clinch by Poldi.
Poldi walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Poldi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Velasqs was well out of range. Poor timing from Poldi.
Poldi misses with a head kick.
Poldi tries to close the distance and clinch but Velasqs swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Poldi moves in looking to clinch but Velasqs pushes him off.

Poldi rushes Velasqs and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Velasqs fails to pull guard.
Velasqs is trying to pull guard but Poldi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasqs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Velasqs tries to pull guard but Poldi won't allow it.

Velasqs jumps guard and drags Poldi to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Velasqs is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Poldi defends well.
Poldi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Poldi dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Poldi instigates a clinch.
Poldi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Velasqs fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Poldi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Poldi.
Velasqs tries to pull guard but Poldi won't allow it.
Velasqs tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasqs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Velasqs is trying to pull guard but Poldi has him pressed against the cage.
Velasqs jumps guard but Poldi turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Poldi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Cain Velasqs has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poldi is trying to maintain a safe position but Velasqs gets an underhook and turns Poldi into the cage.
Poldi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Velasqs has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Poldi lands an elbow that stopped Velasqs in his tracks for a moment.
Poldi misses with a knee strike.
Velasqs fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Velasqs fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasqs tries to pull guard but Poldi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Velasqs tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Poldi just stands there and leans against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Velasqs blocks an elbow strike from Poldi.
Velasqs tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Poldi smiles and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Poldi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Poldi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Velasqs moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Poldi misses with a double jab.
Velasqs takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Poldi wants to clinch
and Velasqs counters with a stiff right hand.
Poldi takes a swing at Velasqs's ribcage but misses.
Poldi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Velasqs was well out of range. Poor timing from Poldi.
Poldi moves in looking to clinch but Velasqs pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poldi tries to close the distance and clinch but Velasqs swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Poldi. No joy for Velasqs on that attempt.
Poldi tries to clinch there but Velasqs circles away.
Velasqs connects with a nice looking jab.

Poldi moves into range and clinches up with Velasqs.
Poldi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Velasqs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Velasqs tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Velasqs being controlled against the cage.
Poldi lands an elbow just above Velasqs 's eye.
Poldi is stalling here.
Poldi pushes Velasqs back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Poldi leaning his opponent against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Poldi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poldi lands a hook that snaps the head of Velasqs backwards.
Poldi can't find room to land a body shot as Velasqs controls the action.
Stalling in the clinch from Poldi.
Poldi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Velasqs tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Poldi smiles and moves away.
Velasqs swats away the attempt to clinch by Poldi.
Velasqs is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Velasqs slips a jab from Poldi.

Poldi has closed the distance and engaged Velasqs in a clinch.
Velasqs tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Poldi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Poldi tries a body shot but Velasqs blocks it.

Velasqs pulls guard effortlessly.
Velasqs being controlled here, momentarily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velasqs working for a triangle but Poldi defends it easily.
Poldi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Poldi wants to control from the top but Velasqs keeps moving.

Velasqs looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Poldi wants to control from the top but Velasqs keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Poldi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cain Velasqs's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Velasqs scores with a hook.
Poldi lands a nice looking kick to the body. Velasqs takes a step back to recover.

Poldi closes the distance and pushes Velasqs back into the cage.
Velasqs tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Poldi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Poldi scores with a nice hook to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Poldi.
Velasqs fails to pull guard.
Poldi slowing the pace effectively.
Poldi misses with a punch to the body.
Velasqs fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasqs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poldi stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Poldi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Cain Velasqs's cut is getting worse.
Poldi lands with a right to the head.

Cain Velasqs's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Poldi is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poldi misses with an elbow strike.
Velasqs tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Poldi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Velasqs tries to pull guard but Poldi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Poldi lands a nice shot to the body.
Poldi digs a right hand underneath Velasqs's ribcage. Velasqs let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Velasqs tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Poldi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Poldi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Velasqs jumps into guard, dragging Poldi to the mat.
Poldi landing some decent shots from guard.
Jack Poldi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Poldi wants to control from the top but Velasqs keeps moving.

Poldi has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Velasqs to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Poldi is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Velasqs pulls down on the head and he's put Poldi to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Cain Velasqs!
Cain Velasqs decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.