PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ Sommers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). TJ Sommers is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Velasquez
vs
Sommers

180 cm
18
230 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

202 cm
18
280 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Marvel Combat

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Cain Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, TJ Sommers!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Richard Clark and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velasquez shoots in for a takedown but Sommers shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Velasquez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sommers pinned against the cage. Sommers gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Velasquez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sommers is fending him off so far but Velasquez persists. Nope, Sommers circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sommers gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Velasquez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sommers throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Sommers is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Velasquez content to stall in guard here.
Velasquez preventing the sweep.
Velasquez scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sommers trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Sommers lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Sommers has his hands on Velasquez's head, controlling the position.
Sommers trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Sommers is striking off his back. Velasquez thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Sommers works his way to full guard. Good work.
Velasquez cracks Sommers with a solid left hand.
Sommers trying to strike off his back.
Sommers trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Velasquez has gone for a leg lock! Sommers slips out almost immediately though and dives into Velasquez's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sommers throwing strikes from guard but Velasquez blocks nicely.
Sommers stays in close to Velasquez's body and controls the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Velasquez wants to stand but Sommers is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velasquez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Velasquez could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Sommers postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sommers working some strikes from top position.
Sommers must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Velasquez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sommers thows a big elbow that misses.
Sommers postures up and lands a big shot to Velasquez's brow.
Sommers working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Velasquez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sommers.
Velasquez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sommers.

Velasquez looking for a guillotine here but Sommers defends easily.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.
Sommers cracks Velasquez with a solid left hand.
Sommers with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sommers is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Velasquez working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Sommers has passed into half guard!
Sommers looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Velasquez with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sommers seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Velasquez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sommers lands strikes from half guard.
Sommers is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Sommers scoring with punches to the head and body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sommers working some strikes from top position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Velasquez is trying to keep Sommers in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Sommers dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sommers throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Velasquez was covering up waiting for the punch and Sommers finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sommers working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Sommers from controlling successfully.

Sommers got a little sloppy there for a moment and Velasquez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sommers has managed to get both his arms back between Velasquez's legs - danger averted.
Sommers scoring with punches to the head and body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sommers postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sommers looking to pass the guard.
Sommers stands up over Velasquez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sommers landing some decent shots from guard.
Sommers stands up over Velasquez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sommers lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sommers working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Velasquez's head.

Velasquez had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Sommers is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Velasquez Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Sommers's back instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sommers wants to control his opponent's hands but Velasquez gets his hands free.
Sommers tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Sommers flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Sommers tries to hold on but Velasquez postures up.
Sommers is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Velasquez is staying active.
Velasquez prevents Sommers from getting the reversal.
Sommers bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Velasquez controls Sommers momentarily but Sommers frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sommers lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Velasquez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sommers is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sommers throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Velasquez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sommers working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
TJ Sommers has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sommers distracts Velasquez with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Velasquez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sommers doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sommers manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sommers is working Velasquez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sommers postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Velasquez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Sommers is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sommers working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sommers distracts Velasquez with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sommers content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sommers wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.
Sommers cracks Velasquez with a solid left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Sommers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Velasquez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Velasquez misses with a takedown

and Sommers counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sommers.
Sommers slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Velasquez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sommers defends well.
Sommers content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Velasquez has his foot on Sommers's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sommers works his way back into a safe position though.
Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Sommers from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sommers content to stall in guard here.
Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Sommers from controlling successfully.
Sommers is working Velasquez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sommers is in close to Velasquez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sommers's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sommers is in close to Velasquez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sommers working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Velasquez's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sommers cracks Velasquez with a solid left hand.
Sommers stands up over Velasquez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Velasquez has his foot on Sommers's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sommers works his way back into a safe position though.
Velasquez working a defensive guard here.
Sommers with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Velasquez is looking for a triangle but Sommers pushes his legs off easily.
Sommers is working Velasquez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sommers stands up over Velasquez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Velasquez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sommers can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
TJ Sommers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sommers looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sommers working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Velasquez's head.
Sommers sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Velasquez working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Sommers has passed into half guard!
Sommers controlling the action here.
Cain Velasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sommers's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
TJ Sommers comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sommers 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 26:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... TJ Sommers!