PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Fabricio Valesquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeremy Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valesquez comes to the cage accompanied by "Ratamahatta" by Sepultura. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Valesquez
vs
Phillips

167 cm
29
142 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

171 cm
25
143 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Good elbows
Powerful

L.A. Elite Supplements

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 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fabricio Valesquez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jeremy Phillips!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valesquez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Phillips takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Jeremy Phillips has been cut.
Phillips tries to clinch up
and Valesquez counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valesquez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Valesquez rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Phillips counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Phillips landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Phillips tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Valesquez avoids it.
Valesquez is trying to break the clinch but Phillips is controlling him.
Valesquez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Phillips gets underhooks to prevent Valesquez's takedown attempt.
Valesquez is trying to break free.
Valesquez tries to circle away but Phillips has him pinned against the cage.
Phillips misses with a knee to the head.
Phillips prevents Valesquez from breaking the clinch.
Phillips prevents Valesquez from breaking the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Valesquez as Phillips tries to tie him up.
Phillips throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Valesquez blocks it with crossed arms.
A frustrated look appears on Valesquez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Valesquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Phillips has him pressed against the cage.
Phillips gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Phillips lands a knee to the head.
Phillips keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Valesquez's efforts to push away.
Valesquez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valesquez tries to break the clinch but Phillips is controlling the position.
Phillips lands an elbow inside.
Phillips keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Valesquez's efforts to push away.
Phillips is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Valesquez is defending well for now.
Valesquez is trying to break free.
Valesquez wants to break free but Phillips has control.
A knee to the head by Phillips.
Phillips throws a knee to the head but misses.
Valesquez avoiding damage as Phillips throws knees to the body.
Phillips lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Fabricio Valesquez has been cut.
Phillips gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Valesquez wants to get back to striking at distance but Phillips won't allow it.
Phillips throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Valesquez blocks it with crossed arms.
Phillips keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Valesquez's efforts to push away.
Phillips looking to stall.
Phillips tries to land a knee to the head but Valesquez blocks with his arms.
Valesquez dodges an elbow strike from Phillips.
Phillips throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Valesquez blocks it with crossed arms.
Phillips looks gassed!
Valesquez can't break the clinch.

Valesquez wants the takedown. Phillips is fighting it off but Valesquez persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Phillips's guard against the cage.
Phillips looking to hit a scissor sweep but Valesquez is one step ahead there.
Valesquez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Valesquez gets to his feet - Phillips follows without any prompting.
Valesquez misses with a body shot

and Phillips counters by moving into the clinch.
Phillips lands a knee to the head.
Phillips tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Phillips with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Valesquez can't get the takedown.
Valesquez tries to break the clinch but Phillips is controlling the position.
Valesquez is trying to break the clinch but Phillips is controlling him.
Valesquez avoiding damage as Phillips throws knees to the body.
Phillips with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Valesquez takes an elbow to the forehead.
Valesquez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Valesquez wants to get back to striking at distance but Phillips won't allow it.
Valesquez tries to break the clinch but Phillips is controlling the position.
Valesquez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Valesquez looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fabricio Valesquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valesquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Valesquez takes a knee right on the jaw!
Phillips comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips lands an elbow inside.
Valesquez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Valesquez is trying to break the clinch but Phillips is controlling him.
Valesquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Phillips is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Valesquez is keeping busy.
Phillips lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Phillips has Valesquez pressed against the cage, preventing Valesquez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Phillips crunches a lovely knee into Valesquez's ribcage.
A knee to the head by Phillips.
Phillips misses with a knee strike.
Phillips lands a good knee to the midsection. Valesquez won't want to take too many of those.
Valesquez looking for a takedown.
Phillips lands a knee to the body.
Valesquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Phillips has him pressed against the cage.
Phillips is trying to maintain a safe position but Valesquez gets an underhook and turns Phillips into the cage.
Phillips lands a knee to the head.
Valesquez is trying to break the clinch but Phillips has him pressed against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Phillips.

Valesquez breaks from the clinch.
Valesquez fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Phillips checks it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabricio Valesquez dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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.

Phillips fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fabricio Valesquez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valesquez misses with a low kick.
Valesquez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Valesquez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips avoids the body shot from Valesquez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips tries to clinch but Valesquez is having none of it.
Valesquez jabs Phillips to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Valesquez misses with a straight left.
Valesquez misses with a left hand

and Phillips counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Valesquez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Valesquez is trying to break free.
Phillips trying to land knees to the body.
Valesquez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valesquez wants to break free but Phillips has control.
Valesquez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Phillips misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Valesquez.
Phillips tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Valesquez can't break the clinch.
Valesquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Phillips has him pressed against the cage.
Phillips keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Valesquez's efforts to push away.
Valesquez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Valesquez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Phillips lands an elbow inside that Valesquez shrugs off.
Valesquez wants a takedown.
Phillips utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Valesquez tries to break free but Phillips pushes him back against the cage.

Valesquez breaks from the clinch.
Valesquez throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Phillips holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Valesquez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Valesquez is trying to break the clinch but Phillips is controlling him.
Valesquez is trying to force a seperation but Phillips has the dominant position.
Valesquez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Valesquez tries to break free but Phillips pushes him back against the cage.
Phillips with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips lands an elbow inside.
Phillips with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A knee to the head by Phillips.
Valesquez is trying to break the clinch but Phillips has him pressed against the cage.
Valesquez tries to break free but Phillips pushes him back against the cage.
Phillips keeps control of Valesquez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Phillips working Valesquez over with knees to the body.
Valesquez letting Phillips take a breather here.
Valesquez is looking to break free of the clinch but Phillips has double underhooks.
Phillips crunches a lovely knee into Valesquez's ribcage.
Phillips tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Phillips lands an elbow that stopped Valesquez in his tracks for a moment.
Phillips using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Phillips misses with a knee to the head.
Valesquez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Phillips keeps control of Valesquez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Phillips obliges.
Phillips throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Valesquez blocks it with crossed arms.
Phillips lands a knee to the body.
Valesquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Phillips tries to land knees in the clinch but Valesquez avoids the damage to the body.
Valesquez is trying to force a seperation but Phillips has the dominant position.
Valesquez is trying to force a seperation but Phillips has the dominant position.

Valesquez turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Valesquez tries to stand but Phillips is controlling his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Valesquez is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Valesquez thows a huge punch but Phillips dodges it nicely.
Valesquez wants to stand up but Phillips has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Phillips looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Valesquez is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jeremy Phillips will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Valesquez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Phillips fails in his attempt to clinch.
Phillips uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Valesquez.
Valesquez keeps the fight on the outside.
Phillips tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valesquez throws an overhand right that lands on Phillips's shoulder, as Phillips tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valesquez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Valesquez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Valesquez misses with a right hand

and Phillips holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Valesquez takes a knee to the side of the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Valesquez is trying to break the clinch but Phillips has him pressed against the cage.
Valesquez is trying to break the clinch but Phillips is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valesquez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Valesquez tries to break the clinch but Phillips is controlling the position.
Valesquez has had enough of the clinch but Phillips keeps him there for the moment.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Phillips.
Phillips lands a nice knee to the body.
Phillips misses with a knee to the head.
Phillips connects with a knee to the head.
Phillips lands an elbow inside that Valesquez shrugs off.
Phillips is looking to control Valesquez's arms but Valesquez gets an underhook and turns him. Now Phillips has his back to the cage.
Phillips comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Phillips tries to land a knee to the head but Valesquez blocks with his arms.
Phillips lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Phillips lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Phillips lands a good knee to the midsection. Valesquez won't want to take too many of those.
Phillips tries to land knees in the clinch but Valesquez avoids the damage to the body.
Phillips unloads a knee to the mid-section. Valesquez lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Valesquez gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
It looks like Valesquez is going to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips gets back to full guard.
Valesquez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Phillips's guard.

Phillips working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Valesquez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Valesquez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Valesquez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Valesquez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Phillips is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Phillips manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Phillips is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Valesquez can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Valesquez wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Phillips really dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Phillips tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Valesquez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Phillips wants to clinch up but Valesquez keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Phillips tries to clinch up
and Valesquez counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valesquez missing with a left hand there. Phillips was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Phillips is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Phillips tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Valesquez counters with a stiff right hand.
Phillips closes the distance looking to clinch
and Valesquez counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valesquez throws a poor cross that misses

and Phillips counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Valesquez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Valesquez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Valesquez has had enough of the clinch but Phillips keeps him there for the moment.
Phillips tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Valesquez avoids it.
Phillips prevents Valesquez from breaking the clinch.
Phillips creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Valesquez's defenses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valesquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Phillips has him pressed against the cage.
Valesquez is trying to force a seperation but Phillips has the dominant position.
Phillips is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Phillips landing knees to the body.

Valesquez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Phillips tries to clinch but Valesquez moves out of range.
Phillips tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Valesquez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Phillips looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Valesquez throws a lazy head kick

and Phillips holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phillips creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Valesquez's defenses.
Phillips tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Valesquez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Jeremy Phillips seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Phillips with a knee to the head.
Phillips has Valesquez pressed against the cage, preventing Valesquez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Phillips misses with a knee strike.
Phillips tries to land a knee to the head but Valesquez blocks with his arms.
Knees in the clinch landing for Phillips.
Phillips misses with a knee strike.
Valesquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Phillips has him pressed against the cage.

Valesquez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Phillips looks to clinch
and Phillips takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Phillips ducks under a wild hook from Valesquez.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Phillips moves in looking to clinch but Valesquez pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Jeremy Phillips will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Phillips tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Valesquez looks to land a right hand but Phillips moved out of range.
Phillips tries to clinch
and Valesquez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Phillips moves out of range as Valesquez throws a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valesquez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phillips tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Phillips checks the leg kick nicely there.
Valesquez throws an off balance right hand

and Phillips moves into the clinch.
Phillips has Valesquez pressed against the cage, preventing Valesquez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Phillips has Valesquez pressed against the cage, preventing Valesquez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Phillips keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Valesquez's efforts to push away.
Valesquez wants to get back to striking at distance but Phillips won't allow it.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Phillips landing knees to the head.
Phillips tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Phillips is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

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.
Phillips scores a nice knee to the body.
Phillips tries to land a knee to the head but Valesquez blocks with his arms.
Valesquez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Phillips pulls his leg out and moves away.
Phillips moves to clinch but Valesquez breaks away
and Valesquez counters with a left and a right that stings Phillips.
Phillips tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Valesquez scores with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phillips tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Valesquez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Phillips tries to clinch but Valesquez is having none of it.
Valesquez tries a head kick but it misses.
Valesquez throws a low kick but Phillips avoids it.
Valesquez misses with a jab to the body

and Phillips counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Phillips.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Phillips throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Valesquez blocks it with crossed arms.
Phillips lands a good knee to the midsection. Valesquez won't want to take too many of those.
Phillips lands an elbow just above Valesquez 's eye.
Valesquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Fabricio Valesquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Knees to the body from Phillips.
Phillips slowing the pace effectively.
Phillips looking to throw knees to the head but Valesquez is blocking nicely.
Phillips using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Valesquez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Valesquez tries to circle away but Phillips has him pinned against the cage.
Valesquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Phillips lands a knee to the head.
Phillips with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Phillips connects with a knee to the head.
Valesquez wants to break free but Phillips has control.
Valesquez is trying to push Phillips away but Phillips has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Phillips using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Valesquez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A knee to the head by Phillips.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Phillips unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Valesquez can't break the clinch.
Phillips is looking to control Valesquez's arms but Valesquez gets an underhook and turns him. Now Phillips has his back to the cage.

Valesquez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Phillips closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Valesquez to counter with a crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeremy Phillips comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Phillips has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 46:49
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 46:49
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jeremy Phillips! Jeremy Phillips retains his bantamweight title!