PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alex Valentine (ranked 1343 p4p, 169 weight class) and Ryan Rodriguez (ranked 2137 p4p, 260 weight class). Valentine kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Bloodborne OST - Gehrman, The First Hunter. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Valentine
vs
Rodriguez

176 cm
20
155 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
160 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London
Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Valentine!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Valentine misses its intended target.

Valentine closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rodriguez did well to prevent Valentine getting side control.
Rodriguez is refusing to be controlled, as Valentine sits in half guard.
Valentine is pressing down on Rodriguez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rodriguez is holding on for now.

Valentine is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Valentine wants to control but Rodriguez is keeping him busy.
Rodriguez is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Valentine moves nicely into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Valentine wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rodriguez, who protects the arm well.

Valentine is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rodriguez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valentine is trying to get an arm triangle but Rodriguez is defending well.
Rodriguez prevents Valentine from moving into mount.

Valentine looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Valentine thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rodriguez tries to bench press Valentine off him but Valentine keeps the position.
Rodriguez struggling a bit here.

That's two 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.
Rodriguez tries to buck Valentine off but Valentine is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Rodriguez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rodriguez prevents Valentine from moving into mount.

Valentine is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rodriguez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Valentine thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rodriguez can't do much from the bottom here.
Valentine tries to move to mount but Rodriguez blocks the move with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine taking a breather here.
Rodriguez is trying to control Valentine's posture but Valentine avoids it.
Valentine tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Rodriguez is not content to let Valentine control the position.
Rodriguez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Valentine. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rodriguez is trying to improve his position.
Rodriguez wants to control but Valentine postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rodriguez is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Valentine is keen to just control but Rodriguez is a slippery customer.
Rodriguez is concentrating on defense, preventing Valentine from advancing position.
Valentine trying to control the action but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.

Valentine seems to be looking for submissions.
Valentine uses his free foot to push down on Rodriguez's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rodriguez.

Valentine wants to finish this one by submission but Rodriguez is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Valentine.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Valentine looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Rodriguez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Valentine dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Valentine tries for a takedown but Rodriguez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Valentine throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rodriguez's waist but Rodriguez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Valentine off to one side.
Valentine fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Valentine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice body punch from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez connects with a body shot.
Rodriguez leaves Valentine with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Valentine cracks Rodriguez with an open hand slap.
Valentine is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rodriguez can do to turn this around?
Valentine chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rodriguez can pounce on him.
Rodriguez throws a looping overhand right but Valentine ducks down to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Valentine dives in and scores a takedown into Rodriguez's guard.
Alex Valentine overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Valentine tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodriguez is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodriguez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Valentine forces his way into half guard.

Rodriguez is defending against the submission attempts here by Valentine.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez is trying to control but can't.
Rodriguez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Valentine haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Rodriguez wants to improve his position but Valentine is controlling well.
Valentine trying to pass the guard but Rodriguez defending well.
Valentine wants to take a breather but Rodriguez is having none of it.
Valentine tries to pass to full mount but Rodriguez defends it.
Rodriguez is looking to control Valentine's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rodriguez avoid being mounted?

That's two 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 is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rodriguez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Valentine.
Valentine trying to pass the guard but Rodriguez defending well.
Valentine is working hard here to advance position.
Valentine is trying to control the action in half guard but Rodriguez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rodriguez tries to roll over but Valentine keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is refusing to be controlled, as Valentine sits in half guard.
Rodriguez trying to control here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Valentine fails with a takedown attempt.
Rodriguez looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nice takedown defense from Rodriguez. No joy for Valentine on that attempt.
Rodriguez scores with a body shot.
Rodriguez pivots, looking for a leg kick but Valentine is out of range and Rodriguez settles back down.
Valentine shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Rodriguez to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Alex Valentine has been cut.
Valentine shoots in looking for a takedown. Rodriguez tries to sprawl out of it but Valentine keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rodriguez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rodriguez doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Rodriguez throws a head kick but Valentine moves out of range.
Valentine shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rodriguez sprawls well. Rodriguez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Valentine gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a jab but it's blocked by Valentine.
Rodriguez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rodriguez throws a body kick that misses.
Valentine throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rodriguez's waist but Rodriguez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Valentine off to one side.
Rodriguez scores with a nice right hand.
Valentine with a poor takedown
and Rodriguez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Valentine is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rodriguez slaps away a takedown attempt from Valentine, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Oh Valentine is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Valentine shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rodriguez lands hard precision jab right on the jaw that stiffens Valentine up and sends him tumbling to the mat! The ref grabs Rodriguez from behind before he can pounce. Some folks in the crowd didn't like that stoppage, but I saw Valentine's eyes roll way back in his head, he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Ryan Rodriguez!
Ryan Rodriguez is the new lightweight champion!
In his post fight interview, Ryan Rodriguez started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.