PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between mateo valaquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Rao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). mateo valaquez looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

valaquez
vs
Rao

225 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, mateo valaquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fernando Rao!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rao stuffs the takedown.
valaquez tries for a takedown but Rao sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
valaquez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for mateo valaquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rao shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rao showed some decent athleticism there.

valaquez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
valaquez is refusing to be controlled, as Rao sits in half guard.
valaquez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rao must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

valaquez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rao trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rao really doesn't want to stay on the ground with valaquez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rao controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rao advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rao wants to control but valaquez is keeping him busy.
valaquez is trying to improve his position.
Rao trying to control the action but valaquez is working from the bottom.
valaquez tries to improve position but can't.
valaquez regains half guard.
Rao moves into full mount! valaquez won't be happy about that!
Rao fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
valaquez bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rao is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

valaquez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rao is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of valaquez, into his guard.
valaquez is breathing heavily.
Rao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. valaquez is keeping the position for now.

valaquez looking for a guillotine here but Rao defends easily.
Rao controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rao is pushing down on valaquez's leg trying to pass to half guard. valaquez is fighting to maintain full guard but Rao has managed to sneak the leg through.
valaquez moves into full guard.

valaquez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rao gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rao wants to pass the guard but valaquez is keeping the position.
Rao trying to control but valaquez is working from the bottom.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rao avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rao wants to get up but he can't break valaquez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rao loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rao wants to control from the top but valaquez keeps moving.

valaquez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
valaquez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

valaquez looking for a guillotine here but Rao defends easily.
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!
Rao wants to control from the top but valaquez keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

valaquez dodges the punch combination from Rao.
valaquez shoots and misses

and Rao counters with a nice double leg into side control. valaquez won't be happy with that.
valaquez is not content to let Rao control the position.
valaquez gets back to half guard.
valaquez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

valaquez has his foot on Rao's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rao works his way back into a safe position though.

valaquez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rao stopping the sweep attempt from valaquez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rao looking to pass the guard.
Rao stopping the sweep attempt from valaquez.
valaquez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
valaquez prevents Rao from getting the reversal.

valaquez is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Rao is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Rao flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. valaquez anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Rao and secures both hooks! This could be bad! valaquez slips an arm under Rao chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. valaquez has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. valaquez is squeezing on Rao like an anaconda would it's prey. Rao fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). mateo valaquez!