PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Velasquez (ranked 6652 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor Jenkins (ranked 5378 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Velasquez
vs
Jenkins

187 cm
21
243 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
250 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cain Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Connor Jenkins!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Sandra Marshall and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jenkins shoots in looking for a takedown. Velasquez tries to sprawl out of it but Jenkins keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Velasquez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Velasquez scores with a takedown into Jenkins's guard.
Velasquez is looking to work some ground and pound but Jenkins has wrist control.
Jenkins utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Jenkins working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Velasquez.
Velasquez throws a big right hand that misses.
Jenkins has momentary wrist control but Velasquez slips an elbow through the middle.
Jenkins looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jenkins utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Velasquez throwing strikes from guard but Jenkins blocks nicely.
Jenkins looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Velasquez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Velasquez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Velasquez throws a strike but Jenkins rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Jenkins slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Jenkins from controlling successfully.

Jenkins gets to his feet - Velasquez follows without any prompting.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Jenkins enables Velasquez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Jenkins manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Velasquez wants to pass the guard but Jenkins is keeping the position.
Velasquez working some strikes from top position.
Velasquez landing with the ground and pound.

Velasquez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jenkins uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Velasquez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Jenkins defends well and Velasquez ends up having to push Jenkins into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Velasquez is breathing heavily.

Jenkins clinches up with Velasquez and pushes him back against the cage.
Velasquez is trying to pull guard but Jenkins turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Jenkins is looking to take this one to the mat.

Jenkins's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jenkins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Velasquez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jenkins shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Velasquez pinned against the cage. Velasquez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cain Velasquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Jenkins.

Velasquez rushes Jenkins and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins goes for a takedown in the clinch but Velasquez prevents it.

Velasquez breaks from the clinch.
Jenkins dives in for a single leg takedown but Velasquez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Jenkins looks for a takedown but Velasquez sprawls well.
Velasquez scores with a three punch combo!
Jenkins throws a front kick that sends Velasquez stumbling back into the cage.
Jenkins is looking to clinch but Velasquez is avoiding it.
Velasquez cracks the inside of Jenkins's front leg.
Velasquez closes the distance and clinches up with Jenkins, looking for a takedown. Velasquez pushes Jenkins against the cage but Jenkins circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jenkins drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Velasquez defends it well.
Jenkins shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Velasquez sprawls well. Velasquez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jenkins gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Jenkins throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jenkins lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Jenkins with a nice cross.
Jenkins shoots in looking for a takedown. Velasquez tries to sprawl out of it but Jenkins keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Velasquez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Velasquez throws a big counter combination but Jenkins scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Jenkins lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Velasquez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Jenkins pinned against the cage. Jenkins gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that 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!

Velasquez leaves Jenkins with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jenkins fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cain Velasquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Velasquez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Velasquez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Velasquez landing some decent shots from guard.
Velasquez works over Jenkins with some ground and pound from guard.
Velasquez postures up in Jenkins's guard and throws a big left but Jenkins blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cain Velasquez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Velasquez won't allow Jenkins to sweep him here.

Jenkins has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Velasquez off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Jenkins jabs at Velasquez's body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jenkins is defended easily by Velasquez.
Velasquez went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Cain Velasquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Jenkins.
Velasquez tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Velasquez shoots in but Jenkins avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jenkins fails to land the takedown.
Jenkins throws a nice head kick!
Velasquez shoots in looking for a takedown. Jenkins tries to sprawl out of it but Velasquez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jenkins manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jenkins scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Velasquez tries to pull guard but Jenkins won't allow it.

Jenkins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Connor Jenkins seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Velasquez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jenkins connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Velasquez swats away the attempt to clinch by Jenkins.
Jenkins jabs Velasquez right on the nose. Velasquez blinks but takes it well.
Velasquez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jenkins.
Jenkins doesn't manage to clinch there - Velasquez circles away.

Jenkins lands a big head kick that sends Velasquez tumbling to the mat! Jenkins takes a step backwards and waves Velasquez back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Jenkins throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Velasquez's waist but Velasquez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jenkins off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Jenkins. No joy for Velasquez on that attempt.
Velasquez stuffs the takedown.
Velasquez shoots in looking for a takedown but Jenkins manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Velasquez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jenkins.

Velasquez clinches up against the cage.

Velasquez gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Jenkins makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Nice sprawl there from Velasquez as Jenkins shoots in.
A punch combination from Jenkins misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jenkins avoids a kick to the body.
Jenkins circles away from the clinch attempt.
Velasquez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jenkins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jenkins tries to clinch up.
Velasquez shoots in but Jenkins avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jenkins lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Jenkins has a takedown stuffed.
Velasquez is looking to clinch.
Jenkins lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Jenkins slaps away a takedown attempt from Velasquez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Velasquez throws a left and a right that both miss
and Jenkins counters with a left and a right that stings Velasquez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Jenkins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Jenkins tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Velasquez defends well and Jenkins ends up having to push Velasquez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Jenkins lands a jab-cross combination.

Velasquez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jenkins, pushing him back against the cage.

Velasquez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Velasquez gets the takedown into side control.
Velasquez creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Jenkins sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Velasquez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jenkins on the ground.
Velasquez working away.
Jenkins is looking to regain half guard here but Velasquez keeps moving and retains side control.
Velasquez scoring with punches and elbows.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jenkins regains half guard.
Jenkins pushes Velasquez off looking to stand but Velasquez dives back in and keeps control.
Jenkins has hold of Velasquez's hands but Velasquez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Jenkins punching from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez throwing shots but Jenkins is blocking nicely.
Velasquez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Velasquez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Jenkins is trying to stand.
Jenkins regains full guard. Nicely done.
Jenkins is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Velasquez throws a strike but Jenkins rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Jenkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Velasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jenkins has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jenkins sitting in guard here, content to control.

Jenkins decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Velasquez, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jenkins rushes Velasquez and presses him up against the cage.

Jenkins is fighting off a takedown attempt but Velasquez is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Jenkins to the mat. Jenkins regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Jenkins is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Jenkins pulls Velasquez into guard.
Velasquez stopping the sweep attempt from Jenkins.
Velasquez chips away with some ground and pound.
Jenkins strikes from his own guard.
Jenkins is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Velasquez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jenkins works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jenkins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jenkins seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Velasquez scoring with punches to the head and body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Jenkins looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Velasquez won't allow Jenkins to sweep him here.
Jenkins utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Velasquez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jenkins is trying to keep Velasquez in close.
Jenkins trying to control the position here.
Jenkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Velasquez's guard.

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

Jenkins gets to his feet. Velasquez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Jenkins shoots in and bounces Velasquez off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Jenkins trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor Jenkins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jenkins 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 David Hoff scores the fight 28:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor Jenkins!