PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raimundo Oliveira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonas Valanciunas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Oliveira
vs
Valanciunas

187 cm
35
200 lbs
20 - 4 - 2

192 cm
24
215 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 4 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raimundo Oliveira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jonas Valanciunas!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valanciunas fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Oliveira has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Valanciunas tries to work over Oliveira's front leg with a kick but Oliveira checks it.
Valanciunas lands a jab to the head.
Oliveira looks to score with a jab to the body but Valanciunas is just out of range.
Valanciunas connects with a high kick.

It looks like Raimundo Oliveira has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Oliveira lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Valanciunas clinches up against the ropes.

Valanciunas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Oliveira checks a low kick from Valanciunas.
Valanciunas connects with a leg kick. Oliveira looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Valanciunas lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Valanciunas has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Valanciunas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Valanciunas throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Valanciunas wants to clinch

and Oliveira counters with a single leg into guard. Valanciunas didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Oliveira with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Oliveira postures up in Valanciunas's guard and throws a big left but Valanciunas blocks it.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Oliveira throws an elbow that misses. Valanciunas uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Oliveira's guard. Nice move by Valanciunas!
Valanciunas wants to stand but Oliveira has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Oliveira working a defensive guard here.
Oliveira on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Oliveira tries to get out of the position.
Oliveira is pulling down on Valanciunas's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valanciunas wants to get up but he can't break Oliveira's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Oliveira is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Valanciunas is controlling him.

Raimundo Oliveira has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Oliveira misses the jab.
Oliveira checks a low kick from Valanciunas.
The fight stays on the outside here - Valanciunas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Valanciunas scores with a kick to the midsection.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Oliveira takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valanciunas moves out of range of the strikes.
Valanciunas lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Valanciunas moves out of range of the strikes.
Valanciunas misses with a head kick.
Oliveira blocks a leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Valanciunas.
Valanciunas connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Valanciunas scores with a leg kick.
Oliveira is breathing heavily.
Oliveira rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Valanciunas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valanciunas tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Oliveira manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Oliveira closes the distance and clinches up with Valanciunas, looking for a takedown. Oliveira pushes Valanciunas against the ropes but Valanciunas circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Valanciunas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Valanciunas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valanciunas feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Oliveira's calf.
Valanciunas dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Oliveira. That did some damage!
Oliveira dives in for a single leg takedown but Valanciunas sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Oliveira blocks a body shot from Valanciunas.
A nice left hand lands by Valanciunas.
Valanciunas lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Oliveira tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raimundo Oliveira. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Valanciunas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Valanciunas throws a head kick that misses.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Valanciunas. Oliveira shrugs it off though.

Valanciunas clinches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Valanciunas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Valanciunas lands a head kick!
Oliveira swats away the attempt to clinch by Valanciunas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonas Valanciunas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Raimundo Oliveira's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Valanciunas fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Oliveira has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Valanciunas scoring well with a low kick there.
Valanciunas wants to clinch up but Oliveira keeps it at a distance.
Valanciunas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Valanciunas throws a quick inside leg kick.
Good leg kick by Valanciunas there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Oliveira misses with a hook
letting Valanciunas counter with a right hand.
Valanciunas is looking to clinch but Oliveira is avoiding it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Valanciunas keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Oliveira.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Valanciunas, right into the meat.
A big right from Oliveira misses.
Oliveira circles away from the clinch attempt.
Valanciunas tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Oliveira manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy left from Valanciunas finds it's target.
Oliveira swats away the attempt to clinch by Valanciunas.
Valanciunas lands a jab.
Oliveira is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Valanciunas scores with a hook.
Oliveira on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Valanciunas tries to close the distance and clinch but Oliveira swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Valanciunas lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head kick misses from Valanciunas.
Oliveira keeps the fight on the outside.
Valanciunas throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valanciunas slips under a jab.
Valanciunas throws a nice outside leg kick.
Jab from Valanciunas.
Valanciunas wants to clinch.
Valanciunas feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Oliveira's calf.

Valanciunas instigates a clinch.

Valanciunas breaks from the clinch.
Valanciunas throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Valanciunas connects with an inside leg kick.
Valanciunas scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Valanciunas throws a right hand that Oliveira ducks under and follows up with a left that Oliveira also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valanciunas blocks a jab.
Valanciunas wants to clinch up but Oliveira keeps it at a distance.
Valanciunas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Valanciunas scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Valanciunas throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Jonas Valanciunas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Valanciunas slips under a jab.
A head kick from Valanciunas lands but Oliveira takes it in his stride.
Valanciunas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Valanciunas doesn't manage to clinch there - Oliveira circles away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Valanciunas.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Oliveira drops his hands momentarily and Valanciunas takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Oliveira misses with a lunging right hand
and Valanciunas counters with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valanciunas misses with a body kick.
Valanciunas lands with a kick to the temple. Oliveira shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Oliveira swats away the attempt to clinch by Valanciunas.
Valanciunas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Valanciunas tries to clinch up.
Valanciunas misses with a leg kick.
Valanciunas moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Oliveira moves out of range of the body kick from Valanciunas.
Oliveira connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Valanciunas momentarily.
Valanciunas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Oliveira.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonas Valanciunas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Raimundo Oliveira's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Oliveira takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Oliveira slips under a jab.
Valanciunas misses with a head kick.
Valanciunas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Oliveira takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Valanciunas forces Oliveira back against the ropes and clinches.

Valanciunas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Oliveira takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A chopping leg kick lands by Valanciunas.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Valanciunas.

Valanciunas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Valanciunas moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valanciunas gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Oliveira.
Oliveira wants to stall.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Valanciunas tries to work over Oliveira's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Oliveira goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Oliveira stalling in the clinch but Valanciunas improves position.
Valanciunas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valanciunas misses with a body punch.
Valanciunas struggles to land a body shot inside as Oliveira controls his hands.

Valanciunas manages to break the clinch.
Valanciunas tried to score with a low kick but Oliveira checks it.
Valanciunas tries to clinch but Oliveira moves out of range.
Valanciunas moves in looking to clinch but Oliveira pushes him off.
Raimundo Oliveira has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Valanciunas clinches with his opponent.
Valanciunas throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Oliveiras head.
Oliveira looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Valanciunas tries to throw a body punch but Oliveira avoids it by throwing Valanciunas back against the ropes.
Valanciunas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Valanciunas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Oliveira's elbow.
Valanciunas misses with a body punch.
Oliveira goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Valanciunas.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Valanciunas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Oliveira slips a straight right by Valanciunas.
Valanciunas lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Jonas Valanciunas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Oliveira throws a looping overhand right but Valanciunas ducks down to avoid it.

Valanciunas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valanciunas.
Valanciunas misses with a hook from the clinch.
Oliveira throws a head punch that misses.
Valanciunas scores with a shoulder strike.
Oliveira misses with a punch on the inside.
Valanciunas has a couple of punches blocked by Oliveira.
Valanciunas makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Valanciunas digs a right hand into Oliveira's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Oliveira's gas tank.
Valanciunas lands a body punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice body punch from Valanciunas.
A hook to the body from Valanciunas.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Valanciunas creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Valanciunas manages to break the clinch.
Oliveira on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Valanciunas closes the distance and pushes Oliveira back into the ropes.
Oliveira prevents a body shot from Valanciunas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Valanciunas.
Valanciunas scores with a shot to the side of Oliveira's head.
Valanciunas stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short right from Valanciunas on the inside.

Valanciunas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Valanciunas tries to close the distance and clinch but Oliveira swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Valanciunas cracks the inside of Oliveira's front leg.
Valanciunas tries to close the distance and clinch but Oliveira swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Valanciunas closes the distance and clinches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Oliveira.
A body shot lands from Valanciunas.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Valanciunas scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Oliveira will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Valanciunas throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Valanciunas breaks from the clinch.
Oliveira is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Valanciunas tries to clinch up but Oliveira circles away and keeps his distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonas Valanciunas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Valanciunas winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 25:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonas Valanciunas!
A very excited looking Jonas Valanciunas made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.