PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eduardo Vieira (ranked 1981 p4p, 3660 weight class) and Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vieira comes to the cage accompanied by Bullet The Blue Sky. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Vieira
vs
Velasquez

185 cm
35
185
16 - 9 - 2

175 cm
28
173
4 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 2, fighting out of New York, Eduardo Vieira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cain Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Fedor Mirinova and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vieira connects with a body shot.
Vieira fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Vieira with a hook.
Vieira lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Vieira just misses with a punch to the body.
Velasquez throws a counter combo.
Velasquez looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Vieira jabs Velasquez right on the nose. Velasquez blinks but takes it well.
Vieira lunges at Velasquez with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Velasquez's hand.
Velasquez takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Vieira throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Velasquez is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Velasquez takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vieira ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Vieira thows a body kick. Velasquez tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Velasquez goes for a double leg but Vieira avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Vieira continues to drive forward.
Vieira throws a nice head kick!
Vieira lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vieira lands a lovely overhand right.
Velasquez has a takedown stuffed.
Donk. Vieira catches Velasquez right on the button with a cross.
Vieira is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A nice inside leg kick there by Vieira. That's going to slow Velasquez down.
Good exchange - Vieira coming out on top.
Velasquez tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Vieira cracks Velasquez with a right hand to the side of the head.
Velasquez on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A right-left combo lands from Vieira.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Vieira feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Vieira looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez pulls Vieira in close to prevent any damage.
Vieira looking to pass the guard.
Vieira slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Vieira's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Vieira from controlling successfully.
Vieira is pushing down on Velasquez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Velasquez is fighting to maintain full guard but Vieira has managed to sneak the leg through.
Still in half guard, Vieira seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vieira is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Velasquez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velasquez is pressing down on Vieira's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Velasquez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vieira tries to free his leg and advance position but Velasquez is retaining full guard.
Velasquez working a defensive guard here.
Vieira wants to pass the guard but Velasquez is keeping the position.
Velasquez trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Vieira pushing down on Velasquez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Vieira wants to pass to mount but Velasquez is defending the position.

Vieira is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Vieira controlling the pace.
Vieira trying to pass the guard but Velasquez defending well.
Vieira slows the pace down in half guard.

Vieira wants to work for an arm triangle but Velasquez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eduardo Vieira dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Vieira connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Vieira pushes Velasquez away with a front kick.
Vieira goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Eduardo Vieira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vieira dips to his left and cracks Velasquez with an uppercut!
Vieira swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Velasquez.
Eduardo Vieira is winning the standup battle so far.
Velasquez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Vieira lands with a kick to the temple. Velasquez shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Velasquez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vieira connects with the punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vieira misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vieira lands a glancing blow to the side of Velasquez's head.
Vieira scores with a decent looking hook.
A lazy left from Vieira finds it's target.

Velasquez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Vieira to the ground. Velasquez is now in Vieira's guard.
Vieira manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Velasquez manages to get himself to full guard.

Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Vieira from controlling successfully.
Velasquez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vieira tries to free his leg and advance position but Velasquez is retaining full guard.
Velasquez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vieira. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Vieira is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Vieira slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to improve his position but Vieira is controlling well.
Velasquez trying to hold on to Vieira's head to control him but Vieira postures up.
Velasquez works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Vieira pushes down on Velasquez's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Velasquez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Vieira's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Vieira's back!
Velasquez missing with punches from the back.
Velasquez lands punches and elbows.
Vieira manages to reverse the position and now he's in Velasquez's guard. Nice work there by Vieira.
Vieira passes Velasquez's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is trying to get back to full guard.
Vieira wants to take a breather but Velasquez is having none of it.

Vieira seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velasquez is positioning himself well to prevent Vieira advancing to mount.

Vieira seems to be working for a kimura but Velasquez defends the submission attempt.

Vieira is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vieira is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Vieira looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Vieira is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Velasquez can do to turn this around?
Velasquez is trying to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eduardo Vieira dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Vieira.
Vieira getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Vieira throws a series of punches but Velasquez avoids them all with ease.
Velasquez tries to counter with a clinch but Vieira shakes him off and moves away.
Velasquez on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Vieira lands a nice hook to Velasquez's body. Velasquez takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Velasquez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vieira circles away.
Velasquez's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Vieira connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Velasquez scrambles back to his feet.
Velasquez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vieira.
A head kick from Vieira lands but Velasquez takes it in his stride.
Vieira chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Velasquez has a takedown stuffed.
Vieira with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Vieira looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Vieira is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Velasquez trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Vieira avoids the attempt from Velasquez to control.
Eduardo Vieira overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Velasquez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vieira takes Velasquez's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Velasquez is in trouble.

Vieira has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Velasquez has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Vieira tries to get the hooks in deep but Velasquez pushed the leg off.
Vieira is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Velasquez is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Velasquez can't escape the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Vieira is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Vieira keeps control of the position as Velasquez tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez manages to reverse the position and now he's in Vieira's guard. Nice work there by Velasquez.

Vieira looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Vieira had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Velasquez defends it easily.
Velasquez throws an elbow that misses. Vieira uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Velasquez's guard. Nice move by Vieira!

Velasquez keeping full guard, as Vieira tries to pass.
Velasquez wants to improve his position but instead Vieira has moved into half guard.
Vieira is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Vieira.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Vieira is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Velasquez is surviving well by controlling Vieira's body position as best he can.
Vieira breaks from Velasquez's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Velasquez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Vieira trying to control but Velasquez is having none of it.
Velasquez is desperately trying to improve his position but Vieira has a good base and remains in mount.
Cain Velasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Eduardo Vieira is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eduardo Vieira showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Vieira has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:25
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:26
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eduardo Vieira!
Eduardo Vieira decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.