PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Valle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Dias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valle comes to the cage accompanied by Green Day - american idiot. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Valle
vs
Dias

206 cm
20
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

203 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Valle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Dias!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valle throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Dias.
Dias looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Dias shoots for a takedown but Valle saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Valle misses with a takedown attempt

and Dias counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Valle!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Valle is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Valle is trying to escape the mount.
Dias content just to control the position here.
Valle is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dias looking to control but Valle is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dias avoids the attempt from Valle to control.
Dias can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Valle is looking to escape.
Valle is looking to get to half guard.
Dias controlling his opponent.
Valle is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Dias controlling the pace for now.
Valle is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Dias controlling from the full mount.
Let's hope that Dias has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Despite being in the dominant position, Rodrigo Dias just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Valle with a lazy takedown attempt

and Dias counters with a single leg into guard. Valle didn't expect that.
Dias showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dias wants to pass the guard but Valle is keeping the position.
Valle trying to keep a closed guard but Dias is proving a slippery customer.
Valle lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Dias!
Dias regains half guard.
Dias has his hands clasped together around Valle's back. He's all about the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dias is looking for a sweep. Valle is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Valle tries to pass to full mount but Dias defends it.
Valle trying to control the action but Dias is working from the bottom.
Dias manages to get to full guard.
Valle wants to control from the top but Dias keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dias is pulling down on Valle's head to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Dias 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.

Valle clinches up against the cage.
Dias drops down looking for an ankle pick but Valle pulls his leg out and moves away.
Thiago Valle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Valle drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Valle stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dias swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dias controlling Valle's posture.
Dias's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valle wants to control from the top but Dias keeps moving.
Dias is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Valle trying to control the position from guard on top but Dias is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dias seems keen to control Valle's posture.

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.
Valle trying to control but Dias is working from the bottom.
Valle wants to stand but Dias is controlling his posture from full guard.
Dias is adopting a defensive guard.

Despite being in the dominant position, Rodrigo Dias just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Valle gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dias tries to score a body lock takedown but Valle shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Valle stalling in the clinch.

Dias works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Valle working a defensive guard here.
Valle can't keep his opponent in guard - Dias advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Dias controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Dias showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Valle plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Valle.
Dias steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Valle. That one must have hurt.

Valle decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dias moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Valle wanted to stand there but Dias had control of the position.
Dias has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Despite being in the dominant position, Rodrigo Dias just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Valle tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dias swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dias changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Valle tries to avoid it but Dias manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Valle to the ground. Valle escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Valle scores with a one two! Dias had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Valle connects with a good right hand that stumbles Dias. Dias circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Dias fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Valle as Dias shoots in.
Thiago Valle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Dias.

Valle fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dias, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Dias tries for a takedown but Valle manages to get underhooks.
Dias tries for a takedown. No joy.

Valle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Valle tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Valle looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dias misses with a takedown attempt - Valle sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Dias tries to keep at a distance but Valle has taken the fight into the clinch.
Dias goes for a takedown in the clinch but Valle prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valle wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dias is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Valle pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Valle is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Valle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dias chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Valle can pounce on him.
Valle with a lazy takedown attempt

so Dias counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Dias slips nicely into half guard.
Rodrigo Dias has got the better of the ground game so far.
Valle is trying to control but can't.
Still in half guard, Dias seems content to control.
Dias has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dias sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Dias landing strikes, looking to finish!
Valle is looking to get to half guard.
Dias takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rodrigo Dias.
I've got Dias winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigo Dias!