PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rivaldo Valle (ranked 5396 p4p, 395 weight class) and AJ Watt (ranked 4762 p4p, 375 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Valle
vs
Watt

168 cm
25
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rivaldo Valle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, AJ Watt!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Russell Pearce and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Valle clinches with his opponent.
Valle holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Valle jumps guard but Watt stands there with Valle around his waist. Valle gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Valle goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Watt is trying to force a seperation but Valle has the dominant position.
Valle manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Valle controlling the action here for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Come on Valle - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Watt ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Watt no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watt is trying to control the position but Valle postures up.
Watt might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Valle haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Valle thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Watt can do anything to dispel that myth.

Valle drops back looking for a leg! Watt is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Watt manages to kick Valle off! Valle jumps back into Watt's guard.
Watt seems keen to control Valle's posture.
Watt trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Valle is pushing down on Watt's leg trying to pass to half guard. Watt is fighting to maintain full guard but Valle has managed to sneak the leg through.

Valle seems to be looking for submissions.
Watt controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Watt is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Watt is pressing down on Valle's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Watt is controlling Valle's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Valle looking to pass the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Watt decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Valle might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Watt wants to pass to mount but Valle is defending the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Watt in particular looking to stall.
Watt is keen to just control but Valle is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watt looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Valle looking for submissions off his back.
Valle has hold of Watt's hands but Watt slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Valle taking some punishment here, with Watt in his half guard.
Valle is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Watt scores with a couple of nice shots.
Watt seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Valle does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Watt dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Valle checks a leg kick nicely.

Valle moves into the clinch.
Watt scores a nice knee to the body.
Watt tries to circle away but Valle has him pinned against the cage.

Valle successfully pulls guard.
Watt sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Valle is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Watt is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Watt is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Watt got a little sloppy there for a moment and Valle has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Watt has managed to get both his arms back between Valle's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valle keeping moving, preventing Watt from controlling successfully.

Valle working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Watt doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Valle is tightening it up a little... Watt has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Watt reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Watt taps out! Nice BJJ there by Valle!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Rivaldo Valle!
After the fight, Rivaldo Valle was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.