PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sean Mccurdy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Velasquez's choice of entrance music: It's My Life-Bon Jovi. Cain Velasquez acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Mccurdy
vs
Velasquez

210 cm
18
265 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
256 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Very confident

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Sean Mccurdy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Cain Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Richard Clark and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Velasquez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mccurdy looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Mccurdy struggling a bit here.
Mccurdy is trying to improve his position.

Velasquez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Mccurdy is looking for a sweep.
Mccurdy sneaks back into half guard.

Velasquez looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Velasquez seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Mccurdy has recovered full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mccurdy working a defensive guard here.
Mccurdy can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Velasquez controls the pace.
Velasquez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mccurdy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mccurdy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Velasquez is one step ahead there.
Velasquez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Velasquez might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Cain Velasquez.
Mccurdy shoots in and drives through. Velasquez sprawls well.
Velasquez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Velasquez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Velasquez looks winded!

Velasquez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Mccurdy manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mccurdy sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Velasquez defending well though.
Mccurdy will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Velasquez manages to get to full guard.
Mccurdy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mccurdy would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Velasquez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Velasquez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mccurdy can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mccurdy wanted to stand there but Velasquez had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to sweep here but Mccurdy controlling him for the moment.
Mccurdy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Velasquez is keeping the position for now.
Mccurdy with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velasquez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mccurdy stopping the sweep attempt from Velasquez.
Mccurdy wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.
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 interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Mccurdy moves in looking to clinch but Velasquez pushes him off.
Mccurdy misses with a shot to the body

and Velasquez counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Mccurdy!

Velasquez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mccurdy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Mccurdy gets back to half guard.
Velasquez trying to control the action but Mccurdy is working from the bottom.

Velasquez is working for a submission of some sort.
Mccurdy is trying to stand up here but Velasquez is controlling him well.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mccurdy manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Mccurdy keeping moving, preventing Velasquez from controlling successfully.
Mccurdy bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Velasquez's guard.
Mccurdy throwing strikes from guard but Velasquez blocks nicely.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Velasquez can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mccurdy wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mccurdy trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mccurdy looking to pass the guard.
Velasquez lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mccurdy!
Velasquez wants to control the pace but Mccurdy is squirming around nicely.
Velasquez putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mccurdy is working to get back to half guard.
Velasquez punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mccurdy is looking to get to half guard.
Velasquez with good strikes from the mount here!
Velasquez lands a heavy elbow.
Velasquez fails to move to back control.
Velasquez raining down hammerfists from mount.
Mccurdy is looking to get to half guard.
Velasquez content just to control the position here.
Velasquez wants to control the pace but Mccurdy is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Velasquez is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Mccurdy is surviving well by controlling Velasquez's body position as best he can.
Mccurdy wants to hold on but Velasquez pushes him away.
Velasquez lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Velasquez looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mccurdy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
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.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Velasquez scores with a takedown into Mccurdy's guard.
Mccurdy is trying to control the position but Velasquez postures up.
Velasquez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mccurdy is trying to buck Velasquez off.
Velasquez laying and praying for a moment but Mccurdy takes advantage and regains half guard.

Velasquez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mccurdy is just riding it out for now. Velasquez eventually gives up the hold.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Velasquez prevents Mccurdy from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mccurdy is in trouble now - Velasquez has advanced to mount!
Velasquez trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Velasquez is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Mccurdy is surviving well by controlling Velasquez's body position as best he can.
Velasquez looking to control but Mccurdy is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mccurdy sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Mccurdy tries to kick Velasquez off but Velasquez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Velasquez is looking for a kimura but Mccurdy is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Velasquez to get the leverage.
Velasquez is trying to control. Mccurdy wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mccurdy trying to control here.
Velasquez prevents Mccurdy from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mccurdy is staying active underneath Velasquez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mccurdy manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Mccurdy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Velasquez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Velasquez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Mccurdy looking for a guillotine here but Velasquez defends easily.
Velasquez controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mccurdy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velasquez wants to control from the top but Mccurdy keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Velasquez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Velasquez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cain Velasquez!
After the fight, Cain Velasquez was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.