PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bethania Valverde (ranked 215 p4p, 602 weight class) and Tommy Harinck (ranked 11 p4p, 34 weight class). Valverde comes to the cage accompanied by LLAMAME YA. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Valverde
vs
Harinck

172 cm
25
140
10 - 5 - 0

159 cm
23
144
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Bondi MMA 🏝️
UNDEFEATED

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bethania Valverde!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tommy Harinck!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Joseph Jones and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Valverde throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Valverde misses with a lunging right hand
and Harinck counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Valverde swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Harinck.
Valverde lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Harinck misses with a body shot.
Harinck throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Valverde throws a hook but Harinck blocks it.
Bethania Valverde seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valverde misses with an uppercut. Harinck saw that one coming.
Harinck connects with a single shot there.
Valverde looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Valverde throws a looping overhand right but Harinck ducks down to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harinck shoots in and gets a takedown into Valverde's guard.

Valverde has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Harinck is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valverde blocks a body shot from Harinck.
Harinck tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Harinck cracks Valverde with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harinck throws a punch but it's blocked by Valverde.
Harinck scores with a hook to the body.
Harinck lands a left hand that snaps the head of Valverde backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Harinck.
Harinck fails to pull guard.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Valverde.
Harinck dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Harinck misses with a punch on the inside.
Harinck swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Harinck fails to land.
Harinck tries to work over Valverde's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Harinck swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Valverde.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harinck doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Valverde pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Harinck uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Valverde.
Valverde throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Harinck is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Valverde with a body shot.
Valverde connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Valverde with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Harinck to score with a decent uppercut.
Harinck clobbers Valverde with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valverde ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Valverde ducks under a wild hook from Harinck.
A jab from Valverde misses.
Harinck lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Valverde misses the shot to the body.
Valverde throws a jab but it's blocked by Harinck.
Harinck stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Valverde.
Nice body punch from Valverde.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valverde looks to land a left hand but Harinck moved out of range nicely.
Valverde with the inside leg kick.
Valverde throws a jab but it's blocked by Harinck.
Valverde ducks under a wild hook from Harinck.
Harinck moves out of range as Valverde strikes.
Valverde throws a leg kick but Harinck sees it coming and moves out of range.
Valverde ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Harinck moves away.
Valverde throws a looping overhand right but Harinck ducks down to avoid it.

Harinck drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Valverde stops Harinck from passing to mount.
Valverde is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Harinck is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valverde being controlled for a moment.
Valverde is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Harinck wants to lay and pray for a moment but Valverde keeps working.

Harinck is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Valverde is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Harinck wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Valverde, who protects the arm well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bethania Valverde will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Harinck checks a leg kick.
Harinck on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Valverde. Valverde obviously looking to wear him down.
Harinck missing with a left hand there. Valverde was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Harinck blocks a jab.
Harinck swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Harinck getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Harinck blocks a leg kick.
Valverde catches Harinck with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Valverde displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Harinck.
Harinck uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Valverde.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harinck lunges at Valverde with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Valverde's hand.
A slow jab from Harinck misses its intended target.
Harinck uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Valverde.
The fighters circling - Valverde throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bethania Valverde is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valverde waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Harinck.
A telegraphed right hand from Harinck misses the target.
Harinck walks into a straight right hand from Valverde.
Harinck uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Valverde.
Harinck bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Valverde lands with a thumping leg kick.
Harinck takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Harinck might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Valverde fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Harinck on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Harinck.
Valverde listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Valverde throws a hook to the side of Harinck's head but Harinck sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Valverde throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Harinck throws a hook to the side of Valverde's head but Valverde sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Harinck steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Valverde.
Valverde throws a body punch but Harinck moves out of range.
Valverde lands an overhand right.
Valverde displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Harinck.
Harinck smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Valverde is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Harinck can do to turn this around?
Harinck takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Valverde throws a front kick aimed at Harinck's knee but Harinck avoids it well.
Valverde swings for the body but Harinck moves out of range.
Harinck keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Harinck swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Valverde's jab looks to have found its range, popping Harinck under the eye.
Valverde is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Valverde looks to land a right hand but Harinck moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valverde swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Harinck drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Valverde defends it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Valverde. Harinck does a little dance to reset his feet.
Harinck scores with a decent looking hook.
Valverde wants to slow Harinck down by chopping away at his legs.
A jab from Valverde misses.
Valverde misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Valverde moves out of range as Harinck strikes.
Harinck moves out of range of the strikes.
Valverde waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Harinck.
Valverde scores with a sloppy right hand. Harinck should have avoided that one.
A swing and a miss from Valverde.
Harinck scores with a hook to the body. Valverde takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Valverde throws a leg kick

and Harinck counters with a single leg into guard. Valverde didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Harinck controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Harinck trying to control the position from guard on top but Valverde is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harinck trying to move into half guard but instead Valverde has managed to sweep!

Valverde is stalling in the full guard.
Harinck tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tommy Harinck has got the better of the ground game so far.
Valverde wants to get up but he can't break Harinck's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Harinck scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A jab lands there for Valverde.
A good leg kick by Valverde.
Valverde connects with an inside leg kick.
Valverde misses with a hook.
Valverde misses with a hook.
Valverde throws an off balance right hand

and Harinck counters with a single leg into guard. Valverde didn't expect that.
Valverde keeping moving, preventing Harinck from controlling successfully.
Valverde keeping full guard, as Harinck tries to pass.
Harinck trying to control the position from guard on top but Valverde is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harinck throws a big right hand that misses.
Valverde is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Harinck dives into side control.
Valverde is trying to get back to his feet.
Harinck wants to control but Valverde is keeping him busy.
Harinck tries to move to mount but Valverde blocks the move with his legs.
Harinck wants to lay and pray for a moment but Valverde keeps working.
Valverde defending against the ground and pound.

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.
Harinck tries to move into full mount but can't pass Valverde's legs.
Harinck looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Valverde is avoiding damage well.
Valverde is not content to let Harinck control the position.
Harinck staying calm.
Valverde wants to get back to his feet.
Harinck tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valverde stops Harinck from passing to mount.
Valverde pushes Harinck away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Harinck gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Harinck misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Valverde.
Harinck throws a body shot but no joy.
Valverde uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Harinck has time to react.
Valverde misses the jab.
Harinck lands with a cross.
Valverde misses the shot to the body.
Valverde loads up on a big right hand but Harinck slips the punch.
Valverde throws a body punch but Harinck moves out of range.
Some bone on bone action there as Harinck checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valverde moves forwards but Harinck connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Harinck jabs at Valverde's body.
An inside leg kick from Valverde misses.
Valverde swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Valverde throws a hook but Harinck avoids it easily.
Harinck uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Valverde.
Valverde throws out a powerful jab.
Valverde misses with a leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Harinck.

Valverde explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Valverde throws the left hand but Harinck avoids the punch easily.
Harinck moves away from the strike by Valverde.
Harinck looks like he wants to counter punch here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Bethania Valverde did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Valverde missing with a left hand there. Harinck was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Valverde fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Valverde lands with an uppercut that bounces Harinck off the cage and back into range.
Harinck avoids the body shot from Valverde.
Harinck pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Harinck looks to land a left hand but Valverde moved out of range nicely.
A slapping body kick lands there for Valverde.
Valverde lands a nice leg kick that just misses Harinck's sensitive parts.
Harinck checks a low kick from Valverde.
Bethania Valverde is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valverde displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Tommy Harinck has been cut.
Valverde misses with a looping right.
Harinck now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Harinck misses the shot to the body.
Valverde misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valverde blocks a jab.
Harinck uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Valverde takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Harinck looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Valverde is fending him off so far but Harinck persists. Nope, Valverde circles away and we're back to standing.
Valverde bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Harinck's head backwards.
Valverde takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Harinck scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Valverde doesn't seem bothered though.
Valverde lands a right hook to the body.
Harinck shoots for a takedown but Valverde saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Valverde.
A cross from Harinck lands.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Valverde, as that shot connected.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harinck ducks under a wild hook from Valverde.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valverde just misses with a punch to the body.
Valverde lands with a straight right. Harinck didn't see that one coming.
Harinck looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Valverde throws a low kick but it's checked well by Harinck.
Valverde throws a jab but it's blocked by Harinck.
Valverde scores with a shot to the body.
Valverde throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Harinck sees it coming and avoids it easily.
That kick from Valverde tenderised Harinck's leg. Harinck is trying to keep his angry face on.
Valverde moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Valverde turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Valverde lands with a cross.
Valverde scores with a jab. Harinck acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harinck keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Harinck throws a body shot but no joy.
Harinck throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Valverde sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Valverde throws a hook to the side of Harinck's head but Harinck sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Valverde connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Harinck's hands.
Harinck lands with a straight right. Valverde didn't see that one coming.
Valverde throws a body shot but no joy.
It seemed like Harinck was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Harinck changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Valverde looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Valverde pushes Harinck away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Harinck gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Harinck tries to advance to mount but Valverde denies him.
Valverde pushes Harinck away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Harinck gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harinck wants to lay and pray for a moment but Valverde keeps working.

Harinck is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Valverde has escaped the position, nice work there.
Valverde is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Harinck wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Valverde, who protects the arm well.

Harinck is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Valverde knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bethania Valverde had his way with Tommy Harinck in that round.
The cut man is working on Tommy Harinck's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Harinck throws out a powerful jab.
Harinck misses with a straight right.
Valverde misses with a hook.
Harinck looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Harinck lands a jab.
Valverde is looking to slow Harinck down with leg kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harinck throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Valverde with a nice cross.
Harinck just misses with a punch to the body.
A swing and a miss from Valverde.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harinck works Valverde's body with a nice hook.

Harinck drives through with a takedown into Valverde's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Valverde kicks Harinck off and gets to his feet.
Valverde thows a left - swing and a miss!
Harinck throws a body shot but no joy.
Valverde cracks Harinck with an open hand slap.
Harinck needs to keep his hands up - Valverde had a free shot at his head there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valverde slips under a jab from Harinck.
Harinck's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Valverde defending well as Harinck loads up on a big left hand.
Harinck uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Valverde.
Harinck has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Valverde throws a nice inside leg kick.
Valverde waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Harinck.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Harinck! But no joy.
Tommy Harinck has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valverde throws a lazy right hand but Harinck sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Harinck just misses with a punch to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Valverde misses the target.
Valverde throws a sloppy body shot
and Harinck counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Harinck lands with a hook. Valverde tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Harinck slips under a jab from Valverde.
Harinck slips under a jab from Valverde.
Harinck lands a lovely overhand right.
Valverde lands a nice hook to Harinck's body. Harinck takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Harinck misses the shot to the body.
Harinck is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Valverde.
Valverde dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Harinck. That did some damage!
Bethania Valverde is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Valverde fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Harinck looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valverde ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Valverde.
Harinck takes one to the side of the head.
Valverde throws a body punch but Harinck moves out of range.
Valverde misses with a body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Harinck. Valverde does a little dance to reset his feet.
A big left from Harinck misses.
Valverde scores with a jab to the head.
Valverde uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Harinck misses with an uppercut. Valverde saw that one coming.
Harinck takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Harinck misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valverde's corner calls for a 1-2. Valverde obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Valverde lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Valverde lands the left hand.
Nice shot lands for Harinck.
Harinck defending well as Valverde loads up on a big left hand.
Valverde throws a lazy right hand but Harinck sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Valverde swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Harinck.
Valverde connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Harinck has Valverde up against the cage in a clinch.
Harinck jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Valverde walks away with a smile on his face. Harinck gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Valverde connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bethania Valverde showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Valverde, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 50:45
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 50:45
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bethania Valverde!
Bethania Valverde retains his bantamweight title!
Bethania Valverde thanked the fans post fight for their support.