PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Damo Bodhidharma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cain Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Velasquez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. UFC - Face the Pain kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Bodhidharma
vs
Velasquez

180 cm
32
265 lbs
24 - 19 - 0

186 cm
30
244 lbs
22 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 24 - 19 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Damo Bodhidharma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cain Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksandr Martynov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velasquez fails to land the takedown.
Sloppy strikes from Bodhidharma. Those never looked like landing.
Bodhidharma misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Velasquez takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Velasquez misses with a takedown attempt
and Bodhidharma counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Bodhidharma looks to land a left hand but Velasquez moved out of range nicely.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Bodhidharma displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Velasquez throws out the jab.
Bodhidharma tries to clinch up
enabling Velasquez to counter with a crisp jab.
We've been told by Bodhidharma's head coaches at Russian Top Team Elite Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Bodhidharma misses.
Velasquez dodges the punch combination from Bodhidharma.
Bodhidharma lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Velasquez circles away quickly and effectively.
Bodhidharma throws a series of punches but Velasquez avoids them all with ease.
Bodhidharma fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Velasquez manages to avoid it.

That's two 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 gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bodhidharma counters with a three punch combo that has Velasquez backing up. Velasquez nods at Bodhidharma to acknowledge the strikes.
Damo Bodhidharma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cain Velasquez.
Some wild striking there from Bodhidharma.
Velasquez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bodhidharma.
Velasquez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Velasquez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bodhidharma counters with a three punch combo that has Velasquez backing up. Velasquez nods at Bodhidharma to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Bodhidharma.
Bodhidharma throws a head kick but Velasquez moves out of range.
Velasquez fails with a takedown attempt.
Bodhidharma punishes Velasquez's body with a nice straight punch.
Velasquez is trying desperately to land a takedown but Bodhidharma is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Velasquez.
Velasquez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bodhidharma.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez fails with the takedown
and Bodhidharma makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Bodhidharma dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Velasquez. That did some damage!
Velasquez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bodhidharma counters with a left to the body.
Bodhidharma throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Velasquez with a poor takedown
and Bodhidharma connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bodhidharma throws a hook but Velasquez blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damo Bodhidharma dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Velasquez shoots in and bounces Bodhidharma off the cage to secure the 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.
Velasquez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Velasquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Bodhidharma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Velasquez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bodhidharma is keeping the position for now.
Bodhidharma is looking to stand up but Velasquez isn't so interested in that idea.
Velasquez with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bodhidharma avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bodhidharma is trying to keep Velasquez in close.
Bodhidharma is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bodhidharma throws a series of punches but Velasquez avoids them all with ease.
Velasquez dodges the punch combination from Bodhidharma.
Velasquez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Velasquez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bodhidharma wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bodhidharma fails to land with a series of punches.
Damo Bodhidharma is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Velasquez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bodhidharma misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bodhidharma looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bodhidharma swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Damo Bodhidharma is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bodhidharma throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bodhidharma misses with a double jab.
Bodhidharma throws a right and a left that both miss.
Velasquez slips a jab from Bodhidharma.
Bodhidharma throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bodhidharma will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bodhidharma tries to close the distance and clinch but Velasquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bodhidharma misses with a wild combination.
Bodhidharma throws a hook but Velasquez blocks it.
Velasquez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bodhidharma.
Velasquez tries for a takedown but Bodhidharma circles away easily

and Bodhidharma holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damo Bodhidharma dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Velasquez has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Bodhidharma.
Bodhidharma misses with a series of wild punches.
Bodhidharma throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Velasquez.
Bodhidharma lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Velasquez circles away quickly and effectively.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bodhidharma. Velasquez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Bodhidharma. No joy for Velasquez on that attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Bodhidharma. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bodhidharma throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Velasquez misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Bodhidharma counters with a one-two to the body.
Bodhidharma rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Velasquez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Velasquez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bodhidharma.
Bodhidharma lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Velasquez backs up against the cage.

It looks like Cain Velasquez has been cut.
Bodhidharma misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bodhidharma throws a series of punches but Velasquez moves out of range.
Bodhidharma misses with a combination
and Velasquez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bodhidharma moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Velasquez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bodhidharma swivels and escapes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bodhidharma swinging wildly here.
Bodhidharma misses with a double jab.
Bodhidharma looks to land a combination but Velasquez avoids it well.
No joy there for Bodhidharma, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bodhidharma looks to score with a jab to the body but Velasquez is just out of range.
Bodhidharma misses with a double jab
and Velasquez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez closes the distance and clinches up with Bodhidharma, looking for a takedown. Velasquez pushes Bodhidharma against the cage but Bodhidharma circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Damo Bodhidharma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cain Velasquez.
Velasquez dives in and grabs Bodhidharma's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bodhidharma pushes down on Velasquez's head and hops out.
Bodhidharma throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bodhidharma displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
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.
Bodhidharma looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bodhidharma leaves Velasquez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damo Bodhidharma showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bodhidharma, 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damo Bodhidharma!
Damo Bodhidharma took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Zipp Zapp for their support in the buildup to the fight.