PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Finaliza Geral (ranked 4269 p4p, 23655 weight class) and Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Geral
vs
Velasquez

181 cm
23
173
5 - 0 - 0

175 cm
27
173
2 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Finaliza Geral!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cain Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Igor Prikhodko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Geral shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Velasquez napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Velasquez looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Geral trying to control the position but Velasquez is working away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Velasquez can do anything to dispel that myth.
Velasquez is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Geral trying to control from half guard but Velasquez is working away.

Geral is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Velasquez is looking for a sweep. Geral is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Geral is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Geral wants to control the pace but Velasquez is squirming around nicely.
Geral fails to take his opponent's back.
Velasquez is squirming around, avoiding Geral's attempts to control the action.
Geral tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Geral trying to control but Velasquez is having none of it.
Velasquez tries to lock up and control but Geral gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Geral looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Geral prevents Velasquez from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Geral is working for a guillotine from mount but Velasquez frees his head quite easily.
Velasquez slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Geral wants to take a breather but Velasquez is having none of it.
Velasquez wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Velasquez manages to get to full guard.
Velasquez is adopting a defensive guard.
Geral looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Geral is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Geral seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Geral being controlled here momentarily.
Velasquez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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

Geral is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Velasquez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Velasquez has escaped and now he's on top!

Velasquez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Velasquez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Velasquez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Velasquez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Geral has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Velasquez has managed to get both his arms back between Geral's legs - danger averted.

Geral is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Velasquez cracks Geral with a solid left hand.

Geral is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Finaliza Geral dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Geral looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Velasquez looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Velasquez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Geral. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Geral wants to pass the guard but Velasquez is keeping the position.
Geral wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.
Geral tries to free his leg and advance position but Velasquez is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Geral from controlling successfully.
Velasquez managing to control the position.
Finaliza Geral overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Geral trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
Velasquez is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Finaliza Geral is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Geral shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Velasquez wants to get back to full guard.
Velasquez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Geral wants to pass the guard but Velasquez is keeping the position.
Velasquez looking for a sweep. Not yet Velasquez, not yet.
Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Geral from controlling successfully.
Velasquez pulls Geral in close to prevent any damage.
Velasquez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Velasquez has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Geral looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Geral engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Geral wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Geral seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Velasquez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Velasquez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Velasquez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Velasquez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Geral has hold of Velasquez's hands but Velasquez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Geral is looking to improve his position.

Geral actively working from the bottom here.
Velasquez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Geral trying to control here.

Geral actively working from the bottom here.
Geral is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Velasquez can do to turn this around?

Geral is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Velasquez pulls his head out easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Geral looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Geral actively working from the bottom here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Finaliza Geral will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Geral is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Velasquez's half guard.
Geral is thwarting Velasquez's attempts to control the position.
Velasquez is not content to let Geral control the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Velasquez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Geral from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez keeping full guard, as Geral tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez is pulling down on Geral's head. It's preventing any offense from Geral, at least for the moment.
Geral looking to pass the guard.
Velasquez looking to control.
Velasquez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Velasquez is trying to keep Geral in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Geral 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.
Velasquez is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Geral trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
Velasquez wants to sweep but no luck.
Velasquez is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Velasquez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Geral trying to control the position from guard on top but Velasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Velasquez lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Geral looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Geral has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Velasquez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Velasquez cracks Geral with a solid left hand.

Geral is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Geral throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Velasquez lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Velasquez works over Geral with some ground and pound from guard.

Geral working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Velasquez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Velasquez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Velasquez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Finaliza Geral is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez postures up and lands a big shot to Geral's brow.

Geral is rocked!
Geral working a defensive guard here.

Geral working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Velasquez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Velasquez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Velasquez landing with the ground and pound.
Oh Geral is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Velasquez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Velasquez lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Geral is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Velasquez postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Geral covers up, he's hurt! Velasquez keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Velasquez and the ref steps in to end the fight! Velasquez can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Cain Velasquez!