PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gregg Valdez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Robles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Valdez
vs
Robles

169 cm
24
140 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

160 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gregg Valdez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Paul Robles!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Shimada and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Robles goes for a double leg but Valdez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Valdez continues to drive forward.
Valdez throws a big counter combination but Robles scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Valdez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Robles darts in looking for a takedown but Valdez gets double underhooks and turns Robles into the cage.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Robles jumps guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Robles is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Robles is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Valdez defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Robles keeping moving, preventing Valdez from controlling successfully.
Robles thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robles has Valdez pulled in close to control his posture.
Robles trying to keep a closed guard but Valdez is proving a slippery customer.
Robles has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Valdez has passed into side control.
Robles gets back to half guard.
Valdez not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Robles is doing well to control the position and prevent Valdez from advancing to side control.
Robles blocking the ground and pound attempt from Valdez.
Robles is trying to maintain the position but Valdez is very close to passing his half guard.
Robles wants to control the action here but instead Valdez manages to pass to full mount!
Valdez working Robles over with strikes here.
Robles is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Valdez trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Robles slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Robles wants to improve his position but Valdez is controlling well.
Robles wants to get back to his feet.
Robles is looking for a sweep. Valdez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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.

Valdez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Robles sees it coming and defends easily.
Robles is pressing down on Valdez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Robles is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Valdez lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Robles is trying to keep Valdez in close.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Valdez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Robles working for a triangle but Valdez defends it easily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregg Valdez 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.

Valdez misses with a leg kick.
Valdez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Robles can do to turn this around?
Robles tries a head kick but it misses.
Valdez thumps Robles with a low kick.

Valdez instigates a clinch.

Robles manages to break the clinch.
Robles throws a right and a left that Valdez avoids nicely.
Robles shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Valdez but Valdez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
No luck for Robles with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Robles scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Valdez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Robles unleashes a big counter combination but Valdez bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Valdez scores with a jab to the body.
Gregg Valdez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Robles gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Valdez counters with a one-two to the body.
Gregg Valdez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Robles.
Robles fails with the takedown
and Valdez counters with a nice uppercut.
Robles is breathing heavily.
Robles shoots for a takedown but Valdez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Valdez tries to clinch there but Robles circles away.

Valdez closes the distance and clinches.
Robles is trying to pull guard but Valdez has him pressed against the cage.

Robles breaks the clinch.
Valdez stuffs the takedown attempt from Robles. Robles gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdez swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Robles swings for the body but Valdez moves out of range.
Valdez misses with a low kick.
Valdez dodges the punch combination from Robles.
Robles swings for the body but Valdez moves out of range.
Valdez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Valdez wants it to stay on the feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valdez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Robles swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Valdez sets himself, and Robles steps forward looking for the clinch! Valdez avoids it this time.
Valdez tries to clinch but Robles moves out of range.
Robles throws a counter combo.
Valdez throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Robles counters with a nice body kick.
Valdez tries to close the distance and clinch but Robles swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robles closes the distance and clinches up with Valdez, looking for a takedown. Robles pushes Valdez against the cage but Valdez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Robles shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Valdez counters with a nice uppercut.

Valdez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Valdez swings wildly with an uppercut but Robles uses good head movement to avoid it.
Robles prevents the takedown attempt.
Valdez tries to score a body lock takedown but Robles shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Robles has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Valdez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Robles taking a breather.
Valdez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Robles pulls his leg out and moves away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Valdez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valdez throws a nice looking combination but Robles bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Valdez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Robles shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Valdez counters with a one-two to the body.
Robles throws a sloppy head kick
and Valdez counters with a one-two to the body.
Robles blocks a leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Robles shoots and misses
and Valdez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Robles avoids a kick to the body.
Valdez tries to close the distance and clinch but Robles swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Paul Robles seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Robles pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Robles shoots for a takedown but Valdez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregg 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!

Valdez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Robles is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Valdez throws a push kick but Robles slaps the foot to one side.
Robles moves in looking to clinch but Valdez pushes him off.
Robles swings widly with a right hand
and Robles takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Valdez moves into range and clinches up with Robles.
Robles lands a body punch.
Valdez swings wildly with an uppercut but Robles uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valdez tries to pull guard but Robles forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valdez wants to take the fight to the mat but Robles manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Robles breaks from the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Valdez as Robles shoots in.
Valdez shoots in looking for a takedown but Robles manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Valdez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Robles steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Valdez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gregg Valdez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robles scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Valdez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Robles slips under a jab.
Valdez misses with a head kick.
Robles explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Valdez gets tackled into the cage by Robles. Robles maintains the clinch.
Robles lands a body shot.
Robles scores with a knee to the head.
Robles is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Valdez to keep the fight standing.
Robles can't get the takedown.
Robles takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Robles.
Valdez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Valdez has Robles pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Robles manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Robles is trying to trip Valdez. He has hold of a leg but Valdez is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Robles persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Valdez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Valdez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Robles pushes down on Valdez's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Valdez regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Robles.
Robles throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robles postures up.
Robles is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Let's hope that Robles has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Valdez wants to improve his position but instead Robles has moved into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Robles performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Robles sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Valdez defending well though.
Robles throwing shots but Valdez is blocking nicely.
Robles is looking to take a break and control but Valdez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Robles closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Robles comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Valdez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

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