PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Piotr Rasputin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velasquez has chosen UFC - Face the Pain as his entrance music. Cain Velasquez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rasputin
vs
Velasquez

198 cm
28
250 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

186 cm
26
244 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

****160Q Energy for $150****

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Piotr Rasputin !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cain Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rasputin throws out a loose jab but Velasquez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Velasquez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rasputin dives in and grabs Velasquez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Velasquez pushes down on Rasputin 's head and hops out.

Velasquez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rasputin 's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Rasputin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Velasquez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rasputin controls Velasquez momentarily but Velasquez frees himself.
Velasquez throws a big right hand that misses.
Velasquez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rasputin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Velasquez throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Velasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Rasputin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasputin trying to control the position.
Rasputin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Rasputin looking for a guillotine here but Velasquez defends easily.
Velasquez chips away with some ground and pound.
Rasputin can't keep his opponent in guard - Velasquez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Velasquez throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rasputin to regain full guard.
Velasquez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Velasquez throwing strikes but missing.
Rasputin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin trying to control the position.
Rasputin seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Rasputin keeping moving, preventing Velasquez from controlling successfully.

Velasquez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rasputin looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rasputin looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rasputin !
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rasputin working away.
Rasputin prevents Velasquez from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is looking for a sweep.
Rasputin controls the position.
Rasputin looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Velasquez is avoiding damage well.
Rasputin working the head and body with strikes.
Rasputin landing a few strikes.
Rasputin is putting a hurting on Velasquez here, landing some big shots from side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rasputin working the ground and pound.
Rasputin postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Rasputin in side control, throwing shots but Velasquez defends.
Velasquez is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Rasputin asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Velasquez parries the strikes from Rasputin easily there. Rasputin is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Velasquez to escape.
Rasputin wants to control but Velasquez is keeping him busy.
Velasquez is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rasputin landing a few strikes.
Velasquez is looking for a sweep.
Velasquez is not content to let Rasputin control the position.
Velasquez takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Velasquez tries to buck Rasputin off but Rasputin is having none of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Velasquez is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Rasputin asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Velasquez bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piotr Rasputin dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A jab from Rasputin misses.
Rasputin ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rasputin .
Rasputin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Velasquez moves away from the strike by Rasputin .
Rasputin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rasputin throws a sloppy body shot
and Velasquez counters with a stiff right hand.
Rasputin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Rasputin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Velasquez napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rasputin tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasputin trying to control the position but Velasquez is working away.
Piotr Rasputin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Velasquez defending against the ground and pound.
Rasputin works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Velasquez is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rasputin is controlling him well.
Rasputin postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
An elbow from Rasputin crashes against the mat.
Rasputin trying to control the action but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
Velasquez sneaks back into half guard.
Rasputin works his way into full mount!
Rasputin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez taking shots to the head.
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 to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Rasputin looking to control but Velasquez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rasputin landing shots from mount.
Rasputin cracks Velasquez with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Velasquez tries to lock up and control but Rasputin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rasputin trying to control but Velasquez is having none of it.
Velasquez wants to control but Rasputin is having none of it.
Rasputin working the ground and pound effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Rasputin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rasputin seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Velasquez for as long as he can get away with.
Velasquez is trying desperately to improve position.
Rasputin lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Velasquez is trying desperately to improve position.
Rasputin tries to control but Velasquez wriggling away.
Rasputin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Velasquez wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin landing strikes from the mount and Velasquez is in trouble!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rasputin putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Velasquez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rasputin is landing with some decent strikes but Velasquez is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Velasquez is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Rasputin is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The referee warns Velasquez that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rasputin with shots to the head and body - Velasquez looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rasputin content just to control the position here.

Velasquez bucks up and throws Rasputin to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piotr Rasputin dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rasputin .
Velasquez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Piotr Rasputin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rasputin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A big right from Rasputin misses.
Rasputin lands a right hook to the body.
Rasputin misses with the combination.
Cain Velasquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Velasquez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rasputin .
Nice takedown defense from Velasquez. No joy for Rasputin on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasputin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Velasquez.
Rasputin throws a combination. Velasquez tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A big left from Rasputin misses.
Rasputin swings for the body but Velasquez moves out of range.

Velasquez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rasputin prevents Velasquez from getting back to his feet.
Velasquez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rasputin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Velasquez can do to turn this around?
Rasputin prevents Velasquez from getting back to his feet.
Velasquez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Velasquez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rasputin is controlling him.
Rasputin throws a big elbow that misses.
Piotr Rasputin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to stand and escape but Rasputin is having none of it.
Rasputin is looking to work some ground and pound but Velasquez has wrist control.
Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Rasputin from controlling successfully.
Velasquez is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Rasputin dives into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Velasquez takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Velasquez struggling a bit here.
Velasquez defending against the ground and pound.
Rasputin trying to control the action but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
Velasquez is trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Velasquez is looking for a sweep.
Rasputin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Velasquez keeps working.
Rasputin lands an elbow.
The strikes coming from Rasputin are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Rasputin is looking to take a break and control but Velasquez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rasputin working the ground and pound but Velasquez is defending the strikes.
Rasputin cracks Velasquez with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is looking for a sweep.
Rasputin working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Velasquez is not content to let Rasputin control the position.

Rasputin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Velasquez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rasputin controlling from side mount.
Cain Velasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Velasquez is looking for a sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Velasquez throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

And that's the end of the fight!
Piotr Rasputin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rasputin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Piotr Rasputin !
Piotr Rasputin tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.