PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Sandoval (ranked 2036 p4p, 2056 weight class) and Luke Valentine (ranked 282 p4p, 286 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Valentine's choice of entrance music: Jack Stauber - Buttercup. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sandoval
vs
Valentine

179 cm
25
171
9 - 7 - 1

186 cm
25
178
6 - 3 - 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 welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Miguel Sandoval!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Luke Valentine!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Jorge Garcia and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentine throws the left hand but Sandoval avoids the punch easily.
Sandoval avoids a punch combination nicely.
The fighters circling - Sandoval throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Valentine uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sandoval.
Sandoval throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Valentine sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Valentine throws the left hand but Sandoval avoids the punch easily.
Sandoval scores with a crisp jab that stopped Valentine in his tracks.
Valentine walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Valentine slips under a jab from Sandoval.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sandoval looks to throw the jab but Valentine is out of range.

Sandoval clinches up against the cage.
Sandoval misses with a body punch.
Sandoval misses with a hook from the clinch.
Valentine lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sandoval avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sandoval.
Valentine has a couple of punches blocked by Sandoval.
Sandoval's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sandoval tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valentine.
A left hand lands to the body for Valentine.
Sandoval misses with a punch on the inside.
Sandoval lands a nice shot to the body.
Valentine makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Valentine blocks an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Sandoval.
Valentine misses with a punch to the body.
Sandoval tries to throw a body punch but Valentine avoids it by throwing Sandoval back against the cage.
Valentine misses with some punches.
Valentine working aggressively here.
Sandoval misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sandoval lands a hook that snaps the head of Valentine backwards.
Valentine has a couple of punches blocked by Sandoval.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval throws a punch but it's blocked by Valentine.
Sandoval lands a body punch in the clinch.
Valentine blocks an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valentine pushes Sandoval back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sandoval tries to work over Valentine's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sandoval can't find room to land a body shot as Valentine controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Sandoval fails to land.
A short right from Sandoval on the inside.
Valentine working aggressively here.
Sandoval tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Valentine's elbow.

Sandoval lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sandoval working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Valentine trying to control but Sandoval postures up.
Sandoval slows the pace down in half guard.
Sandoval is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine is in trouble now - Sandoval has advanced to mount!
Sandoval prevents Valentine from getting the reversal.
Sandoval thowing shots but they're missing.
Sandoval has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sandoval fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sandoval controlling his opponent.
Valentine is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sandoval throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Sandoval scoring with strikes but Valentine is staying in there.
We've been hearing that Sandoval has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval raining down hammerfists from mount.
Valentine is working to get back to half guard.
Sandoval postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Valentine looks a forlorn figure.
Sandoval putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee warns Valentine that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Valentine tries to reverse the position but Sandoval maintains control.
Sandoval landing strikes from the mount and Valentine is in trouble!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sandoval cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sandoval has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Valentine's face.
Sandoval lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Valentine hang on?
Sandoval with a couple of short strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Sandoval dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sandoval throws a good cross that connects.
Sandoval misses with a hook
and Valentine counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sandoval with a jab.
Sandoval slips under a jab.
Valentine misses with an uppercut

and Sandoval counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sandoval.
Valentine keeping moving, preventing Sandoval from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sandoval accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Valentine looking for a sweep. Not yet Valentine, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sandoval with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine being controlled here, momentarily.
Sandoval stops Valentine from standing up.
Sandoval working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sandoval tries to free his leg and advance position but Valentine is retaining full guard.
Sandoval trying to control but Valentine is working from the bottom.
Sandoval won't allow Valentine to sweep him here.
Sandoval engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Sandoval throws a big elbow that misses.

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.
Sandoval looking to sit in guard and control but Valentine gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sandoval has his hands on Valentine's head, controlling the position.
Sandoval keeping full guard, as Valentine tries to pass.
Valentine wants to control from the top but Sandoval keeps moving.
Sandoval bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Valentine's guard.

Sandoval postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine keeping moving, preventing Sandoval from controlling successfully.
Sandoval content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Valentine holds on and takes a little breather.
Sandoval throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Valentine wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sandoval trying to control the position from guard on top but Valentine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Valentine holds on and takes a little breather.
Sandoval passes Valentine's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sandoval seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sandoval is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Valentine wants to improve his position but Sandoval is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sandoval is nestled in close to Valentine, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sandoval not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sandoval misses with a head shot. Valentine uses the momentum to regain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sandoval pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Valentine is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sandoval in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Sandoval dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sandoval stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Valentine closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Valentine uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sandoval.
Valentine just misses with a punch to the body.
Sandoval appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Valentine takes a jab right on the kisser.
Valentine misses with a looping left.

Sandoval shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Valentine's guard.

Valentine manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Sandoval is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Valentine can do to turn this around?
Miguel Sandoval has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sandoval blocking some punches.
Sandoval lands with a right to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sandoval.
Sandoval swings wildly with an uppercut but Valentine uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sandoval blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Valentine.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sandoval.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Valentine.
Sandoval scores with a hook to the body.
A short left from Sandoval.
Valentine swings wildly with an uppercut but Sandoval uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sandoval can't get the takedown.
Nice body punch from Sandoval.
Sandoval lands a hook to the side of the head.
Valentine's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sandoval effectively controlling the action here.
Sandoval tries for a takedown. No joy.
Sandoval misses with a hook to the ribs.
Valentine lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sandoval or not.
Sandoval blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sandoval blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Valentine.
Luke Valentine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval lands a right hand.
Valentine digs a right hand into Sandoval's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sandoval's gas tank.
Sandoval has a couple of punches blocked by Valentine.
Sandoval digs a right hand into Valentine's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Valentine's gas tank.
Sandoval tries to work over Valentine's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sandoval blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Valentine can't find room to land a body shot as Sandoval controls the action.
Valentine working aggressively here.
Sandoval lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Valentine.
Sandoval swings wildly with an uppercut but Valentine uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice left hand lands by Valentine.
A body shot lands from Valentine.
Sandoval pushes Valentine back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sandoval swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Valentine throws a punch but it's blocked by Sandoval.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine misses with a punch on the inside.
Valentine swings wildly with an uppercut but Sandoval uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch on the inside from Valentine fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Valentine fails to land.
Sandoval blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sandoval tries to throw a body punch but Valentine avoids it by throwing Sandoval back against the cage.
Sandoval throws a punch but it's blocked by Valentine.
Still in the clinch, Valentine scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sandoval blocks an uppercut.
Sandoval working aggressively here.
Valentine prevents a body shot from Sandoval.
Valentine blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sandoval lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Valentine or not.
Valentine misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sandoval has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Valentine is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miguel Sandoval. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sandoval misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval blocking some punches.
Sandoval working aggressively here.
Sandoval blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Valentine fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sandoval.
Sandoval tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Valentine's elbow.
Sandoval misses with a hook from the clinch.
Valentine throws a head punch that misses.
Sandoval blocks an uppercut.
Sandoval throws a punch but it's blocked by Valentine.
Sandoval cracks Valentine with a nice body shot.
A right hand to the body from Sandoval.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice left hand lands by Valentine.
Sandoval struggles to land a body shot inside as Valentine controls his hands.
Sandoval pushes Valentine back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Valentine throws a head punch that misses.
Valentine throws a head punch that misses.
Valentine struggles to land a body shot inside as Sandoval controls his hands.

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 Miguel Sandoval.
Well Sandoval has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight for Miguel Sandoval!
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight for Miguel Sandoval!
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight for Miguel Sandoval!

Miguel Sandoval wins by unanimous decision!
Miguel Sandoval thanked the fans post fight for their support.