PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Begin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Valencia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Begin comes to the cage accompanied by Kid rock, American Badass. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Begin
vs
Valencia

182 cm
26
225 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

205 cm
25
280 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steve Begin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, William Valencia!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Begin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Begin wants to control but Valencia is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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. Begin connects with a nice short shot to Valencia's temple.
Valencia works his way to full guard. Good work.
Valencia is trying to keep Begin in close.
Valencia wants to sweep here but Begin controlling him for the moment.
Begin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Valencia wants to sweep here but Begin controlling him for the moment.
Begin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Valencia punching from the bottom - just letting Begin know he's still in a fight.
Valencia avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Begin is looking to work some ground and pound but Valencia has wrist control.
Begin preventing the sweep.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Valencia can do anything to dispel that myth.
Valencia keeping moving, preventing Begin from controlling successfully.
Valencia is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valencia keeping full guard, as Begin tries to pass.
Begin stopping the sweep attempt from Valencia.
Begin wants to control from the top but Valencia keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Begin passes into half guard.
Valencia is looking to improve his position.

Begin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Begin seems to be working for a kimura but Valencia defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Valencia wants to control but Begin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two 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.
Valencia is looking to improve his position.
Valencia is pressing down on Begin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Begin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Valencia lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Begin!
Begin is trying desperately to improve position.

Valencia with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Begin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Valencia avoids the attempt from Begin to control.
Begin sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Valencia sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Begin defending well though.
Begin is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Begin trying to hold on to Valencia's head to control him but Valencia postures up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Begin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Begin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Valencia forces his way into half guard.
Begin is trying to control but can't.
Begin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Begin works his way to full guard. Good work.
Begin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Valencia must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Valencia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Begin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Valencia looks gassed!
Begin is trying to control the position but Valencia postures up.

Begin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Valencia defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valencia trying to control but Begin is working from the bottom.
Begin throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Begin keeping full guard, as Valencia tries to pass.
Begin working a defensive guard here.
Valencia throws a big right hand that misses.
Valencia postures up.

Begin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Valencia connects with a couple of short punches.
Begin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Valencia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Begin is keeping the position for now.

Begin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Begin has his foot on Valencia's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Valencia works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Begin dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Begin gets caught flat footed, as Valencia shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Begin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Begin working for a triangle but Valencia defends it easily.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Begin here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Valencia throwing strikes but missing.
Begin has momentary wrist control but Valencia slips an elbow through the middle.
Begin keeping full guard, as Valencia tries to pass.
Valencia is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Begin looking for a guillotine here but Valencia defends easily.
Valencia trying to control the position from guard on top but Begin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valencia works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Valencia is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Begin defends it well.
Valencia is breathing heavily.
Valencia not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Begin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Begin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Valencia avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Valencia loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Begin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Valencia defends well.
Valencia keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Begin's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valencia won't allow Begin to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Begin is on top in guard.
Steve Begin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Valencia lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Begin!
Valencia postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Begin looks a forlorn figure.

Valencia has control of Begin's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Begin regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Begin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Begin manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Begin is doing well to control the position and prevent Valencia from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Begin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Begin trying to control the position.
Valencia postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Valencia looking to pass the guard.
Begin is trying to control the position but Valencia postures up.
Begin manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Begin looking to control but Valencia is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Valencia regains half guard.

Begin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Valencia defends it well.
Still in half guard, Begin seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valencia wants to get back to full guard.
Valencia won't allow Begin to pass to mount.
Valencia is staying active underneath Begin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Begin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Valencia wants to get back to full guard.

Begin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Valencia sees it coming and defends easily.
Valencia trying to control but Begin postures up.

Begin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Valencia has managed to free his arm - good work.
Valencia is not content to let Begin control the position.
Begin looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Valencia with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Begin dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Begin tries to sprawl but Valencia drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Begin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Valencia's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Valencia's back!
Valencia tries to escape but Begin has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Begin has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Valencia has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Begin lands a shot to the body.
Begin is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Valencia up.
Valencia breaks Begin's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Valencia trying to control the position from guard on top but Begin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Begin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Valencia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Begin swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Begin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Valencia defends well.
Valencia throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Begin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Valencia wants to control from the top but Begin keeps moving.
Begin is trying to control the position but Valencia postures up.

Begin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Valencia defends it easily.
Begin keeping moving, preventing Valencia from controlling successfully.
Valencia lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Valencia has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Begin to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Valencia is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Begin pulls down on the head and he's put Valencia to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Steve Begin!