PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe Bodyslam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vilis Valdis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vilis Valdis told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Bodyslam
vs
Valdis

170 cm
26
151 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

160 cm
26
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joe Bodyslam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vilis Valdis!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paul Aken and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bodyslam has Valdis up against the cage in a clinch.

Valdis manages to pull guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Bodyslam stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Valdis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bodyslam has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Valdis is proving hard to escape from.
Bodyslam pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Valdis is keeping the position for now.

Valdis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bodyslam tries to free his leg and advance position but Valdis is retaining full guard.
Bodyslam trying to control the position from guard on top but Valdis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bodyslam wants to pass the guard but Valdis is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valdis pushes Bodyslam off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Valdis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Vilis Valdis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bodyslam doesn't manage to clinch there - Valdis circles away.
Bodyslam chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Bodyslam misses the shot to the body.
Valdis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Valdis takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Valdis stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bodyslam.

Valdis moves into the clinch.

Valdis decides to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bodyslam trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bodyslam postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bodyslam trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Valdis wants to stand but Bodyslam is controlling the position.
Bodyslam throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Valdis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bodyslam trying to control but Valdis is working from the bottom.
Bodyslam throwing strikes but missing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valdis looking for a sweep. Not yet Valdis, not yet.
Bodyslam throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Valdis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Valdis is looking to stand back up but Bodyslam counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Valdis.
Valdis is looking to control Bodyslam's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Valdis avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdis is looking to improve his position.
Bodyslam missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Bodyslam moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Valdis.
I wouldn't like to be where Valdis is right now.

Bodyslam has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bodyslam tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Valdis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bodyslam scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Bodyslam changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Valdis throws a lazy right hand but Bodyslam sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Valdis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Valdis keeps the fight on the outside.
Bodyslam fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bodyslam stuns Valdis with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Valdis throws a lazy uppercut

so Bodyslam counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bodyslam trying to stand up but can't free himself from Valdis's guard.
Bodyslam trying to control the position from guard on top but Valdis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valdis 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Bodyslam dominated that 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.

Bodyslam tries to close the distance and clinch up but Valdis swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A low kick from Valdis misses
and Bodyslam counters with a slapping leg kick.

Valdis drives through and clinches with Bodyslam against the cage.

Bodyslam manages to break the clinch.
Bodyslam throws a quick inside leg kick.
Bodyslam wants to clinch up but Valdis keeps it at a distance.
Bodyslam swings for the body but Valdis moves out of range.

Valdis has Bodyslam up against the cage in a clinch.
Bodyslam is trying to stall.
Bodyslam is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Valdis has had enough of the clinch but Bodyslam keeps him there for the moment.
Bodyslam jumps guard but Valdis turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bodyslam drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Valdis gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Bodyslam. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdis taking a breather.
Bodyslam is trying to pull guard but Valdis turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Bodyslam keeps control of Valdis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nice body punch from Valdis - that landed with a thud.
Bodyslam has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Valdis after a bit of a struggle.
Valdis stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Bodyslam wants to stall.
Bodyslam wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdis tries to break free but Bodyslam pushes him back against the cage.

Bodyslam breaks the clinch.
Bodyslam tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Valdis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Valdis wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bodyslam is trying to drag Valdis to the mat but Valdis just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Bodyslam is looking for a takedown.
Valdis jumps guard but Bodyslam turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bodyslam as Valdis tries to tie him up.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bodyslam tries to clinch up but Valdis circles away and keeps his distance.
Valdis misses with a body kick.
Joe Bodyslam is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some wild striking there from Bodyslam.
Bodyslam slips a jab and a cross from Valdis.

Valdis clinches up against the cage.
Bodyslam has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Bodyslam pulls Valdis into guard.
Valdis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Valdis stops Bodyslam from standing up.
Bodyslam tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Bodyslam uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Good leg kick by Bodyslam there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bodyslam takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Valdis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Valdis circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bodyslam tries to clinch there but Valdis circles away.
Valdis misses with a looping left.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Valdis gets a clinch.
Bodyslam misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Valdis.
Bodyslam stalling against the cage.
Bodyslam misses with a punch to the body.
Bodyslam jumps guard but Valdis stands there with Bodyslam around his waist. Bodyslam gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valdis missing with knees to the body.
Bodyslam tries to pull guard but Valdis holds him up against the cage and eventually Bodyslam drops back down to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vilis Valdis will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Valdis throws a leg kick
and Bodyslam counters with an inside leg kick.
Bodyslam tries to clinch but Valdis moves out of range.
Valdis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Valdis swats away the attempt to clinch by Bodyslam.
Nice body punch from Bodyslam.

Valdis instigates a clinch.

Bodyslam breaks the clinch.

Valdis moves into the clinch.
Bodyslam tries to land knees in the clinch but Valdis avoids the damage to the body.
Bodyslam is trying to pull guard but Valdis turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Valdis jumps into guard, dragging Bodyslam to the mat.
Bodyslam stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Valdis swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Valdis looking for a guillotine here but Bodyslam defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bodyslam passes Valdis's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Bodyslam is trying to control the action in half guard but Valdis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bodyslam passes to full mount!
Valdis blocking the ground and pound.
Bodyslam tries to control but Valdis wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdis takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Bodyslam misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Valdis blocking the ground and pound.
Bodyslam looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bodyslam avoids the attempt from Valdis to control.
Valdis might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Bodyslam haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Bodyslam looking to control but Valdis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bodyslam looking to control and managing it successfully.
Valdis is squirming around, avoiding Bodyslam's attempts to control the action.
Valdis wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Bodyslam.
Bodyslam sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bodyslam wants to control the pace but Valdis is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bodyslam tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Valdis tries to hold on but Bodyslam pushes him away.
The referee warns Valdis that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Bodyslam content just to control the position here.
Valdis is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bodyslam looking to control but Valdis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Bodyslam showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bodyslam has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 30:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Bodyslam!
Vilis Valdis was interviewed post fight and said ',,,,,,,,,,'.