PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tyson Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Taylor
vs
Velasquez

192 cm
25
210 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyson Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cain Velasquez !
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, John Roberts and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Velasquez gets caught flat footed, as Taylor shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Velasquez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Taylor postures up.

Velasquez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Taylor is aware though and is defending well.
Taylor will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Taylor with a flurry of punches that miss.
Taylor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Taylor got a little sloppy there for a moment and Velasquez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Taylor has managed to get both his arms back between Velasquez 's legs - danger averted.
Taylor loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taylor scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Taylor trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Taylor throwing strikes but missing.
Taylor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taylor cracks Velasquez with a solid left hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Velasquez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Taylor gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Taylor throws a big elbow that misses.
Velasquez doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor throws a big right hand that misses.
Velasquez controlling the position.
Taylor throwing strikes from guard but Velasquez blocks nicely.

Velasquez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Taylor defends it easily.
Taylor connects with a couple of short punches.
Taylor is in close to Velasquez 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Taylor loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Velasquez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Taylor works over Velasquez with some ground and pound from guard.

Velasquez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Taylor can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Taylor landing with the ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Velasquez is trying to control the position but Taylor postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Velasquez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Velasquez looks winded!
Taylor lands a couple of elbows.
Taylor cracks Velasquez with a solid left hand.

Velasquez has his foot on Taylor's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Taylor works his way back into a safe position though.
Taylor scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Taylor accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Taylor working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Velasquez 's head.
Taylor throwing strikes from guard but Velasquez blocks nicely.
Taylor in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Taylor throws a big elbow that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Velasquez is on top in guard.
Velasquez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Taylor's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Taylor working for a triangle but Velasquez defends it easily.

Taylor looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Velasquez lands a couple of elbows.

Taylor is looking for a triangle but Velasquez pushes his legs off easily.
Taylor on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Taylor tries to get out of the position.

Taylor working for a triangle but Velasquez defends it easily.
Velasquez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Taylor is looking to stand up but Velasquez isn't so interested in that idea.
Velasquez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Velasquez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Taylor has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Velasquez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Velasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Taylor is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Velasquez is aware though and is defending well.
Velasquez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Taylor's head.
Velasquez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Velasquez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Taylor's head.
Velasquez lands a couple of elbows.
Velasquez is in close to Taylor's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Taylor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Taylor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Taylor is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Velasquez defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Velasquez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Taylor defends it nicely.
Velasquez shoots in and drives through. Taylor sprawls well.
Velasquez shoots for a takedown but Taylor saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tyson Taylor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cain Velasquez .
Velasquez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Taylor is fending him off so far but Velasquez persists. Nope, Taylor circles away and we're back to standing.

Taylor darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Velasquez looking for submissions off his back.
Nice strikes from Taylor there.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.
Velasquez wants to control but Taylor is keeping busy.

Taylor is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Taylor lands a nice short elbow.
Velasquez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Taylor.
Ground and pound from Taylor.
Taylor throwing shots but Velasquez is blocking nicely.
Taylor thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Velasquez 's head.
Velasquez controlling the position well.
Taylor takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Velasquez trying to hold on to Taylor's head to control him but Taylor postures up.
Taylor is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Velasquez !

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor landing strikes from the mount.

It looks like Cain Velasquez has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Taylor with good strikes from the mount here!

Velasquez is rocked!
Oooooh, big shot lands for Taylor! Velasquez is hurt baaadly! Taylor is firing away with more strikes - Velasquez is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tyson Taylor!