|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aoatea Nuku (ranked 323 p4p, 792 weight class) and Cain Velasquez (ranked 37 p4p, 103 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
 |
|
 |
| 192 cm
19
260
8 - 1 - 0 |
|
197 cm
22
265
7 - 1 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
|
Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aoatea Nuku!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cain Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velasquez misses the shot to the body.
Nuku ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Velasquez moves away.
Nuku rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Velasquez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nuku throws a quick inside leg kick.
Velasquez slips a jab and a cross from Nuku.
Aoatea Nuku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A shot to the body from Nuku misses
and Velasquez counters with a stiff right hand.
It looks like Aoatea Nuku has been cut.
Velasquez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nuku.
Nuku throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Velasquez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Nuku definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Nuku throws a jab but it's blocked by Velasquez.
Velasquez throws a big counter head kick but Nuku avoids it with no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nuku swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nuku throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sloppy strikes from Nuku. Those never looked like landing.
Nuku motions for Velasquez to come forward. Nuku throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nuku tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Velasquez was well out of range. Poor timing from Nuku.
Nuku misses with a hook.
Velasquez moves away from the strike by Nuku.
Nuku misses with a looping left.
Nuku misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Velasquez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nuku throws the left hand but Velasquez avoids the punch easily.
Nuku steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Velasquez.
Nuku was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nuku throws a big shot that misses.
Velasquez misses the jab.
Nuku throws a body punch but Velasquez moves out of range.
Velasquez is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Nuku with a body shot.
Nuku slips under a jab from Velasquez.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nuku connects with a looping right hand.
Velasquez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sloppy strikes from Nuku. Those never looked like landing.
Velasquez takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nuku misses with a body shot.
As Nuku backs off Velasquez throws a huge counter combo but Nuku manages to avoid it all.
Velasquez scores with a jab to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nuku scores with a hook.
Velasquez pivots, looking for a leg kick but Nuku is out of range and Velasquez settles back down.
It looked like Nuku was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Velasquez.
Velasquez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nuku takes a swing at Velasquez's ribcage but misses.
Nuku tries to score with a low kick but Velasquez moves his leg out of the way.
Nuku keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Velasquez.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez misses with a series of wild punches.
Nuku clobbers Velasquez with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nice uppercut lands for Velasquez. That snapped Nuku's head back.
Nuku pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nuku lands with a nice body punch.
Velasquez defending well as Nuku loads up on a big left hand.
Velasquez connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Nuku momentarily.
Velasquez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nuku blocks a jab.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nuku lands a jab to the head.
Nuku scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Velasquez lands with a hook. Nuku tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nuku misses with a body shot.
Velasquez throws a hook to the side of Nuku's head but Nuku sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Velasquez 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.
Nuku misses the shot to the body.
A little jabbing left from Velasquez on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Velasquez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nuku.
Velasquez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nuku.
Nuku attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A nice side step and Velasquez releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Nuku jabs at Velasquez's body.
Velasquez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Despite the aggression on Velasquez's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Aoatea Nuku dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aoatea Nuku's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Nuku with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Velasquez to score with a decent uppercut.
Nuku is looking to score with low kicks.
A big right from Nuku misses.
Nuku is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Velasquez can do to turn this around?
Velasquez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nuku circles away quickly and effectively.
Nuku fires out a quick counter leg kick but Velasquez just manages to avoid it.
Aoatea Nuku is winning the standup battle so far.
Nuku lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Nuku misses with a body shot
and Velasquez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Velasquez misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez works over Nuku's head and body with a nice combination.
Nuku dodges the punch combination from Velasquez.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nuku swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Velasquez throws out a counter right but Nuku avoids it with no problem.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nuku staying out of range there.
Nuku misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Velasquez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Velasquez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nuku.
Nuku misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Velasquez counters with a straight right hand.
Nuku scores with a one two! Velasquez had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Velasquez looks to land a left hand but Nuku moved out of range nicely.
Nuku was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nuku looks to land a left hand but Velasquez moved out of range nicely.
Velasquez jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
No joy there for Nuku, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nuku misses with an uppercut. Velasquez saw that one coming.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nuku lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Velasquez moves out of range as Nuku strikes.
Nuku misses with a wild body shot.
Nuku is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nuku throws a leg kick that misses.
Velasquez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
It looked like Nuku was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A shot to the body from Nuku misses
enabling Velasquez to counter with a crisp jab.
Aoatea Nuku's cut is getting worse.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nuku. Velasquez does a little dance to reset his feet.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Velasquez! But no joy.
Velasquez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Nuku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nuku thows a left - swing and a miss!
Velasquez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Nuku throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
An inside leg kick lands from Nuku.
Nuku walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Velasquez throws out a loose jab but Nuku uses good head movement to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Velasquez misses the target.
Nuku avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nuku looks to score with a jab to the body but Velasquez is just out of range.
Nuku moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromVelasquez.
Nuku uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Velasquez has time to react.
Nuku scores with a nice strike.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Nuku catches Velasquez right on the button with a cross.
Nuku throws a predictable looking body shot
and Velasquez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nuku is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Velasquez.
Nuku looks to score with a jab to the body but Velasquez is just out of range.
Nuku cracks Velasquez with a good jab.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Velasquez might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Nuku has got the better of the exchanges.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nuku is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Velasquez.
Velasquez is looking for the big counter here.
Velasquez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nuku was well out of range. Poor timing from Velasquez.
Nuku scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Velasquez misses with a double jab
and Nuku counters with a nice leg kick.
Nuku pivots, looking for a leg kick but Velasquez is out of range and Nuku settles back down.
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 Aoatea Nuku will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Aoatea Nuku's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Nuku throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Velasquez to counter with a crisp jab.
Nuku throws a hook to the side of Velasquez's head but Velasquez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A little jabbing left from Velasquez on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Velasquez scores with a jab. Nuku acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Velasquez throws a jab when Nuku was well out of range.
Nuku moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nuku thuds a left hand into Velasquez's body.
Nuku misses with a wild body shot.
Velasquez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nuku throws a leg kick
letting Velasquez counter with a right hand.
Nuku will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
It seemed like Velasquez was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nuku swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Velasquez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Nuku cracks Velasquez with a right hand to the side of the head.
Nuku throws a body shot but no joy.
Nuku staying out of range there.
Velasquez misses with a left hand
and Nuku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cain Velasquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Velasquez thows a leg kick but Nuku checks it
and Nuku counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nuku cracks a nice hook into Velasquez's ribs.
Nuku throws a body punch but Velasquez moves out of range.
Velasquez scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Nuku misses with a hook.
Nuku throws a body shot but no joy.
Velasquez feints a counter leg kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nuku.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Velasquez throws a head kick that misses
letting Nuku counter with a right hand.
Velasquez takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Velasquez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nuku misses with a body shot
and Velasquez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nuku looks to throw the jab but Velasquez is out of range.
Nuku lands a jab.
Nuku looks to score with a jab to the body but Velasquez is just out of range.
Nuku attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Velasquez throws a nice looking combination but Nuku bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nuku misses with a low kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Velasquez does no damage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Velasquez. Nuku does a little dance to reset his feet.
Velasquez misses with a low kick.
Nuku throws a leg kick which misses Velasquez's front leg but catches the back leg as Velasquez tries to avoid it.
Velasquez misses with a series of wild punches.
A swing and a miss from Nuku.
A jab from Nuku misses.
Velasquez takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A decent looking cross lands there for Velasquez.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nuku misses with a hook.
Nuku misses with an uppercut
and Nuku takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Velasquez takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Velasquez takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
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!
Nuku cracks Velasquez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Velasquez on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nuku connects with a nice looking jab.
Nuku swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nuku throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Velasquez throws a big counter head kick but Nuku avoids it with no problem.
Velasquez with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Nuku to score with a decent uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Aoatea Nuku clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Aoatea Nuku's cut.
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 lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Nuku throws a quick inside leg kick.
Nuku uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Velasquez.
Left hook, right uppercut from Nuku.
Velasquez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Nuku.
A nice inside leg kick there by Nuku. That's going to slow Velasquez down.
Velasquez attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nuku has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Nuku there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nuku pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Velasquez is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Nuku with a body shot.
Nuku takes a swing at Velasquez's ribcage but misses.
Velasquez throws out a counter right but Nuku avoids it with no problem.
Decent striking displayed by Nuku there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Nuku jabs Velasquez to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Velasquez throws the left hand but Nuku avoids the punch easily.
Nuku lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Jab from Nuku.
Nuku dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Velasquez's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Velasquez throws a sloppy head kick and Nuku moves out of range easily.
Velasquez missing with a left hand there. Nuku was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nuku throws a body shot but no joy.
Nuku blocks a head kick by Velasquez.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nuku works Velasquez's body with a nice hook.
Nuku attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Nuku getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Velasquez blocks a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A combination from Velasquez does no damage.
Nuku connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Velasquez blocks a jab.
Velasquez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nuku throws out the jab.
Velasquez scores with a hook to the body. Nuku takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Velasquez has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Nuku takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez throws a jab but it's blocked by Nuku.
Velasquez swinging wildly here.
Velasquez moves out of range of the strikes.
A punch combination from Nuku misses.
Velasquez is looking for the big counter here.
Velasquez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Nuku counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Velasquez misses with a looping left.
Nuku throws a hook but Velasquez avoids it easily.
Velasquez swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nuku misses the shot to the body.
Velasquez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Velasquez does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Velasquez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Velasquez avoids the body shot from Nuku.
Velasquez throws a right hand that Nuku ducks under and follows up with a left that Nuku also avoids with ease.
Velasquez on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Velasquez cracks Nuku with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Velasquez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Nuku.
Velasquez scores with a sloppy right hand. Nuku should have avoided that one.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Aoatea Nuku had his way with Cain Velasquez in that round.
The cut man is working on Aoatea Nuku's cut.
That's time! Nuku's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Velasquez misses with a straight right.
Velasquez throws a jab when Nuku was well out of range.
Nuku throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Velasquez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Nuku avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Velasquez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nuku punishes Velasquez's body with a nice straight punch.
Nuku swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nuku misses with a wild body shot.
Nuku walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Velasquez checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Nuku slips a jab from Velasquez.
Nuku swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick from Nuku, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nuku thows a left - swing and a miss!
Velasquez is looking for the big counter here.
Nuku misses with a looping right.
Velasquez let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A big left from Velasquez misses.
Velasquez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Nuku.
Velasquez looks to land a right hand but Nuku moved out of range.
Nuku throwing a counter right hand but Velasquez manages to avoid it.
Nuku lands with a good body shot.
Nuku scores with a nice head shot.
Velasquez slips a jab from Nuku.
A little jabbing left from Velasquez on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Velasquez lands with a hook. Nuku tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nuku connects with an inside leg kick.
Nuku throws a predictable looking body shot
and Velasquez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Velasquez throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Nuku.
Nuku throws an off balance right hand
and Velasquez counters with a right hand to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nuku misses with a wild body shot.
Velasquez throws a lazy head kick
and Nuku counters with a nice body shot.
Velasquez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nuku.
Velasquez throws a nice inside leg kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nuku connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Velasquez's hands.
Velasquez throws a shot from downtown. Nuku moves away and avoids it.
It looked like Nuku was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Velasquez.
Velasquez with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Velasquez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nuku misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Velasquez.
A nice side step and Velasquez releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Nuku bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Velasquez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nuku wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Velasquez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Velasquez is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Nuku defending well as Velasquez loads up on a big left hand.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nuku digs a good hook to Velasquez's body.
Velasquez misses with a hook
letting Nuku counter with a right hand.
Nuku slips a straight right by Velasquez.
Nuku throwing a counter right hand but Velasquez manages to avoid it.
Nuku misses with a two punch combination.
Velasquez takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Aoatea Nuku is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nuku misses with an uppercut. Velasquez saw that one coming.
Velasquez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Nuku works the jab nicely.
Nice body punch from Nuku.
An inside leg kick lands from Nuku.
Cain Velasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nuku bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Velasquez's head backwards.
And that's the end of the fight!
Aoatea Nuku showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nuku has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 50:45
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 50:45
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 50:45
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aoatea Nuku!
Aoatea Nuku retains his heavyweight title!
After winning the bout, Aoatea Nuku thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
61% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
