PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ed Valquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zangief Hakkarainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hakkarainen is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by HellYeah. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Valquez
vs
Hakkarainen

180 cm
23
197 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

185 cm
25
201 lbs
5 - 1 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
KO power

Decent wrestler
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ed Valquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zangief Hakkarainen!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hakkarainen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Valquez scores with a shot to the body.
Hakkarainen throws the left hand but Valquez avoids the punch easily.
Hakkarainen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Valquez.
Valquez tries to work over Hakkarainen's front leg with a kick but Hakkarainen checks it.
Valquez swats away the attempt to clinch by Hakkarainen.
Hakkarainen blocks a head kick by Valquez.
Hakkarainen takes one on the button.
Hakkarainen scores with a jab. Valquez acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hakkarainen misses with a looping left.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Valquez, right into the meat.
Hakkarainen misses with a looping right.
Valquez throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hakkarainen misses with a head kick.
A slow jab from Hakkarainen misses its intended target.
Valquez looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A clash of legs there as Hakkarainen blocks the low kick.

Hakkarainen moves into the clinch successfully.

Hakkarainen breaks the clinch.
Valquez throws the kick towards the body but Hakkarainen avoids it.
Zangief Hakkarainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valquez throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hakkarainen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Valquez is looking to score with low kicks.
Hakkarainen dodges the punch combination from Valquez.
A head kick misses from Valquez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hakkarainen gets a clinch.
Hakkarainen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hakkarainen tries a body shot but Valquez blocks it.
Hakkarainen tries to break free but Valquez pushes him back against the cage.
Valquez comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Zangief Hakkarainen has been cut.

Valquez jumps into guard, dragging Hakkarainen to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Valquez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Valquez keeping moving, preventing Hakkarainen from controlling successfully.
Hakkarainen won't allow Valquez to sweep him here.
Hakkarainen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Valquez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Valquez is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valquez working a defensive guard here.
Valquez wants to sweep here but Hakkarainen controlling him for the moment.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Ed Valquez has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Valquez, right into the meat.
Valquez throws a right and a left that Hakkarainen avoids nicely.
Hakkarainen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hakkarainen misses with a low kick.
Hakkarainen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Valquez counters with a leg kick.
Hakkarainen avoids the head kick by Valquez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hakkarainen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Valquez.
Hakkarainen avoids the head kick by Valquez.
Valquez connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hakkarainen's hands.
Hakkarainen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Valquez.
Valquez takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hakkarainen is looking to clinch.
Valquez throws a head kick that misses.
Valquez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hakkarainen motions for Valquez to come forward. Hakkarainen throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Valquez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hakkarainen.
Good leg kick by Valquez there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Valquez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zangief Hakkarainen's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A head kick by Valquez misses
and Hakkarainen counters with a nice kick to the body.
Hakkarainen closes the distance but Valquez moves to the side
and Valquez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hakkarainen throws out a leg kick but Valquez moves out of range and Hakkarainen only half commits.
Valquez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Valquez takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

It looks like Ed Valquez has been cut.
Valquez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Valquez misses with a low kick.
Valquez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hakkarainen.
Hakkarainen tries to clinch up but Valquez circles away and keeps his distance.
Hakkarainen throws a leg kick that is checked
and Valquez counters with a slapping leg kick.
Valquez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hakkarainen darts in trying to clinch
and Valquez counters with a body kick.
Valquez lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
An inside leg kick from Hakkarainen misses.
Hakkarainen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Valquez moves away.
Hakkarainen blocks a head kick by Valquez.
Valquez misses with a shot to the body
enabling Hakkarainen to counter with a crisp jab.
Hakkarainen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hakkarainen tries to close the distance and clinch but Valquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hakkarainen throws a looping overhand right but Valquez ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valquez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hakkarainen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Valquez.
Hakkarainen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Valquez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hakkarainen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Valquez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hakkarainen moves out of range of the body kick.
Zangief Hakkarainen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Valquez lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hakkarainen doesn't manage to clinch there - Valquez circles away.
Valquez scoring well with a low kick there.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Valquez lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Hakkarainen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hakkarainen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hakkarainen misses with a shot to the body
and Valquez makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Hakkarainen really felt that one!
Hakkarainen is breathing heavily.
Valquez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hakkarainen tries to clinch but Valquez is having none of it.
Hakkarainen checks a leg kick.
Hakkarainen wants to clinch
and Valquez counters with a nice leg kick.
Ed Valquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Valquez moves into range and clinches up with Hakkarainen.
Valquez pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Valquez prevents a body shot from Hakkarainen.
Hakkarainen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Valquez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hakkarainen is keeping busy.
Valquez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hakkarainen misses with a punch to the body.
Valquez with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hakkarainen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Hakkarainen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Valquez thuds his shin into the meat of Hakkarainen's side.
Valquez doesn't manage to clinch there - Hakkarainen circles away.
Valquez checks the leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valquez connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Valquez looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A good leg kick by Valquez.

Valquez takes the fight into the clinch.
Valquez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hakkarainen just stands there and leans against the cage.
Valquez is trying to maintain a safe position but Hakkarainen gets an underhook and turns Valquez into the cage.
Valquez misses with a knee to the head.
Valquez lands a good knee to the midsection. Hakkarainen won't want to take too many of those.
Valquez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Valquez utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
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!
Valquez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Valquez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hakkarainen avoiding damage as Valquez throws knees to the body.
Valquez trying to land knees to the body.
Valquez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Valquez missing with knees to the body.
Hakkarainen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hakkarainen misses with the head strike.
Hakkarainen is trying to break free.
Hakkarainen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Valquez dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

A low kick from Hakkarainen misses
and Valquez counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hakkarainen's knee momentarily.
Hakkarainen swings for the body but Valquez moves out of range.
Valquez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hakkarainen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A solid leg kick lands there for Valquez.
An inside leg kick lands from Valquez.
Valquez swats away the attempt to clinch by Hakkarainen.

Valquez clinches up with Hakkarainen and pushes him back against the cage.
Hakkarainen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Valquez with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Hakkarainen.
Valquez is stalling here.
Valquez lands an elbow that stopped Hakkarainen in his tracks for a moment.
Hakkarainen lands a shot to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Hakkarainen fails to land.
Valquez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hakkarainen up against the cage.
Valquez lands a nice elbow.
Valquez landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hakkarainen lands a body shot in the clinch.
Hakkarainen wants to get back to striking at distance but Valquez won't allow it.
Hakkarainen cracks Valquez with a nice body shot.
A body shot lands from Hakkarainen.
Hakkarainen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Valquezs head.
Hakkarainen swings wildly with an uppercut but Valquez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valquez tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Hakkarainen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hakkarainen looks to score with a jab to the body but Valquez is just out of range.
Hakkarainen misses with a head kick.
Hakkarainen lands with a slapping head kick.
Zangief Hakkarainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hakkarainen thows a leg kick but Valquez checks it
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Valquez thumps Hakkarainen with a low kick.
Valquez scores with a leg kick.
Valquez scoring well with a low kick there.
Hakkarainen throws a hook but Valquez avoids it easily.
A low kick from Hakkarainen is predictable there
and Valquez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Valquez lands with a slapping head kick.
Valquez pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hakkarainen is out of range and Valquez settles back down.
Valquez throws a leg kick
and Hakkarainen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Valquez is looking to chop away at Hakkarainen's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hakkarainen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Valquez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Hakkarainen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Valquez.
Valquez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hakkarainen wants to clinch but Valquez slips to the side
and Valquez counters with a nice leg kick.
Valquez lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Valquez throws a leg kick which misses Hakkarainen's front leg but catches the back leg as Hakkarainen tries to avoid it.
Valquez lands with a kick to the temple. Hakkarainen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Valquez throws a nice head kick!
A head kick by Hakkarainen misses
and Valquez counters with a straight right hand.
Ed Valquez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valquez is looking to slow Hakkarainen down with leg kicks.
Ed Valquez is winning the standup battle so far.
A low kick from Hakkarainen misses
and Valquez counters with a low kick, right behind Hakkarainen 's knee.
Valquez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Valquez feints and then cracks Hakkarainen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hakkarainen down.
Hakkarainen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Valquez counters with a left and a right that stings Hakkarainen.
Hakkarainen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hakkarainen throws a leg kick
enabling Valquez to counter with a crisp jab.
Valquez tests Hakkarainen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Valquez rushes Hakkarainen and presses him up against the cage.
Valquez trying to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ed Valquez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Valquez 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ed Valquez!