PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Cesaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonardo Valdes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Cesaro
vs
Valdes

170 cm
18
165 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

160 cm
22
165 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Antonio Cesaro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Leonardo Valdes!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cesaro has a takedown stuffed.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Valdes has eaten all the pies!
Valdes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cesaro avoids the head kick by Valdes.

Cesaro shoots in and gets a takedown into Valdes's guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Cesaro throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Valdes keeping moving, preventing Cesaro from controlling successfully.
Cesaro connects with a couple of short punches.
Cesaro scoring with some ground and pound.

Cesaro avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cesaro landing some decent shots from guard.
Valdes has momentary wrist control but Cesaro slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdes wants to get back to his feet but Cesaro passes into half guard.
Cesaro lands strikes from half guard.
Valdes taking some punishment here, with Cesaro in his half guard.
Cesaro sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Valdes defending well though.
Valdes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cesaro.
Cesaro scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Cesaro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Valdes keeps working.
Cesaro not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cesaro wants to control but Valdes is keeping him busy.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cesaro lands a nice short elbow.
Cesaro is nestled in close to Valdes, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
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!
Cesaro scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Valdes on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cesaro lands a nice short elbow.
Cesaro is trying to control the action in half guard but Valdes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Cesaro lands with a punch from half guard.
Cesaro moves nicely into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cesaro landing strikes.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Valdes is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Cesaro in side control lands a decent elbow.
Cesaro working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Cesaro in side control lands a decent elbow.
Valdes tries to escape but Cesaro is in control.
Valdes looks winded!
Cesaro lands a nice forearm strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cesaro tries to advance to mount but can't.
Cesaro works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Cesaro cracks Valdes with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Cesaro scoring with punches and elbows.
Cesaro working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Valdes is rocked!
Cesaro is putting a hurting on Valdes here, landing some big shots from side control.
Valdes is still in real trouble! Can Cesaro finish him?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cesaro scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Valdes is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Cesaro can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Antonio Cesaro!
Antonio Cesaro seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.