PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Loyd Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nuno Fernandes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nuno Fernandes will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Valentine
vs
Fernandes

172 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

179 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Loyd Valentine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nuno Fernandes !
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentine wants to clinch up but Fernandes keeps it at a distance.

Valentine fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Fernandes to the ground. Valentine is now in Fernandes 's guard.
Fernandes managing to control the position.
Fernandes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Valentine is one step ahead there.
Valentine throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valentine showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Valentine trying to control the position from guard on top but Fernandes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fernandes looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Valentine has picked Fernandes up and slammed him! Fernandes can't keep hold of the triangle and Valentine manages to pass to side control!
Valentine wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fernandes keeps working.
Valentine is really struggling to control Fernandes but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Fernandes is trying to get back to half guard.
A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Valentine is putting a hurting on Fernandes here, landing some big shots from side control.
Valentine landing strikes.
Fernandes taking punishment in the form of punches.
Fernandes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Valentine wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Valentine tries to score with some ground and pound. Fernandes controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Valentine wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fernandes keeps working.
Fernandes manages to work his way to half guard, despite Valentine's best efforts.
Valentine landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Valentine 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.
Valentine missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine wants to control but Fernandes is keeping him busy.
Fernandes wants to control but Valentine is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Fernandes tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Valentine manages to move to mount!
Fernandes tries to hold on but Valentine postures up.
Valentine lands a nice shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernandes tries to improve his position but instead Valentine has taken his back!
Valentine has Fernandes flattened out and is raining down punches.
Valentine looking to hold on to the position here but Fernandes rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Fernandes wants to stand up but Valentine is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine scoring with punches to the head and body.

Fernandes looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Valentine passes into side control.
Valentine lands a few punches from side control.
Fernandes wants to control but Valentine postures up.

Fernandes sneaks out the side door and pushes Valentine away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Fernandes moves into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Valentine is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Fernandes to keep the fight standing.
Valentine being controlled against the cage.

Fernandes manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Loyd Valentine dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Valentine shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Valentine wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fernandes keeps working.
Valentine drops an elbow to the side of Fernandes 's head.
Fernandes is looking for a sweep. Valentine is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Valentine lands a nice short elbow.
Valentine keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Valentine trying to mount his opponent but Fernandes defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fernandes manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Valentine keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Fernandes has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Valentine uses from the top position.

Valentine is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Fernandes is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Fernandes has escaped and now he's on top!

Valentine pulls Fernandes in close to prevent any damage.
Valentine is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fernandes is controlling him.
Valentine is pulling down on Fernandes 's head to control his posture.
Fernandes looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine is adopting a defensive guard.
Fernandes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fernandes wants to get up but he can't break Valentine's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Loyd Valentine overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Valentine is pulling down on Fernandes 's head. It's preventing any offense from Fernandes , at least for the moment.
Fernandes wants to control from the top but Valentine keeps moving.
Valentine is pulling down on Fernandes 's head. It's preventing any offense from Fernandes , at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine keeping moving, preventing Fernandes from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Fernandes thuds his shin into the meat of Valentine's side.
Fernandes stuffs the takedown attempt from Valentine. Valentine gets slowly back to his feet.
Valentine shoots in but Fernandes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fernandes wants to counter with a clinch but Valentine pushes him away.
Fernandes circles away from the clinch attempt
and Fernandes counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Valentine is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Nuno Fernandes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes slips under a jab.
Fernandes lands a jab to the head.
Fernandes moves out of range of the body kick from Valentine.
Fernandes keeps the fight on the outside.

Fernandes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Valentine can't do much from the bottom here.
Valentine is trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Valentine wants to control but Fernandes postures up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fernandes tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Valentine struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nuno Fernandes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Valentine has Fernandes up against the cage in a clinch.
Fernandes is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Fernandes breaks from the clinch.

Valentine closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fernandes to the mat! Fernandes manages to get full guard.

Fernandes has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Valentine has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Fernandes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Valentine looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Fernandes is fending him off so far but Valentine persists. Nope, Fernandes circles away and we're back to standing.
Fernandes fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Valentine drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fernandes manages to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes manages to get to full guard.
Fernandes is trying to keep Valentine in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fernandes looking for a sweep. Not yet Fernandes , not yet.
Fernandes seems keen to control Valentine's posture.
Valentine wants to control from the top but Fernandes keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Valentine loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Valentine content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Valentine shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fernandes tries to roll over but Valentine keeps him under control.
Valentine seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Fernandes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes is trying to stand back up but Valentine is controlling him
Valentine is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Fernandes wants to get back to his feet.
Valentine seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Fernandes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Valentine is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Fernandes is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Fernandes wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fernandes takes a shot right to the bread basket.

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.
Valentine takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Valentine shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Fernandes manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Fernandes darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Valentine controlling the position well.
Fernandes trying to control from half guard but Valentine is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nuno Fernandes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fernandes has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nuno Fernandes !