PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Carlinhos Valente (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gennaro Gattuso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valente comes to the cage accompanied by "We Dem Boyz" by Wiz Khalifa. This should be a great matchup!

Valente
vs
Gattuso

172 cm
32
155 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

176 cm
37
166 lbs
22 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carlinhos Valente!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gennaro Gattuso!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Valente instigates a clinch.
Gattuso is pushing Valente up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Valente lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Valente misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gattuso lands with a light punch inside.
A short uppercut from Valente.

Valente breaks the clinch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Valente, right into the meat.
A punch lands to the side of Gattuso 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Gattuso tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Valente tries to clinch there but Gattuso circles away.
Valente uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Gattuso has time to react.
A slow jab from Valente misses its intended target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gattuso avoids the body shot from Valente.
Valente lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Good shot there by Valente.
Valente getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Gattuso throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gattuso ducks under a wild hook from Valente.
Valente throws a nice inside leg kick.
Carlinhos Valente seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gattuso misses with a body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Valente looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Valente instigates a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Gattuso.

Valente pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Valente attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Valente is looking to clinch.
Gattuso moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Valente is looking to score with low kicks.
A solid leg kick lands there for Valente.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Valente misses.

Gattuso dives in and scores a takedown into Valente's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valente wants to sweep but no luck.
Gattuso postures up in Valente's guard and throws a big left but Valente blocks it.
Valente working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gattuso.
Gattuso looking to sit in guard and control but Valente gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gattuso looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Valente passes into half guard.

Gattuso looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso is pressing down on Valente's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Valente tries to stand but Gattuso is controlling from the bottom.

Gattuso looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Valente is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gattuso has a closed guard, preventing Valente from standing up.
Gattuso wants to sweep but no luck.
Gattuso manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Valente manages to get himself to full guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gattuso won't allow Valente to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valente not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gattuso looking to pass the guard.

Valente wriggles free and stands up.

Valente has closed the distance and engaged Gattuso in a clinch.
Valente swings wildly with an uppercut but Gattuso uses good head movement to avoid it.

Gattuso breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gattuso dives in for a single leg takedown but Valente sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Good shot there by Gattuso.
Gattuso ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gattuso swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A punch combination from Valente misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gattuso shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gattuso feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Gattuso stops Valente from standing up.
Valente working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gattuso.

Gattuso gets to his feet - Valente follows without any prompting.
Valente on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Valente stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Valente wants it to stay on the feet.
Valente misses with a body shot

and Gattuso counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Gattuso lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gattuso seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Valente does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Valente blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gattuso.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gattuso missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gattuso seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valente wants to get back to his feet.
Gattuso working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Valente trying to hold on to Gattuso's head to control him but Gattuso postures up.
Valente is concentrating on defense, preventing Gattuso from advancing position.
Gattuso working over Valente with some ground and pound. Valente looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gattuso throwing shots but Valente is blocking nicely.
Gattuso thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Valente's head.
Valente tries to kick Gattuso off but Gattuso keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Gattuso is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Gattuso throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gattuso throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Valente to regain full guard.
Gennaro Gattuso has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Valente's head.
Gattuso is in close to Valente's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Valente wants to stand but Gattuso is controlling the position.

Valente wriggles free and stands up.
Valente is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gattuso.
Valente moves out of range as Gattuso throws a body kick.
Valente tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gattuso was well out of range. Poor timing from Valente.
Gattuso lands with an uppercut that bounces Valente off the cage and back into range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Valente displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gattuso throws out the jab.

Valente has taken the fight to the clinch.
Valente working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gattuso lands a hook that snaps the head of Valente backwards.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso lands a shot to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Valente throws an elbow but misses.

Valente breaks from the clinch.
Gattuso circles away from the clinch attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from Valente misses the target.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Valente, right into the meat.

Gattuso darts in and clinches Valente up against the cage.
Valente lands a damaging elbow.
Valente misses with a punch on the inside.
Valente can't find room to land a body shot as Gattuso controls the action.

Valente manages to break the clinch.

Valente has taken the fight to the clinch.
Valente lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Gattuso tries to score a body lock takedown but Valente shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Valente lands an elbow inside.
Gattuso has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Valente is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Carlinhos Valente has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gennaro Gattuso.
Valente takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valente misses with a punch on the inside.
Valente lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Gattuso is looking to take this one to the mat.
Valente lands a left hand.
Gattuso stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Gattuso tries for a takedown. No joy.
Valente working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Valente lands an elbow just above Gattuso 's eye.

It looks like Gennaro Gattuso has been cut.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Valente misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gattuso stalls.
Valente is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Valente can't find room to land a body shot as Gattuso controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Carlinhos Valente will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gennaro Gattuso's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gattuso circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gattuso feints the counter takedown.
Gattuso takes one to the chin there.
Valente throws a hook but Gattuso blocks it.
Gattuso displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Valente throws out the jab.
Carlinhos Valente is winning the standup battle so far.
Gattuso avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Valente lands an overhand right.
Valente throws a low kick but Gattuso moves out of range easily.
Gattuso throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Valente sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Valente fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Gattuso throws a low kick but Valente avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gattuso slips a straight right by Valente.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Gattuso! But no joy.

Valente instigates a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gattuso misses with a hook to the ribs.
Carlinhos Valente has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Valente misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gattuso lands an uppercut.
Gattuso is stalling here.
Gattuso swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Gattuso has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Valente regains guard immediately.

Valente manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Gattuso blocks a body shot from Valente.
Valente creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Valente lands an uppercut.
Valente working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gattuso drops down looking for an ankle pick but Valente pulls his leg out and moves away.
Valente feints and then cracks Gattuso's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gattuso down.
Valente is looking to clinch but Gattuso is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valente throws a looping overhand right but Gattuso ducks down to avoid it.
Gattuso throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Valente's head.
Gattuso moves forwards but Valente connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Gattuso throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Valente lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Nice cross by Gattuso.
Valente takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Valente wants to clinch up but Gattuso keeps it at a distance.
Gattuso pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gattuso takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Valente lands with an overhand left.
Valente throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Gattuso counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Gattuso bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Carlinhos Valente is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valente moves to clinch but Gattuso breaks away

and Gattuso decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Valente's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Valente manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Valente just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gattuso's brow.
Valente throws a head punch that misses.
Valente blocking some punches.
Gattuso drops down looking for an ankle pick but Valente pulls his leg out and moves away.
Valente stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Gattuso doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Valente counters with a right hand to the body.
Gennaro Gattuso has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Carlinhos Valente has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gennaro Gattuso.
Gattuso takes one to the chin there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Valente has closed the distance and engaged Gattuso in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gattuso blocking some punches.

Valente escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Valente takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Valente tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gattuso swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Valente scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gattuso in his tracks.
Valente tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gattuso manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Valente connects with a crisp jab.
Gattuso shoots and misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Valente tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gattuso swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Valente ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gattuso moves away.
Gattuso displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Valente throws out the jab.
Gattuso moves forwards but Valente connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Gattuso throws the kick towards the body but Valente avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlinhos Valente showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Valente, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlinhos Valente!
A relieved looking Carlinhos Valente thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.