PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hanzo Hasashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and cain velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). velasquez has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Hasashi
vs
velasquez

188 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
245 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hanzo Hasashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, cain velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hasashi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
velasquez looks gassed!
Hasashi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hasashi lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hasashi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
velasquez controls Hasashi momentarily but Hasashi frees himself.
Hasashi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hasashi looking to sit in guard and control but velasquez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
velasquez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hasashi wants to get back to his feet but velasquez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hasashi 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.

velasquez 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.
Hasashi could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hasashi wants to stand but velasquez is controlling the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Hasashi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hasashi showed some decent athleticism there.
Hasashi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hasashi looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
velasquez is looking to improve his position.
Hasashi wants to lay and pray for a moment but velasquez keeps working.
Hasashi prevents velasquez from improving his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hasashi in particular looking to stall.
Hasashi trying to mount his opponent but velasquez defends it.
Hasashi stalling.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hasashi stops velasquez from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hasashi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hasashi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed velasquez's head.
Hasashi trying to pass the guard but velasquez defending well.
Hasashi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hasashi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
velasquez is not content to let Hasashi control the position.
Hasashi controlling the pace.
Hasashi is thwarting velasquez's attempts to control the position.
Hasashi is controlling the pace.

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.
Ground and pound from Hasashi.
Hasashi is looking to take a break and control but velasquez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hasashi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Hanzo Hasashi just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Hasashi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hasashi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with velasquez but velasquez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hasashi tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hasashi fails to land the takedown.

Hasashi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hasashi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
velasquez wants to stand up but Hasashi is controlling him.
Hasashi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
velasquez is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hasashi working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hasashi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Hanzo Hasashi just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Hasashi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. velasquez tries to avoid it but Hasashi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag velasquez to the ground. velasquez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Hasashi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hasashi seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
velasquez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hasashi scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hasashi prevents velasquez from standing back up.
velasquez is trying to get back to full guard.
velasquez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hasashi.
Hasashi working the head and body with strikes.
Hasashi scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hasashi is taking a breather. velasquez says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Hasashi lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hasashi trying to control the pace.
Hasashi seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down velasquez for as long as he can get away with.
Hasashi thows a huge punch but velasquez dodges it nicely.
Hasashi trying to control the pace.
Hasashi seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hasashi working over velasquez with some ground and pound. velasquez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hasashi throwing shots but velasquez is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hasashi controlling the action here.
Hasashi wants to lay and pray for a moment but velasquez keeps working.
Hasashi is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hasashi working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hasashi stalling.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Hanzo Hasashi just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Hasashi fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hanzo Hasashi dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Hasashi tries to score a power double leg takedown but velasquez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hasashi somewhat.

Hasashi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hasashi is looking to advance position but velasquez won't allow it.
Hasashi trying to control from half guard but velasquez is working away.
Hasashi is taking a breather. velasquez says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Hasashi wants to pass to mount but velasquez is defending the position.
Hasashi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hasashi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
velasquez wants to control but Hasashi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
velasquez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hasashi is taking a breather. velasquez says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hasashi tries to score a power double leg takedown but velasquez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hasashi somewhat.

Hasashi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in velasquez's half guard.
velasquez wants to get back to his feet.
Hasashi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
velasquez trying to control from the bottom.
Hasashi trying to pass the guard but velasquez defending well.
velasquez wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hasashi controlling the action here.
Hasashi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hasashi stalling.
Hasashi landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Hasashi is working for a submission of some sort.
velasquez trying to control but Hasashi postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hasashi trying to control the action but velasquez is working from the bottom.
velasquez wants to get back to his feet.
Hasashi wants to control but velasquez is keeping him busy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Hasashi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hasashi controlling the pace for now.
Hasashi tries to control but velasquez wriggling away.
Hasashi lands with some vicious ground and pound - can velasquez hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
velasquez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hasashi looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hasashi avoids the attempt from velasquez to control.
Hanzo Hasashi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hasashi controlling the position easily from mount.
cain velasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
velasquez is trying to stand up.
Hasashi content just to control the position here.
Hasashi working away from the top, dropping strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hanzo Hasashi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hasashi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hanzo Hasashi!