PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sonny Moretti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velasquez comes to the cage accompanied by Kryptonite. Sonny Moretti will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Velasquez
vs
Moretti

185 cm
26
260 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

204 cm
26
289 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cain Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sonny Moretti!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Micheangelo Fripello and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Velasquez gets the takedown into side control.

Velasquez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Velasquez swings around for an armbar but Moretti sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Velasquez's guard.

Velasquez is working an open guard so Moretti takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

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

Velasquez is trying to get an arm triangle but Moretti is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Velasquez working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Moretti keeps working.
Moretti tries to improve position but can't.
Moretti is trying to control Velasquez's posture but Velasquez avoids it.

Velasquez goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Moretti rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Velasquez's guard! Nice work there by Moretti!
Velasquez controls Moretti momentarily but Moretti frees himself.
Velasquez will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Moretti preventing the sweep.

Velasquez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
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.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moretti wants to control but Velasquez is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Velasquez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Moretti sees it coming and defends easily.

Velasquez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Moretti is just riding it out for now. Velasquez eventually gives up the hold.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Moretti doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Velasquez.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Moretti tries to roll over but Velasquez keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Velasquez trying to control from half guard but Moretti is working away.
Velasquez thows a huge punch but Moretti dodges it nicely.
Velasquez is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Moretti reverses the position - he's now on top in Velasquez's guard.

Velasquez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Moretti passes into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Velasquez can't do much from the bottom here.
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.

Velasquez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Moretti sprawls well. Moretti wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Velasquez gets slowly back to his feet.
Velasquez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Moretti gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Moretti misses with the head strike.

Moretti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Moretti tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Velasquez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Velasquez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Moretti, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Velasquez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Velasquez connects with a body shot that sends Moretti's belly button to the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moretti gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Velasquez.
Moretti tries to clinch up.
Velasquez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Moretti fails with an attempt to clinch.
Velasquez slips under a jab.

Velasquez gets a double leg takedown into Moretti's guard.
Moretti being controlled here, momentarily.
Velasquez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Velasquez throws an elbow that misses. Moretti uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Velasquez's guard. Nice move by Moretti!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Velasquez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Velasquez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Velasquez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Velasquez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Moretti can do to turn this around?
Moretti stopping the sweep attempt from Velasquez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moretti wants to stand but Velasquez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Velasquez working for a triangle but Moretti defends it easily.
Velasquez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Velasquez looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Moretti puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Velasquez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Velasquez has his foot on Moretti's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Moretti works his way back into a safe position though.

Moretti avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez looking to control but Moretti passes into half guard.
Velasquez missing with punches from the bottom.
Moretti is thwarting Velasquez's attempts to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Moretti passes into side control, despite Velasquez's attempt to control the position.
Velasquez is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Moretti's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
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 Cain Velasquez will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Moretti stuffs the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Velasquez.
Velasquez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Moretti tries to clinch up.
Sonny Moretti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Velasquez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Velasquez showed some decent athleticism there.
Cain Velasquez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Velasquez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Moretti doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Velasquez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Velasquez is trying to work for a kimura but Moretti is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velasquez is working for a kimura but Moretti is defending it quite comfortably.
Moretti tries to get to full guard but Velasquez has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Velasquez seems to be working for a kimura but Moretti defends the submission attempt.

Velasquez is working for an americana but Moretti has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Velasquez was thinking about the submission.
Velasquez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Moretti looking for a sweep. Not yet Moretti, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez tries to free his leg and advance position but Moretti is retaining full guard.
Moretti preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Velasquez drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Moretti dives on top into guard.

Velasquez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Velasquez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Moretti is aware though and is defending well.
Moretti must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Moretti stands up from Velasquez's guard - Moretti perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Moretti is fending him off so far but Velasquez persists. Nope, Moretti circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Moretti tries to clinch up but Velasquez circles away and keeps his distance.
Moretti throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Velasquez closes the distance and clinches up with Moretti, looking for a takedown. Velasquez pushes Moretti against the cage but Moretti circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Velasquez shoots in but no luck this time.
Sonny Moretti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A left and a right from Moretti both land. Nice combination.
Moretti tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Velasquez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Velasquez misses with a double jab.
Sonny Moretti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sonny Moretti seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Moretti wants to clinch.
Velasquez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Moretti.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sonny Moretti.
I think Velasquez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cain Velasquez!
An out of breath Cain Velasquez thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.