PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ed Valquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Head (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richard Head is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Valquez
vs
Head

180 cm
22
200 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

177 cm
25
192 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ed Valquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Richard Head!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valquez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Head stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Valquez looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Head takes a kick to the side of the head.
Valquez lands a right hook to the body.
Valquez scores with a jab.
Head is looking to clinch.
A shot to de liver by Valquez. Beautiful body shot.
Valquez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Head.
Nice shot by Valquez.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Head throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Valquez.
Valquez connects with a single shot there.
Head drops his hands momentarily and Valquez takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Head tries to clinch up.
Head throws a nice looking combination but Valquez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Valquez connects with a single shot there.
Valquez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Head throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Valquez looks for the body kick but Head saw that one coming.
Head tries to close the distance and clinch but Valquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Valquez scores with a decent looking hook.
Valquez lands with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Head misses with the combination.
Valquez cracks a nice hook into Head's ribs.
Head throws a right and a left that Valquez avoids nicely.
Head takes one on the button.
Head takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Head takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Valquez is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Valquez lands a jab.
Head shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Valquez thuds his right hand into Head's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Valquez scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Head doesn't seem bothered though.
Head misses with a jab, cross combination.
Head takes one on the button.

Head shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Head looks gassed!
The fighters are battling for position here. Valquez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Valquez looking to control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Valquez is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Valquez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Head's head.
Head keeping moving, preventing Valquez from controlling successfully.
Valquez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Valquez working some strikes from top position.
Head working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Valquez.
Valquez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Head striking from the bottom.
Head really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Valquez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Valquez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Head looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Head looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Head!
Valquez is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Head's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Valquez regains full guard. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valquez keeping full guard, as Head tries to pass.
Valquez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Head wants to get back to his feet.
Valquez raining down shots from the mount!
Valquez is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Valquez is working for a guillotine from mount but Head frees his head quite easily.
Valquez wants to control the pace but Head is squirming around nicely.

Valquez is working for a guillotine from mount but Head frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Head is desperately trying to improve his position but Valquez has a good base and remains in mount.
Valquez lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Valquez with good strikes from the mount here!
BOOM! Valquez connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Valquez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Valquez with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Head tries to lock up and control but Valquez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Head is trying to stand up.
Valquez lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Head hang on?

Valquez looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Head bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Valquez 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.

Valquez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice jab there from Valquez.
Head looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Valquez scores with a hook to the body. Head takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Valquez misses with an uppercut. Head saw that one coming.
Head throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Head moves in looking to clinch but Valquez pushes him off.
Valquez scores with a one two! Head had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A leg kick checked by Valquez.
Head misses with a double jab

and Valquez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Head's guard now.

Valquez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Head is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Head has escaped and now he's on top!
Valquez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Head's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Valquez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Head is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Head has escaped and now he's on top!
Ed Valquez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Head with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Head trying to control the position from guard on top but Valquez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valquez 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.

Valquez is looking for a triangle but Head pushes his legs off easily.
Valquez wants to stand up but Head is controlling him.
Head landing some decent shots from guard.
Valquez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Head missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Head trying to control but Valquez is working from the bottom.
Head passes into half guard.
Valquez tries to roll over but Head keeps him under control.
Valquez punching from the bottom.
Head looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Valquez with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Valquez gets back to full guard.
Head won't allow Valquez to sweep him here.
Head wants to pass the guard but Valquez is keeping the position.
Valquez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Head tries to reverse the position but Valquez maintains control.
Valquez landing shots from mount.
Valquez lands a nice shot to the head.
A nice elbow there by Valquez.
Head tries to hold on but Valquez pushes him away.
Head manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Head wants to get back to his feet.
Valquez trying to control from half guard but Head is working away.
Head wants to improve his position but Valquez is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valquez works his way into side control.
Valquez advances to mount.

Valquez is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Head has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Head tries to hold on but Valquez pushes him away.
Head is wriggling around trying to escape.

Valquez wants to finish this one by submission but Head is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Valquez.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Valquez looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Head sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Valquez dominated that second 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Head fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Valquez.
Head on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Head.
Valquez throws a hook to the side of Head's head but Head sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A decent looking cross lands there for Valquez.

Valquez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Head is looking to stand up but Valquez isn't so interested in that idea.
Head keeping full guard, as Valquez tries to pass.
Valquez is working Head over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Valquez is standing up over Head. Head looks to escape but Valquez dives into side control.

Valquez goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Head has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Valquez but great work by Head.
Valquez on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valquez gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Valquez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Head decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Richard Head is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Head has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Valquez finds it's way round the side to connect with Head's head.
Valquez tries a head kick but it misses.
Head is looking to clinch but Valquez is avoiding it.
Head walks into a straight right hand from Valquez.
Valquez thows a body shot but no joy.
Head misses with a leg kick.
Valquez throws a push kick but Head slaps the foot to one side.
Head misses with a series of wild punches.
Head throws a right and a left that Valquez avoids nicely.
Valquez tries a head kick but it misses.
Valquez buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Head takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Valquez closes the distance and pushes Head back into the cage.
Valquez wants a takedown but no success here.

Head breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Head wants to clinch but Valquez slips to the side
and Valquez counters with a stiff right hand.
Head moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Valquez connects with a high kick.
Valquez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Head stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Valquez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Head's head.
Head misses with a few strikes there.
A punch lands to the side of Head 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Valquez connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Head momentarily.
Head has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Head throws a series of punches but Valquez moves out of range.
Head steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Valquez. That one must have hurt.
Valquez scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Head throws a right hand that Valquez ducks under and follows up with a left that Valquez also avoids with ease.
A nice leg kick lands there from Valquez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valquez scores with a punch to the head.

Valquez moves into the clinch successfully.

Valquez has picked Head up - he's going for a ride! Valquez dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Valquez is trying to control the action in half guard but Head is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Valquez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Head is trying to stand back up but Valquez is controlling him

Head kicks off Valquez and gets to his feet.
Valquez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Head with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Valquez to score with a decent uppercut.
Head ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Valquez moves away.

Valquez has closed the distance and engaged Head in a clinch.
Head prevents a takedown attempt there.
Valquez looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ed Valquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Head is looking to break free of the clinch but Valquez has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Head stops a takedown attempt from Valquez.
Valquez fails to pull guard.
Head throws a punch but it's blocked by Valquez.

Head manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters circling a little - Valquez finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Ed Valquez is winning the standup battle so far.
Valquez misses with a wild body shot.
Head doesn't manage to clinch there - Valquez circles away.
Head takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Valquez throws a head kick but Head moves out of range.
Head is looking to clinch.
Valquez comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Valquez lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Richard Head has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Head takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Head on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valquez works the jab nicely.
Head will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Valquez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ed Valquez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Valquez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ed Valquez!