PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Emmett Valencia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Ralevic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Valencia
vs
Ralevic

197 cm
20
214 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
206 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Emmett Valencia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ivan Ralevic!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valencia throws a right hand that Ralevic ducks under and follows up with a left that Ralevic also avoids with ease.

Ralevic closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Valencia.
Valencia blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Valencia fails to land.
Valencia tries a body shot but Ralevic blocks it.
Valencia misses with a body punch.

Ralevic gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ralevic is looking to stand up but Valencia won't let him.

Valencia looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Valencia 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.
Valencia wants to get back to his feet but Ralevic is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valencia had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ralevic defends it easily.
Valencia looking to control.

Ralevic got a little sloppy there for a moment and Valencia has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ralevic has managed to get both his arms back between Valencia's legs - danger averted.
Ralevic showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ralevic trying to control the position from guard on top but Valencia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valencia trying to keep a closed guard but Ralevic is proving a slippery customer.
Ralevic trying to control but Valencia is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ivan Ralevic hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ralevic tries to clinch

and Valencia holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ralevic misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valencia throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ralevic lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ralevic blocking some punches.
Ralevic is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Ralevic manages to break the clinch.
Ralevic tries to clinch up
and Valencia counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ralevic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Valencia throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ralevic won't allow Valencia to sweep him here.
Ralevic postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ralevic slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ralevic working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Valencia is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Ralevic decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ralevic closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valencia is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Valencia defending against the ground and pound.
Ralevic tries to move to mount but Valencia blocks the move with his legs.
Ralevic looks winded!

Ralevic wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Valencia, who protects the arm well.
Ralevic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Valencia. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Valencia manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ralevic's best efforts.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ralevic trying to control from half guard but Valencia is working away.
Valencia controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Ralevic dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ralevic shoots in and gets a takedown into Valencia's guard.
Ralevic won't allow Valencia to sweep him here.
Ralevic wants to control from the top but Valencia keeps moving.
Valencia utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Valencia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ralevic trying to stand up but can't free himself from Valencia's guard.
Valencia is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Valencia looking for a sweep. Not yet Valencia, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ralevic throws a big elbow that misses.

Valencia has his foot on Ralevic's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ralevic works his way back into a safe position though.

Valencia working for a triangle but Ralevic defends it easily.
Valencia will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Valencia pushes Ralevic off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Ivan Ralevic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ralevic drives through with a takedown into Valencia's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Valencia working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ralevic doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ralevic manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Valencia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Valencia is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Valencia is on top in guard.
Ralevic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ralevic keeping full guard, as Valencia tries to pass.

Valencia drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ralevic manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Valencia has Ralevic in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ralevic stopping the sweep attempt from Valencia.
Ralevic passes Valencia's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ralevic is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Valencia avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ralevic.
Valencia looks like he's trying to stand up.
Valencia gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ralevic stands and steps away. Valencia gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Valencia misses with a wild combination.
Valencia tries to bum rush Ralevic with a series of wild strikes but Ralevic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Ralevic drives through and clinches with Valencia against the cage.
Ralevic is trying to break the clinch but Valencia is controlling him.
Valencia keeps control of Ralevic as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Valencia pulls guard.
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 Emmett Valencia will probably get the nod.
That's time! Valencia's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ralevic drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Valencia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ivan Ralevic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Valencia manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ralevic manages to get himself to full guard.
Valencia wants to stand and escape but instead Ralevic has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Ralevic looking to pass the guard.
Valencia bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ralevic's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ralevic can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Valencia controls the pace.
Ralevic wants to control the position but Valencia says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valencia throwing shots but Ralevic is blocking nicely.
Valencia prevents Ralevic from improving his position.
Ralevic is looking to control Valencia's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ralevic avoid being mounted?

Valencia is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ralevic is just riding it out for now. Valencia eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ralevic avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Valencia.
Valencia is thwarting Ralevic's attempts to control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ralevic tries to roll over but Valencia keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Valencia seems to be working for a kimura but Ralevic defends the submission attempt.

Valencia decides to stand and escape the position.
Ralevic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Emmett Valencia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ralevic fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Valencia sprawls well initially but Ralevic persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Valencia is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ralevic pulls his head out easily.
Valencia misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Valencia pushes Ralevic off and gets back to his feet.
Ralevic tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Valencia moves into the clinch.

Valencia breaks the clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Ralevic.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valencia lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Valencia.
Ralevic looks to land a combination but Valencia avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emmett Valencia showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Valencia has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Emmett Valencia!