PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Edmundo Ware (ranked 24209 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thatos Valentina (ranked 5044 p4p, 0 weight class). Thatos Valentina acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Ware
vs
Valentina

220 cm
22
215 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Edmundo Ware!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Thatos Valentina!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Paul Gruel and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Valentina rushes Ware and presses him up against the cage.
Ware being controlled against the cage.
Valentina gets through Ware's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Valentina has Ware pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Valentina pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Ware tumbling to the mat - Valentina dives into Ware's guard.
Valentina landing with the ground and pound.
Ware has Valentina pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valentina has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ware is proving hard to escape from.
Ware will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Ware working for a triangle but Valentina defends it easily.
Ware looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Valentina must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentina trying to control but Ware is working from the bottom.

Ware had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Valentina defends it easily.
Valentina would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Valentina stays in close to Ware's body and controls the position.
Ware is adopting a defensive guard.
Valentina postures up.

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.
Ware pulls Valentina in close to prevent any damage.
Valentina postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ware keeping moving, preventing Valentina from controlling successfully.
Ware really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Valentina might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ware haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ware holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Valentina closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ware's guard.
Valentina postures up and lands a big shot to Ware's brow.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ware throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Ware is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ware is pulling down on Valentina's head to control his posture.
Valentina landing some decent shots from guard.
Ware is trying to control the position but Valentina postures up.
Valentina slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Valentina postures up and lands a big shot to Ware's brow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ware trying to strike off his back.

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.
Valentina pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ware is keeping the position for now.
Valentina slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Valentina with a nice head shot there.

Ware is rocked!
Valentina is pushing down on Ware's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ware is fighting to maintain full guard but Valentina has managed to sneak the leg through.
Oh Ware is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Valentina trying to control the pace.
Valentina landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Valentina perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Valentina wants to pass to mount but Ware is defending the position.
Valentina scores with a big shot! Ware's head bounced off the canvas with a huge thud! More strikes land and the referee has jumped in to save Ware! He was hurt real bad - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Thatos Valentina!