PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mathieu Valverde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paulo Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mathieu Valverde's chin.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera
vs
Valverde

177 cm
26
145 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

156 cm
26
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Tends to cut

Vikai Gear

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera!
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, Mathieu Valverde!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Daniel Cesar and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera shoots in for a takedown but Valverde shows good takedown defense.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera throws a leg kick but Valverde checks it.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera dives in for a single leg takedown but Valverde sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Valverde with the counter takedown but Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera avoids it easily.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Valverde to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera wriggles free and stands up.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Valverde throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera was covering up waiting for the punch and Valverde finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valverde trying to control but Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Valverde is one step ahead there.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Valverde defends well.
Valverde trying to control the position from guard on top but Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valverde pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is keeping the position for now.

That's two 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.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Valverde landing some decent shots from guard.
Valverde wants to control from the top but Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera keeps moving.
Valverde looking to sit in guard and control but Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Valverde's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valverde trying to control the position here.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera trying to control but Valverde is working from the bottom.

Valverde looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera wanted to stand there but Valverde had control of the position.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Valverde is trying to keep Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera wants to stand but Valverde has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Valverde sprawls well. Valverde wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paulo Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera lands with an uppercut that bounces Valverde off the cage and back into range.

Valverde clinches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is trying to drag Valverde to the mat but Valverde just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Valverde is pushing Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
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 Paulo Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Valverde but Valverde pushes him off and we're back to square one.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera enables Valverde to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Valverde trying to control the position from guard on top but Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valverde wants to stand but Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Valverde sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Valverde gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valverde trying to control but Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is working from the bottom.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is pulling down on Valverde's head. It's preventing any offense from Valverde, at least for the moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Valverde feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valverde is working Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Valverde defends well.
Valverde trying to control but Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is working from the bottom.
Valverde wants to pass the guard but Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valverde trying to control the position from guard on top but Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Valverde gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Valverde must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera wants to hit a switch here but Valverde passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera there!
Valverde trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
You get the feeling that Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Valverde avoids the attempt from Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera to control.
Valverde trying to control but Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathieu Valverde showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera drives through with a takedown into Valverde's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Valverde is on top in guard.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera working for submissions but it's allowed Valverde to get to half guard.
Valverde is stalling here. Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Valverde seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valverde regains half guard.
Valverde is refusing to be controlled, as Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera sits in half guard.
Valverde wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Valverde defends it well.
Valverde is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Valverde trying to control from the bottom.
Valverde keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mathieu Valverde has got the better of the ground game so far.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera trying to control the action but Valverde is working from the bottom.
Valverde should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Valverde is looking to control Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Valverde avoid being mounted?

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera seems to be looking for submissions.

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.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is taking a breather. Valverde says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Valverde wants to get back to his feet.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Valverde defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera wants to pass the guard but Valverde is defending well.

Valverde actively working from the bottom here.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera throws a strike but Valverde avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is looking to clinch but Valverde is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Valverde looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Valverde tries to buck Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera off but Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is having none of it.
Valverde manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Valverde wants to stand up but Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera is controlling the position.

Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Valverde moves into full mount! Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera won't be happy about that!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee warns Da Santa Michael Dos Oliviera that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mathieu Valverde.
Well Valverde has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!