PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cyrus Ellis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velasquez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. dos santos vs velasquez kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Cyrus Ellis has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ellis
vs
Velasquez

219 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

184 cm
22
240 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite 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 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Cyrus Ellis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cain Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, David Schapiro and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ellis fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Velasquez should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Velasquez fails with a takedown attempt.
Velasquez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ellis counters with a slapping leg kick.

Velasquez takes the fight into the clinch.
Velasquez tries to circle away but Ellis has him pinned against the cage.

Velasquez drags the fight down to the ground.
Velasquez is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Velasquez trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Velasquez wants to get back to his feet but Ellis is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Velasquez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Velasquez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Cain Velasquez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Velasquez darts in looking for a takedown but Ellis gets double underhooks and turns Velasquez into the cage.
Cyrus Ellis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cain Velasquez.

Velasquez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Ellis 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 looking for a sweep. Not yet Velasquez, not yet.
Velasquez has a closed guard, preventing Ellis from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Ellis scoring with punches to the head and body.
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.
Velasquez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ellis has hold of Velasquez's hands but Velasquez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Velasquez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ellis gets back to full guard.
Ellis tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to stand but Ellis has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ellis tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ellis is looking to sweep but instead, Velasquez has passed into half guard.
Velasquez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ellis wants to improve his position but Velasquez is controlling well.
Ellis is working hard here to advance position.
Ellis is looking to get back to full guard here but Velasquez has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Ellis tries to buck Velasquez off but Velasquez is having none of it.
Ellis is trying to work for a sweep but Velasquez has mounted him!
Velasquez content just to control the position here.
Ellis is squirming around, avoiding Velasquez's attempts to control the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ellis is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasquez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Velasquez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ellis looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ellis gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ellis is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ellis won't allow Velasquez to pass to mount.
Velasquez tries to stand but can't do so whilst Ellis controls his leg.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Velasquez. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Velasquez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ellis with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to pass the guard but Ellis is defending well.
Ellis misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Velasquez is keen to just control but Ellis is a slippery customer.
Ellis is holding on to half guard well.
Ellis is looking for a sweep. Velasquez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ellis won't allow Velasquez to pass to mount.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Velasquez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ellis doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Velasquez.
Ellis tries to roll over but Velasquez keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to stand but Ellis has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Ellis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Velasquez tries to free his leg and advance position but Ellis is retaining full guard.
Velasquez wants to stand but Ellis has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Velasquez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez stopping the sweep attempt from Ellis.
Velasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Ellis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Cain Velasquez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Nice takedown defense from Velasquez. No joy for Ellis on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Velasquez.
Velasquez misses with a takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.
Ellis blocks a head kick by Velasquez.
Ellis tries to clinch up.
Velasquez throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ellis counters with a series of strikes. Velasquez will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ellis gets tackled into the cage by Velasquez. Velasquez maintains the clinch.
Ellis lands a good knee to the midsection. Velasquez won't want to take too many of those.
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 minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Velasquez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Velasquez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Velasquez missing with a left hand there. Ellis was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Velasquez throws a sloppy body shot

and Ellis counters with a takedown into side control.

Ellis stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Velasquez fails with the takedown
and Ellis makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Velasquez moves out of range as Ellis throws a body kick.
Ellis moves out of range of the body kick from Velasquez.

Velasquez gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez tries to pull guard but Ellis holds him up against the cage and eventually Velasquez drops back down to his feet.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Velasquez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Velasquez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Velasquez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ellis avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Cyrus Ellis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cain Velasquez.
Velasquez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ellis walks away with a smile on his face. Velasquez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A leg kick checked by Ellis.
Velasquez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Velasquez wants it to stay on the feet.
Ellis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez darts in looking for a takedown but Ellis gets double underhooks and turns Velasquez into the cage.
Ellis is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Velasquez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ellis after a bit of a struggle.

Ellis ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ellis no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Ellis keeping full guard, as Velasquez tries to pass.
Ellis lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Velasquez!
Ellis looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis lands a heavy elbow.
Ellis working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Ellis working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Ellis controlling from mount.
Velasquez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis takes Velasquez's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Velasquez is in trouble.
Ellis scores with strikes from the back.

Ellis is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Velasquez knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Velasquez for a finish.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Velasquez is trying to break free.
Cyrus Ellis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cain Velasquez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ellis avoiding Velasquez 's attempts to control his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cyrus Ellis showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cain Velasquez!
Cain Velasquez took some time post fight to say the following; 'I Thank God !'.