PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Dacascos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Dacascos has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Velasquez
vs
Dacascos

191 cm
21
265 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

186 cm
21
260 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid 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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mark Dacascos!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velasquez connects with a single shot there.
Velasquez scores with a jab.
A big right from Dacascos misses.
Dacascos takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Velasquez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Velasquez scores with a hook.
John Velasquez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Velasquez lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Dacascos at a distance.
Dacascos throws a hook but Velasquez blocks it.
Velasquez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dacascos throws out the jab.
Dacascos throws a hook to the side of Velasquez's head but Velasquez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A quick step to the side and Velasquez tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dacascos drops his hands momentarily and Velasquez takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Dacascos tries to clinch up
and Velasquez counters with a nice uppercut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Velasquez's jab looks to have found its range, popping Dacascos under the eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dacascos throws a jab when Velasquez was well out of range.
Velasquez scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Dacascos doesn't seem bothered though.
Dacascos looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Dacascos moves into range and clinches up with Velasquez.
Velasquez lands an uppercut.
Dacascos stalling.

Velasquez manages to break the clinch.
Velasquez throws a combination. Dacascos tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Velasquez connects with a single shot there.
Velasquez cracks Dacascos with a good jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dacascos throws a jab when Velasquez was well out of range.
Velasquez connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Donk. Velasquez catches Dacascos right on the button with a cross.
Velasquez scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dacascos throws out a loose jab but Velasquez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dacascos has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Velasquez finds it's way round the side to connect with Dacascos's head.
Velasquez lands a nice looking body shot.
Velasquez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Velasquez connects with a looping right hand.
Dacascos lands with an overhand left.
Velasquez is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Dacascos is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Velasquez dips to his left and cracks Dacascos with an uppercut!
Velasquez lands a nice shot to the body.
Dacascos is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Velasquez.
Velasquez is looking for a counter combo.
Velasquez blocks a jab.
Velasquez is looking to counter punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dacascos gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Velasquez gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Velasquez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Dacascos is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Velasquez, into his guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velasquez seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dacascos is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dacascos sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Velasquez's guard.
Velasquez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Velasquez tries to get out of the position.
Dacascos prevents Velasquez from improving his position.
Velasquez trying to control but Dacascos postures up.
Dacascos keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Velasquez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Velasquez, as that shot connected.
Dacascos misses with a left hand
and Velasquez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Velasquez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dacascos can do to turn this around?
Velasquez throws a left and a right that both miss

and Dacascos holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Dacascos leaning his opponent against the cage.
Dacascos's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Dacascos's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Dacascos receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Velasquez breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez lands with a good body shot.
Dacascos uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Velasquez.
Velasquez with a jab.
Velasquez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dacascos displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Velasquez throws out the jab.
Dacascos throws a hook but Velasquez blocks it.
Dacascos misses with a hook. Velasquez ducked under it nicely.
A jab from Velasquez misses.
Velasquez sets himself, and Dacascos steps forward looking for the clinch! Velasquez avoids it this time.
A swing and a miss from Velasquez.
Velasquez dips to his left and cracks Dacascos with an uppercut!
Velasquez swinging wildly here.
Velasquez scores with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dacascos lands a jab to the head.

Dacascos gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Velasquez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A swing and a miss from Velasquez.
Dacascos with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Velasquez to score with a decent uppercut.
Velasquez misses with an uppercut.
John Velasquez is winning the standup battle so far.
Dacascos throws a lazy right hand but Velasquez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Velasquez moves away from the strike by Dacascos.
Dacascos throws a shot from downtown. Velasquez moves away and avoids it.
Dacascos moves out of range as Velasquez strikes.
Dacascos wants to counter the offense by Velasquez and move into the clinch position.
Dacascos slips a straight right by Velasquez.
Velasquez scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez walks into a straight right hand from Dacascos.
Velasquez scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Velasquez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dacascos.
Velasquez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Dacascos misses with a straight right.
Velasquez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dacascos.
Velasquez was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Velasquez slips under a jab from Dacascos.
Danga de danga de dang - Velasquez scores with a four punch combination!
Velasquez cracks Dacascos with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Velasquez scores with a body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Velasquez scores with a jab to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dacascos throws out a loose jab but Velasquez uses good head movement to avoid it.
It looked like Velasquez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dacascos gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Dacascos loads up on a big right hand but Velasquez slips the punch.
Dacascos tries to close the distance and clinch but Velasquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Velasquez with a nice cross.
Velasquez scores with a jab. Dacascos acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Nice defenses there by Velasquez.
Dacascos uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Velasquez.
Dacascos thows a left - swing and a miss!
A cross from Velasquez lands.
Dacascos ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Dacascos scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Velasquez dominated that second round.
That's time! Velasquez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Velasquez looks to land a combination but Dacascos avoids it well.
Velasquez lands with a good body shot.
Some wild striking there from Velasquez.
Velasquez misses the shot to the body.
Dacascos misses with a looping left.
Dacascos lands with a straight right. Velasquez didn't see that one coming.
Some wild striking there from Velasquez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dacascos connects with a nice looking jab.
Velasquez throws a hook but Dacascos avoids it easily.
Velasquez jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dacascos manages to avoid it.
Velasquez lands an overhand right.
Velasquez tests Dacascos's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Dacascos looks to land a left hand but Velasquez moved out of range nicely.
Dacascos throws a hook but Velasquez blocks it.
Velasquez throws out a loose jab but Dacascos uses good head movement to avoid it.
Velasquez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dacascos was well out of range. Poor timing from Velasquez.
Velasquez scores with a jab.
Velasquez misses with an uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dacascos scores with a nice strike.
Dacascos misses the jab.
Dacascos closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez lands with a shot to the body.
Dacascos throws an overhand right that lands on Velasquez's shoulder, as Velasquez tries to avoid the shot.
Dacascos throws a jab but it's blocked by Velasquez.
Velasquez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Velasquez, as that shot connected.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Velasquez staying out of range there.
Velasquez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Dacascos's head.
Velasquez loads up on a big right hand but Dacascos slips the punch.
Velasquez blocks a jab.
Velasquez throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Dacascos on the side of the head.
Velasquez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dacascos.
Dacascos wants to counter with a clinch but Velasquez pushes him away.
Velasquez swings widly with a right hand

and Dacascos holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
John Velasquez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez breaks the clinch.
Dacascos throws a right hand that misses
and Velasquez counters with a right hand to the body.
Velasquez blocks a jab.
A counter left hand to the body from Velasquez misses its target.
Velasquez looks to land a left hand but Dacascos moved out of range nicely.
Nice defenses there by Velasquez.
Velasquez misses with a series of wild punches.
A big right from Velasquez misses.
Velasquez looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Dacascos throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dacascos has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Dacascos throws a hook but Velasquez blocks it.
A swing and a miss from Velasquez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dacascos uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Velasquez.
Velasquez misses with a straight left.
Dacascos looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Velasquez throws a big shot that misses.
Velasquez moves out of range as Dacascos strikes.
Dacascos might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Dacascos tries to clinch up
and Velasquez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Dacascos tests Velasquez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Dacascos keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Mark Dacascos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Velasquez with a nice cross.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Velasquez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Velasquez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight for John Velasquez!
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for John Velasquez!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for John Velasquez!

John Velasquez wins by unanimous decision!
A relieved looking John Velasquez thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.