PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Valenzuela (ranked 24913 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jo Jotaro (ranked 5040 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Valenzuela
vs
Jotaro

151 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frankie Valenzuela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jo Jotaro!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Valenzuela gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jotaro drops down looking for an ankle pick but Valenzuela pulls his leg out and moves away.

Valenzuela tries to keep at a distance but Jotaro has taken the fight into the clinch.
Jotaro prevents the takedown attempt.
Valenzuela connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jotaro's face.
Jotaro scores a nice knee to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jotaro avoids a wild elbow strike from Valenzuela.
Valenzuela throws a head punch that misses.
Valenzuela lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Jotaro is looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valenzuela is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Jotaro pulls guard.
Valenzuela has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Jotaro is trying to keep Valenzuela in close.
Valenzuela keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jotaro's head.
Valenzuela really is a fat lump.
Jotaro 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.
Jotaro is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Jotaro has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Jotaro bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Valenzuela's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jotaro controlling from the top position.
Jotaro trying to control but Valenzuela is working from the bottom.
Valenzuela trying to control the position.
Jotaro trying to control but Valenzuela is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jotaro sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Valenzuela 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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Valenzuela not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Valenzuela has his takedown stuffed
and Jotaro counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Valenzuela gets tackled into the cage by Jotaro. Jotaro maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jotaro wants to take the fight to the mat but Valenzuela manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Frankie Valenzuela has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jo Jotaro.
Jotaro is looking to take this one to the mat.

Jotaro breaks the clinch.
Jotaro scoring well with a low kick there.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Valenzuela is defended easily by Jotaro.
Jotaro is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Valenzuela sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jo Jotaro dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A left lands for Jotaro.

It looks like Frankie Valenzuela has been cut.

Jotaro takes the fight into the clinch.
Valenzuela pushes off an throws an elbow but Jotaro leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Jotaro escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Horrible takedown attempt by Valenzuela or perhaps it was just good defense by Jotaro, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jotaro has closed the distance and engaged Valenzuela in a clinch.

Jotaro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Valenzuela tries to clinch but Jotaro is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valenzuela darts in looking for a takedown but Jotaro gets double underhooks and turns Valenzuela into the cage.
Valenzuela showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Jotaro.

Jotaro gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Jotaro manages to break the clinch.
Valenzuela looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frankie Valenzuela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valenzuela changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Jotaro tries to avoid it but Valenzuela manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Jotaro to the ground. Jotaro escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valenzuela gets tackled into the cage by Jotaro. Jotaro maintains the clinch.
Valenzuela throws a head punch that misses.

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

Jotaro drops Valenzuela with a beautiful combination! Valenzuela stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Jotaro is looking for the KO!

Valenzuela is rocked!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jotaro goes for a small jab and connects. Now Jotaro goes in closer pressing the issue. Left hook, right straight! Valenzuela stumbles back but Jotaro runs in with a huge uppercut knocking Valenzuela to the ground! What a finish! You have to wonder if Valenzuela will ever be the same after a knockout like that.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Jo Jotaro!