PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Natas Reaper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Velasquez
vs
Reaper

180 cm
23
245 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
268 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cain Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Natas Reaper!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velasquez shoots for a takedown but Reaper saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Reaper throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A telegraphed right hand from Reaper misses the target.
Velasquez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Reaper's waist but Reaper gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Velasquez off to one side.
Reaper loads up on a big right hand but Velasquez slips the punch.
Reaper scores with a jab to the head.
Reaper throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Velasquez thows a body shot but no joy.
A big right from Reaper misses.
Reaper scores with a sloppy right hand. Velasquez should have avoided that one.
Reaper throws a leg kick but Velasquez sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Velasquez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Reaper keeping full guard, as Velasquez tries to pass.
Velasquez wants to control from the top but Reaper keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez prevents Reaper from getting back to his feet.
Velasquez wants to control from the top but Reaper keeps moving.
Velasquez throws a strike but Reaper rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Reaper wants to stand but Velasquez is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Velasquez looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
The fighters circling - Reaper throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Natas Reaper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Reaper throws a hook to the side of Velasquez's head but Velasquez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Reaper lands with a shot to the body.
Velasquez moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Reaper misses the target.
Reaper pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Reaper misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Reaper stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Reaper wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reaper throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Reaper missing with a left hand there. Velasquez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Reaper clinches.
Reaper gets through Velasquez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Reaper cracks Velasquez with a nice body shot.
Nice elbow from Reaper.
Velasquez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Reaper fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Reaper drives through and clinches with Velasquez against the cage.

Velasquez wants the takedown. Reaper is fighting it off but Velasquez persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Reaper's guard against the cage.
Velasquez throws and elbow that misses. Reaper uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Velasquez's guard. Nice move by Reaper!
Reaper not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reaper trying to control the position from guard on top but Velasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Velasquez wants to sweep but no luck.
Reaper postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Natas Reaper will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Reaper throws a series of punches but Velasquez moves out of range.
Velasquez swings for the body but Reaper moves out of range.
Reaper wants to clinch up but Velasquez keeps it at a distance.
Reaper stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Reaper wants it to stay on the feet.
Velasquez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Reaper was well out of range. Poor timing from Velasquez.

Velasquez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Velasquez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Reaper is pressing down on Velasquez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Velasquez is fighting to break Reaper's control of his arms but Reaper is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Reaper keeping moving, preventing Velasquez from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reaper preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Reaper keeping full guard, as Velasquez tries to pass.
Velasquez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Reaper works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Velasquez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Velasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Reaper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Reaper tries to clinch there but Velasquez circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Reaper scores with a decent looking hook.
Reaper moves into range and connects with a jab.
Velasquez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Reaper avoids it really well and circles away.

Velasquez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Reaper manages to get back to half guard.
Velasquez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Reaper defending well though.
Velasquez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Reaper taking some punishment here, with Velasquez in his half guard.
Reaper gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez throwing strikes from guard but Reaper blocks nicely.
Velasquez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Velasquez passes Reaper's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Reaper blocking the ground and pound attempt from Velasquez.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Still in half guard, Velasquez seems content to control.
Reaper trying to control from the bottom.
Reaper is refusing to be controlled, as Velasquez sits in half guard.
Velasquez is looking to pass Reaper's guard but actually Reaper recovers to full guard.
Reaper wants to stand up but Velasquez is controlling him.
Velasquez working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasquez dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Velasquez moves away from the strike by Reaper.
Velasquez slips a jab from Reaper.
Velasquez staying out of range there.
Reaper lands a nice shot to the body.
Reaper 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.
Velasquez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Reaper tries to clinch up.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Velasquez here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Reaper throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Velasquez on the side of the head.
Reaper misses with a hook. Velasquez ducked under it nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Velasquez is defended easily by Reaper.
Velasquez shoots in but Reaper avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Reaper.
Reaper throws an overhand right that lands on Velasquez's shoulder, as Velasquez tries to avoid the shot.
Reaper scores with a decent looking hook.
Reaper tries to clinch but Velasquez is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reaper misses with the combination.
Reaper smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Reaper swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Reaper misses with a two punch combination.
Velasquez tries to move into range but Reaper moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Reaper scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Reaper pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Reaper throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Reaper tries to bum rush Velasquez with a series of wild strikes but Velasquez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Reaper scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Velasquez doesn't seem bothered though.
Velasquez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Reaper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Velasquez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Reaper missing with a left hand there. Velasquez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Reaper is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Velasquez.
Velasquez takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reaper forces Velasquez back against the cage and clinches.
Velasquez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Reaper is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reaper misses with a hook from the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Reaper.
Reaper working aggressively here.
Reaper throws an elbow but it misses.
Reaper working aggressively here.
Reaper misses with some punches.
Velasquez takes a knee right on the jaw!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Reaper as Velasquez tries to tie him up.
A head punch on the inside from Reaper fails to land.
Reaper lands a body shot in the clinch.
Reaper working aggressively here.
Velasquez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Reaper's elbow.
Reaper lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Velasquez turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Velasquez taking a break here but Reaper is having none of it and regains half guard.
Velasquez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Velasquez is thwarting Reaper's attempts to control the position.
Reaper tries to roll over but Velasquez keeps him under control.
Velasquez trying to control the action but Reaper is working from the bottom.
Reaper is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Velasquez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Velasquez's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Velasquez wants to control his opponent's hands but Reaper gets his hands free.
What can Velasquez do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Velasquez is trying to break free.
Reaper gets his hands free as Velasquez looks to control.
Reaper doesn't have the hooks in and Velasquez manages to turn into his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Natas Reaper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Reaper 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Natas Reaper!