PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenichi Misahawa (ranked 1430 p4p, 2086 weight class) and Jose Valdez (ranked 207 p4p, 274 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Valdez's choice of entrance music: Pump it up. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Misahawa
vs
Valdez

183 cm
25
210
4 - 3 - 0

183 cm
26
220
5 - 3 - 1

Decent wrestler
Good knees
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Knockout power

EL ZOIDO FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kenichi Misahawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Jose Valdez!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Santiago Holmes and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Misahawa closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch on the inside from Valdez fails to land.
Valdez throws a punch but it's blocked by Misahawa.
Valdez misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valdez.
Misahawa blocks an uppercut.
Misahawa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Valdez working aggressively here.
Misahawa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Misahawa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Misahawa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Valdez misses with some punches.
Misahawa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Misahawa is trying to stall.
Misahawa landing knees to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valdez misses with some punches.
Misahawa throws a knee to the head but misses.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Misahawa takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Misahawa lands with a right to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Valdez fails to land.
Misahawa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Valdez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez misses with some punches.
Misahawa lands a knee to the head.
Valdez blocks an uppercut.
Misahawa tries a knee to the head but Valdez blocks it.
Valdez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Valdez has a couple of punches blocked by Misahawa.
Valdez working aggressively here.
Valdez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Misahawa backwards.
Misahawa with a knee to the head.
Valdez misses with some punches.
Misahawa looking to throw knees to the head but Valdez is blocking nicely.
Valdez misses with some punches.
Valdez misses with some punches.
Valdez swings wildly with an uppercut but Misahawa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valdez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Misahawa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Valdez prevents a body shot from Misahawa.
A head punch on the inside from Valdez fails to land.
Misahawa tries a body shot but Valdez blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Misahawa connects with a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Misahawa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A knee to the head by Misahawa.
Misahawa connects with a nasty looking knee right to Valdez's face.
Valdez misses with a punch on the inside.
Valdez misses with a punch on the inside.
Misahawa blocking some punches.
Misahawa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Valdez misses with some punches.
Misahawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Valdez blocks it with crossed arms.
Misahawa lands a good knee to the midsection. Valdez won't want to take too many of those.
Misahawa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Misahawa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Valdez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valdez misses with some punches.
Valdez lands with a short shot to the head.
Misahawa looking to throw knees to the head but Valdez is blocking nicely.
Valdez misses with some punches.
Misahawa lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Misahawa.
Valdez looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Valdez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Misahawa blocking some punches.
Valdez working aggressively here.
Misahawa unloads a knee to the mid-section. Valdez lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Misahawa lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Misahawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Valdez blocks it with crossed arms.
Misahawa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Misahawa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Misahawa connects with a nasty looking knee right to Valdez's face.
Valdez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Valdez lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Misahawa manages to break the clinch.
Valdez throws a head kick but Misahawa moves out of range.
Misahawa blocks a head kick by Valdez.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valdez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Kenichi Misahawa has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valdez throws a sloppy head kick and Misahawa moves out of range easily.
Misahawa tries to clinch up but Valdez circles away and keeps his distance.
Misahawa misses with a two punch combination.
Valdez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Misahawa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Valdez circles away quickly and effectively.
Valdez throws a big counter head kick but Misahawa avoids it with no problem.
Valdez throws a head kick that half lands.

Misahawa rushes Valdez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Misahawa.
Valdez has a couple of punches blocked by Misahawa.
Misahawa connects with a knee to the head.
Valdez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Valdez swings wildly with an uppercut but Misahawa uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valdez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valdez avoiding damage as Misahawa throws knees to the body.
Valdez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
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 Kenichi Misahawa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kenichi Misahawa's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Valdez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Valdez throws a wild body kick that Misahawa sees coming a mile off.

Misahawa closes the distance and pushes Valdez back into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Valdez fails to land.
Misahawa landing knees to the head.
Misahawa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Valdez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kenichi Misahawa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Misahawa wants to stall.
Valdez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Misahawa.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Misahawa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valdez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valdez.
Valdez misses with the head strike.
Valdez working aggressively here.
Misahawa blocks an uppercut.
Misahawa looking to throw knees to the head but Valdez is blocking nicely.
Valdez swings wildly with an uppercut but Misahawa uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Misahawa trying to land knees to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Valdez.
Valdez lands a left hand.
Misahawa connects with a nasty looking knee right to Valdez's face.
Valdez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Misahawa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Valdez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valdez working aggressively here.
Misahawa has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Valdez misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Valdez fails to land.
Misahawa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Misahawa.
Misahawa looking to throw knees to the head but Valdez is blocking nicely.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Misahawa.
Valdez lands with a left to the head.
Misahawa manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Valdez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Misahawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Valdez blocks it with crossed arms.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Misahawa tries to land a knee to the head but Valdez blocks with his arms.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Misahawa.
Misahawa blocking some punches.
Valdez throws a punch but it's blocked by Misahawa.
Misahawa blocking some punches.
Valdez lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Valdez fails to land.
Valdez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Valdez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Misahawa connects with a nasty looking knee right to Valdez's face.
Misahawa looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Misahawa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Misahawa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Valdez backwards.
Misahawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Valdez blocks it with crossed arms.
Misahawa tries to throw a body punch but Valdez avoids it by throwing Misahawa back against the cage.
Misahawa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Valdez blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Misahawa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Misahawa missing with knees to the body.
Misahawa blocks an uppercut.
Misahawa is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Misahawa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Misahawa looking to throw knees to the head but Valdez is blocking nicely.
Valdez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Misahawa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Misahawa lands an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Valdez.
Misahawa misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Valdez.
Valdez throws a punch but it's blocked by Misahawa.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valdez.
Misahawa lands a shot to the body.
Valdez swings wildly with an uppercut but Misahawa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Misahawa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valdez lands with a left to the head.
Misahawa tries to work over Valdez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Misahawa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Valdez working aggressively here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Misahawa misses with a knee to the head.
Misahawa blocking some punches.
Misahawa looking to throw knees to the head but Valdez is blocking nicely.
A head punch on the inside from Misahawa fails to land.
Valdez working aggressively here.
Valdez swings wildly with an uppercut but Misahawa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valdez swings wildly with an uppercut but Misahawa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Misahawa with a knee to the head.
Misahawa with a knee to the head.
Valdez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Valdez.
Valdez throws a head punch that misses.
Misahawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Valdez blocks it with crossed arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jose Valdez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Kenichi Misahawa's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Good work by Misahawa as he checks the leg kick.
Valdez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
An inside leg kick lands from Valdez.
Valdez swats away the attempt to clinch by Misahawa.
Misahawa scores with a shot to the body.
Misahawa blocks a head kick by Valdez.
Misahawa connects with a body shot that sends Valdez's belly button to the back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valdez throws a head kick but Misahawa moves out of range.
Misahawa avoids the head kick by Valdez.
Valdez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Misahawa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Valdez circles away quickly and effectively.
Valdez shapes to counter with a head kick.
Valdez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Valdez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez throws a head kick but Misahawa moves out of range.
Misahawa tries to clinch but Valdez moves out of range.
Valdez tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Misahawa's jab looks to have found its range, popping Valdez under the eye.
Valdez lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Valdez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Valdez takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A nice combination there by Misahawa.
Misahawa misses with a wild body shot.
Valdez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Valdez pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Misahawa takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Misahawa throws a punch but it's blocked by Valdez.
Valdez pushes Misahawa back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Misahawa scores with a nice hook to the head.
Valdez misses with some punches.
Misahawa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Valdez throws a punch but it's blocked by Misahawa.
Misahawa stalling in the clinch but Valdez improves position.
Misahawa misses with a knee to the head.
Valdez swings wildly with an uppercut but Misahawa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valdez gets through Misahawa's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Misahawa.
Knees to the body from Misahawa.
A head punch on the inside from Valdez fails to land.
Valdez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Misahawa tries to land a knee to the head but Valdez blocks with his arms.
Misahawa tries a knee to the head but Valdez blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Misahawa landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Valdez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Misahawa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valdez.
Misahawa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Valdez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Valdez misses with some punches.
Valdez throws a punch but it's blocked by Misahawa.
Misahawa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Misahawa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Misahawa blocks an uppercut.
Valdez throws a head punch that misses.
Misahawa scores with a knee to the head.
Valdez swings wildly with an uppercut but Misahawa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valdez lands with a light punch inside.
Misahawa with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Misahawa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Misahawa looking to throw knees to the head but Valdez is blocking nicely.
Valdez misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Misahawa.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Valdez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Valdez fails to land.
Valdez swings wildly with an uppercut but Misahawa uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valdez.
Misahawa blocking some punches.
A short right from Valdez on the inside.
Valdez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Misahawa looking to throw knees to the head but Valdez is blocking nicely.
A knee to the head by Misahawa.
Misahawa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Valdez blocks it with crossed arms.
Valdez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Valdez misses with some punches.
Valdez lands with a right to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jose Valdez.
I think Valdez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 29:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!