PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dos Santos will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Velasquez
vs
Santos

188 cm
20
255 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

191 cm
22
245 lbs
8 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Springfield HW Nutrition
Springfield HW Nutrition

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cain Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Velasquez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Santos can't do much from the bottom here.
Velasquez is trying to ground and pound but Santos uses the momentary lack of control by Velasquez to regain half guard.
Santos has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Velasquez is working away from the top position though.
Velasquez is trying to control. Santos wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Velasquez throws a strike but Santos avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Santos controls Velasquez momentarily but Velasquez frees himself.
Santos has control of Velasquez's left arm, preventing Velasquez from doing any damage.
Velasquez throws a strike but Santos rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
Velasquez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Santos not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Santos won't allow Velasquez to sweep him here.
Velasquez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Santos on the ground.
Velasquez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Santos is controlling him.
Velasquez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Santos manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two 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.
Santos manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Santos content just to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Santos avoids the attempt from Velasquez to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Velasquez is working to get back to half guard.
Santos looking to control but Velasquez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Santos throwing strikes here but Velasquez is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Santos tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Velasquez avoids a series of strikes thrown by Santos.
Santos takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Velasquez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Velasquez's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Velasquez tries to reverse the position but Santos maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dos Santos dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Santos connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Santos takes a swing at Velasquez's ribcage but misses.
Dos Santos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Santos gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Santos is on top in guard.
Santos looking to sit in guard and control but Velasquez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Santos can do anything to dispel that myth.
Velasquez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Velasquez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Santos trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Santos is on top in guard.
Santos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Santos forces his way into half guard.
Santos looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Velasquez flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Velasquez is refusing to be controlled, as Santos sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Velasquez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Santos is controlling the pace.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Santos passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez looking for a sweep but Santos has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Velasquez tries to reverse the position but Santos maintains control.
Santos looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Santos can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Velasquez is looking to escape.
Velasquez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Santos trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dos Santos 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 closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Velasquez lands in his opponent's guard.
Velasquez wants to stand and escape but instead Santos has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Santos won't allow Velasquez to sweep him here.
Velasquez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Santos wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Velasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A jab from Santos misses.
Dos Santos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Velasquez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Velasquez cracks Santos with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Velasquez throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Velasquez lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Velasquez cracks Santos with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Santos keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Velasquez misses with a head shot.
Cain Velasquez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Santos bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Cain Velasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Velasquez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santos trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to sweep here but Santos controlling him for the moment.
Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Velasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Velasquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Santos stopping the sweep attempt from Velasquez.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Santos jabs Velasquez right on the nose. Velasquez blinks but takes it well.

It looks like Cain Velasquez has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos misses with a series of wild punches.
Velasquez gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Santos.
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 is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Santos's half guard.
Dos Santos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Velasquez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velasquez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Velasquez working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Santos's thigh. Santos counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Velasquez trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Santos manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dos Santos.
I've got Santos winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dos Santos!