PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sen Nguyen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julian Valdez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nguyen's entrance music is "House of the Rising Sun" by the Animals. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Valdez's choice of entrance music: so amazing. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Nguyen
vs
Valdez

170 cm
19
185 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
185 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sen Nguyen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Julian Valdez!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

Valdez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Valdez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nguyen pulls his head out easily.

Valdez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Valdez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Nguyen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Valdez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nguyen.

Nguyen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Valdez sees it coming and defends easily.

Valdez actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nguyen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Nguyen jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Valdez manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Valdez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Nguyen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Valdez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nguyen trying to control the position but Valdez is working away.
Valdez is looking for a sweep.

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.
A lull in the action here.
Nguyen is looking to take a break and control but Valdez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Valdez takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Valdez is trying to improve his position.
Valdez is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Valdez looks gassed!

Nguyen gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Valdez scores with a takedown into Nguyen's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen is pulling down on Valdez's head to control his posture.
Nguyen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nguyen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Valdez.
Nguyen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Nguyen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four 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.
Valdez won't allow Nguyen to sweep him here.
Valdez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nguyen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Valdez thows a big elbow that misses.
Nguyen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Valdez!

Nguyen is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Valdez to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Valdez shrugs it off.
Nguyen trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Nguyen stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Valdez with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nguyen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Valdez's guard now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sen Nguyen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nguyen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Valdez sprawls well initially but Nguyen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nguyen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Valdez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Valdez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nguyen is pressing down on Valdez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Valdez is holding on for now.

Valdez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Valdez actively working from the bottom here.
Valdez is in trouble now - Nguyen has advanced to mount!
Nguyen landing strikes from the mount and Valdez is in trouble!
Valdez is looking to improve his position but Nguyen isn't that keen on the idea.
Valdez is breathing heavily.
Nguyen looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nguyen stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Nguyen clinches with his opponent.

Nguyen manages to break the clinch.

Nguyen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nguyen is pressing down on Valdez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Valdez is holding on for now.

Nguyen escapes and gets back to his feet.
Valdez misses with a takedown attempt

and Nguyen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen trying to control from half guard but Valdez is working away.
Nguyen works his way into full mount!

Nguyen is working for a guillotine from mount but Valdez frees his head quite easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nguyen prevents Valdez from getting the reversal.

Valdez tries to improve his position but Nguyen has taken his back! Nguyen has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Valdez tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Nguyen pushes Valdez away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Sen Nguyen!
Sen Nguyen retains his middleweight title!