PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Napoleon Moreau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Moreau
vs
Velasquez

175 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
136 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Canuck Beavermeat Nutrition

Charlie Wang's Nutrition and 95 % Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Napoleon Moreau!
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 Hirohito Nitta, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moreau tries to score a power double leg takedown but Velasquez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Moreau somewhat.
Velasquez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Moreau takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Velasquez fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Moreau looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Velasquez throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Moreau dives in and grabs Velasquez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Velasquez pushes down on Moreau's head and hops out.
Moreau shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Velasquez sprawls well. Velasquez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Moreau gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Napoleon Moreau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from Velasquez.
Moreau moves forwards but Velasquez connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Velasquez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Velasquez throws a right hand that Moreau ducks under and follows up with a left that Moreau also avoids with ease.
Moreau dodges the punch combination from Velasquez.
Moreau moves out of range of the body kick.
A big right from Moreau misses.
Velasquez swats away the attempt to clinch by Moreau.

Moreau darts in and clinches Velasquez up against the cage.
Moreau is breathing heavily.

Velasquez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Moreau throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Velasquez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Velasquez looks to land a combination but Moreau avoids it well.
Cain Velasquez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Velasquez lets loose with a powerful body kick. Moreau will feel that in the morning.
Velasquez throws a head kick but Moreau moves out of range.
Velasquez with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Moreau falls off balance throwing a combination
and Velasquez counters with a left and a right that stings Moreau.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Moreau blocks a head kick by Velasquez.
Velasquez throws a head kick that misses.
Moreau misses with the body kick
and Velasquez counters with a nice body kick.
Velasquez's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Velasquez duly obliges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez lands a nice shot to the body.
Velasquez is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Velasquez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Velasquez lands a jab to the nose.
Velasquez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Moreau stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Velasquez throws a nice outside leg kick.
Velasquez misses with a body shot.
Velasquez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Horrible takedown by Moreau or perhaps it was just good defense by Velasquez which made him look bad.
Moreau blocks a head kick by Velasquez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moreau fails with a takedown attempt.
Velasquez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Velasquez dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Moreau. That did some damage!
Velasquez looks to land a body kick but Moreau moved away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Velasquez darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No joy there for Velasquez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Napoleon Moreau seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Velasquez gets caught napping as Moreau dives in and scores a takedown. Velasquez manages to retain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasquez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Velasquez scores with a jab to the body.
Moreau takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Velasquez lands a head kick. Moreau smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Napoleon Moreau is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Moreau takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Velasquez's jab looks to have found its range, popping Moreau under the eye.
Velasquez is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Moreau rather than just go for the knockout.
Velasquez lands a glancing blow to the side of Moreau's head.
Moreau shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Velasquez as he jumps to the side.
Velasquez lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Donk. Velasquez catches Moreau right on the button with a cross.
Velasquez misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Moreau closes the distance and clinches up with Velasquez, looking for a takedown. Moreau pushes Velasquez against the cage but Velasquez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cain Velasquez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick misses from Velasquez.
Crunch! Velasquez slams his shin into Moreau's torso.
Moreau takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Horrible takedown by Moreau or perhaps it was just good defense by Velasquez which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Napoleon Moreau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from Velasquez.
Moreau takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Velasquez throws a nice looking combination but Moreau bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez swinging wildly here.
Velasquez scores with a jab.

Moreau drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Velasquez struggling a bit here.
Velasquez manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Moreau is thwarting Velasquez's attempts to control the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Moreau lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez won't allow Moreau to pass to mount.
Velasquez is trying to stand up here but Moreau is controlling him well.
Moreau 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.
Velasquez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Velasquez wants to sweep but no luck.

Velasquez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Moreau pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Velasquez is keeping the position for now.
Velasquez is looking to stand up but Moreau isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez looking for a sweep. Not yet Velasquez, not yet.

Velasquez throws his legs up looking for a submission but Moreau uses it to pass to side control.
Velasquez is trying to improve his position.

Moreau tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Moreau has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velasquez tries to bench press Moreau off him but Moreau keeps the position.
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 round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Velasquez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Moreau misses with a body kick.
Moreau moves in looking to clinch but Velasquez pushes him off.
Moreau is looking to clinch.
Moreau uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Velasquez.
Moreau doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Moreau misses with a few strikes there.
Velasquez scores with a crisp jab that stopped Moreau in his tracks.

Moreau gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Moreau jumps guard but Velasquez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moreau drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Velasquez trying to stall but Moreau improves his position.
Velasquez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Velasquez scores with a shot to the side of Moreau's head.
A short right from Velasquez on the inside.
Velasquez connects with a knee to the head.
Moreau jumps guard but Velasquez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Napoleon Moreau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Velasquez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Velasquez is looking to break free of the clinch but Moreau has double underhooks.

Moreau has picked Velasquez up - he's going for a ride! Moreau dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Velasquez throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to get back to his feet.
Velasquez regains full guard. Nicely done.

Moreau stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Velasquez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Moreau's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Moreau avoids the head kick by Velasquez.
Velasquez stuffs the takedown attempt from Moreau. Moreau gets slowly back to his feet.
Velasquez tries a head kick but it misses.
Velasquez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Moreau tries to land a leg kick but Velasquez saw it coming and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moreau shoots in looking for a takedown but Velasquez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Moreau's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sloppy strikes from Velasquez. Those never looked like landing.
Velasquez throws out a loose jab but Moreau uses good head movement to avoid it.
Velasquez lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Moreau gets a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Moreau prevents Velasquez from breaking the clinch.
Moreau has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Velasquez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Moreau jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Velasquez walks away with a smile on his face. Moreau gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Velasquez misses with a double jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moreau moves out of range as Velasquez throws a body kick.

Moreau shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Moreau showed some decent athleticism there.
Moreau thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Velasquez is looking to improve his position.
Moreau controlling the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Moreau is trying to work for a kimura but Velasquez is defending well.
Napoleon Moreau has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish 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!

Velasquez is defending against the submission attempts here by Moreau.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Napoleon Moreau.
I think Velasquez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

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