PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Devon Sage (ranked 1879 p4p, 4336 weight class) and Diego Valejo (ranked 205 p4p, 389 weight class). Valejo has chosen Me Gustas Tu as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Sage
vs
Valejo

170 cm
25
157
7 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
155
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Bondi MMA ðŸï¸
Seventh Circle Clothing

Maximum Human Performance

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 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Devon Sage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Diego Valejo!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Valejo moves into the clinch successfully.
Sage jumps guard but Valejo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Sage tries to pull guard but Valejo holds him up against the cage and eventually Sage drops back down to his feet.
Valejo wants to break free but Sage has control.
Valejo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Valejo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Valejo is trying to break free.
Valejo is trying to push Sage away but Sage has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sage tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Valejo just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Devon Sage. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sage ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sage no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Sage looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Valejo passes into half guard.

Sage looking for a kimura from the bottom but Valejo passes into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Valejo decides to stand back up. Valejo steps back and let's Sage get back to his feet.
Sage fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sage tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Sage rushes Valejo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valejo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sage tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Valejo smiles and moves away.

Sage closes the distance and clinches.
Valejo tries to break the clinch but Sage is controlling the position.
Sage tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Sage pulls guard effortlessly.
Sage keeping moving, preventing Valejo from controlling successfully.
Sage manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Valejo manages to get himself to full guard.

Sage thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Valejo wants to stand and escape but Sage is having none of it.
Sage stays in close to Valejo's body and controls the position.
We've been hearing that Sage has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Sage looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valejo wants to get back to his feet but Sage is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Valejo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sage wants to pass the guard but Valejo is keeping the position.

Sage got a little sloppy there for a moment and Valejo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sage has managed to get both his arms back between Valejo's legs - danger averted.
Sage advances to half guard.

Sage is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Valejo has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sage wants to lay and pray for a moment but Valejo keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sage is looking for a kimura but Valejo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sage to get the leverage.

Valejo pushes Sage off and gets back to his feet.
Devon Sage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sage instigates a clinch.
Sage jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Valejo walks away with a smile on his face. Sage gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sage looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Valejo keeps the fight on the outside.
Valejo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Valejo lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Sage wants to clinch.
Sage slips a jab and a cross from Valejo.
Valejo throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sage is trying to pull guard but Valejo turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Valejo has a couple of punches blocked by Sage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sage fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Sage pulls guard effortlessly.
Valejo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sage's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valejo thows a huge punch but Sage dodges it nicely.
Sage is pressing down on Valejo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Valejo trying to control the position from guard on top but Sage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Valejo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sage is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Sage has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Valejo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Valejo trying to control but Sage is working from the bottom.
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 Devon Sage will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sage ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Sage moves into the clinch.
Sage tries to pull guard but Valejo holds him up against the cage and eventually Sage drops back down to his feet.
Valejo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sage fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sage jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Valejo walks away with a smile on his face. Sage gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Devon Sage. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sage moves into range and clinches up with Valejo.
Valejo wants to break the clinch but can't.

Sage jumps guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sage managing to control the position.

Sage looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sage keeping full guard, as Valejo tries to pass.
Sage looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sage working for a triangle but Valejo defends it easily.

Sage has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Valejo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Valejo trying to control but Sage is working from the bottom.
Devon Sage overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sage looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sage is working hard here to advance position.

Sage is looking for a triangle but Valejo pushes his legs off easily.
Valejo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Valejo wants to control from the top but Sage keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valejo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sage haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sage tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Sage looking for a guillotine here but Valejo defends easily.
Sage is trying to keep Valejo in close.
Valejo wants to control from the top but Sage keeps moving.

Valejo stands up and waves to Sage to follow him.

Valejo gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sage tries to bench press Valejo off him but Valejo keeps the position.
Sage is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Valejo off and has taken his back!
You can see the frustration on Valejo's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Sage has the hooks in. Valejo is starting to panic. He's trying to push off one of the legs but he's left his neck open to attack. Sage passes his arm under Valejo's neck and tightens up a rear naked choke! This one is surely all over! Yes, Valejo taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Devon Sage!
A relieved looking Devon Sage thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.