PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Deon Valdez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Silviu Alex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Deon Valdez has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Valdez
vs
Alex

208 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
199 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Deon Valdez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Silviu Alex!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Daniel Bishop and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Alex.

Alex has closed the distance and engaged Valdez in a clinch.
Valdez stalling in the clinch but Alex improves position.
Valdez is pressed up against the cage. Alex has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Valdez down to the mat. Valdez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Alex closes the distance and clinches.
Valdez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Alex walks away with a smile on his face. Valdez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Alex enables Valdez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Alex manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Alex wants to stand but Valdez is controlling the position.
Valdez wants to control from the top but Alex keeps moving.
Valdez is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Alex is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Alex throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Alex is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez trying to control the position from guard on top but Alex is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valdez content to stall in guard here.
Valdez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Deon Valdez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Alex throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Silviu Alex seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valdez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Valdez throws a sloppy head kick and Alex moves out of range easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alex jumps guard but Valdez stands there with Alex around his waist. Alex gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Alex is trying to break the clinch but Valdez has him pressed against the cage.
Valdez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Alex to keep the fight standing.
Alex goes for a takedown in the clinch but Valdez prevents it.
Deon Valdez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Silviu Alex.
Valdez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Alex just stands there and leans against the cage.
Alex changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Valdez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Alex shoots in looking for a takedown but Valdez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Alex's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alex fails with the takedown

and Valdez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Valdez prevents Alex from breaking the clinch.
Alex is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Valdez is defending well.
Alex working hard to break the clinch.
Valdez misses with a knee strike.
Valdez is trying to drag Alex to the mat but Alex just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Valdez misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valdez lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Alex working hard to break the clinch.
Valdez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Valdez tries to pull guard but Alex holds him up against the cage and eventually Valdez drops back down to his feet.
Valdez tries to pull guard but Alex holds him up against the cage and eventually Valdez drops back down to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valdez jumps guard but Alex stands there with Valdez around his waist. Valdez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Deon Valdez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Alex shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Valdez counters with a three punch combo that has Alex backing up. Alex nods at Valdez to acknowledge the strikes.
Alex tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Valdez defends well and Alex ends up having to push Valdez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Alex missing with knees to the body.
Valdez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Alex backwards.
Valdez is trying to pull guard but Alex has him pressed against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Valdez tries a knee to the head but Alex blocks it.
Alex is trying to drag Valdez to the mat but Valdez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Deon Valdez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Silviu Alex.
Valdez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alex tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Valdez smiles and moves away.
Alex has his takedown stuffed

and Valdez counters with a shoot takedown. Alex fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alex has his hands on Valdez's head, controlling the position.

Valdez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Valdez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Alex's guard.
Valdez wants to control from the top but Alex keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Alex has his foot on Valdez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Valdez works his way back into a safe position though.
Alex is breathing heavily.
Valdez passes Alex's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valdez tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Valdez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ground and pound from Valdez.
Alex is looking to improve his position.

Valdez seems to be working for a kimura but Alex defends the submission attempt.
Valdez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Alex is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Valdez pulls his head out easily.
Valdez tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Valdez is keen to just control but Alex is a slippery customer.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Valdez prevents Alex from improving his position.

Valdez seems to be looking for submissions.
Valdez slows the pace down in half guard.
Valdez wants to pass the guard but Alex is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alex is trying to control but can't.
Deon Valdez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Alex tries to kick Valdez off but Valdez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Alex taking some punishment here, with Valdez in his half guard.
Alex is trying to stand.
Valdez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Alex is looking for a sweep. Valdez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Valdez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alex keeps working.
Valdez stops Alex from getting back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valdez controlling the pace.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Deon Valdez dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Alex misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Alex fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Valdez avoids it really well and circles away.

Valdez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Alex is trying to defend but Valdez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Alex takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Valdez lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Valdez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Alex does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Alex trying to control here.
Valdez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Alex does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Valdez wants to get back to his feet.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Valdez is working for a submission of some sort.
Alex is refusing to be controlled, as Valdez sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valdez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Alex has managed to free his arm - good work.
Valdez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Valdez trying to control the pace.
Valdez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Alex defending well though.
Alex trying to control here.
Valdez tries to stand but can't do so whilst Alex controls his leg.

Alex looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alex trying to control but Valdez postures up.
Valdez is trying to control the action in half guard but Alex is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Alex is trying to maintain the position but Valdez is very close to passing his half guard.
Valdez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Valdez moves into the clinch successfully.
Valdez has Alex pushed against the cage.

Alex manages to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alex seems keen to control Valdez's posture.
Alex wants to stand up but Valdez is controlling him.

Valdez stands and steps away. Alex gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Alex shoots in for a takedown but Valdez shows good takedown defense.
Deon Valdez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Silviu Alex.
Alex swats away the attempt to clinch by Valdez.
Valdez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alex swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Silviu Alex has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Deon Valdez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alex misses with a wild combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Deon Valdez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Valdez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Deon Valdez!