PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Carlinhos Valente (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Van Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valente comes to the cage accompanied by "We Dem Boyz" by Wiz Khalifa. The crowd seem to be enjoying Van Kirkland's choice of entrance music: DJ Vadim - The Terrorist. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Valente
vs
Van Kirkland

172 cm
30
155 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

180 cm
35
164 lbs
28 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carlinhos Valente!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vladimir Van Kirkland!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Kirkland dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Valente. That did some damage!
Van Kirkland showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Valente.
Valente throws a shot from downtown. Van Kirkland moves away and avoids it.
We've been hearing reports that Valente has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Valente uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Valente counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Van Kirkland lands a jab.
Van Kirkland getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Vladimir Van Kirkland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Kirkland tests Valente's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Valente is looking to clinch but Van Kirkland is avoiding it.
Van Kirkland chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Van Kirkland waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Valente.
Valente lands a nice leg kick that just misses Van Kirkland's sensitive parts.
A lazy body kick from Van Kirkland
and Valente counters with a slapping leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Kirkland with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Valente doesn't manage to clinch there - Van Kirkland circles away.
Van Kirkland connects with a nice looking jab.
Van Kirkland swings for the body but Valente moves out of range.
Valente takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Kirkland misses with a jab, cross combination.
Van Kirkland misses with a looping right.
Van Kirkland takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Valente lands a nice shot that snaps Van Kirkland's head back.
Valente connects with a nice looking jab.
A leg kick checked by Valente.
Valente throws a series of punches but Van Kirkland avoids them all with ease.
Van Kirkland looks to land a left hand but Valente moved out of range nicely.
Valente throws a push kick but Van Kirkland slaps the foot to one side.
Valente keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Van Kirkland.

Valente clinches up with Van Kirkland and pushes him back against the cage.
Valente is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Van Kirkland is keeping busy.
Van Kirkland lands with a short shot to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Van Kirkland fails to land.
Valente blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Valente.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valente digs a right hand into Van Kirkland's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Van Kirkland's gas tank.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland stalling in the clinch but Valente improves position.

Valente manages to break the clinch.
Van Kirkland scores with a leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Van Kirkland.
Valente steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Van Kirkland.
Valente tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Van Kirkland was well out of range. Poor timing from Valente.
Valente stuns Van Kirkland with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Van Kirkland takes one on the button.
Van Kirkland moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Valente is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Valente fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Kirkland manages to avoid it.

Valente drives through and clinches with Van Kirkland against the cage.

Van Kirkland breaks the clinch.
Van Kirkland connects with a good right hand that stumbles Valente. Valente circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Valente moves into range and clinches up with Van Kirkland.
Valente misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valente goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Valente pushes Van Kirkland back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Van Kirkland misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Valente blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Valente.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland misses with a hook from the clinch.
Van Kirkland can't find room to land a body shot as Valente controls the action.
Valente lands a right hand that snaps the head of Van Kirkland backwards.
Van Kirkland can't find room to land a body shot as Valente controls the action.
Van Kirkland throws a head punch that misses.
Van Kirkland misses with a hook from the clinch.
Valente tries to throw a body punch but Van Kirkland avoids it by throwing Valente back against the cage.

Van Kirkland's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Kirkland thows a left - swing and a miss!
Valente moves out of range of the strikes.
Valente's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Van Kirkland connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Valente scrambles back to his feet.
Van Kirkland misses with an uppercut. Valente saw that one coming.
Valente fails in his attempt to clinch.
Van Kirkland chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Valente can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valente throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Kirkland scores with a jab. Valente acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Kirkland misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Valente.
Valente swings for the body but Van Kirkland moves out of range.
Valente fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland throws an overhand right that lands on Valente's shoulder, as Valente tries to avoid the shot.
Valente misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Valente is looking to clinch but Van Kirkland is avoiding it.
Van Kirkland let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Valente scores with a punch to the head.
Van Kirkland swings away with a body shot that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Van Kirkland throws an overhand right that lands on Valente's shoulder, as Valente tries to avoid the shot.
Van Kirkland is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Valente had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Van Kirkland keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Van Kirkland takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Kirkland thuds his right hand into Valente's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Valente gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Valente working aggressively here.
Van Kirkland blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vladimir Van Kirkland will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Valente is looking to clinch but Van Kirkland is avoiding it.
Valente avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Van Kirkland throws a jab when Valente was well out of range.
Van Kirkland doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Van Kirkland misses with a body kick.
Valente cracks Van Kirkland with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Van Kirkland scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Valente doesn't seem bothered though.
Van Kirkland pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Van Kirkland connects with a nice looking jab.
Valente is looking to wear down Van Kirkland with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A head kick from Van Kirkland lands but Valente takes it in his stride.
Valente uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland throws out a leg kick but Valente moves out of range and Van Kirkland only half commits.

Valente fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Van Kirkland, pushing him back against the cage.
Van Kirkland has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Valente seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Van Kirkland can turn it around.
Van Kirkland misses with some punches.
Valente tries to stall but Van Kirkland uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Van Kirkland's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Kirkland throws a hook to the side of Valente's head but Valente sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Valente goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Kirkland is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Valente.
Valente looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Valente catches Van Kirkland with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Van Kirkland chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Valente can pounce on him.
Valente with a jab.
Van Kirkland keeps the fight on the outside.
Van Kirkland throws out a loose jab but Valente uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valente fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van Kirkland gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Van Kirkland swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Valente tries to clinch there but Van Kirkland circles away.
A slow jab from Van Kirkland misses its intended target.
Van Kirkland avoids the body shot from Valente.
Van Kirkland tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Valente was well out of range. Poor timing from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland lands a jab to Valente's midsection.
Van Kirkland misses with a looping right.
Van Kirkland misses with an uppercut. Valente saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valente's jab looks to have found its range, popping Van Kirkland under the eye.
Jab from Valente.
Van Kirkland tries to land a leg kick but Valente saw it coming and moves away.
Van Kirkland misses with a straight left.
Valente swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Van Kirkland showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Valente.
Van Kirkland ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Valente moves away.
Van Kirkland works the jab nicely.
Van Kirkland throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Valente.
Van Kirkland connects with a solid leg kick.
Valente takes one to the side of the head.
Valente throws a nice outside leg kick.
Van Kirkland scores with a nice right hand.
Valente keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Van Kirkland.
Valente pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Van Kirkland misses with a body shot.
Valente misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valente takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Van Kirkland takes a swing at Valente's ribcage but misses.
Valente blocks a jab.
Van Kirkland takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Valente will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Van Kirkland swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Van Kirkland throws a body punch but Valente moves out of range.
Valente looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Van Kirkland takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Van Kirkland tries to move into range but Valente moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Valente jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Valente ducks under a wild hook from Van Kirkland.
Valente tries to close the distance and clinch but Van Kirkland swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A big left from Van Kirkland misses.
Van Kirkland fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Valente checks it well.
Van Kirkland jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Van Kirkland's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Van Kirkland bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valente throws a sloppy head kick and Van Kirkland moves out of range easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A good leg kick by Valente.
Van Kirkland lands a nice leg kick that just misses Valente's sensitive parts.
Van Kirkland swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Van Kirkland lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Valente lands a head kick. Van Kirkland smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Van Kirkland lands a jab-cross combination.
Van Kirkland moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Van Kirkland slips a jab and a cross from Valente.
Van Kirkland connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nice defenses there by Valente.
Valente plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valente throws a sloppy head kick
and Van Kirkland counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Van Kirkland drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Van Kirkland connects with a good right hand that stumbles Valente. Valente circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Van Kirkland misses with a hook. Valente ducked under it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Van Kirkland showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Valente gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A right hook to the body lands for Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland lands with a right to the head.
Carlinhos Valente has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Van Kirkland looking to slow down the pace here.
Van Kirkland lands an uppercut.
Van Kirkland tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valente swings wildly with an uppercut but Van Kirkland uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valente slows down the pace here.
Valente tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Kirkland's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Van Kirkland doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Valente presses Van Kirkland against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Valente lands a body shot in the clinch.
Van Kirkland misses with a hook from the clinch.
Van Kirkland lands a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Kirkland wants to stall.
Van Kirkland misses with a hook to the ribs.
Valente pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Van Kirkland fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Van Kirkland working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Van Kirkland blocks a body shot from Valente.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland lands a left hand that snaps the head of Valente backwards.
Van Kirkland misses with a short punch on the inside.
Valente is stalling here.

Valente escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Van Kirkland thows a left - swing and a miss!
A nice leg kick lands there from Valente.
Van Kirkland checks the leg kick nicely there.
Valente tries to clinch up but Van Kirkland circles away and keeps his distance.
A swing and a miss from Van Kirkland.
An attempted straight right counter from Valente misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valente throws a nice inside leg kick.
Valente tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Van Kirkland counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Valente thinking.
Valente fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Van Kirkland stuns Valente with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Kirkland throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Valente counter with a right hand.
Valente misses with a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Valente looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Carlinhos Valente has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Van Kirkland throws a good cross that connects.
Van Kirkland misses with a head kick.
Van Kirkland tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Valente was well out of range. Poor timing from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Valente.
Valente scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Valente instigates a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Van Kirkland as Valente tries to tie him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valente misses with the head strike.
Valente working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Valente displaying some good clinch control by pressing Van Kirkland up against the cage.
Valente misses with a punch on the inside.
Van Kirkland is looking to control Valente's arms but Valente gets an underhook and turns him. Now Van Kirkland has his back to the cage.
Van Kirkland lands a right hand.
Valente content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Van Kirkland tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Van Kirkland throws a head punch that misses.
Valente is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Van Kirkland escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Van Kirkland uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Valente.
Valente uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Kirkland.
The fighters circling - Van Kirkland throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Van Kirkland works over Valente's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Carlinhos Valente has been cut.
Van Kirkland looks to throw the jab but Valente is out of range.
Valente ducks under a wild hook from Van Kirkland.

Van Kirkland gets tackled into the cage by Valente. Valente maintains the clinch.
Vladimir Van Kirkland is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Kirkland tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valente lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Van Kirkland.
Valente gets through Van Kirkland's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Van Kirkland can't find room to land a body shot as Valente controls the action.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Valente can't find room to land a body shot as Van Kirkland controls the action.
Van Kirkland is trying to force a seperation but Valente has the dominant position.
Valente tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vladimir Van Kirkland.
I've got Van Kirkland winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Van Kirkland!
Vladimir Van Kirkland decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.