PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dominique Valdez (ranked 5781 p4p, 5553 weight class) and Johnny Machida (ranked 530 p4p, 522 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Valdez
vs
Machida

187 cm
23
155
0 - 2 - 0

182 cm
23
162
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dominique Valdez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Johnny Machida!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Valdez clinches.
Valdez works on Machida's body with a couple of short punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Valdez.
Valdez lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Machida or not.
Valdez wants to break free but Machida has control.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valdez.
Valdez lands with a light punch inside.
Valdez scores with a shot to the side of Machida's head.
Machida is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Valdez pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Machida keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Valdez's efforts to push away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valdez lands a nice uppercut.
Valdez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Valdez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Valdez lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida goes for a takedown attempt but Valdez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Valdez moves into the clinch.
Valdez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Machida's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Valdez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Valdez tries to throw a body punch but Machida avoids it by throwing Valdez back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valdez.
Valdez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Valdez presses Machida against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Machida drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Valdez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Dominique Valdez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Machida.

Valdez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Valdez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Machida has time to react.
Machida fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Valdez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Valdez just misses with a punch to the body.
Valdez digs a good body shot into Machida's ribs.
Valdez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez with a jab.
Dominique Valdez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Machida gets tackled into the cage by Valdez. Valdez maintains the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Valdez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Valdez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Valdez lands an uppercut.
Valdez misses with the head strike.
Valdez misses with a body punch.
Valdez misses with some punches.
Valdez is trying to break free.
Valdez wants to break the clinch but can't.

Valdez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valdez falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Machida to counter with a crisp jab.
Machida misses with a body kick.
Valdez is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Valdez avoids the head kick by Machida.
Sloppy strikes from Valdez. Those never looked like landing.
Valdez scores with a hook to the body. Machida takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valdez connects with a right hand. Machida shakes it off.

Machida pushes Valdez up against the cage in a clinch.
Machida keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Valdez's efforts to push away.
Valdez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dominique Valdez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Machida closes the distance and pushes Valdez back into the cage.
Valdez lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Valdez wants to get back to striking at distance but Machida won't allow it.
Valdez lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Machida backwards.
We've been informed that Machida has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Valdez wants to break free but Machida has control.

Machida breaks from the clinch.
Valdez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valdez dips to his left and cracks Machida with an uppercut!
Valdez punishes Machida's body with a nice straight punch.
Machida slips a jab and a cross from Valdez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Machida moves away.
Valdez scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Machida doesn't seem bothered though.

Valdez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Machida, pushing him back against the cage.
Valdez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Valdez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Machida lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Valdez circles away quickly and effectively.
Machida is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Valdez connects with a nice looking jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdez looks to land a combination but Machida avoids it well.
Valdez lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Machida takes the fight into the clinch.
Machida has Valdez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Valdez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Valdez gets underhooks to prevent Machida's takedown attempt.
Machida is breathing heavily.
Valdez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valdez lands with a light punch inside.
Machida tries to pull guard but Valdez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Dominique Valdez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Machida.
Valdez misses with some punches.

Machida has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Valdez is trying to keep an underhook but Machida manages to get the takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez is trying to stand back up but Machida is controlling him
Still in half guard, Machida seems content to control.
Machida trying to advance position but Valdez counters by regaining guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Valdez manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Valdez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Valdez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Machida can do to turn this around?
Valdez lands with a left to the head.
Valdez lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Dominique Valdez has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Valdez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Machida backwards.
Valdez prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida is looking for a takedown.
Nice body punch from Valdez.
Valdez presses Machida against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Valdez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Valdez pushes Machida up against the cage in a clinch.
Valdez letting Machida take a breather here.
Valdez scores with a shot to the side of Machida's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A left hand lands to the body for Valdez.
Valdez lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Valdez lands a body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dominique Valdez dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Valdez jabs at Machida's body.
Valdez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Machida avoids a punch combination nicely.
Machida is looking for the big counter here.

Machida closes the distance and clinches.
Machida blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Valdez tries to work over Machida's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida is trying to break the clinch but Valdez has him pressed against the cage.
Valdez lands a nice shot to the body.
A hook to the body from Valdez.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valdez breaks the clinch.

Machida has Valdez up against the cage in a clinch.
Valdez wants to get back to striking at distance but Machida won't allow it.
Valdez throws a head punch that misses.
Valdez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Valdez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Machida tries to score a body lock takedown but Valdez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Machida takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Machida changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Valdez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Machida is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdez scores with a jab to the body.
Valdez lands a two punch combo.
Valdez displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Valdez gets a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Machida wants to take the fight to the mat but Valdez manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Dominique Valdez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Machida.
Machida 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.
A hook to the body from Valdez.
Valdez lands a body punch.
A right handed body shot lands from Valdez.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Valdez creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Valdez as the two fighters clinch.
Valdez working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Valdez manages to break the clinch.
Machida takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Valdez connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Valdez throws a series of strikes that have Machida backpedaling.
Valdez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Valdez clinches up against the cage.
Valdez working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Machida's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Johnny Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Valdez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Valdez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Machida changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Valdez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Valdez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Valdez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Valdez cracks Machida with a good jab.
Dominique Valdez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Valdez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dominique 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:26
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominique Valdez!
Johnny Machida was interviewed post fight and said 'I may have lost tonight, but give me a rematch and I’ll come back and knock this bum out the next time'.