PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Roronoa Zoro (ranked 2225 p4p, 2120 weight class) and Fernando Valdez (ranked 133 p4p, 125 weight class). Valdez has chosen Accept - Balls to the Wall as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Zoro
vs
Valdez

170 cm
20
145
5 - 3 - 0

169 cm
22
147
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roronoa Zoro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Fernando Valdez!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zoro displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Valdez.
Valdez takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Valdez has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Zoro tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Valdez was well out of range. Poor timing from Zoro.
Nice takedown defense from Zoro. No joy for Valdez on that attempt.
Zoro fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Valdez avoids the body shot from Zoro.
Zoro slaps away a takedown attempt from Valdez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Roronoa Zoro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fernando Valdez.
Valdez avoids the body shot from Zoro.
Valdez throws a body shot but no joy.
Zoro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zoro bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
We've been hearing reports that Zoro has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Valdez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zoro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Valdez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zoro as he avoids it easily.
Zoro just misses with a punch to the body.
Zoro is looking to wear down Valdez with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Valdez moves away.
Zoro takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Zoro misses the shot to the body.
Zoro swings for the body but Valdez moves out of range.

Valdez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Zoro napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Zoro is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Zoro regains half guard.
Zoro avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Valdez.
Zoro makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Zoro.
Valdez landing with the ground and pound.
Zoro trying to keep a closed guard but Valdez is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zoro working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Valdez.
Valdez throws a big elbow that misses.
Zoro avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zoro working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Valdez.
Valdez tries to free his leg and advance position but Zoro is retaining full guard.
Valdez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zoro looking for a sweep. Not yet Zoro, not yet.

Valdez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Valdez wants to control from the top but Zoro keeps moving.
Valdez is in close to Zoro's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Valdez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Zoro is looking for a triangle but Valdez pushes his legs off easily.
Valdez throwing strikes but missing.
Valdez throws a big right hand that misses.

Zoro looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Valdez has picked Zoro up and slammed him! Zoro can't keep hold of the triangle and Valdez manages to pass to side control!
Valdez lands an elbow.
Valdez misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Valdez landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Valdez throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Zoro parries the strikes from Valdez easily there. Valdez is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Zoro to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valdez tries to score with some ground and pound. Zoro controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Valdez misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Zoro defending against the ground and pound.
Valdez throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Zoro is working to avoid the ground and pound but Valdez connects with a decent elbow.
Valdez lands a few punches from side control.
Valdez creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Zoro sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Zoro manages to work his way to half guard, despite Valdez's best efforts.
Zoro moves into full guard.
Valdez is looking to work some ground and pound but Zoro has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Valdez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
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 Roronoa Zoro 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.

Valdez takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Zoro leaves Valdez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Valdez lands with a nice body punch.
Valdez shoots in for a double leg but Zoro sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Zoro shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Valdez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Valdez is trying to keep Zoro in close.
Zoro in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zoro pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Valdez is keeping the position for now.
Zoro trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Valdez manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez throws a big right hand that misses.
Valdez is looking to work some ground and pound but Zoro has wrist control.

Zoro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Valdez is aware though and is defending well.
Valdez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Valdez trying to control the position from guard on top but Zoro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zoro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Valdez throwing strikes but missing.
Valdez scoring with some ground and pound.
Valdez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zoro's head.
Valdez content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdez postures up and lands a big shot to Zoro's brow.
Zoro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Valdez slips nicely into half guard.
Valdez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Valdez throwing shots but Zoro is blocking nicely.
Valdez looks to land a strike but Zoro avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Zoro avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Valdez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Valdez landing some decent shots from guard.
Valdez lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez preventing the sweep.

Zoro is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Valdez is aware though and is defending well.
Valdez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Valdez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zoro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Valdez wants to control from the top but Zoro keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Valdez gets a double leg takedown into Zoro's guard.
Valdez is stalling in the full guard.
Valdez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Valdez trying to control but Zoro is working from the bottom.
Valdez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zoro trying to control the position.
Valdez throws a big elbow that misses.
Zoro working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Valdez.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Valdez postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zoro misses the shot to the body.
Zoro tried to score with a low kick but Valdez checks it.
Zoro needs to keep his hands up - Valdez had a free shot at his head there.
Zoro goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Valdez scores with a hook to the body. Zoro takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Valdez comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Zoro as Valdez shoots in.
Roronoa Zoro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fernando Valdez.
Zoro misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Valdez.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zoro throws a body punch but Valdez moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fernando Valdez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Zoro lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
No luck for Valdez with that takedown attempt.
Nice uppercut lands for Zoro. That snapped Valdez's head back.
Valdez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zoro.
Zoro fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Valdez manages to avoid it.
Valdez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zoro defends it nicely.
Zoro attempts a counter takedown but Valdez avoids it well and moves away.
Valdez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Roronoa Zoro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fernando Valdez.
Valdez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zoro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Valdez shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Zoro manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Valdez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Valdez cracks Zoro with a solid left hand.
Valdez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zoro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Valdez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Valdez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valdez throws an elbow that misses. Zoro uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Valdez's guard. Nice move by Zoro!

Valdez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Zoro is trying to get back to full guard.
Valdez not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Valdez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Valdez trying to control the action but Zoro is working from the bottom.
Zoro is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Valdez scores with a couple of nice shots.
Valdez throws a strike but Zoro avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Valdez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Valdez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Valdez throws an elbow that misses. Zoro uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Valdez's guard. Nice move by Zoro!

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zoro accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Valdez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Valdez is on top in guard.

Valdez controlling from the top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Valdez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Valdez tries to free his leg and advance position but Zoro is retaining full guard.
Valdez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zoro's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zoro has momentary wrist control but Valdez slips an elbow through the middle.
Valdez throws an elbow that misses. Zoro uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Valdez's guard. Nice move by Zoro!

Valdez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zoro looking to sit in guard and control but Valdez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Valdez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Valdez trying to control but Zoro is working from the bottom.
Valdez works over Zoro with some ground and pound from guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Valdez trying to control the position from guard on top but Zoro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valdez won't allow Zoro to sweep him here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Fernando Valdez.
I think Valdez 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fernando Valdez!
Fernando Valdez decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.