PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mickey Valentino (ranked 4560 p4p, 4417 weight class) and Marcus Aurelius (ranked 479 p4p, 466 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Valentino
vs
Aurelius

183 cm
18
167
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
173
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mickey Valentino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcus Aurelius!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Ryoma Takatsuka and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentino throws a hook but Aurelius avoids it easily.
Aurelius bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Aurelius steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Valentino.
Aurelius scores with a decent looking hook.
Aurelius tests Valentino's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Valentino lands a really nice looking cross but Aurelius seems unphased.

It looks like Marcus Aurelius has been cut.
Aurelius scores with a jab. Valentino acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Valentino tries to clinch but Aurelius moves out of range.
Valentino tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Aurelius manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Valentino keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valentino throws a jab when Aurelius was well out of range.
Aurelius looks to throw the jab but Valentino is out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Valentino is looking to control Aurelius's arms but Aurelius gets an underhook and turns him. Now Valentino has his back to the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aurelius pulls guard.
Valentino stays in close to Aurelius's body and controls the position.
Aurelius keeping full guard, as Valentino tries to pass.
Valentino won't allow Aurelius to sweep him here.
Valentino looking to pass the guard.
Aurelius lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Valentino is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Aurelius working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Valentino has his foot on Aurelius's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Aurelius works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentino looking for a sweep. Not yet Valentino, not yet.
Aurelius controls from within his opponent's guard.

Valentino isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Aurelius stacks Valentino on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Aurelius!
Aurelius controls the position.
Valentino tries to improve position but can't.
Aurelius is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Aurelius misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Aurelius takes a little break here. Valentino wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Aurelius moves into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius controlling from the full mount.
Aurelius thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Aurelius content just to control the position here.
Aurelius punishing his opponent with strikes.
Valentino working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Aurelius sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Aurelius content just to control the position here.
Valentino wants to hold on but Aurelius pushes him away.
Aurelius throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Aurelius content just to control the position here.
Valentino is looking to get to half guard.
Aurelius lands a big elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aurelius takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Valentino is trying desperately to improve position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Aurelius dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marcus Aurelius's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Valentino gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Aurelius.
Valentino will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Aurelius misses with a body shot.
It looked like Valentino wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Valentino throws a looping overhand right but Aurelius ducks down to avoid it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Valentino, as that shot connected.
Aurelius uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Valentino.
A little jabbing left from Aurelius on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Aurelius has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Aurelius lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A jab lands there for Valentino.

Aurelius is rocked!
Valentino shakes his hands by his side, trying to relax. Aurelius takes his eyes off the ball for a moment - Valentino sees the opportunity and cracks him with a massive hook! Aurelius bends double and collapses on top of himself - he's out! The crowd are going absolutely nuts! Wow, what a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Mickey Valentino!
The defeated Marcus Aurelius had this to say: 'The best answer to anger is silence.'.