PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mully Lombard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Valentino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as James Valentino enters the cage!

Lombard
vs
Valentino

176 cm
23
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

179 cm
21
143 lbs
4 - 3 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Mully Lombard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, James Valentino!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Eliza Hachem and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentino wants to clinch
letting Lombard counter with a right hand.
Good exchange - Lombard coming out on top.

Lombard darts in and clinches Valentino up against the cage.
Valentino using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lombard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Valentino misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lombard.
Valentino lands a nice knee to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Valentino just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lombard's brow.
Valentino misses with a knee to the head.
Valentino crunches a lovely knee into Lombard's ribcage.
Valentino misses with a knee strike.

Lombard breaks from the clinch.

Valentino moves into the clinch successfully.
Lombard blocks an elbow strike.
Valentino tries to land a knee to the head but Lombard blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentino tries a knee to the head but Lombard blocks it.
Lombard wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lombard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lombard avoiding damage as Valentino throws knees to the body.
Valentino connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lombard's face.
Lombard blocking some punches.

Lombard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
James Valentino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lombard takes the fight into the clinch.
Lombard looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Valentino lands a nice uppercut.
Valentino throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lombard.
Valentino lands a nice elbow.
Lombard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentino throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Lombard blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Valentino keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lombard's efforts to push away.
Lombard managing to block the knees to the body from Valentino.

Lombard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lombard misses with a wild combination.
Valentino wants to clinch up but Lombard keeps it at a distance.
Lombard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Valentino.

Valentino moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Lombard gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Valentino regains guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Valentino is working an open guard so Lombard takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Valentino uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lombard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentino closes the distance but Lombard moves to the side
and Lombard counters with a stiff right hand.
Lombard moves out of range of the body kick.
Valentino tries to clinch up.
Valentino tries to clinch up.
Valentino moves in looking to clinch but Lombard pushes him off.
Lombard keeps the fight on the outside.
Valentino tries to close the distance and clinch but Lombard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Valentino tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Valentino misses with an attempted mid kick.
Jab by Lombard.
Lombard throws a jab but it's blocked by Valentino.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentino is looking to clinch.
Valentino throws a head kick that misses.
Valentino slips a straight right by Lombard.
Valentino tries to clinch
and Lombard counters with a nice uppercut.
Valentino tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lombard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice defenses there by Valentino.
Lombard takes a kick to the side of the head.
Valentino is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lombard blocks the body kick.
Valentino tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Valentino wants to clinch up but Lombard keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Valentino will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lombard is looking to chop away at Valentino's legs.
Lombard keeps the fight on the outside.
Valentino lands a head kick. Lombard smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Valentino steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lombard.
Lombard bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Valentino's head backwards.
Valentino tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Lombard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Valentino doesn't manage to clinch there - Lombard circles away.
Valentino tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Lombard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mully Lombard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Valentino tries to clinch
and Lombard counters with a nice uppercut.
Valentino doesn't manage to clinch there - Lombard circles away.
Lombard throws a series of punches but Valentino avoids them all with ease.
Valentino is looking to land body kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lombard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Valentino is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Valentino is looking to land body kicks.
Valentino tries to close the distance and clinch but Lombard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Valentino looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Valentino is looking to clinch but Lombard is avoiding it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Lombard.
Lombard loads up on a big right hand but Valentino slips the punch.
Valentino throws a push kick but Lombard slaps the foot to one side.
Good shot there by Lombard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentino tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Lombard closes the distance and clinches.
Lombard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Valentino tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lombard's elbow.
Valentino using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lombard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Valentino is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lombard is defending well for now.
Valentino tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lombard avoids it.
Lombard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The referee calls for Lombard to work.

Lombard turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Lombard manages to end up in side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Lombard decides to stand up, so the ref orders Valentino to his feet.

Valentino has closed the distance and engaged Lombard in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentino throws a head punch that misses.
Lombard managing to block the knees to the body from Valentino.
Valentino misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lombard.
Lombard avoids a wild elbow strike from Valentino.
Valentino is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Valentino pushes off an throws an elbow but Lombard leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lombard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Lombard is trying to force a seperation but Valentino has the dominant position.

Lombard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Valentino moves to clinch but Lombard breaks away
and Lombard counters with a nice uppercut.
Lombard misses with a low kick.
Valentino tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Lombard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lombard misses with a wild combination.
Lombard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Valentino.
Valentino throws a lazy body kick
and Lombard counters with a right hand to the body.
Lombard throws a poor cross that misses
and Valentino counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Valentino tries a head kick but it misses.
Valentino tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lombard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lombard throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like James Valentino has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valentino is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Lombard instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mully Lombard will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on James Valentino's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lombard throws a lazy right hand but Valentino sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lombard circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lombard counters with a nice uppercut.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Lombard swats away the attempt to clinch by Valentino.
Valentino looks to land a body kick but Lombard moved away.
Valentino looks to clinch
and Lombard counters with a series of strikes. Valentino will be more careful next time no doubt.
Valentino tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Lombard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Valentino with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentino throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lombard blocks it with crossed arms.
Valentino misses with a knee to the head.
Valentino throws an elbow that misses.

Lombard jumps guard and drags Valentino to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Lombard managing to control the position.
Valentino pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lombard is keeping the position for now.

Valentino is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Valentino won't allow Lombard to sweep him here.
Valentino works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lombard makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Valentino tries to clinch there but Lombard circles away.
Lombard feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Valentinos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Lombard throws a head kick that misses.
Valentino showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lombard.
Lombard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Valentino.
Valentino tries to clinch but Lombard is having none of it.
Valentino tries to clinch up but Lombard circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head kick misses from Valentino.
Valentino throws a sloppy head kick and Lombard moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentino avoids the body shot from Lombard.
Valentino tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Lombard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Valentino closes the distance but Lombard moves to the side
and Lombard counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The fight stays on the outside here - Valentino looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Valentino throws a wild body kick that Lombard sees coming a mile off.

Valentino clinches up against the cage.
Valentino using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lombard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Valentino missing with knees to the body.
Valentino with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lombard wants to break free but Valentino has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentino tries a knee to the head but Lombard blocks it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valentino.
Valentino tries to land knees in the clinch but Lombard avoids the damage to the body.
Valentino tries a knee to the head but Lombard blocks it.
James Valentino seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Lombard avoiding damage as Valentino throws knees to the body.

Lombard has hold of one of Valentino's legs. Valentino is fighting the takedown attempt but Lombard gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Lombard passes easily into side control. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Lombard decides to stand up, so the ref orders Valentino to his feet.
Valentino misses with a low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valentino throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lombard throws a hook but Valentino avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Mully Lombard did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on James Valentino's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Valentino lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Lombard keeps the fight on the outside.
Valentino plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Lombard throws a looping overhand right but Valentino ducks down to avoid it.
Valentino looking to land some kicks to the body here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Valentino misses with the head strike.
Valentino looking to throw knees to the head but Lombard is blocking nicely.
Lombard avoiding damage as Valentino throws knees to the body.

Lombard breaks from the clinch.
Lombard throws a looping overhand right but Valentino ducks down to avoid it.
Valentino wants to clinch
and Lombard counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lombard lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Valentino backs up against the cage.
Valentino ducks under a wild hook from Lombard.
Valentino lands a head kick. Lombard smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Lombard closes the distance and clinches.
Valentino tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lombard avoids it.
Lombard wants to break free but Valentino has control.
Lombard tries to break the clinch but Valentino is controlling the position.
Lombard takes an elbow to the temple.

Lombard breaks from the clinch.
Lombard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Valentino bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valentino closes the distance and clinches.

Lombard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Valentino steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lombard.
Lombard jabs Valentino right on the nose. Valentino blinks but takes it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Valentino forces Lombard back against the cage and clinches.
Valentino misses with a knee to the head.
Valentino misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lombard.
Lombard blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Valentino throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lombard blocks it with crossed arms.

Lombard breaks the clinch.
Valentino tries to clinch up but Lombard circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentino is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lombard misses with a leg kick.
Valentino darts in trying to clinch
and Valentino takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mully Lombard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lombard throws a right hand that Valentino ducks under and follows up with a left that Valentino also avoids with ease.
Valentino tries to clinch up.
Valentino checks the leg kick.
Valentino is looking to clinch.
Valentino throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentino wants to clinch up but Lombard keeps it at a distance.
Valentino misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Valentino looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Lombard gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Valentino misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lombard.
Lombard has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Valentino with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Lombard manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Valentino.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valentino tries a head kick but it misses.
Valentino is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Valentino tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James Valentino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Valentino.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Valentino comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 38:38
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 38:38
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 38:38

The fight is ruled a draw!