PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and KC Cooper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Velasquez
vs
Cooper

185 cm
20
260 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

202 cm
27
250 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cain Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, KC Cooper!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Bruno Hogan and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cooper swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Velasquez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Velasquez moves out of range of the strikes.
Cooper throws a lazy right hand but Velasquez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Velasquez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cooper sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Velasquez somewhat.
Velasquez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cooper sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Velasquez somewhat.
Velasquez tries for a takedown but Cooper sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Velasquez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cooper sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Velasquez avoids the body shot from Cooper.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cooper. Velasquez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cooper pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cooper throws out a loose jab but Velasquez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cooper throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cooper leaves Velasquez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cooper lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez shoots in and drives through. Cooper sprawls well.
Velasquez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Velasquez shoots in for a takedown but Cooper shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cooper ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Velasquez moves away.
A head kick misses from Cooper.
Cooper looks to land a left hand but Velasquez moved out of range nicely.
Velasquez moves away from the strike by Cooper.
Cooper throws the left hand but Velasquez avoids the punch easily.
Cooper throws a lazy right hand but Velasquez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Velasquez fails with the takedown.
Velasquez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cooper is fending him off so far but Velasquez persists. Nope, Cooper circles away and we're back to standing.
Sloppy strikes from Cooper. Those never looked like landing.
KC Cooper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cooper digs a good body shot into Velasquez's ribs.
Cooper misses with a few strikes there.
Cooper connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cooper ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Velasquez moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Velasquez.
Velasquez misses with a takedown attempt - Cooper sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Velasquez walks into a left hand.
Cooper misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Velasquez.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cooper misses with a looping left.
Cooper lunges at Velasquez with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Velasquez's hand.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Velasquez. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Velasquez shoots in but Cooper avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cooper stuffs the takedown.
Cooper throws the left hand but Velasquez avoids the punch easily.
Velasquez shoots in for a takedown but Cooper shows good takedown defense.
Cooper lands a slapping body shot.
Cooper slaps away a takedown attempt from Velasquez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Velasquez moves away from the strike by Cooper.
Cooper is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
A head kick misses from Cooper.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cooper throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Velasquez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cooper's guard.

Velasquez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Velasquez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Velasquez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cooper is keeping the position for now.
Velasquez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velasquez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez trying to control but Cooper is working from the bottom.
Cooper utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Velasquez trying to control but Cooper is working from the bottom.
Velasquez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Velasquez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Velasquez trying to control but Cooper is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velasquez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cooper is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

KC Cooper dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Velasquez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Velasquez shoots in for a double leg but Cooper sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cooper throws a big shot that misses.
Velasquez shoots for a double leg takedown but Cooper sprawls well. He's pushed Velasquez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cooper throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cooper dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Velasquez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cooper keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Well, if Velasquez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
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.
Velasquez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cooper can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cooper is looking to escape.

Velasquez is looking for a kimura but Cooper is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Velasquez to get the leverage.
Velasquez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Velasquez is working for a kimura but Cooper is defending it quite comfortably.
Velasquez works his way into full mount!

Velasquez working for a submission but Cooper is keeping him at bay.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cooper has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Cooper holding both Velasquez 's hands and preventing any damage.
Cain Velasquez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cooper looking very determined here, making life difficult for Velasquez.

Velasquez is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez trying to control.

Velasquez looking to break Cooper's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Cooper remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Velasquez will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Cooper 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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Velasquez looking for the choke from the back.

Velasquez is working on the RNC. He looks like he's got it but Cooper won't tap... Oh, he's out! The ref rips Velasquez off his unconscious opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Cain Velasquez!
A very excited looking Cain Velasquez made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.