PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between TIAGO VALERIO (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emerson Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). TIAGO VALERIO has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

VALERIO
vs
Sanchez

178 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 5 - 1

187 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, TIAGO VALERIO!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Emerson Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sanchez forces VALERIO back against the cage and clinches.

Sanchez is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. VALERIO can't fight it off and eventually Sanchez manages to take the fight to the floor. VALERIO looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sanchez throwing strikes but missing.
Sanchez passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sanchez lands a nice forearm strike.
VALERIO taking a bit of punishment here - Sanchez scoring with strikes.
Sanchez misses with the ground and pound.
Sanchez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
VALERIO avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Sanchez.
Sanchez has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
VALERIO avoids a series of strikes thrown by Sanchez.

Sanchez swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and VALERIO is now in Sanchez's guard. A big mistake from Sanchez there, giving up the dominant position!

Sanchez working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because VALERIO has passed into half guard!

Sanchez manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Sanchez has closed the distance and engaged VALERIO in a clinch.
VALERIO tries to pull guard but Sanchez won't allow it.
VALERIO misses with a knee to the head.
Sanchez lands a damaging elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Sanchez's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
VALERIO drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sanchez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
VALERIO wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for TIAGO VALERIO. That's going to take a lot out of him.
VALERIO using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sanchez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
VALERIO misses with a knee to the head.
VALERIO is breathing heavily.
Sanchez has had enough of the clinch but VALERIO keeps him there for the moment.
Sanchez lands an elbow just above VALERIO 's eye.
VALERIO throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanchez blocks it with crossed arms.
Sanchez lands an elbow inside that VALERIO shrugs off.
Sanchez is trying to break the clinch but VALERIO is controlling him.

Sanchez breaks the clinch.
VALERIO tries to clinch
enabling Sanchez to counter with a crisp jab.

VALERIO gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Sanchez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but VALERIO manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sanchez has VALERIO in his guard.

Sanchez throws his legs up looking for a submission but VALERIO uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez pushes VALERIO away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, VALERIO gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
VALERIO advances nicely into full mount.
Sanchez tries to buck VALERIO off but VALERIO takes his back!
Sanchez is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Sanchez manages to escape to his feet.
Sanchez is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
VALERIO closes the distance but Sanchez moves to the side
and Sanchez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
VALERIO ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sanchez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up but VALERIO swats him away and circles back towards the center.
VALERIO is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.

Sanchez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sanchez looks up at the clock and then as VALERIO takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sanchez smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
VALERIO manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sanchez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
VALERIO is staying active underneath Sanchez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emerson Sanchez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sanchez throws a half hearted mid kick.
VALERIO darts in trying to clinch

and Sanchez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sanchez.
VALERIO trying to stall but Sanchez improves his position.
VALERIO tries to land a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks with his arms.

Sanchez lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sanchez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Sanchez looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sanchez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez throwing shots but VALERIO is blocking nicely.
VALERIO regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Sanchez.
Sanchez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as VALERIO holds on and takes a little breather.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez postures up in VALERIO's guard and throws a big left but VALERIO blocks it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
VALERIO wants to clinch but Sanchez slips to the side

and Sanchez counters by clinching up.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sanchez keeps the fight on the outside.
Sanchez circles away from the clinch attempt.
VALERIO misses with a head kick.
A combination from Sanchez does no damage.
VALERIO tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanchez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
VALERIO blocks a head kick by Sanchez.

VALERIO gets the takedown into side control.
VALERIO prevents Sanchez from escaping the position.
Sanchez bucks up and tries to throw VALERIO off but instead VALERIO has got his back!
Sanchez trying to control but not successfully.
Sanchez should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Sanchez trying to get back to his feet but VALERIO is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
VALERIO tries to keep control of the position but Sanchez is staying busy.
I really don't envy Sanchez right now.
Sanchez is trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sanchez tries to escape the position.
Sanchez is trying to stand back up.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Sanchez. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sanchez is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Emerson Sanchez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

VALERIO looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sanchez is fending him off so far but VALERIO persists. Nope, Sanchez circles away and we're back to standing.
Sanchez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sanchez tries to clinch there but VALERIO circles away.

Sanchez gets the takedown into side control.
Sanchez trying to control the action but VALERIO is working from the bottom.
VALERIO manages to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
VALERIO regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Sanchez.
Sanchez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez throwing strikes from guard but VALERIO blocks nicely.
Emerson Sanchez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sanchez postures up in VALERIO's guard and throws a big left but VALERIO blocks it.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but VALERIO keeps moving.
Sanchez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sanchez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sanchez lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
VALERIO displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sanchez.

Sanchez darts in and clinches VALERIO up against the cage.
VALERIO tries to pull guard but Sanchez holds him up against the cage and eventually VALERIO drops back down to his feet.
Sanchez lands a nice elbow.

Sanchez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - VALERIO looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sanchez throws a right and a left that VALERIO avoids nicely.
Sanchez fails to land the takedown.

Sanchez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Sanchez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sanchez landing strikes, looking to finish!
Sanchez throwing strikes but VALERIO bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
VALERIO utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sanchez forces his way into half guard.
Sanchez lands with a punch from half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sanchez connects with a nice short shot to VALERIO's temple.
Sanchez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
VALERIO is trying to control but can't.
Sanchez is stalling here. VALERIO is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Sanchez seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and VALERIO has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Sanchez is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sanchez regains half guard.

Sanchez has one foot on VALERIO's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
VALERIO tries to clinch but Sanchez moves away

so Sanchez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sanchez passes into half guard.
Sanchez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. VALERIO defending well though.
Sanchez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. VALERIO defending well though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emerson Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sanchez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emerson Sanchez!