PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Sandoval (ranked 2258 p4p, 2646 weight class) and Luke Valentine (ranked 306 p4p, 358 weight class). Valentine is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Jack Stauber - Buttercup. 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.

Sandoval
vs
Valentine

179 cm
27
171
11 - 10 - 1

186 cm
28
178
8 - 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 welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Miguel Sandoval!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Luke Valentine!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Dean Styles and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sandoval misses with a straight right.
Valentine fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sandoval has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Sandoval cracks Valentine with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nice defenses there by Sandoval.
Sandoval drops down looking for a counter takedown but Valentine sprawls and moves away.
Valentine's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sandoval connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Valentine scrambles back to his feet.
Valentine misses with an uppercut
and Sandoval counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sandoval gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Valentine counters with a stiff right hand.
Valentine fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Valentine throws a nice outside leg kick.

Valentine moves into range and clinches up with Sandoval.
Sandoval can't find room to land a body shot as Valentine controls the action.
Valentine throws a punch but it's blocked by Sandoval.
A short right from Valentine on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sandoval lands with a light punch inside.
Sandoval's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sandoval blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sandoval is trying to push Valentine away but Valentine has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Sandoval breaks from the clinch.
Miguel Sandoval seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valentine rushes Sandoval and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sandoval misses with some punches.
Sandoval is trying to drag Valentine to the mat but Valentine just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Valentine misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Valentine lands a hook to the side of the head.
Valentine doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sandoval lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Valentine or not.
Sandoval is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miguel Sandoval. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Valentine.
Sandoval prevents a body shot from Valentine.
Valentine misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sandoval tries for a takedown. No joy.

Sandoval turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Sandoval manages to end up in side control.
Valentine is looking for a sweep.
Sandoval wants to control but Valentine is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valentine is looking for a sweep.
Sandoval wants to control but Valentine is keeping him busy.
Valentine controls the position for a moment.
Valentine is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valentine gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval is trying to control. Valentine wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sandoval lands a nice short elbow.
Valentine is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Valentine is not content to let Sandoval control the position.
Sandoval trying to pass the guard but Valentine defending well.

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.
Valentine looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sandoval is looking to stall here but Valentine recovers full guard.
Sandoval not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
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.

Valentine won't allow Sandoval to sweep him here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Luke Valentine will probably get the nod.
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 takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Sandoval tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sandoval shoots for a double leg takedown but Valentine sprawls well. He's pushed Sandoval's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sandoval looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Valentine misses the jab.
Sandoval checks a low kick from Valentine.
Valentine rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sandoval cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Valentine cracks Sandoval with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Valentine closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Valentine misses with the head strike.
Sandoval makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Valentine fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Sandoval fails to land.
Valentine blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sandoval wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sandoval has a couple of punches blocked by Valentine.
Valentine blocks a body shot from Sandoval.
Sandoval is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Valentine blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Luke Valentine seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandoval tries a body shot but Valentine blocks it.
Valentine keeps control of Sandoval as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Valentine is leaning against Sandoval and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Sandoval tries a body shot but Valentine blocks it.
Sandoval misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sandoval misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sandoval is looking for a takedown.
Sandoval misses with some punches.
Valentine tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sandoval's elbow.
Sandoval blocking some punches.
Valentine swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Valentine blocks an uppercut.
Sandoval is working Valentine over against the cage.
Valentine lands a left hand.
Valentine tries a body shot but Sandoval blocks it.
Sandoval takes a shot to the head.
Sandoval takes a shot to the head.
Sandoval throws a punch but it's blocked by Valentine.
Sandoval working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Valentine.
Valentine misses with the head strike.
Sandoval lands with a short shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valentine misses with the head strike.
Valentine misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sandoval struggles to land a body shot inside as Valentine controls his hands.
Valentine lands a shoulder strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valentine.
A nice right hand lands inside from Valentine.
A right handed body shot lands from Sandoval.
Sandoval lands with a light punch inside.
Sandoval tries to work over Valentine's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Valentine tries to work over Sandoval's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sandoval drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Valentine gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miguel Sandoval. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valentine lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sandoval backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Valentine's elbow.
Sandoval misses with a punch on the inside.
Valentine blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Valentine throws a head punch that misses.
Sandoval goes for a takedown attempt but Valentine pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sandoval shoots in but Valentine avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sandoval keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Valentine.
Valentine avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Valentine throws a series of strikes that have Sandoval backpedaling.
Valentine looks to land a right hand but Sandoval moved out of range.
Valentine fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sandoval lands with a cross.
Valentine fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sandoval manages to avoid it.

Valentine gets caught flat footed, as Sandoval shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Valentine manages to escape and get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sandoval tests Valentine's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Valentine gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sandoval wants to control from the top but Valentine keeps moving.
Valentine trying to control the position.
Sandoval stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Valentine swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Valentine trying to keep a closed guard but Sandoval is proving a slippery customer.
Sandoval trying to control but Valentine is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Luke Valentine will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Valentine looks to throw the jab but Sandoval is out of range.
Sandoval half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sandoval lands a right hook to the body.
Sandoval scores with a hook to the body. Valentine takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sandoval shoots in looking for a takedown. Valentine tries to sprawl out of it but Sandoval keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Valentine manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Valentine displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sandoval throws out the jab.
Valentine misses with a wild combination.
Sandoval goes for a double leg but Valentine avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Valentine continues to drive forward.
Valentine lands with a right to the head.

Sandoval's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valentine throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sandoval counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sandoval clobbers Valentine with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Valentine gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Valentine misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sandoval.
Sandoval lands with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandoval shoots in for a takedown but Valentine shows good takedown defense.
Valentine flicks out a counter leg kick but Sandoval steps away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miguel Sandoval. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valentine throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sandoval avoids the head kick by Valentine.
Valentine fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sandoval is out of range.
Sandoval is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Valentine.
Valentine takes a jab right on the kisser.
A looping hook to the body misses from Valentine. Sandoval does a little dance to reset his feet.
Valentine takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Valentine misses with a looping left.
Valentine scores with a shot to the body.
Luke Valentine is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Valentine misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sandoval.
Valentine takes one to the side of the head.
Valentine misses with a body kick.

Sandoval shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Valentine is trying to defend but Sandoval finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sandoval wants to take a breather but Valentine is having none of it.
Miguel Sandoval has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Sandoval.
Sandoval frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sandoval raining down hammerfists from mount.
Sandoval trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Sandoval working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Sandoval avoids the attempt from Valentine to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval looking to control but Valentine is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Valentine is looking to get to half guard.
Sandoval can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Valentine is looking to escape.
Valentine is trying to escape the mount.

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.
Sandoval tries to control but Valentine wriggling away.
Sandoval working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Sandoval tries to control but Valentine wriggling away.
Sandoval looking to finish Valentine with some ground and pound. This is bad for Valentine!
Sandoval fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sandoval thowing shots but they're missing.
Valentine wants to control but Sandoval is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Miguel Sandoval showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Valentine has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Valentine!
Luke Valentine seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.