PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sonny Barella (ranked 2515 p4p, 1756 weight class) and Bethania Valverde (ranked 142 p4p, 101 weight class). Valverde comes into a darkened arena with his song building. LLAMAME YA kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barella
vs
Valverde

167 cm
23
135
4 - 6 - 0

172 cm
23
140
6 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sonny Barella!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bethania Valverde!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Joseph Jones and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barella wants to clinch up but Valverde keeps it at a distance.
A low kick from Valverde misses

and Barella counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Barella is looking for a kimura but Valverde is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Barella to get the leverage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barella is looking to advance position but Valverde won't allow it.
Barella working the head and body with strikes.

Barella is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Valverde has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Barella is on him like a limpet, forcing Valverde back against the cage.

Valverde breaks from the clinch.
A big left from Valverde misses.
Barella shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Valverde pinned against the cage. Valverde gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barella will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Valverde stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sonny Barella. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valverde throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Barella counters with a straight right hand.
Some wild striking there from Barella.
Barella shoots in and drives through. Valverde sprawls well.
Barella shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Valverde as he avoids it easily.
A good leg kick by Valverde.
Valverde throws a head kick but Barella moves out of range.
Valverde slaps away a takedown attempt from Barella, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Valverde throws a head kick but Barella moves out of range.
Barella half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valverde displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Barella.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Valverde! But no joy.
Valverde connects with a jab.
Valverde fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Barella on the side of the head.
Valverde throws a hook to the side of Barella's head but Barella sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barella is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Valverde.
Barella walks into a straight right hand from Valverde.
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!
Valverde uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Valverde throws a nice outside leg kick.
Barella lands a jab.
Barella has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Valverde.
Barella tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Valverde defends well and Barella ends up having to push Valverde into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Valverde manages to break the clinch.
Valverde throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Barella on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Valverde with a hook.
The fighters circle momentarily. Valverde darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Valverde connects with an inside leg kick.
Valverde scores with a jab to the head.
Barella ducks under a wild hook from Valverde.
Valverde has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Bethania Valverde seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valverde turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Valverde darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Valverde misses with a body shot.
Valverde misses with a straight left.
Valverde is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Barella had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valverde swings away with a body shot that misses
and Barella counters with a series of strikes. Valverde will be more careful next time no doubt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valverde is looking to slow Barella down with leg kicks.
A slapping body kick lands there for Valverde.
Valverde works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Valverde gets caught flat footed, as Barella shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Barella won't allow Valverde to get back to his feet.
Barella loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Barella wants to control from the top but Valverde keeps moving.
Barella missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Valverde is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Barella throwing strikes but missing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bethania Valverde dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Jab from Valverde.
Nice takedown defense from Valverde. No joy for Barella on that attempt.
Valverde slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Barella is rocked!
Valverde drops Barella with a huge uppercut! Barella drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Valverde is raining down punches and the ref stops the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bethania Valverde!
Our winner, Bethania Valverde, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.