PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between DeMario Valdez (ranked 428 p4p, 54 weight class) and Anton Strålman (ranked 606 p4p, 80 weight class). Valdez comes to the cage accompanied by Era - Ameno. Strålman has chosen Three Kings as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Valdez
vs
Strålman

180 cm
27
154 lbs
16 - 8 - 1

172 cm
31
148 lbs
23 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Dark Knight Nutrition

Altitude Clothing
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, DeMario Valdez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Anton Strålman!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strålman throws a right and a left that Valdez avoids nicely.
A little feinted left hand from Valdez on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Valdez keeps the fight on the outside.
Valdez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Valdez throwing a counter right hand but Strålman manages to avoid it.
Strålman wants to clinch but Valdez slips to the side
and Valdez counters with a nice uppercut.
Strålman lands a jab to Valdez's midsection.

Strålman clinches with his opponent.
Strålman blocks an uppercut.

Strålman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Strålman just misses with a punch to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Valdez misses the target.
Valdez lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Strålman rushes Valdez and presses him up against the cage.

Strålman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Good standup being displayed there by Strålman as he connects with a hook.
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!
Strålman throws a hook but Valdez avoids it easily.

Strålman rushes Valdez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strålman wants to break the clinch but can't.
Strålman tries to break the clinch but Valdez is controlling the position.
A shot in the inside from Valdez.
Valdez can't find room to land a body shot as Strålman controls the action.
Strålman using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Valdez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Strålman has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Valdez makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Valdez can't find room to land a body shot as Strålman controls the action.
Strålman content to slow the pace in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Strålman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Strålman blocks the body kick.
Strålman throws a leg kick
and Valdez counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strålman moves in looking to clinch but Valdez pushes him off.
Valdez walks forward, straight into a front kick from Strålman.
Strålman doesn't manage to clinch there - Valdez circles away.
Strålman tries to clinch there but Valdez circles away.
Strålman just misses with a punch to the body.
We've been told by Valdez's head coaches at Crassus that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Valdez swats away the attempt to clinch by Strålman.
Strålman throws a looping overhand right but Valdez ducks down to avoid it.
Valdez tests Strålman's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Strålman tries to clinch but Valdez is having none of it.
Valdez looks for the body kick but Strålman saw that one coming.
A head kick by Strålman misses
letting Valdez counter with a right hand.
Strålman scores with a hook to the body. Valdez takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Valdez with a nice cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strålman takes one on the button.
Strålman wants to clinch
and Valdez makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A shot to the liver by Strålman. Beautiful body shot.
Strålman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Strålman closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Valdez swings wildly with an uppercut but Strålman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valdez lands with a light punch inside.

Strålman breaks from the clinch.

Strålman has closed the distance and engaged Valdez in a clinch.
Valdez has Strålman pressed against the cage.
Strålman throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valdez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Valdez taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Strålman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Valdez avoiding damage.

Valdez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Strålman is looking to clinch but Valdez is avoiding it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strålman has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Strålman there as he acknowledges the shot.
Valdez scores with a hook.

Strålman moves into range and clinches up with Valdez.
A short right from Valdez on the inside.

Strålman manages to break the clinch.

Strålman tries to keep at a distance but Valdez has taken the fight into the clinch.
Valdez misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Strålman takes the fight into the clinch.
Valdez is trying to stall.
Valdez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Valdez lands a nice uppercut.
Valdez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Strålman has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Valdez misses with some punches.
The referee calls for Valdez to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valdez working aggressively here.
Strålman being controlled against the cage.
Strålman working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez misses with a punch on the inside.
Valdez prevents the takedown attempt.
Valdez stalling against the cage.
Strålman lands with a right to the head.
Valdez pushes Strålman back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Strålman blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Valdez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Valdez misses with a body punch.
A right handed body shot lands from Strålman.
DeMario Valdez has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Strålman tries to break free but Valdez pushes him back against the cage.
Strålman tries to throw a body punch but Valdez avoids it by throwing Strålman back against the cage.

Strålman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Strålman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strålman scores with a jab to the body.
Strålman wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Valdez lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Valdez is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Strålman looks to land a combination. Valdez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valdez misses with a right hand
and Strålman counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Strålman tries to clinch but Valdez moves out of range.
Valdez throws a good cross that connects.
Strålman scores with a three punch combo!
Strålman tries to close the distance and clinch but Valdez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Valdez instigates a clinch.
Strålman is trying to break the clinch but Valdez has him pressed against the cage.
Valdez leaning his opponent against the cage.

Valdez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strålman lands a nice looking body shot.
Strålman wants to clinch.
Valdez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Valdez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
DeMario Valdez is winning the standup battle so far.
Strålman thows a leg kick but Valdez checks it
enabling Valdez to counter with a crisp jab.
Strålman slips a jab from Valdez.
Strålman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Valdez.
Valdez misses with a body shot.
Strålman scores with a nice strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Valdez coming out on top.
Strålman swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Strålman has managed to clinch.
Strålman has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Valdez seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Strålman can turn it around.
Valdez digs a right hand underneath Strålman's ribcage. Strålman let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Strålman breaks the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Strålman throws a leg kick but Valdez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Strålman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Strålman is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Valdez rather than just go for the knockout.

Strålman moves into the clinch.

Strålman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Strålman misses with a straight left.
Anton Strålman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strålman throws a good cross that connects.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Anton Strålman will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Strålman throws a right hand that misses
and Valdez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
An inside leg kick lands from Strålman.
Strålman doesn't manage to clinch there - Valdez circles away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Strålman.
Strålman attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Valdez scores with a punch to the head.
A head kick from Strålman lands but Valdez takes it in his stride.
Strålman misses with a looping right.
Valdez throws a looping overhand right but Strålman ducks down to avoid it.
Strålman lands a lovely overhand right.
Strålman misses with a wild body shot.

Strålman closes the distance and clinches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Valdez working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Strålman wants to get back to striking at distance but Valdez won't allow it.
Valdez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Strålman scores with a shoulder strike.
Valdez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Strålman takes a shot to the head.
Strålman swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Strålman wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Valdez working aggressively here.
Valdez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Valdez tries to work over Strålman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Strålman blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Valdez lands a shoulder strike.

Strålman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Strålman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Valdez bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Strålman is rocked!
Valdez 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.
No joy there for Strålman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Strålman fails with an attempt to clinch.

Valdez tries to keep at a distance but Strålman has taken the fight into the clinch.
Strålman blocking some punches.
Valdez just leaning against Strålman, taking a breather.
Valdez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Strålman has had enough of the clinch but Valdez keeps him there for the moment.
Strålman is trying to break free.
Strålman is trying to break the clinch but Valdez is controlling him.

Strålman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A slow jab from Valdez misses its intended target.
Strålman fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Valdez has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Strålman slips under a jab.
A head kick misses from Strålman.
A jab from Valdez does it's job there.
Strålman tries to clinch but Valdez is having none of it.
Valdez swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Valdez gets tackled into the cage by Strålman. Strålman maintains the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Strålman misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strålman blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Valdez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Valdez keeps the fight on the outside.
Valdez swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Valdez keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Strålman moves out of range of the strikes.
A nice leg kick lands there from Strålman.
Valdez works Strålman's body with a nice hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Strålman swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Valdez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Valdez moves into the clinch successfully.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Valdez taking a breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
DeMario Valdez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Valdez 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... DeMario Valdez!
DeMario Valdez took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.