PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jan Paul Valens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rhys Crowder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crowder is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Paul Valens
vs
Crowder

177 cm
23
178 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
175 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Fast

Amped Performance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jan Paul Valens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rhys Crowder!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Darius Henderson and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crowder keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Valens throws the left hand but Crowder avoids the punch easily.
Crowder stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Crowder wants it to stay on the feet.
Valens throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Valens missing with a left hand there. Crowder was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Valens bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Valens throws a big shot that misses.
Crowder tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Valens was well out of range. Poor timing from Crowder.
Crowder throws a shot to the body.
Valens throws a low kick but Crowder moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crowder wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The crowd cheers as Crowder lands an impressive looking overhand right. Valens doesn't seem phased though.
Valens misses with a takedown attempt - Crowder sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Crowder throws out a counter right but Valens avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Crowder enables Valens to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Crowder manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Valens postures up in Crowder's guard and throws a big left but Crowder blocks it.
Valens looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crowder is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Valens trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Valens trying to control but Crowder is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valens throws a big elbow that misses.
Valens postures up in Crowder's guard and throws a big left but Crowder blocks it.
Crowder is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Valens has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Valens is trying to maintain the position but Crowder is very close to passing his half guard.
Valens moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Crowder wants to stand but Valens is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crowder looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Valens working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Crowder doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Crowder manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Valens has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Crowder can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Valens not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Crowder stands and steps away. Valens gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Crowder cracks Valens with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Valens cracks Crowder with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Valens tries a low kick but Crowder avoids it.
Crowder let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Valens misses with a kick to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Crowder scores with a jab to the jaw.
Crowder misses with a body shot.
Valens bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Valens appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rhys Crowder will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Crowder steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Valens.
Crowder swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Crowder ducks under a wild hook from Valens.
Crowder swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Valens counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Crowder slips under a jab.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Valens scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Valens throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Crowder sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Valens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Crowder throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Valens scores with a nice right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valens swings widly with a right hand
and Crowder counters with a straight right hand.
Valens is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Crowder.
Crowder ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Valens throws a right hand that misses
letting Crowder counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crowder misses with a right hand

and Valens decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Crowder's guard.
Valens loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Valens tries to free his leg and advance position but Crowder is retaining full guard.
Valens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Valens working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Valens distracts Crowder with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Valens trying to control but Crowder is working from the bottom.
Valens wants to pass the guard but Crowder is keeping the position.
Valens throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valens throwing strikes but missing.
Valens stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Crowder swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Valens controlling from the top position.
Valens working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Valens is in close to Crowder's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Crowder looking to hit a scissor sweep but Valens is one step ahead there.
Jan Paul Valens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valens throws a big elbow that misses.
Valens is working Crowder over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Valens postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Crowder is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Valens, into his guard.

Valens wants to sweep but no luck.

Crowder stands and steps away. Valens gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valens fails with the takedown
enabling Crowder to counter with a crisp jab.
Crowder will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Valens misses with a takedown attempt - Crowder sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Valens keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Crowder's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Valens connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Crowder scrambles back to his feet.
Crowder avoids the head kick by Valens.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Valens looks to land a left hand but Crowder moved out of range nicely.
Crowder is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Valens with a body shot.

Valens feints and as Crowder raises his hands in defense, Valens changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valens throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jan Paul Valens dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Crowder lands with an overhand left.
Valens avoids a punch combination nicely.
And Valens counters with a quick kick to the body but Crowder blocks it.
Crowder blocks a jab.
Valens tries for a takedown but Crowder circles away easily
and Crowder counters with a nice uppercut.

Valens closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Valens lands with a punch from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crowder holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Valens not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Crowder blocking the ground and pound attempt from Valens.
Valens missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valens is pressing down on Crowder's thigh, looking to free his foot. Crowder is holding on for now.
Valens thows a huge punch but Crowder dodges it nicely.
Crowder is trying to stand back up but Valens is controlling him
Valens is looking to advance position but Crowder won't allow it.
Valens throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've been hearing that Valens has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Crowder is doing well to control the position and prevent Valens from advancing to side control.
Ground and pound from Valens.

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.
Valens missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Crowder keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Valens winds up and cracks Crowder with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Valens not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Crowder is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Valens lands strikes from half guard.
Valens is keen to just control but Crowder is a slippery customer.
Crowder wants to control but Valens is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valens moves nicely into side control.
Crowder takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Valens misses with the ground and pound.
Valens wants to lay and pray for a moment but Crowder keeps working.
Valens working the ground and pound from side control.
Valens looks up at the clock and then as Crowder takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Valens smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The ground and pound from Valens seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Crowder is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Valens is trying to get an arm triangle but Crowder is defending well.
Crowder manages to get back to half guard.
Crowder slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Valens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Valens stands up over Crowder, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Valens wants to pass the guard but Crowder is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jan Paul Valens showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Valens 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 Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jan Paul Valens!
Jan Paul Valens decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.