PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Caceres (ranked 3868 p4p, 4607 weight class) and Diego Valejo (ranked 418 p4p, 407 weight class). Valejo comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Me Gustas Tu kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Diego Valejo will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Caceres
vs
Valejo

180 cm
25
157
2 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
155
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rickson Caceres!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Diego Valejo!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valejo throws a combination. Caceres tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Caceres gets tackled into the cage by Valejo. Valejo maintains the clinch.

Valejo gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Caceres regains guard.
Caceres managing to control the position.
Valejo trying to control but Caceres is working from the bottom.
Valejo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valejo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valejo trying to control the position from guard on top but Caceres is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Caceres has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Valejo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Valejo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Caceres swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Caceres working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Valejo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Valejo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Valejo wants to control from the top but Caceres keeps moving.

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.
Caceres is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Valejo trying to control the position from guard on top but Caceres is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valejo wanted to stand there but Caceres had control of the position.
Valejo trying to control but Caceres is working from the bottom.
Valejo wants to get up but he can't break Caceres's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Caceres is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Valejo's half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valejo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Caceres engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Caceres trying to move into half guard but instead Valejo has managed to sweep!

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Caceres holds on and takes a little breather.
Valejo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Valejo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Caceres is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Valejo preventing the sweep.
Valejo trying to control the position from guard on top but Caceres is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Caceres looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Valejo postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Valejo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Caceres keeping moving, preventing Valejo from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Valejo dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Caceres shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Caceres was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Valejo sneaks out the side door and pushes Caceres away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Valejo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Caceres's half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valejo is just content to waste time from the top position. Caceres takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Caceres throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Valejo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Caceres has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Valejo has managed to get both his arms back between Caceres's legs - danger averted.
Valejo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Caceres is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valejo trying to control the position from guard on top but Caceres is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Caceres has a closed guard, preventing Valejo from standing up.
Valejo wants to control from the top but Caceres keeps moving.
Valejo passes Caceres's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Valejo sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Caceres actively working from the bottom here.
Valejo throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Caceres to regain full guard.
Valejo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Valejo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Caceres swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Caceres not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Caceres preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valejo wanted to stand there but Caceres had control of the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Caceres is trying hard to land a takedown here. Valejo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Caceres.
A low kick from Valejo misses

and Caceres counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Caceres tries to free his leg and advance position but Valejo is retaining full guard.

Valejo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Caceres seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Caceres trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Caceres is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valejo controlling Caceres's posture.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Caceres is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Caceres fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Caceres. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Caceres throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Valejo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Caceres is in Valejo's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Diego Valejo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Valejo misses with a head kick.

Caceres dives in and scores a takedown into Valejo's guard.

Valejo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Caceres controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Valejo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Caceres content to stall in guard here.
Caceres throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caceres is pushing down on Valejo's leg trying to pass to half guard. Valejo is fighting to maintain full guard but Caceres has managed to sneak the leg through.
Caceres is keen to just control but Valejo is a slippery customer.
Caceres tries to pass the half guard into mount. Valejo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Valejo wants to get back to his feet.
Caceres takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Valejo is defending against the submission attempts here by Caceres.
Caceres stops Valejo from getting back to his feet.

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.

Valejo has one foot on Caceres's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

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

Valejo pulls guard successfully.
Valejo trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Caceres controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Caceres postures up in Valejo's guard and throws a big left but Valejo blocks it.
Valejo wants to sweep here but Caceres controlling him for the moment.
Caceres works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valejo looks like he's trying to stand up.
Caceres trying to mount his opponent but Valejo defends it.
Valejo trying to control but Caceres postures up.
Still in half guard, Caceres seems content to control.
Caceres is trying to control the action in half guard but Valejo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Caceres prevents Valejo from standing back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Caceres scores with a takedown into Valejo's guard.

Valejo manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caceres shoots in looking for a takedown but Valejo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Caceres's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Valejo slaps away a takedown attempt from Caceres, before circling back to the center of the mat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Caceres.
Caceres seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Caceres. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Caceres or perhaps it was just good defense by Valejo, which made it look bad.
A jab lands there for Valejo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Valejo scores with a head kick. Caceres tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Caceres dives in for a single leg takedown but Valejo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Valejo is looking for the big counter here.

Valejo drags the fight down to the ground.
Rickson Caceres has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diego Valejo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Valejo throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diego Valejo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Valejo 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Valejo!