PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Bellavia (ranked 2745 p4p, 3122 weight class) and Edwin Valero (ranked 188 p4p, 213 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Bellavia
vs
Valero

170 cm
28
134
8 - 3 - 0

168 cm
28
135
7 - 4 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

30th Century Beer Store
UNSTOPPABLE NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Bellavia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Edwin Valero!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Columbo Gatti and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bellavia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Valero.
Bellavia cracks Valero with a good jab.
Valero keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bellavia lands with a nice body punch.
Edwin Valero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bellavia getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Valero shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bellavia changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Valero throws a head kick but Bellavia moves out of range.
Valero misses with a takedown attempt - Bellavia sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bellavia scores with a jab. Valero acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Bellavia lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Valero at a distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Valero.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valero trying to control the position but Bellavia is working away.
Bellavia is trying to get back to half guard.
Valero trying to control the action but Bellavia is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valero is trying to move to mount but Bellavia reverses beautifully and ends up in Valero's guard.

Valero isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Bellavia stacks Valero on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Bellavia!
Valero is looking for a sweep.
Valero keeps trying to improve his position.
Bellavia looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bellavia tries to stand but Valero is controlling his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valero looking for a sweep but Bellavia has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Valero keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Valero looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Valero holding on to Bellavia's left wrist, preventing the choke.
You can see the frustration on Valero's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bellavia wants to stand back up.
Valero tries to escape the position.
Bellavia trying to control.
Valero tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Bellavia manages to capitalize on a mistake by Valero to take his back!
We've been informed that Valero has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bellavia trying to control momentarily.
Valero tries to escape but Bellavia has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valero turns into Bellavia and is now in his guard.

Bellavia has his foot on Valero's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Valero works his way back into a safe position though.
Bellavia keeping moving, preventing Valero from controlling successfully.

Bellavia looking for a guillotine here but Valero defends easily.
Valero trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Bellavia had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Valero defends it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Bellavia dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bellavia swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Valero uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bellavia.
Valero goes for a double leg but Bellavia avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bellavia continues to drive forward.
Valero walks into a left hand.
Bellavia lands a nice shot to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Valero is defended easily by Bellavia.
Valero avoids the body shot from Bellavia.
Bellavia jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Bellavia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Valero.
Bellavia misses with a hook. Valero ducked under it nicely.
Valero displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bellavia throws out the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bellavia throws a body punch but Valero moves out of range.
Bellavia wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bellavia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Valero manages to avoid it.
Valero will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bellavia attempts a counter takedown but Valero avoids it well and moves away.
Antonio Bellavia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Edwin Valero.

Valero looking to score a takedown here. Bellavia is defending well but Valero drives through and ends up in Bellavia's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valero wants to pass the guard but Bellavia is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valero sitting in guard here, content to control.
Valero looking to pass the guard.
Valero works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Bellavia is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Valero's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Valero's back!
Bellavia gets his hands free as Valero looks to control.
Valero tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Valero tries to reverse the position but Bellavia maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bellavia is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Valero is in all sorts of trouble here.
Bellavia seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Valero is holding on tight.
Valero is trying to escape the mount.
Valero reaches up to try and control the position but Bellavia seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Valero rolls and tries to escape and now Bellavia has his back!
Bellavia is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bellavia avoiding Valero 's attempts to control his hands.
Valero can't escape the position.
Valero just trying to survive but Bellavia is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Bellavia seems like he's trying to stand.
Bellavia struggling to keep hold of the position.
Bellavia has the hooks in. Valero is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Bellavia is trying to stick to Valero's back but Valero is turning into Bellavia. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Bellavia's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Valero.

Bellavia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Valero is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valero controlling from the top position.

Bellavia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Valero defends well.
Valero trying to control but Bellavia is working from the bottom.

Bellavia is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Valero defends well.
Valero forces his way into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Bellavia dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Valero closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bellavia to the mat! Bellavia manages to get full guard.
Valero trying to control the position from guard on top but Bellavia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bellavia being controlled here, momentarily.
Valero trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Bellavia has an active guard here but Valero has managed to pass into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Valero is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bellavia is just riding it out for now. Valero eventually gives up the hold.
Antonio Bellavia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Valero is looking to advance position but Bellavia won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valero is still trying to improve position.
Valero working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Bellavia's thigh. Bellavia counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Valero tries to free his leg and advance position but Bellavia is retaining full guard.

Bellavia working for a triangle but Valero defends it easily.
Valero advances to half guard.

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.
Bellavia looks like he's trying to stand up.
Valero slows the pace down in half guard.
Valero wants to pass to mount but Bellavia is defending the position.

Valero is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Valero is looking to pass Bellavia's guard but actually Bellavia recovers to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bellavia can't keep his opponent in guard - Valero advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Bellavia is trying to stand up here but Valero is controlling him well.
Valero tries to pass to full mount but Bellavia defends it.
Valero is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bellavia is looking for a sweep. Valero is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four 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.
Valero keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Valero is looking to pass Bellavia's guard but actually Bellavia recovers to full guard.
Valero trying to control the position from guard on top but Bellavia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valero trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Bellavia has his foot on Valero's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Valero works his way back into a safe position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Valero passes Bellavia's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Valero is trying to control the action in half guard but Bellavia is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Edwin Valero has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Valero is trying to work for a kimura but Bellavia is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Edwin Valero comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bellavia has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Bellavia!