PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roy Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Caneiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nelson comes to the cage accompanied by Never Can Say Goodbye. Caneiro has chosen Velvet Underground-Heroin as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nelson
vs
Caneiro

190 cm
25
260 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

192 cm
24
228 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roy Nelson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rodrigo Caneiro!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Caneiro tries to avoid it but Nelson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Caneiro to the ground. Caneiro escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Roy Nelson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nelson shoots in but no luck this time.
Caneiro scores with a hook to the body. Nelson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Caneiro defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nelson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roy Nelson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Caneiro. No joy for Nelson on that attempt.

Caneiro closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Nelson manages to get back to half guard.

Caneiro is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Caneiro throwing shots but Nelson is blocking nicely.
Nelson wants to control but Caneiro is keeping busy.
Nelson wants to get back to full guard.
Caneiro wants to pass the guard but Nelson is defending well.
Nelson trying to control but Caneiro postures up.

Caneiro 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.
Nelson trying to control but Caneiro postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nelson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Nelson scores a takedown into full mount!
Caneiro is looking to improve his position but Nelson isn't that keen on the idea.
Caneiro sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Nelson is breathing heavily.
Nelson prevents Caneiro from improving his position.
Nelson is thwarting Caneiro's attempts to control the position.
Caneiro makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Caneiro.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Caneiro holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Caneiro working for a triangle but Nelson defends it easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nelson trying to control but Caneiro is working from the bottom.
Nelson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Caneiro looking for a guillotine here but Nelson defends easily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caneiro keeping moving, preventing Nelson from controlling successfully.

Caneiro escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nelson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Nelson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Caneiro has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nelson has managed to get both his arms back between Caneiro's legs - danger averted.

Caneiro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Caneiro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nelson defends well.

Caneiro looking for a guillotine here but Nelson defends easily.
Nelson wants to control from the top but Caneiro keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Caneiro has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nelson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
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!
Nelson wants to control from the top but Caneiro keeps moving.
Caneiro looking for a sweep. Not yet Caneiro, not yet.

Caneiro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nelson is aware though and is defending well.
Nelson trying to control but Caneiro is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nelson is looking to stand up but Caneiro won't let him.
Nelson wants to control from the top but Caneiro keeps moving.

Caneiro is looking for a triangle but Nelson pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Caneiro dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Caneiro smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Caneiro wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Caneiro with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Caneiro comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nelson takes one to the chin there.
Nelson tries for a takedown but Caneiro circles away easily

and Caneiro counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nelson!
Caneiro fails to move to back control.

Caneiro is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Nelson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Caneiro avoids the attempt from Nelson to control.
Nelson is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Caneiro has hold of Nelson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Nelson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Nelson avoids a series of strikes thrown by Caneiro.

Caneiro looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Nelson is desperately trying to improve his position but Caneiro has a good base and remains in mount.

Caneiro has control of Nelson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Nelson regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Nelson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Nelson tries to get out of the position.
Nelson tries to lock up and control but Caneiro gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Caneiro has control of Nelson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Nelson regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Nelson is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nelson defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Caneiro.
Caneiro avoids the attempt from Nelson to control.
Nelson is looking to improve his position but Caneiro isn't that keen on the idea.
Caneiro moves to the back position.

Caneiro is persistently looking for the submission but Nelson is defending it well.
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!

Caneiro is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Nelson defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Caneiro.

Caneiro working for a choke but Nelson is defending well.

Caneiro is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Nelson won't enjoy being in this position. Caneiro looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Nelson is tapping - it's over boys! Caneiro picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rodrigo Caneiro!