PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leroy Mckenzie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mckenzie
vs
Velasquez

165 cm
24
193 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leroy Mckenzie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cain Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mckenzie with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Velasquez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mckenzie sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Velasquez somewhat.

Velasquez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
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 throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velasquez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mckenzie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Velasquez.
Velasquez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velasquez tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Mckenzie is controlling Velasquez's trapped leg to prevent Velasquez from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mckenzie trying to control but Velasquez postures up.
Mckenzie has his hands clasped together around Velasquez's back. He's all about the action.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Leroy Mckenzie just wasn't active enough.

Velasquez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Velasquez controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mckenzie really is a fat lump.
Velasquez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Velasquez drops an elbow to the side of Mckenzie's head.
Mckenzie trying to control but Velasquez postures up.
Velasquez is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Velasquez with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez looking to pass the guard.
Velasquez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mckenzie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Velasquez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mckenzie is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mckenzie has escaped and now he's on top!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Mckenzie from controlling successfully.
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 round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Velasquez connects with the punch.
Velasquez looks for a takedown but Mckenzie sprawls well.
Mckenzie doesn't manage to clinch there - Velasquez circles away.
Velasquez throws a left and a right that both miss

and Mckenzie counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Mckenzie tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Velasquez's elbow.
Velasquez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mckenzie misses with the head strike.
Velasquez blocking some punches.
Mckenzie swings wildly with an uppercut but Velasquez uses good head movement to avoid it.

Velasquez manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez tries to clinch but Mckenzie moves out of range.
A head kick by Velasquez misses
and Mckenzie counters with a left and a right that stings Velasquez.
Velasquez closes the distance and clinches up with Mckenzie, looking for a takedown. Velasquez pushes Mckenzie against the cage but Mckenzie circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Velasquez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Velasquez throws a right and a left that Mckenzie avoids nicely.

Velasquez shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Velasquez has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Mckenzie works to full guard.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.
Velasquez stopping the sweep attempt from Mckenzie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wanted to stand there but Mckenzie had control of the position.
Velasquez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mckenzie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Velasquez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mckenzie keeping moving, preventing Velasquez from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Cain Velasquez wasn't active enough on the ground.
Velasquez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mckenzie manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Velasquez swats away the attempt to clinch by Mckenzie.
Velasquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mckenzie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Velasquez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Leroy Mckenzie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cain Velasquez.
Mckenzie dives in and grabs Velasquez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Velasquez pushes down on Mckenzie's head and hops out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez throws a lazy uppercut
and Mckenzie counters with a nice body kick.

Mckenzie forces Velasquez back against the cage and clinches.
Mckenzie throws a head punch that misses.
Mckenzie wants a takedown.
Mckenzie wants a takedown.
Velasquez blocks an uppercut.
Velasquez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Velasquez trying to stall but Mckenzie improves his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mckenzie doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Velasquez blocks a body shot from Mckenzie.
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 takes the fight into the clinch.

Velasquez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Leroy Mckenzie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Velasquez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Velasquez takes a knee to the side of the body.
Nice body punch from Mckenzie.
Velasquez managing to block the knees to the body from Mckenzie.
Velasquez cracks Mckenzie with a nice body shot.
Mckenzie cracks Velasquez with a nice body shot.
Mckenzie can't find room to land a body shot as Velasquez controls the action.
Mckenzie fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Velasquez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mckenzie is trying to push Velasquez away but Velasquez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Mckenzie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Velasquez smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velasquez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Mckenzie is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Velasquez gets to his feet - Mckenzie follows without any prompting.
Mckenzie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Velasquez swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Velasquez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mckenzie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mckenzie tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Velasquez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cain Velasquez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mckenzie swats away the attempt to clinch by Velasquez.
No luck for Velasquez with that takedown attempt.

Velasquez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Velasquez is working for a kimura but Mckenzie is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is just content to waste time from the top position. Mckenzie takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Cain Velasquez has got the better of the ground game so far.

Mckenzie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Velasquez is aware though and is defending well.
Velasquez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mckenzie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Velasquez wants to control from the top but Mckenzie keeps moving.
Velasquez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mckenzie is keeping the position for now.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Cain Velasquez.
Velasquez misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Velasquez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Velasquez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Velasquez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

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