PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hazza Jack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Velasquez
vs
Jack

185 cm
24
244 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
19
243 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cain Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hazza Jack!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paul Aken and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velasquez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Jack has eaten all the pies!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Velasquez enables Jack to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Velasquez manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Jack is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Jack has gone for a leg lock! Velasquez slips out almost immediately though and dives into Jack's guard.
Jack not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Velasquez trying to control but Jack is working from the bottom.
Jack wants to sweep but no luck.
Velasquez wants to control from the top but Jack keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Cain Velasquez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Velasquez forces Jack back against the cage and clinches.
Velasquez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Velasquez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jack avoids it.
Jack misses with a body punch.
Velasquez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Jack up against the cage.
Jack wants to break free but Velasquez has control.
Velasquez misses with a knee to the head.
Jack has Velasquez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Velasquez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Velasquez ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Velasquez no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Jack wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Jack is pushing down on Velasquez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Velasquez is fighting to maintain full guard but Jack has managed to sneak the leg through.
Velasquez is trying to control but can't.

Velasquez pushes Jack off and gets back to his feet.

Jack shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Velasquez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Velasquez keeping full guard, as Jack tries to pass.
Velasquez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Jack looks gassed!
Velasquez is trying to keep Jack in close.
Jack is looking to work some ground and pound but Velasquez has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez is trying to control the position but Jack postures up.
Jack won't allow Velasquez to get back to his feet.
Velasquez has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Jack has passed into side control.
Jack is looking to take a break and control but Velasquez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Velasquez is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Jack is controlling him well.
Velasquez struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Velasquez is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Jack is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Velasquez bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Velasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Jack is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jack is working an open guard so Velasquez takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Velasquez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jack paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Velasquez slaps away a takedown attempt from Jack, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A low kick from Jack is predictable there

and Velasquez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Velasquez.
Velasquez preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasquez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Jack fails with the takedown

so Velasquez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Velasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Jack is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jack looking for a guillotine here but Velasquez defends easily.

Velasquez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Velasquez tries to clinch there but Jack circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velasquez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Jack manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Velasquez looking to pass the guard.
Jack keeping moving, preventing Velasquez from controlling successfully.
Velasquez chips away with some ground and pound.

Velasquez stands and steps away. Jack gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jack.
Jack takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Jack avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Velasquez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jack wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Velasquez slowing the pace effectively.
Velasquez is trying to drag Jack to the mat but Jack just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Jack gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Jack wants to get up but he can't break Velasquez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Jack sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Velasquez wants to stand up but Jack is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jack stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Jack looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cain Velasquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hazza Jack.
Jack has his takedown stuffed

and Velasquez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Jack's guard now.
Velasquez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jack swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Jack looking to score a takedown here. Velasquez is defending well but Jack drives through and ends up in Velasquez's guard.
Velasquez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Velasquez trying to keep a closed guard but Jack is proving a slippery customer.
Velasquez wants to stand and escape but Jack is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velasquez wants to hit a switch here but Jack passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Velasquez there!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jack sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasquez dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Velasquez takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Jack misses with a takedown attempt

and Velasquez counters with a takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Jack's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Jack tries to buck Velasquez off but Velasquez is having none of it.

Velasquez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Jack is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Jack takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jack is trying to control Velasquez's posture but Velasquez avoids it.
Cain Velasquez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jack takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Jack wants to control but Velasquez postures up.
Jack takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Velasquez just content to control the position.

Velasquez tries for a kimura but Jack is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jack tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Velasquez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Velasquez is looking to take a break and control but Jack is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jack prevents Velasquez from moving into mount.
Velasquez wants to control but Jack is keeping him busy.
Jack is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to control but Jack is keeping him busy.
Velasquez working the ground and pound from side control.
Jack can't do much from the bottom here.
Velasquez postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Velasquez slows the pace down.

That's four 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.
Velasquez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Jack for as long as he can get away with.
Jack wants to control but Velasquez postures up.

Velasquez stands up and beckons Jack to his feet.
Velasquez scores with a one two! Jack had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Hazza Jack has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cain Velasquez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Velasquez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jack is fending him off so far but Velasquez persists. Nope, Jack circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Velasquez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Velasquez 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cain Velasquez!