PBP Commentary

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

Velasquez
vs
James

185 cm
19
244 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
27
240 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cain Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Freddie James!
The judges for this bout are , and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James shoots in and gets a takedown into Velasquez's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Velasquez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Velasquez is keeping the position for now.
Velasquez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
James thows a big elbow that misses.
Velasquez keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.
James wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.
Velasquez managing to control the position.
Velasquez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for James on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Velasquez throws a series of punches but James avoids them all with ease.
James leaves Velasquez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Freddie James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Velasquez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
James bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Velasquez's head backwards.
James throws a series of punches but Velasquez avoids them all with ease.

James shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
James is trying to take his opponent's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez wants to control but James is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

James is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Velasquez has managed to escape the submission attempt.
James looking to control but Velasquez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

James looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

James get's back to his feet.
James misses with a body shot
and Velasquez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Velasquez counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. James is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Velasquez takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Velasquez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.
James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
James looks gassed!
James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

James decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

James is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Velasquez moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez manages to escape and get back to his feet.
James should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James lands the left hand.

Velasquez scores with a takedown into James's guard.
Velasquez working some strikes from top position.
Velasquez won't allow James to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velasquez trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
Velasquez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddie James dominated that round.
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.

James throws a left and a right that both miss
and Velasquez counters with a two punch combo.
Velasquez misses with a head kick.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James throws a nice looking combination but Velasquez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

James bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Velasquez gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

James is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Velasquez is just riding it out for now. James eventually gives up the hold.
James is just content to waste time from the top position. Velasquez takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
James is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez controls James momentarily but James frees himself.
Velasquez wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.
James is looking to stand up but Velasquez won't let him.
Velasquez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Velasquez wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and James is now in half guard.
Velasquez pushes James off looking to stand but James dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James trying to control from Velasquez's half guard. Velasquez has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
James wants to stand but Velasquez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
James slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

James decides to stand up, so the ref orders Velasquez to his feet.
James lands with a nice combination. Velasquez backs away looking to recover.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James just misses with a punch to the body.
James tries to bum rush Velasquez with a series of wild strikes but Velasquez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

James closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Velasquez to the mat! Velasquez manages to get full guard.
Velasquez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from James.
Velasquez pulls James in close to prevent any damage.
Velasquez wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.
Velasquez keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.
James is pushing down on Velasquez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Velasquez is fighting to maintain full guard but James has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez is defending against the submission attempts here by James.

James is trying to work for a kimura but Velasquez is defending well.
Freddie James has got the better of the ground game so far.
James prevents Velasquez from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddie James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Velasquez connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Velasquez misses with a wild combination.

James drives through with a takedown into guard.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Velasquez is keeping the position for now.
Velasquez pulls James in close to prevent any damage.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Velasquez is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James 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!
James working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Velasquez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez scoring with punches to the head and body.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Velasquez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Velasquez postures up.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.

James looking for a guillotine here but Velasquez defends easily.
Velasquez thows a big elbow that misses.
James keeping moving, preventing Velasquez from controlling successfully.
Velasquez throws a strike but James rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez pulls James in close to prevent any damage.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Velasquez uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Cain Velasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

James closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Velasquez to the mat! Velasquez manages to get full guard.
James stops Velasquez from standing up.
Freddie James is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velasquez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. James defends it easily.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Velasquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James works a leg free and moves into half guard.

James decides to stand and escape the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

James drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James wants to control from the top but Velasquez keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Freddie James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well James has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Freddie James!