PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Eric Esparza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alfonso Valdez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Esparza
vs
Valdez

179 cm
23
163 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

181 cm
21
159 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

World class MT
Cuts easily

World class MT
Powerful

Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Eric Esparza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alfonso Valdez!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Nard Betker and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valdez connects with a right hand. Esparza shakes it off.
Esparza throws a sloppy body shot
and Valdez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Valdez cracks Esparza with a right hand to the side of the head.
Esparza bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Valdez's head backwards.
Good leg kick by Esparza there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Alfonso Valdez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valdez throws a series of punches but Esparza avoids them all with ease.
Valdez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A little feinted left hand from Esparza on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Esparza looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Valdez defending well as Esparza loads up on a big left hand.
A decent looking cross lands there for Esparza.
Esparza swats away the attempt to clinch by Valdez.
A little feinted left hand from Esparza on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Valdez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Esparza pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Valdez throws a leg kick but Esparza sees it coming and moves out of range.

Valdez has Esparza up against the ropes in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Esparza backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Valdez creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Valdez fails to land.
Valdez lands a left hand.
Esparza is looking to break free of the clinch but Valdez has double underhooks.
Valdez throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Esparza blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Esparza blocking some punches.
A right hook to the body lands for Valdez.
Valdez gets through Esparza's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Esparza blocking some punches.
Esparza wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Esparza blocks the elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Esparza wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Esparza on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Valdez has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Esparza seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Valdez can turn it around.
Valdez misses with a punch on the inside.
Esparza avoids a wild elbow strike from Valdez.
Valdez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Esparza blocking some punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valdez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Valdez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Eric Esparza has been cut.
Valdez working Esparza over with knees to the body.
Esparza is trying to push Valdez away but Valdez has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Esparza has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Valdez lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alfonso Valdez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Eric Esparza's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Valdez misses with a straight left.
Esparza half committed to a counter leg kick.
Esparza uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Valdez.
Esparza staying out of range there.
Valdez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Esparza misses with a hook.
Esparza ducks under a wild hook from Valdez.
Eric Esparza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Esparza checks a leg kick.
Valdez walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Esparza checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Esparza throws a counter high kick but Valdez was just alert enough to avoid it.
Valdez's jab looks to have found its range, popping Esparza under the eye.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Esparza takes one to the side of the head.
Esparza lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Valdez tries to bum rush Esparza with a series of wild strikes but Esparza uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Valdez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Valdez pushes Esparza up against the ropes in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Valdez throws an elbow but misses.
Esparza blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Valdez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Esparza wants to get back to striking at distance but Valdez won't allow it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Esparza.
Valdez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valdez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Esparza backwards.
A frustrated look appears on Esparza's face as he tries to break the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Valdez creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Valdez lands with a left to the head.
Valdez misses with some punches.
Valdez trying to land knees to the body.
Valdez softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Valdez tries to land knees in the clinch but Esparza avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Esparza is defending well for now.
Esparza dodges an elbow strike from Valdez.
Alfonso Valdez seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Valdez obliges.
Esparza is trying to break the clinch but Valdez is controlling him.
Esparza managing to block the knees to the body from Valdez.
Valdez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valdez misses with the head strike.
Valdez swings wildly with an uppercut but Esparza uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valdez tries to throw a body punch but Esparza avoids it by throwing Valdez back against the ropes.
Esparza has had enough of the clinch but Valdez keeps him there for the moment.
Esparza on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Valdez putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Esparza in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alfonso Valdez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Eric Esparza's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Esparza blocks a jab.
Valdez fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Esparza.
Good standup being displayed there by Valdez as he connects with a hook.
Valdez misses the shot to the body.
Valdez fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Esparza.
A telegraphed right hand from Valdez misses the target.
Nice uppercut lands for Esparza. That snapped Valdez's head back.
Good exchange - Esparza coming out on top.
Valdez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Valdez misses.
Esparza tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Esparza on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Valdez. Valdez obviously looking to wear him down.
Esparza bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Valdez just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromEsparza.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Esparza manages to avoid it.
Esparza checks the leg kick.
Valdez throws out a loose jab but Esparza uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valdez avoids the head kick by Esparza.
Valdez misses with an uppercut.
Esparza scores with a head kick. Valdez tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Esparza tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Esparza looks to land a right hand but Valdez moved out of range.
Esparza moves out of range as Valdez strikes.
Valdez swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Esparza counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Esparza walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Valdez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Esparza.
Valdez fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Esparza has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Esparza throws a nice looking combination but Valdez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Esparza misses with a looping right.
Valdez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valdez lands with a shot to the body.
A slow jab from Valdez misses its intended target.
Alfonso Valdez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Valdez lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Valdez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Valdez clobbers Esparza with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Esparza is rocked!
Valdez stuns Esparza with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Oh Esparza is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Valdez connects with a crushing straight, right on the bridge of Esparza's nose, sending him crumpling to the mat! That's really rocked Esparza - is he going to beat the count??? 4,5,6,7,8,9.....10 - he's not made it - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Alfonso Valdez!
Our winner, Alfonso Valdez, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.