PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chad Dixon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Dixon
vs
Velasquez

207 cm
24
279 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chad Dixon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cain Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Velasquez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Velasquez showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Velasquez wants to work for an arm triangle but Dixon is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Velasquez is controlling the pace.

Velasquez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Dixon doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Velasquez.
Dixon is looking to control Velasquez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dixon avoid being mounted?
Dixon gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez tries to free his leg and advance position but Dixon is retaining full guard.
Dixon trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dixon escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Velasquez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dixon wants to sweep but no luck.
Velasquez throwing strikes but missing.
Velasquez with a nice head shot there.
Dixon throwing short punches from the bottom.
Velasquez looking to sit in guard and control but Dixon gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Dixon has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Velasquez is proving hard to escape from.
Velasquez trying to control the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Velasquez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Velasquez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Velasquez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dixon is looking to work some ground and pound but Velasquez has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Velasquez has his foot on Dixon's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dixon works his way back into a safe position though.
Velasquez striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Dixon will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dixon wants to stand but Velasquez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Velasquez wants to control the position but Dixon says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Velasquez actively working from the bottom here.

Dixon is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Dixon not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dixon is working for a kimura but Velasquez is defending it quite comfortably.
Dixon throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dixon seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Velasquez trying to hold on to Dixon's head to control him but Dixon postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
It looks like Dixon is going to stand back up.
Velasquez is looking to control Dixon's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Velasquez avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cain Velasquez will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Dixon defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Velasquez.
Dixon tries to close the distance and clinch but Velasquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Velasquez gets a double leg takedown into Dixon's guard.
Dixon is trying to keep Velasquez in close.
Dixon has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Velasquez has passed into side control.

Velasquez swings around for an armbar but Dixon sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Velasquez's guard.
Velasquez working a defensive guard but Dixon passes into half guard.
Dixon is taking a breather. Velasquez says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Dixon moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Velasquez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Velasquez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Velasquez. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Dixon tries to stand but Velasquez is controlling his head.

Dixon stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Velasquez closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Dixon quickly recovers to half guard.

Dixon looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Velasquez working Dixon over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dixon is defending against the submission attempts here by Velasquez.
Dixon taking some punishment here, with Velasquez in his half guard.
Velasquez is pressing down on Dixon's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dixon is holding on for now.
Dixon is refusing to be controlled, as Velasquez sits in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dixon is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Velasquez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Velasquez's back!

Dixon is persistently looking for the submission but Velasquez is defending it well.
Dixon trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez just trying to survive but Dixon is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Velasquez tries to escape but Dixon has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Velasquez keeps trying to improve his position.
Cain Velasquez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dixon trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Dixon connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Velasquez to escape the position.
Velasquez holding both Dixon 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dixon is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Velasquez wants to control his opponent's hands but Dixon gets his hands free.

Dixon has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Velasquez has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Dixon is persistently looking for the submission but Velasquez is defending it well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dixon is looking to control Velasquez but Velasquez is wriggling around and keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Chad Dixon will probably get the nod.
That's time! Dixon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Velasquez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Dixon looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Velasquez moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Velasquez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dixon knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Dixon manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Dixon trying to control from half guard but Velasquez is working away.
Velasquez is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dixon trying to control from half guard but Velasquez is working away.
Dixon stalling.
Velasquez wants to get back to full guard.

Velasquez is defending against the submission attempts here by Dixon.
Velasquez looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dixon.
Dixon perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Velasquez trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Velasquez drives through with a takedown into guard.
Velasquez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Dixon looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dixon is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Velasquez trying to control but Dixon is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dixon is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dixon doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Velasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Dixon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Cain Velasquez wasn't active enough on the ground.
Dixon slaps away a takedown attempt from Velasquez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Velasquez looks for a takedown but Dixon sprawls well.
Chad Dixon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dixon keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Chad Dixon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cain Velasquez.
Dixon tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Velasquez defends well and Dixon ends up having to push Velasquez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Dixon is trying to drag Velasquez to the mat but Velasquez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Dixon jumps guard and drags Velasquez to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velasquez controlling from the top position.
Velasquez throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Velasquez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cain Velasquez!