PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leon Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Valentine
vs
Da Silva

200 cm
27
265 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

204 cm
28
271 lbs
5 - 7 - 1

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leon Valentine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Da Silva!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Da Silva with that takedown attempt.
Valentine swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Valentine displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Da Silva.
Valentine was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Da Silva swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
An attempted straight right counter from Valentine misses the target.
Da Silva missing with a left hand there. Valentine was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Valentine was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Da Silva goes for a double leg but Valentine avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Valentine continues to drive forward.
Leon Valentine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Da Silva.
Valentine keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da Silva has a takedown stuffed.
Valentine is looking to counter punch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Da Silva is defended easily by Valentine.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Valentine wants it to stay on the feet.
Valentine showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Da Silva.
Valentine was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Da Silva looks winded!
Valentine slaps away a takedown attempt from Da Silva, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Valentine throwing a counter right hand but Da Silva manages to avoid it.
Da Silva with a poor takedown
and Valentine counters with a stiff right hand.
Da Silva misses with a left hand
and Valentine counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Da Silva tries to score a power double leg takedown but Valentine sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Da Silva somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva has a takedown stuffed.
Valentine uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Da Silva.
Valentine throwing a counter right hand but Da Silva manages to avoid it.
Da Silva shoots in for a double leg but Valentine sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Da Silva shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Valentine defends it nicely.
Da Silva throws an off balance right hand
and Valentine counters with a stiff right hand.
Valentine keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
An attempted straight right counter from Valentine misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Valentine counter with a right hand.
Da Silva throws an off balance right hand
and Valentine counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Da Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Valentine counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Da Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Valentine as he avoids it easily.
Valentine throwing a counter right hand but Da Silva manages to avoid it.
Da Silva with a lazy takedown attempt
and Valentine counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Da Silva throws a right hand that misses
and Valentine connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Da Silva is defended easily by Valentine.
Valentine was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva tries for a takedown but Valentine circles away easily
and Valentine counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Da Silva misses with a hook. Valentine ducked under it nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Valentine misses the target.
Valentine is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Da Silva has his takedown stuffed
and Valentine connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Da Silva will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Valentine throwing a counter right hand but Da Silva manages to avoid it.
Da Silva with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Valentine counter with a right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Da Silva misses with a left hand
and Valentine connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Valentine uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Da Silva.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Da Silva misses with a straight left.
Valentine throwing a counter right hand but Da Silva manages to avoid it.
Da Silva misses with a hook
and Valentine counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Valentine dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Da Silva throws a right hand that misses
and Valentine counters with a nice uppercut.
Da Silva misses with a right hand
and Valentine cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Da Silva shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Valentine sprawls well. Valentine wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Da Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
Valentine keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Da Silva shoots in looking for a takedown. Valentine tries to sprawl out of it but Da Silva keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Valentine manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Leon Valentine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Da Silva.
Da Silva is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da Silva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Valentine as he jumps to the side.
It looked like Valentine wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Silva shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Valentine sprawls well. Valentine wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Da Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
Valentine is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Da Silva throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice takedown defense from Valentine. No joy for Da Silva on that attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Valentine on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Da Silva rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Valentine cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Da Silva tries for a takedown but Valentine circles away easily
and Valentine counters with a stiff right hand.
Valentine uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Da Silva.
A little feinted left hand from Valentine on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Da Silva throws a poor cross that misses
and Valentine counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Valentine ducks under a wild hook from Da Silva.
It looked like Valentine wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva has his takedown stuffed
and Valentine cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Da Silva misses with an uppercut. Valentine saw that one coming.
An attempted straight right counter from Valentine misses the target.
Da Silva closes the distance and clinches up with Valentine, looking for a takedown. Da Silva pushes Valentine against the cage but Valentine circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Valentine misses the target.
Da Silva throws a poor cross that misses
and Valentine counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Da Silva might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Valentine has got the better of the exchanges.
Da Silva shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Valentine but Valentine pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Da Silva shoots in for a double leg but Valentine sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Da Silva misses with a hook
enabling Valentine to counter with a crisp jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Da Silva.
An attempted straight right counter from Valentine misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva misses with a takedown
enabling Valentine to counter with a crisp jab.
Da Silva fails with the takedown
and Da Silva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Da Silva fails with the takedown
and Valentine counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Da Silva with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Valentine counter with a right hand.
Da Silva tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Valentine defends well and Da Silva ends up having to push Valentine into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Da Silva shoots in for a takedown but Valentine shows good takedown defense.
Da Silva throws the left hand but Valentine avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Da Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Valentine counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Da Silva throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Valentine counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Leon Valentine is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Da Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Valentine sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A little feinted left hand from Valentine on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Da Silva misses with a takedown attempt
and Valentine counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Da Silva has his takedown stuffed
and Valentine counters with a stiff right hand.
Da Silva shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Valentine dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Da Silva shoots and misses
letting Valentine counter with a right hand.
Da Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Valentine counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Da Silva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Valentine as he avoids it easily.
Leon Valentine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Da Silva.
Da Silva throws a looping overhand right but Valentine ducks down to avoid it.
Valentine is looking to counter punch.
Da Silva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Valentine is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Da Silva can do to turn this around?
Da Silva throws a left and a right that both miss
and Valentine counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Da Silva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Valentine avoids it really well and circles away.
Valentine was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Da Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Da Silva darts in looking for a takedown but Valentine gets double underhooks and turns Da Silva into the cage.
Valentine is looking to counter punch.
Da Silva tries for a takedown but Valentine circles away easily
and Valentine cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Da Silva fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Valentine avoids it really well and circles away.
Valentine was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Valentine stuffs the takedown attempt from Da Silva. Da Silva gets slowly back to his feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Valentine misses the target.
Da Silva throws a right hand that misses
and Valentine counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva has his takedown stuffed
and Valentine counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Valentine keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Valentine swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Da Silva misses with a right hand
and Valentine counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Da Silva is trying desperately to land a takedown but Valentine is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Da Silva.
Da Silva looks to throw the jab but Valentine is out of range.
Da Silva doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Valentine counters with a stiff right hand.
Da Silva has his takedown stuffed
and Da Silva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The fighters circling - Da Silva throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva with a lazy takedown attempt
and Valentine cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Da Silva shoots in for a takedown but Valentine shows good takedown defense.
Da Silva misses with a takedown attempt - Valentine sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Valentine misses the target.
Da Silva shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Valentine pinned against the cage. Valentine gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Da Silva with a lazy takedown attempt
and Valentine counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Da Silva doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Valentine cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Da Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Valentine counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva misses with a right hand
and Valentine counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Da Silva throws a poor cross that misses
and Da Silva takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Da Silva shoots for a takedown but Valentine saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Valentine misses the target.
Da Silva misses with a takedown
and Valentine counters with a nice uppercut.
Da Silva fails with a takedown attempt.
Rafael Da Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Da Silva swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Valentine counters with a straight right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leon Valentine showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Valentine 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:25
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:25
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leon Valentine!
Our winner, Leon Valentine, 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.