PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jan Paul Valens (ranked 2177 p4p, 258 weight class) and Fernando Oliveira (ranked 1683 p4p, 203 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.

Paul Valens
vs
Oliveira

177 cm
28
170 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

175 cm
28
156 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 13 - 9 - 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 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Fernando Oliveira!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oliveira fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Oliveira rushes Valens and presses him up against the cage.
Oliveira scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Good body shot from Valens.
Valens wants a takedown but no success here.
Oliveira misses with a short punch on the inside.
Oliveira blocking some punches.
Oliveira looking to throw knees to the head but Valens is blocking nicely.
Oliveira lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Valens working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Valens drops down looking for an ankle pick but Oliveira pulls his leg out and moves away.
Valens is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Valens fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Oliveira sprawls well initially but Valens persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valens slips a nice elbow through Oliveira's hands, connecting with Oliveira's forehead.
Valens sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Oliveira defending well though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Oliveira can do anything to dispel that myth.
Oliveira taking some punishment here, with Valens in his half guard.
Valens has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira is holding on to half guard well.
Valens throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Valens thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Oliveira won't allow Valens to pass to mount.
Oliveira is not content to let Valens control the position.
Valens working the head and body with strikes.
Oliveira is trying to control but can't.
Oliveira tries to roll over but Valens keeps him under control.
Oliveira keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Valens is looking to take a break and control but Oliveira is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Oliveira taking some punishment here, with Valens in his half guard.
Oliveira is trying to stand.
Valens takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valens takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Oliveira is looking to control Valens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Oliveira avoid being mounted?
Valens looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Valens lands a nice short elbow.
Nice strikes from Valens there.
Valens tries to pass the half guard into mount. Oliveira knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Valens is trying to control. Oliveira wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Valens is trying to work for a kimura but Oliveira is defending well.

Oliveira kicks Valens off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good exchange - Valens coming out on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valens bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Oliveira misses with a wild body shot.
Valens tries to clinch there but Oliveira circles away.
It seemed like Oliveira was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Oliveira moves out of range of the strikes.
Valens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jan Paul Valens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valens closes the distance and clinches up with Oliveira, looking for a takedown. Valens pushes Oliveira against the cage but Oliveira circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Oliveira looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Valens tries to clinch up but Oliveira circles away and keeps his distance.
Good shot there by Oliveira.
Oliveira thuds a left hand into Valens's body.
Valens looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Oliveira appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Valens, right into the meat.
Valens turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valens shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Oliveira as he jumps to the side.

Valens closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Oliveira's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Oliveira pushes Valens off and scrambles back to his feet.
Oliveira lands with a straight right. Valens didn't see that one coming.
Valens throws a body punch but Oliveira moves out of range.
Oliveira buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Valens takes a swing at Oliveira's ribcage but misses.
Valens feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Oliveiras jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Oliveira slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Oliveira thuds his right hand into Valens's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Oliveira throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fernando Oliveira will probably get the nod.
That's time! Valens's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Oliveira looks to score with a jab to the body but Valens is just out of range.
Oliveira misses with a series of wild punches.
Oliveira darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Oliveira cracks Valens with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Valens drops his hands momentarily and Oliveira takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Oliveira fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fernando Oliveira seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Valens fakes the leg kick and cracks Oliveira in the body.

Valens looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Oliveira preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Valens seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira is trying to stand back up but Valens is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valens looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Valens wants to take a breather but Oliveira is having none of it.

Valens is working for a kimura but Oliveira is defending it quite comfortably.
Oliveira trying to control here.
Valens lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Valens lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Valens working Oliveira over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valens moves into full mount! Oliveira won't be happy about that!
Valens connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Oliveira tries to lock up and control but Valens gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Oliveira's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Valens lands a heavy elbow.
Valens landing strikes, looking to finish!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Oliveira is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Valens lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Valens avoids the attempt from Oliveira to control.
Oliveira keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Valens scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Oliveira is rocked!
Oliveira really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Valens. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valens putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Oliveira is still in real trouble! Can Valens finish him?
Oliveira is squirming around, avoiding Valens's attempts to control the action.
A big strike lands for Valens! That's really hurt Oliveira and he's turned his back - Valens keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Valens jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jan Paul Valens!
During a confident post fight interview, Jan Paul Valens thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.