PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between DeMario Valdez (ranked 1999 p4p, 1983 weight class) and Mateus Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valdez comes to the cage accompanied by Era - Ameno. 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.

Valdez
vs
Gracie

180 cm
34
154
22 - 16 - 1

163 cm
32
153
11 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conquer
Urban Fighter

Urban Fighter
Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013

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 22 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, DeMario Valdez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mateus Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valdez scores with a punch to the head.
Valdez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A head punch on the inside from Valdez fails to land.
Valdez misses with the head strike.

Gracie lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Gracie trying to control the pace.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Valdez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Valdez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Valdez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Valdez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control but Valdez is working from the bottom.
Valdez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gracie is controlling him.
Valdez pulls Gracie in close to prevent any damage.
Gracie prevents Valdez from getting back to his feet.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Valdez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Valdez has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Silverback MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Valdez lunges at Gracie with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gracie's hand.
Valdez swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gracie pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Gracie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A nice combination there by Gracie.
Valdez slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Gracie throws a hook but Valdez blocks it.
DeMario Valdez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Valdez moves out of range of the strikes.
Valdez scores with a body shot.
Valdez throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Gracie fails to land with a series of punches.
Valdez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Valdez throws a wild body kick that Gracie sees coming a mile off.
Valdez dodges the punch combination from Gracie.
Valdez moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Valdez throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Valdez moves to clinch but Gracie breaks away
and Gracie counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gracie.
Valdez has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Valdez there as he acknowledges the shot.
Valdez misses with a looping left.
DeMario Valdez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crunch! Gracie slams his shin into Valdez's torso.
Valdez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gracie lands an overhand right.
A shot to the body from Gracie misses
and Valdez counters with a nice uppercut.
Gracie misses with a head kick.
Valdez misses with a straight right.
Gracie swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Gracie digs a good body shot into Valdez's ribs.
Gracie throws a wild body kick that Valdez sees coming a mile off.
Gracie with a nice calf kick.
Valdez misses with a wild body shot.
Gracie looks to land a left hand but Valdez moved out of range nicely.
Valdez cracks Gracie with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Valdez is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
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!
Good leg kick by Valdez.
Valdez throws a combination that misses
and Gracie cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Valdez throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gracie there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gracie tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Valdez throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gracie throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Valdez.
Gracie throws a hook but Valdez blocks it.
Gracie with the inside leg kick.
A head kick from Valdez lands but Gracie takes it in his stride.
A big right from Gracie misses.
Gracie feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Valdezs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Valdez throws a hook to the side of Gracie's head but Gracie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Valdez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gracie.
Gracie throws a shot from downtown. Valdez moves away and avoids it.
Gracie misses with an uppercut. Valdez saw that one coming.
Valdez throws a head kick but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie throws an overhand right that lands on Valdez's shoulder, as Valdez tries to avoid the shot.
Nice defenses there by Gracie.
Valdez misses with a looping left.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that DeMario Valdez will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Valdez throws a predictable looking body shot
and Gracie counters with a nice uppercut.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Valdez.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Valdez.
Gracie misses with an uppercut.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Valdez.
Valdez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Valdez connects with a looping right hand.
Valdez lands a head shot.
Valdez misses with the combination.
Gracie looks to land a body kick but Valdez moved away.
Gracie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valdez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gracie.
Gracie goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gracie closes the distance and clinches up with Valdez, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes Valdez against the cage but Valdez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gracie changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a wild combination.
Gracie misses with an uppercut.
Mateus Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Valdez throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Valdez throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Valdez missing with a left hand there. Gracie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
That kick from Valdez tenderised Gracie's leg. Gracie is trying to keep his angry face on.
Valdez looks to land a right hand but Gracie moved out of range.
Gracie misses with a body kick.
Gracie gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Valdez.
Valdez misses with a straight right.
Gracie lands with a slapping head kick.
Valdez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gracie manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
DeMario Valdez is winning the standup battle so far.
Gracie throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Valdez scores with a punch to the head.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
DeMario Valdez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mateus Gracie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Valdez tries to clinch up.
Valdez tries a head kick but it misses.
Valdez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gracie.
It looked like Valdez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Valdez swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Good exchange - Gracie coming out on top.
Valdez moves out of range of the body kick from Gracie.
Valdez connects with the punch.
Valdez is looking to land body kicks.
Gracie misses with an uppercut. Valdez saw that one coming.

Valdez has managed to clinch.
Valdez swings wildly with an uppercut but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gracie drops down looking for an ankle pick but Valdez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gracie has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Valdez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a takedown
letting Valdez counter with a right hand.
Valdez tried to score with a low kick but Gracie checks it.
Valdez lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A punch combination from Gracie misses.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.
Valdez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nice shot lands for Gracie.

Gracie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Valdez has one foot on Gracie's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valdez scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Gracie with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a straight left.

Valdez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gracie, pushing him back against the cage.
Gracie blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Valdez can't find room to land a body shot as Gracie controls the action.
Valdez misses with a punch to the body.
Valdez gets through Gracie's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Valdez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gracie jumps guard but Valdez stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Valdez misses with a punch to the body.
Valdez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Valdez throws a head punch that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

DeMario Valdez dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Valdez throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Gracie chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Valdez can pounce on him.
Valdez smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Gracie misses with an uppercut.
Valdez tries to counter by clinching up but Gracie breaks away and moves out of range.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gracie uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Valdez.
Gracie looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nice defenses there by Valdez.

Valdez moves into the clinch successfully.
Valdez misses with the head strike.
Valdez misses with some punches.
Valdez throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valdez throws a punch but it's blocked by Gracie.
Gracie has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Valdez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Valdez misses with a punch on the inside.
Valdez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Valdez can't find room to land a body shot as Gracie controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez swings wildly with an uppercut but Gracie uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valdez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A shot in the inside from Valdez.
Valdez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gracie.
Gracie blocking some punches.
Valdez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gracie blocks a body shot from Valdez.
Gracie blocks a body shot from Valdez.
Gracie blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gracie blocks an uppercut.
Valdez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Valdez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gracie drops down looking for an ankle pick but Valdez pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.
Valdez jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
DeMario Valdez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mateus Gracie.
Valdez blocks a jab.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Gracie lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Valdez has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Valdez and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Valdez lands with a hook. Gracie tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gracie looks to land a right hand but Valdez moved out of range.
Valdez takes a swing at Gracie's ribcage but misses.
Gracie lands with a cross.
Valdez wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A shot to the liver by Gracie. Beautiful body shot.
Valdez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gracie.
Valdez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gracie.
Gracie connects with a nice looking jab.
Gracie takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Valdez lands a head shot.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
Gracie on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Gracie swinging wildly here.
A nice inside leg kick there by Valdez. That's going to slow Gracie down.
Gracie punishes Valdez's body with a nice straight punch.
Valdez is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Valdez lands a right hook to the body.
Gracie looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gracie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Valdez's waist but Valdez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracie off to one side.
Valdez lands an overhand right.
Valdez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Valdez connects with a body shot.
Valdez misses with a two punch combination.
Valdez defending well as Gracie loads up on a big left hand.
Gracie thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valdez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracie looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Valdez misses with a kick to the body

and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Valdez's guard.
Valdez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Gracie prevents Valdez from getting back to his feet.

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Valdez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Valdez has escaped and now he's on top!

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is pulling down on Valdez's head to control his posture.
Mateus Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Gracie is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Valdez is aware though and is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
DeMario Valdez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Valdez 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... DeMario Valdez!
After winning the bout, DeMario Valdez thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.