PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jamie Racken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velasquez comes to the cage accompanied by Edge. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Velasquez
vs
Racken

185 cm
19
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
200 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cain Velasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jamie Racken!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Winston Howard and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Velasquez darts in and clinches Racken up against the cage.
Velasquez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Racken.
Racken gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Velasquez.
Velasquez looking for a takedown.
Velasquez is trying to push Racken away but Racken has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Racken breaks the clinch.

Racken moves into the clinch.
Racken is trying to break the clinch but Velasquez has him pressed against the cage.
Velasquez goes for a takedown attempt but Racken pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Racken slaps away a takedown attempt from Velasquez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Racken tries to clinch there but Velasquez circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velasquez feints and as Racken raises his hands in defense, Velasquez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Velasquez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Velasquez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Racken manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Velasquez manages to get himself to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Racken accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Racken is fighting to break Velasquez's control of his arms but Velasquez is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Velasquez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Racken can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Velasquez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Velasquez is controlling Racken's posture.
Racken is looking to work some ground and pound but Velasquez has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Racken postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Velasquez throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Racken drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Racken jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Velasquez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Velasquez trying to keep a closed guard but Racken is proving a slippery customer.
Velasquez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Velasquez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Velasquez tries to get out of the position.
Racken trying to control but Velasquez is working from the bottom.
Velasquez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Velasquez wants to stand but Racken is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez looking for a sweep. Not yet Velasquez, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Racken drops back looking for a leg! Velasquez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Velasquez manages to kick Racken off! Racken jumps back into Velasquez's guard.
Racken looks gassed!
Velasquez wants to hit a switch here but Racken passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Velasquez there!
Velasquez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Racken working the ground and pound effectively.
Velasquez takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Velasquez is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Velasquez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Racken scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Velasquez?
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Racken breaks from Velasquez's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Velasquez can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jamie Racken will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Velasquez misses with a takedown attempt
and Racken counters with a three punch combo that has Velasquez backing up. Velasquez nods at Racken to acknowledge the strikes.

Velasquez closes the distance and pushes Racken back into the cage.
Velasquez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Racken gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Racken pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Velasquez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Racken tries to avoid it but Velasquez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Racken to the ground. Racken escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Velasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Velasquez shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Velasquez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Racken on the ground.
Velasquez wants to pass to mount but Racken is defending the position.
Racken moves into full guard.
Racken has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Racken is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Velasquez is controlling him.
Racken is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Racken keeping full guard, as Velasquez tries to pass.
Velasquez is working hard here to advance position.
Racken trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Velasquezis looking to pass into half guard but Racken pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Racken is in guard.
Velasquez is pulling down on Racken's head. It's preventing any offense from Racken, at least for the moment.
Velasquez keeping moving, preventing Racken from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Racken missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Velasquez has control of Racken's left arm, preventing Racken from doing any damage.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Velasquez controls Racken momentarily but Racken frees himself.
Velasquez looking for a sweep. Not yet Velasquez, not yet.

We're going to have a standup here because Cain Velasquez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Velasquez has a takedown stuffed.
Velasquez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Racken tries to avoid it but Velasquez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Racken to the ground. Racken escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Velasquez tries to keep at a distance but Racken has taken the fight into the clinch.
Racken has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Velasquez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Racken is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Racken has Velasquez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Velasquez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Velasquez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Racken avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Velasquez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Racken gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Come on Velasquez - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Velasquez wants to break free but Racken has control.

Racken successfully pulls guard.
Velasquez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Racken swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Racken keeping full guard, as Velasquez tries to pass.
Velasquez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Velasquez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Velasquez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Velasquez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Velasquez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Racken is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velasquez won't allow Racken to sweep him here.
Velasquez tries to free his leg and advance position but Racken is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Velasquez dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Velasquez drives through with a takedown into Racken's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Velasquez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Racken swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Racken looking to control.
Velasquez wants to pass the guard but Racken is keeping the position.

Racken looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Velasquez wants to pass the guard but Racken is keeping the position.
Racken takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez scoring with some ground and pound.
Racken keeping full guard, as Velasquez tries to pass.

Racken escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Velasquez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Racken keeping full guard, as Velasquez tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Racken throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Velasquez lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Velasquez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Racken is keeping the position for now.
Velasquez is pushing down on Racken's leg trying to pass to half guard. Racken is fighting to maintain full guard but Velasquez has managed to sneak the leg through.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Racken won't allow Velasquez to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez lands strikes from half guard.
Velasquez wants to free his trapped foot but Racken is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nice strikes from Velasquez there.
Velasquez wants to pass the guard but Racken is defending well.
Velasquez lands with a punch from half guard.
Velasquez trying to mount his opponent but Racken defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Velasquez wants to free his trapped foot but Racken is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Racken wants to control but Velasquez is keeping busy.
Velasquez wants to pass the guard but Racken is defending well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Velasquez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Velasquez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28

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