PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marquis Stewart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vilis Valdis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vilis Valdis is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Stewart
vs
Valdis

182 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 4 - 1

160 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

North

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Marquis Stewart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vilis Valdis!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Topper Green and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stewart connects with a high kick.
Stewart lands a leg kick that knocks Valdis off balance momentarily.
Stewart stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stewart wants it to stay on the feet.

Valdis pushes Stewart up against the cage in a clinch.
Valdis is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Valdis lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nice body punch from Valdis - that landed with a thud.
Stewart jumps guard but Valdis stands there with Stewart around his waist. Stewart gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stewart can't break the clinch.
Valdis goes for a takedown attempt but Stewart pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Valdis takes the fight into the clinch.
Valdis tries to circle away but Stewart has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdis tries to pull guard but Stewart holds him up against the cage and eventually Valdis drops back down to his feet.
Marquis Stewart has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vilis Valdis.
Valdis tries to break the clinch but Stewart is controlling the position.
Stewart working hard to break the clinch.
Stewart jumps guard but Valdis stands there with Stewart around his waist. Stewart gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stewart is looking for a takedown.
Stewart is trying to pull guard but Valdis has him pressed against the cage.
Valdis scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Stewart keeps control of Valdis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stewart wants to break free but Valdis has control.
Stewart can't get the takedown.
Valdis lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stewart breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stewart throws a quick inside leg kick.
Good exchange - Stewart coming out on top.
No luck for Valdis with that takedown attempt.
Good work by Valdis as he checks the leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Valdis.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Stewart.
Valdis tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Stewart defends well and Valdis ends up having to push Stewart into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Stewart is working for takedown but Valdis is calmly controlling the position for now.

Stewart manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Valdis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart working a defensive guard but Valdis manages to pass into side control anyway.
Valdis working away.
Valdis is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Stewart will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Valdis stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Valdis circles away from the clinch attempt.

Valdis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stewart tries to circle away but Valdis has him pinned against the cage.
Stewart drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Valdis gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stewart tries to pull guard but Valdis won't allow it.

Valdis pulls Stewart into guard.
Stewart postures up and lands a big shot to Valdis's brow.
Stewart throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Valdis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stewart postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Valdis seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
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.
Stewart stopping the sweep attempt from Valdis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vilis Valdis will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Valdis shoots for a takedown but Stewart saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Valdis has taken the fight to the clinch.
Stewart jumps guard but Valdis turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Valdis tries to score a body lock takedown but Stewart shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Stewart tries to pull guard but Valdis forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Valdis content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Stewart fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marquis Stewart. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stewart is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Valdis gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Valdis wants a takedown but no success here.
Stewart tries to stall but Valdis uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Stewart really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Valdis tries to break the clinch but Stewart is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stewart can't break the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Valdis is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Stewart is trying to break the clinch but Valdis is controlling him.
Valdis pushes off an throws an elbow but Stewart leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Valdis tries to pull guard but Stewart holds him up against the cage and eventually Valdis drops back down to his feet.
Valdis prevents Stewart from breaking the clinch.

Stewart escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Valdis has a takedown stuffed.

Valdis gets a double leg takedown into Stewart's guard.
Stewart controls Valdis momentarily but Valdis frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdis is pushing down on Stewart's leg trying to pass to half guard. Stewart is fighting to maintain full guard but Valdis has managed to sneak the leg through.
Valdis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stewart trying to get back to full guard but Valdis takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Stewart is in all sorts of trouble here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stewart looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valdis is hanging on to Stewart's back as he tries to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Valdis biding his time, looking for the opening.
Stewart trying to control the hands but Valdis breaks the grip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdis throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Stewart looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Valdis somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Stewart trying to control the action but Valdis just sinks the hooks in.
Valdis doesn't have the hooks in and Stewart manages to turn into his guard.

Valdis wriggles free and stands up.

Valdis pushes Stewart up against the cage in a clinch.
Stewart wants to get back to striking at distance but Valdis won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stewart fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Stewart wants to break the clinch but can't.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Stewart is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Valdis is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Stewart pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Stewart is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Stewart is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Valdis is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stewart jumps guard but Valdis turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Vilis Valdis seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valdis prevents Stewart from breaking the clinch.
Valdis slows down the pace here.

Valdis pulls guard successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vilis Valdis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Valdis lands a really nice looking cross but Stewart seems unphased.

It looks like Marquis Stewart has been cut.
Stewart tries to clinch but Valdis is having none of it.
Valdis slips a jab from Stewart.
Valdis goes for a double leg but Stewart avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Stewart continues to drive forward.
Stewart is pressed up against the cage. Valdis has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stewart down to the mat. Stewart avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Valdis pushes Stewart up against the cage in a clinch.
Stewart is trying to pull guard but Valdis has him pressed against the cage.
Stewart has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Valdis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Marquis Stewart has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vilis Valdis.
Valdis prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stewart tries to circle away but Valdis has him pinned against the cage.

Stewart jumps guard and drags Valdis to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Vilis Valdis has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdis postures up.

Valdis stands and steps away. Stewart gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Valdis throws a push kick but Stewart slaps the foot to one side.
Valdis throws a head kick but Stewart moves out of range.
Stewart pivots, looking for a leg kick but Valdis is out of range and Stewart settles back down.
Stewart throws a head kick but Valdis moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Valdis gets a clinch.
Stewart is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Valdis to keep the fight standing.

Valdis successfully pulls guard.
Valdis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stewart.
Valdis working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Valdis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stewart.
Stewart has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stewart trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Valdis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stewart accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stewart is looking to work some ground and pound but Valdis has wrist control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valdis trying to control the position.
Stewart throwing strikes from guard but Valdis blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdis wants to sweep but no luck.
Valdis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stewart.
Stewart is standing up over Valdis. Valdis looks to escape but Stewart dives into side control.
Valdis is looking for a sweep.
Stewart is chipping away with strikes.
Valdis tries to improve position but can't.
Valdis is still trying to improve position.
Stewart misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Stewart working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Stewart looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valdis managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Stewart.
Stewart throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Stewart working the strikes but Valdis uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valdis keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Stewart thows a huge punch but Valdis dodges it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marquis Stewart.
Well Valdis has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 28:30
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 28:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vilis Valdis!
During a confident post fight interview, Vilis Valdis thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.