PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Crizol Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Velasquez
vs
Silva

185 cm
21
238 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

200 cm
22
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cain Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Crizol Silva!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Paulo Santos and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Silva.
Nice uppercut lands for Silva. That snapped Velasquez's head back.

Velasquez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Velasquez showed some decent athleticism there.
Velasquez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nice strikes from Velasquez there.
Velasquez thows a huge punch but Silva dodges it nicely.
Velasquez thows a huge punch but Silva dodges it nicely.
Velasquez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Silva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Velasquez.
Velasquez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.
Velasquez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Silva really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Velasquez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Velasquez has a takedown stuffed.
Crizol Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silva fails with the takedown

and Velasquez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Silva's guard now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.
Silva wants to stand and escape but Velasquez is having none of it.
Velasquez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Velasquez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Velasquez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Velasquez throws a big right hand that misses.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Velasquez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Velasquez is in close to Silva's body, working some short punches and elbows.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Velasquez fails with a takedown attempt.
Silva tries a low kick but Velasquez avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.
Silva wants to clinch

and Velasquez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Silva won't be happy with that.
Silva defending against the ground and pound.
Velasquez tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Velasquez fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Velasquez working the ground and pound but Silva is defending the strikes.
Velasquez misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
An elbow from Velasquez crashes against the mat.
Velasquez tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Velasquez working the ground and pound but Silva is defending the strikes.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Silva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Velasquez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Velasquez is fighting to break Silva's control of his arms but Silva is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Velasquez prevents Silva from getting back to his feet.
Velasquez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Velasquez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Velasquez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Silva has his hands on Velasquez's head, controlling the position.
Silva controls Velasquez momentarily but Velasquez frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Velasquez throwing strikes but missing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Silva tries for a takedown but Velasquez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cain Velasquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Crizol Silva.
Nice uppercut lands for Silva. That snapped Velasquez's head back.
Velasquez tries for a takedown but Silva sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velasquez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Silva. No joy for Velasquez on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Silva. No joy for Velasquez on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasquez dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Silva tries to bum rush Velasquez with a series of wild strikes but Velasquez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Velasquez fails with the takedown.
Velasquez could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A slow jab from Silva misses its intended target.
Silva misses with a low kick as Velasquez jumps back.

Velasquez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Silva looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Velasquez throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Velasquez in side control, throwing shots but Silva defends.
Velasquez in side control, throwing shots but Silva defends.
Velasquez in side control, throwing shots but Silva defends.
The ground and pound from Velasquez seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva can't do much from the bottom here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Silva can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez misses with the ground and pound.
The ground and pound from Velasquez seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Silva smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Silva with a poor takedown

and Velasquez counters with a shoot takedown. Silva fights it but they end up in guard.
Silva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Velasquez thows a big elbow that misses.
Velasquez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Silva is looking to stand up but Velasquez isn't so interested in that idea.
Cain Velasquez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Velasquez throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Velasquez throwing strikes but missing.
Velasquez throwing strikes but missing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Silva dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Velasquez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Silva.
Velasquez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Velasquez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Silva sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez shoots for a takedown but Silva saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice straight punches there by Silva. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Silva.
Silva tries for a takedown but Velasquez circles away easily

and Velasquez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Velasquez is looking to work some ground and pound but Silva has wrist control.
Velasquez throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Velasquez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velasquez works over Silva with some ground and pound from guard.
Velasquez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Silva wants to stand and escape but Velasquez is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Silva can't keep his opponent in guard - Velasquez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Velasquez thows a huge punch but Silva dodges it nicely.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.
Silva is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Silva taking some punishment here, with Velasquez in his half guard.
Velasquez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Silva wants to get back to full guard.
Velasquez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Silva's head.
Silva pushes Velasquez off looking to stand but Velasquez dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasquez dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Velasquez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silva pinned against the cage. Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Velasquez gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Silva keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Silva tries to clinch

and Velasquez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Silva's guard now.
Velasquez prevents Silva from getting back to his feet.
Velasquez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Velasquez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Velasquez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Velasquez throws a big right hand that misses.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Velasquez throwing strikes but missing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Silva comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The fighters circling - Silva throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Silva missing with a left hand there. Velasquez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Velasquez fails with the takedown.

Velasquez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Velasquez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Silva defending well though.
Velasquez thows a huge punch but Silva dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Silva has hold of Velasquez's hands but Velasquez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Velasquez passes the guard and advances to mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Velasquez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Silva is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Velasquez sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Silva avoids a series of strikes thrown by Velasquez.
Silva tries to lock up and control but Velasquez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Silva blocking the ground and pound.
Poor strikes thrown by Velasquez there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Silva wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Velasquez.
Velasquez misses with a head shot.
Velasquez throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Silva really wants to buck Velasquez off and get back to his feet.
Poor strikes thrown by Velasquez there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Velasquez thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Velasquez scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Silva?
Silva is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Velasquez looking to finish with strikes here!
Velasquez tries to control but Silva wriggling away.
Silva avoids a series of strikes thrown by Velasquez.
Velasquez sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Crizol Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cain Velasquez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Velasquez unloads with some shots from mount but Silva bucks and avoids them well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Velasquez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Velasquez, 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

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