PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Guadalupe Winters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cain Velasquez has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Guadalupe Winters's chin.

Winters
vs
Velasquez

206 cm
18
278 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

186 cm
20
224 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Guadalupe Winters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cain Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Velasquez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Velasquez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Velasquez looking to score a takedown here. Winters is defending well but Velasquez drives through and ends up in Winters's guard.
Velasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Winters is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Winters working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Velasquez has passed into half guard!
Velasquez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Winters does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Velasquez throwing shots but Winters is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velasquez controlling the pace.
Velasquez tries to stand but can't do so whilst Winters controls his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winters desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Velasquez trying to control from half guard but Winters is working away.

Cain Velasquez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Velasquez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Winters manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Velasquez drives through with a takedown into guard.
Velasquez trying to control but Winters is working from the bottom.
Velasquez works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to take a breather but Winters is having none of it.
Winters is looking to control Velasquez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Winters avoid being mounted?
Winters 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velasquez wants to stand up but Winters has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Velasquez stands up out of the half guard.

Velasquez moves into the clinch.
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!
Velasquez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Velasquez can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Winters pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Winters keeps the fight on the outside.
Winters tries to close the distance and clinch but Velasquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Velasquez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Winters wants to control but Velasquez is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Winters actively working from the bottom here.
Winters keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Velasquez is thwarting Winters's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez stalling away here and it's allowed Winters to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Velasquez wants to control from the top but Winters keeps moving.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velasquez looks winded!

The ref stands the fighters back up. Cain Velasquez was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Velasquez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Winters to the ground. Velasquez is now in Winters's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Winters wants to clinch up but Velasquez keeps it at a distance.
Velasquez throws a body punch but Winters moves out of range.

Velasquez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Velasquez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Winters blocking the ground and pound attempt from Velasquez.
Cain Velasquez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Velasquez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Velasquez wants to stand up but Winters is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.
Winters is trying to stand back up but Velasquez is controlling him
Winters keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Winters trying to control here.
Winters won't allow Velasquez to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Winters is trying to control but can't.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Guadalupe Winters just wasn't active enough.
Velasquez tries to clinch there but Winters circles away.

Velasquez drives through with a takedown into Winters's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Winters controlling Velasquez's posture.
Velasquez postures up.
Winters controlling the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Velasquez trying to control but Winters is working from the bottom.
Velasquez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Guadalupe Winters.
Winters tries to clinch but Velasquez moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Winters gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Velasquez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Winters pulls Velasquez in close to prevent any damage.
Velasquez postures up.
Winters managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Velasquez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Winters has a closed guard, preventing Velasquez from standing up.
Velasquez stands and throws Winters's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velasquez misses with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasquez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Velasquez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Winters tries to clinch but Velasquez moves out of range.
Cain Velasquez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Velasquez tries to clinch but Winters moves out of range.
Velasquez throws a sloppy head kick and Winters moves out of range easily.

Velasquez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Winters did well to prevent Velasquez getting side control.
Velasquez working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Winters's thigh. Winters counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Winters has his hands on Velasquez's head, controlling the position.
Winters utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winters is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Velasquez trying to control but Winters is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Cain Velasquez wasn't active enough on the ground.

Velasquez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Winters to the ground. Velasquez is now in Winters's guard.
Velasquez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Winters has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Velasquez. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Winters gets caught flat footed, as Velasquez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Winters looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Winters looking to control.
Winters pulls Velasquez in close to prevent any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Velasquez wants to control from the top but Winters keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Guadalupe Winters just wasn't active enough.

Velasquez feints and as Winters raises his hands in defense, Velasquez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Velasquez is fighting to break Winters's control of his arms but Winters is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez trying to control but Winters is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Velasquez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Winters is trying to defend but Velasquez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Winters tries to roll over but Velasquez keeps him under control.
Guadalupe Winters has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cain Velasquez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velasquez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Winters does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Velasquez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Velasquez 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

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