PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sung Valenzuela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexandre Vesci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sung Valenzuela has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Valenzuela
vs
Vesci

211 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sung Valenzuela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alexandre Vesci!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vesci shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Valenzuela's guard.
Valenzuela will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Valenzuela 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.
Valenzuela is pulling down on Vesci's head to control his posture.
Vesci stopping the sweep attempt from Valenzuela.
Valenzuela is pulling down on Vesci's head to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valenzuela keeping moving, preventing Vesci from controlling successfully.
Vesci preventing the sweep.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Valenzuela is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valenzuela stands and steps away. Vesci gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Valenzuela throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Vesci closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Valenzuela quickly recovers to half guard.
Valenzuela gets full guard.
Valenzuela controlling the position.
Vesci trying to control but Valenzuela is working from the bottom.
Vesci working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vesci trying to control the position from guard on top but Valenzuela is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valenzuela tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A punch combination from Valenzuela misses.
Vesci unleashes a big counter combination but Valenzuela bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Valenzuela closes the distance and pushes Vesci back into the cage.
Vesci wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Valenzuela gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
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!
Vesci punching from the bottom.
Valenzuela takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vesci is trying to control but can't.

Valenzuela is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Vesci is trying to stand up here but Valenzuela is controlling him well.
Valenzuela content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Valenzuela is thwarting Vesci's attempts to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Alexandre Vesci seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Vesci keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Valenzuela.

Vesci scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Vesci looks winded!

Valenzuela pushes Vesci off and gets back to his feet.

Valenzuela moves into the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Valenzuela.

Valenzuela gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Valenzuela shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Valenzuela showed some decent athleticism there.
Valenzuela is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sung Valenzuela dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Valenzuela looking to score a takedown here. Vesci is defending well but Valenzuela drives through and ends up in Vesci's guard.
Sung Valenzuela overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vesci is looking to stand back up but Valenzuela counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Vesci.
Valenzuela controlling the pace.
Valenzuela is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vesci can do to turn this around?
Vesci is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valenzuela with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Vesci is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valenzuela is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Valenzuela is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice uppercut lands for Valenzuela. That snapped Vesci's head back.

Vesci gets tackled into the cage by Valenzuela. Valenzuela maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vesci gets control of Valenzuela's arms and successfully pulls guard. Vesci will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Vesci is breathing heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vesci is on top in guard.

Valenzuela really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Vesci preventing the sweep.
Valenzuela is working hard here to advance position.
Valenzuela looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valenzuela looking for a sweep. Not yet Valenzuela, not yet.
Valenzuela keeping moving, preventing Vesci from controlling successfully.
Vesci preventing the sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Vesci gets caught flat footed, as Valenzuela shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Valenzuela stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Valenzuela shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Vesci is trying to defend but Valenzuela finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Valenzuela slows the pace down in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Valenzuela prevents Vesci from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sung Valenzuela dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Vesci moves away from the strike by Valenzuela.

Vesci tries to keep at a distance but Valenzuela has taken the fight into the clinch.

Valenzuela is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Vesci can't fight it off and eventually Valenzuela manages to take the fight to the floor. Vesci looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Valenzuela has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Vesci is proving hard to escape from.
Valenzuela throwing strikes from guard but Vesci blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valenzuela sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vesci is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Valenzuela is aware though and is defending well.
Valenzuela slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Valenzuela stands up from Vesci's guard - Valenzuela perhaps looking for a knockout.

Valenzuela bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Vesci takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valenzuela slows the pace down.

Valenzuela decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Vesci pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Valenzuela tries to bum rush Vesci with a series of wild strikes but Vesci uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vesci closes the distance looking to clinch

and Valenzuela counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vesci won't be happy with that.
Valenzuela in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Valenzuela stands up.
Valenzuela checks a leg kick.
Valenzuela is looking to counter punch.

Vesci gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Valenzuela is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Valenzuela stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Vesci has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Vesci there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valenzuela lands with a right hand.

Valenzuela closes the distance and pushes Vesci back into the cage.

Valenzuela manages to pull guard.
Valenzuela pulls Vesci in to control the position.
Valenzuela looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vesci is one step ahead there.
Valenzuela seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sung Valenzuela showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Valenzuela 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:26
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:26
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sung Valenzuela!