PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mark Junior (ranked 2815 p4p, 3756 weight class) and Fernando Valdez (ranked 188 p4p, 239 weight class). Junior comes to the cage accompanied by I am Goated. Valdez is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Accept - Balls to the Wall. Fernando Valdez acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Junior
vs
Valdez

150 cm
22
130
5 - 4 - 1

169 cm
21
141
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Fernando Valdez!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Junior defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Valdez.
Valdez with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Junior to score with a decent uppercut.
Junior throws a hook to the side of Valdez's head but Valdez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Valdez fails to land the takedown.
Valdez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mark Junior has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fernando Valdez.
Junior tries to close the distance and clinch but Valdez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Valdez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Junior looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Junior actively working from the bottom here.

Junior looking for submissions off his back.
Valdez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Junior tries to roll over but Valdez keeps him under control.
Junior works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior has momentary wrist control but Valdez slips an elbow through the middle.

Junior looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Valdez trying to control the position from guard on top but Junior is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Junior is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Valdez cracks Junior with a solid left hand.
Valdez lands a couple of elbows.
Valdez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Valdez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Junior swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Junior working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Valdez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Valdez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Valdez lands a couple of digs.
Junior might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Valdez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Valdez lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Junior looking for subs off his back but Valdez has passed one foot through into half guard.
Ground and pound from Valdez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Valdez is looking to take a break and control but Junior is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Junior is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Valdez wants to control but Junior is keeping him busy.

Junior looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Valdez lands with a punch from half guard.

Junior looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Junior is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Valdez scores with a couple of nice shots.
Valdez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ground and pound from Valdez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior gets full guard.

Junior working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Valdez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Valdez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Valdez's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Junior keeping moving, preventing Valdez from controlling successfully.
Valdez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Junior's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valdez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Junior is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Junior escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Valdez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Junior is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Junior has momentary wrist control but Valdez slips an elbow through the middle.
Valdez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Valdez landing some decent shots from guard.

Junior is rocked!

Junior has his foot on Valdez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Valdez works his way back into a safe position though.
Oh Junior is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Valdez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Junior is keeping the position for now.
Junior seems to have got his legs back now.
Valdez landing with the ground and pound.
Valdez trying to control but Junior is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Junior looking for a guillotine here but Valdez defends easily.

Junior escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Valdez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fernando Valdez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Valdez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Valdez misses with a body shot.
Valdez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Valdez tries for a takedown but Junior sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Valdez throws a series of punches but Junior avoids them all with ease.
Valdez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Valdez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Valdez shoots in for a takedown but Junior shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Valdez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Junior moves away.
Junior swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Junior throws out a powerful jab.
Junior lands a glancing blow to the side of Valdez's head.

Junior has Valdez up against the cage in a clinch.
Junior tries to pull guard but Valdez holds him up against the cage and eventually Junior drops back down to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Valdez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Our sources have told us that Junior has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.

Valdez jumps guard and drags Junior to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Junior pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Valdez is keeping the position for now.
Our spies down at at Cause & Effect inform us that Valdez has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Valdez looking for a sweep. Not yet Valdez, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez controlling Junior's posture.

Junior drops back, looking for a kneebar! Valdez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Valdez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Valdez!

Junior is looking for a sweep.
Junior is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Valdez is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Junior is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Junior regains half guard.

Junior looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Junior is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Valdez pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Junior looking for subs from the bottom but Valdez mounts him!
Valdez has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Junior's face.
Junior sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Valdez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Fernando Valdez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Valdez is nestled in close to Junior, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Valdez working Junior over with strikes.
Valdez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Junior looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Junior is looking for a sweep. Valdez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Junior is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Valdez pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Valdez lands a nice short elbow.
Valdez is sitting in half guard. He's postured up and lands a nice elbow. Oh, Junior is hurt! He's hurt bad - Valdez fires away with more strikes and the referee jumps in to save Junior from any more punishment! Congratulations to Valdez! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Fernando Valdez!
Fernando Valdez decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.