PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sung Valenzuela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Stanton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phil Stanton acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Valenzuela
vs
Stanton

211 cm
24
178 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

179 cm
25
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 2 - 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, Phil Stanton!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Valenzuela is defended easily by Stanton.
Valenzuela tries for a takedown but Stanton circles away easily
and Stanton counters with a nice uppercut.
Valenzuela swinging wildly here.
Stanton is looking for the big counter here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valenzuela throws a head kick that misses.
Valenzuela gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Stanton counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Valenzuela thinking.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sung Valenzuela. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanton leaves Valenzuela with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stanton works Valenzuela's body with a nice hook.
Sung Valenzuela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valenzuela pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A big left from Valenzuela misses.
Stanton digs a good hook to Valenzuela's body.
Stanton moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Valenzuela tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Stanton counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valenzuela fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stanton, pushing him back against the cage.
Stanton prevents a takedown attempt there.
Valenzuela is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Stanton gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Valenzuela stalling in the clinch.
Stanton is trying to break free.

Valenzuela successfully pulls 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.
Stanton trying to control but Valenzuela is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Valenzuela holds on and takes a little breather.
My spies in Cozad MMA Rio inform me that Stanton has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stanton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stanton trying to move into half guard but instead Valenzuela has managed to sweep!

Stanton is trying to hold Valenzuela in close to prevent damage but Valenzuela has managed to pass into half guard.
Stanton trying to hold on to Valenzuela's head to control him but Valenzuela postures up.
Stanton is looking to improve his position.

Valenzuela decides to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanton moves away from the strike by Valenzuela.
Valenzuela dives in for a single leg takedown but Stanton sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Valenzuela avoids the body shot from Stanton.

Valenzuela moves into the clinch successfully.
Stanton is trying to force a seperation but Valenzuela has the dominant position.
Valenzuela has Stanton pressed against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Valenzuela keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stanton's efforts to push away.
Valenzuela is working for takedown but Stanton is calmly controlling the position for now.
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 Sung Valenzuela will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Valenzuela misses with a straight left.
Stanton doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

Valenzuela looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Valenzuela stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Stanton pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Valenzuela back to the cage. Stanton follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valenzuela fails with the takedown
and Stanton counters with a left and a right that stings Valenzuela.

Valenzuela has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valenzuela breaks the clinch.
Valenzuela connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Valenzuela throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stanton sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stanton scores with a spinning back kick!

Stanton closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Valenzuela's guard.
Valenzuela is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stanton is controlling him.
Stanton looking to sit in guard and control but Valenzuela gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Valenzuela is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valenzuela gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Valenzuela throws a hook to the side of Stanton's head but Stanton sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stanton looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A jab lands there for Valenzuela.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stanton pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Valenzuela back to the cage. Stanton follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
A slow jab from Valenzuela misses its intended target.
Valenzuela shoots in looking for a takedown but Stanton manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Valenzuela's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanton throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Valenzuela.
Stanton wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Valenzuela throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stanton sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Stanton. No joy for Valenzuela on that attempt.
Stanton is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sung Valenzuela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stanton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A jab from Stanton finds it's way through Valenzuela's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stanton wants it to stay on the feet.
Valenzuela throws a head kick that misses
and Stanton cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stanton misses with the combination.
Valenzuela closes the distance and clinches up with Stanton, looking for a takedown. Valenzuela pushes Stanton against the cage but Stanton circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Stanton shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Stanton showed some decent athleticism there.
Valenzuela has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stanton is working away from the top position though.
Valenzuela has his hands clasped together around Stanton's back. He's all about the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Stanton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A lazy left from Valenzuela finds it's target.
Phil Stanton seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Some bone on bone action there as Valenzuela checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Stanton lands a nice looking kick to the body. Valenzuela takes a step back to recover.
Valenzuela darts in looking for a takedown but Stanton gets double underhooks and turns Valenzuela into the cage.
Stanton let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valenzuela misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stanton throws a nice outside leg kick.

Valenzuela moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanton looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Stanton tries to circle away but Valenzuela has him pinned against the cage.

Valenzuela gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Stanton regains guard.
Stanton pulls Valenzuela in to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stanton is trying to keep Valenzuela in close.
Sung Valenzuela overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stanton can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Valenzuela controls the pace.

Valenzuela stands up and waves to Stanton to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanton tests Valenzuela's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Valenzuela with a poor takedown
and Stanton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stanton throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Valenzuela sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Valenzuela is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Stanton scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Valenzuela tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stanton swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sung Valenzuela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stanton lands a nice hook to Valenzuela's body. Valenzuela takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanton fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Stanton blocks a jab.
Stanton unleashes a big counter combination but Valenzuela bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Valenzuela fails with the takedown
and Valenzuela takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Stanton throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Valenzuela tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Stanton is in Valenzuela's guard.
Stanton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Valenzuela keeping moving, preventing Stanton from controlling successfully.
Stanton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Valenzuela is controlling Stanton's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanton trying to control the position from guard on top but Valenzuela is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valenzuela is adopting a defensive guard.
Stanton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stanton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Valenzuela swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Valenzuela is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phil Stanton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stanton has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil Stanton!