PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Emilio Rojas (ranked 4772 p4p, 457 weight class) and Jan Paul Valens (ranked 1859 p4p, 221 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.

Rojas
vs
Paul Valens

175 cm
28
168 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

177 cm
27
170 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System
BuriedAlive// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Emilio Rojas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jan Paul Valens!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Wagner Zegers and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Valens rushes Rojas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Rojas breaks from the clinch.
Rojas takes a swing at Valens's ribcage but misses.
Valens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Valens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Valens smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rojas will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Valens only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Valens.
Rojas throws a hook but Valens avoids it easily.
Valens misses with a body kick.
It looked like Rojas wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Rojas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Valens sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A little jabbing left from Valens on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Valens misses with a hook
and Rojas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Valens connects with a jab.
Rojas misses with a low kick.

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

Rojas manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Valens has hold of one of Rojas's legs. Rojas is fighting the takedown attempt but Valens gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Valens scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rojas wants to stand and escape but Valens is having none of it.
Rojas keeping moving, preventing Valens from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valens won't allow Rojas to get back to his feet.
Valens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rojas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Valens won't allow Rojas to get back to his feet.
Valens lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rojas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Valens is controlling him.
Valens throws a big right hand that misses.
Valens trying to control the position from guard on top but Rojas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valens distracts Rojas with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

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.
Valens throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rojas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Valens is controlling him.
Valens lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rojas is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Big Bear Fight Factory that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Valens postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Valens with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rojas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Valens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rojas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rojas wants to stand but Valens is controlling the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Valens accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Valens is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Valens passes Rojas's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rojas wants to get back to his feet.
Valens winds up and cracks Rojas with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rojas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Valens.
Rojas is trying to stand up here but Valens is controlling him well.
Valens lands strikes from half guard.
Valens not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rojas wants to get back to his feet.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Valens working his ground and pound in the gym.
Valens is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rojas pushes Valens off looking to stand but Valens dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valens is looking to take a break and control but Rojas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rojas wants to get back to his feet.
Valens throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rojas looks like he's trying to stand up.
Valens is pressing down on Rojas's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rojas is holding on for now.

Rojas pushes Valens off and gets back to his feet.
Emilio Rojas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Valens throws a body punch but Rojas moves out of range.
Valens moves forwards but Rojas connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Valens uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rojas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jan Paul Valens dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Valens smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Valens misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Valens takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A shot to the liver by Rojas. Beautiful body shot.
Valens moves out of range of the strikes.
Rojas misses with a hook

and Valens counters by moving into the clinch.
Rojas lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rojas working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Valens has Rojas pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rojas manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Valens misses with a body punch.
Valens lands a right hand.
Rojas using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Valens has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rojas is trying to force a seperation but Valens has the dominant position.
Valens pushes Rojas back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Valens is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rojas pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rojas breaks the clinch.
Valens is looking to slow Rojas down with leg kicks.
Rojas does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Emilio Rojas is winning the standup battle so far.
Valens uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rojas.
Valens bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Valens.
Emilio Rojas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jan Paul Valens.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojas moves out of range of the strikes.
Rojas throws an overhand right that lands on Valens's shoulder, as Valens tries to avoid the shot.
Rojas throws a jab when Valens was well out of range.
Valens misses with a shot to the body
letting Rojas counter with a right hand.
Rojas misses with a body shot
and Valens counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Valens fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Rojas throws a right hand that misses
letting Valens counter with a right hand.
Sloppy strikes from Rojas. Those never looked like landing.
Valens just misses with a punch to the body.
Valens cracks Rojas with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Valens looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rojas!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valens working the ground and pound from side control.
Rojas is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valens working the head and body with strikes.
Valens looks up at the clock and then as Rojas takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Valens smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Rojas bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
No luck for Valens with that takedown attempt.
Valens lands a head shot.
Valens slips a straight right by Rojas.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Valens.
Rojas misses the shot to the body.
Rojas misses with a body punch
and Rojas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Valens instigates a clinch.

Rojas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Valens gets a clinch.
Valens tries for a takedown but Rojas manages to get underhooks.
Valens keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rojas's efforts to push away.
Valens fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Valens pulls guard successfully.

Valens is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rojas would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rojas trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Valens has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rojas won't allow Valens to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Valens moves out of range of the strikes.
Valens misses with a leg kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rojas!
Rojas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rojas misses with an uppercut. Valens saw that one coming.
Valens ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rojas misses with a straight left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jan Paul Valens will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Valens swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Rojas counter with a right hand.
Rojas swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rojas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Valens.
Rojas throwing a counter right hand but Valens manages to avoid it.
No joy there for Rojas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Horrible takedown attempt by Valens or perhaps it was just good defense by Rojas, which made it look bad.
Valens throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Valens misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rojas.
Rojas misses with a looping left.
Valens keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Valens ducks under a wild hook from Rojas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Valens.
Valens shoots for a takedown but Rojas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A left and a right from Rojas both land. Nice combination.
Valens doesn't manage to clinch there - Rojas circles away.
Valens wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valens checks a low kick from Rojas.
Rojas throws out a loose jab but Valens uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valens tries to land a front kick but Rojas steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Valens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rojas looks to throw a body kick

and Valens counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rojas won't be happy with that.

Rojas bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Rojas fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Valens doesn't manage to clinch there - Rojas circles away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valens tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Valens clinches.

Valens wants the takedown. Rojas is fighting it off but Valens persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rojas's guard against the cage.
Rojas is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Valens dives into side control.
Valens works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Jan Paul Valens is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojas is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Valens tries to advance to mount but can't.
Valens remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Rojas is trying to buck Valens off.
Emilio Rojas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valens remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Jan Paul Valens has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rojas throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

Valens is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rojas is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rojas pushes Valens away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Valens gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The referee asks Valens politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Valens prefers to stall for the moment though.
Rojas is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

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.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Valens moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Valens tries to land a front kick but Rojas steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rojas moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Rojas lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Valens moves into the clinch successfully.

Rojas breaks the clinch.
Rojas misses with a double jab
and Valens counters with a nice leg kick.
Rojas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Valens.
Emilio Rojas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jan Paul Valens.

Valens looking to score a takedown here. Rojas is defending well but Valens drives through and ends up in Rojas's guard.
Valens sitting in guard here, content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Emilio Rojas.
I think Valens 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jan Paul Valens!
Our winner, Jan Paul Valens, 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.