PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Kerr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cain Velasquez is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Kerr
vs
Velasquez

191 cm
22
263 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Kerr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cain Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Velasquez does no damage.
Velasquez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Kerr drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Velasquez working a defensive guard but Kerr manages to pass into side control anyway.
Kerr in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Kerr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Velasquez keeps working.
Kerr has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Velasquez can't do much from the bottom here.

Kerr wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Velasquez, who protects the arm well.
Kerr wants to control but Velasquez is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerr is putting a hurting on Velasquez here, landing some big shots from side control.
Velasquez struggling a bit here.
Velasquez tries to buck Kerr off but Kerr is having none of it.
An elbow from Kerr crashes against the mat.
Velasquez can't do much from the bottom here.
Kerr is looking to take a break and control but Velasquez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kerr is really struggling to control Velasquez but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Velasquez is looking for a sweep.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Kerr shoots in and bounces Velasquez off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Velasquez pulls Kerr in close to prevent any damage.

Kerr drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kerr jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kerr being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerr pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Velasquez is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velasquez working a defensive guard here.
Kerr being controlled here momentarily.
Velasquez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Velasquez controlling Kerr's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Cain Velasquez.
Velasquez throws a series of punches but Kerr moves out of range.
Kerr shoots and misses

and Velasquez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Velasquez in particular looking to stall.
Kerr pushes Velasquez off looking to stand but Velasquez dives back in and keeps control.
Velasquez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kerr tries to kick Velasquez off but Velasquez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kerr is breathing heavily.
Velasquez is just content to waste time from the top position. Kerr takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
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 Mark Kerr will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A right-left combo lands from Velasquez.
Cain Velasquez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kerr closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Velasquez did well to prevent Kerr getting side control.
Kerr moves nicely into side control.
You can see the frustration on Velasquez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kerr working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Velasquez is trying to control Kerr's posture but Kerr avoids it.
Velasquez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kerr fails with the takedown

and Velasquez counters with a takedown into side control.

Kerr bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Velasquez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kerr counters with a takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Velasquez wants to control but Kerr postures up.
Kerr in side control, throwing shots but Velasquez defends.
Velasquez is trying to get back to half guard.
Velasquez wants to control but Kerr postures up.
Velasquez is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
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 tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerr postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Velasquez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Velasquez doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kerr counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kerr.
Kerr trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
Kerr thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kerr puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Kerr missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Velasquez is trying is best to control the position here.

Kerr seems to be working for a kimura but Velasquez defends the submission attempt.
Velasquez wants to improve his position but Kerr is controlling well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Velasquez has his takedown stuffed

and Kerr counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mark Kerr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cain Velasquez.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velasquez seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Kerr dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kerr misses with a takedown
and Velasquez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

It looks like Mark Kerr has been cut.
Left hook, right uppercut from Velasquez.
Kerr shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Velasquez as he avoids it easily.
Velasquez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kerr counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kerr.
Kerr throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Velasquez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mark Kerr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Velasquez looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kerr postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez looking to control.
Velasquez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A nice combination there by Velasquez.
Velasquez fails with the takedown
and Kerr counters with a nice uppercut.
Kerr misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Kerr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Velasquez misses with a takedown attempt

and Kerr counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kerr postures up in Velasquez's guard and throws a big left but Velasquez blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kerr drops back, looking for a kneebar! Velasquez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Velasquez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Velasquez!
Velasquez trying to control the action but Kerr is working from the bottom.
Velasquez prevents Kerr from escaping the position.
Velasquez just content to control the position.
Velasquez wants to control but Kerr is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerr is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Velasquez has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Velasquez controls the position.
Kerr is trying to get back to his feet.
Velasquez taking a breather here.
Kerr tries to escape but Velasquez is in control.
Velasquez controls the position.

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.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Cain Velasquez.
Velasquez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Danga de danga de dang - Velasquez scores with a four punch combination!
Velasquez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kerr lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kerr.
Mark Kerr is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Velasquez throws a left and a right that both miss

and Kerr counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Kerr is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Velasquez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kerr is working away from the top position though.
Cain Velasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velasquez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kerr kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Kerr showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kerr, 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Kerr!