PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Joey Diaz (ranked 3017 p4p, 395 weight class) and Rodrigo Valdez (ranked 3762 p4p, 467 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Diaz
vs
Valdez

197 cm
24
213 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

185 cm
25
193 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

World class MT
Cardio machine

Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joey Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Valdez!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Thiago Cunha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Diaz. Those never looked like landing.
Rodrigo Valdez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valdez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Diaz paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Valdez clinches up with Diaz and pushes him back against the ropes.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Diaz.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diaz with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Valdez to score with a decent uppercut.
Valdez avoids the head kick by Diaz.
Valdez looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Valdez checks a leg kick.
Valdez is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Valdez has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Valdez there as he acknowledges the shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A punch combination from Valdez misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Diaz.
Diaz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Valdez.
Diaz lands a head kick!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Valdez tries to move into range but Diaz moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Diaz throws a leg kick which misses Valdez's front leg but catches the back leg as Valdez tries to avoid it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Valdez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Valdez misses with a straight right.
It looked like Diaz was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Diaz misses with a hook. Valdez ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Valdez misses.
Diaz appears to be looking for a big counter.
Valdez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Diaz's calf.
A head kick misses from Diaz.
Diaz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Valdez.
Valdez scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Diaz doesn't seem bothered though.
Valdez tries to bum rush Diaz with a series of wild strikes but Diaz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Valdez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Diaz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Valdez misses with a hook. Diaz ducked under it nicely.
Valdez takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Valdez moves to clinch but Diaz breaks away
and Valdez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Valdez.
Diaz slips under a jab.
Valdez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Diaz seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Diaz moves away from the strike by Valdez.
Diaz throws a sloppy head kick and Valdez moves out of range easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valdez thows a body kick. Diaz tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to land body kicks.
Valdez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Valdez connects with a crisp jab.
Valdez throws a body punch but Diaz moves out of range.
Diaz scores with a leg kick.
Diaz slips under a jab from Valdez.
Valdez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Diaz.

Valdez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Valdez misses with a hook from the clinch.

Diaz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Diaz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Diaz throws a solid leg kick but Valdez takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Diaz.
Diaz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Valdez looks to land a right hand but Diaz moved out of range.
Valdez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Diaz finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Valdez works Diaz's body with a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Valdez is out of range.

Valdez clinches up with Diaz and pushes him back against the ropes.
Valdez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Valdez lands an uppercut.
Valdez throws a punch but it's blocked by Diaz.

Diaz manages to break the clinch.
Diaz lands with a thumping leg kick.

Valdez forces Diaz back against the ropes and clinches.
Valdez has Diaz pressed against the ropes, preventing Diaz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Valdez has him pressed against the ropes.
Valdez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Valdez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Valdez.
Valdez throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Diaz breaks the clinch.

Valdez takes the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valdez.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz prevents a body shot from Valdez.
Valdez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Valdez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Valdez.
Diaz is trying to break free.

Diaz manages to break the clinch.
Valdez wants to clinch.
It looked like Diaz was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Diaz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diaz on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Valdez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Diaz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Diaz.
Valdez lands a nice hook to Diaz's body. Diaz takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Valdez doesn't manage to clinch there - Diaz circles away.
Valdez lands a nice looking body shot.

Valdez moves into range and clinches up with Diaz.
Valdez struggles to land a body shot inside as Diaz controls his hands.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valdez can't find room to land a body shot as Diaz controls the action.

Diaz breaks the clinch.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by Valdez.
Valdez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Valdez dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Valdez blocks a jab.

Valdez takes the fight into the clinch.
Diaz is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Diaz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Diaz.
Valdez lands a nice shot to the body.
Valdez tries to work over Diaz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Diaz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by Valdez.
The fight stays on the outside here - Valdez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Valdez throws a shot from downtown. Diaz moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valdez blocks a head kick by Diaz.
Valdez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Diaz tries to score with a low kick but Valdez moves his leg out of the way.
Diaz tries a head kick but it misses.
Diaz throws a leg kick but Valdez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Valdez throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez throws a right and a left that Diaz avoids nicely.
Diaz throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Diaz tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Diaz.
Diaz misses the shot to the body.

Valdez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Valdez swings wildly with an uppercut but Diaz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Valdez is controlling him.
Valdez working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Valdez has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Diaz seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Valdez can turn it around.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Valdez misses with a body shot.
Valdez ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Joey Diaz is winning the standup battle so far.
Valdez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Valdez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diaz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Valdez moves to clinch but Diaz breaks away
and Diaz counters with a right hand to the body.
Diaz throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valdez is looking to clinch.
A big left from Valdez misses.
Valdez throws a hook but Diaz blocks it.
Diaz throws a leg kick but Valdez moved away.
Valdez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diaz appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Diaz looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Valdez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Valdez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Valdez loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.
Valdez steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Diaz. That one must have hurt.
Diaz is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Valdez throws a right hand that misses
and Diaz counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Diaz lands a head kick!
Diaz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Valdez.
Diaz throws a series of punches but Valdez avoids them all with ease.
Diaz takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Diaz throws a right and a left that Valdez avoids nicely.
Valdez throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Diaz will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Diaz takes one to the chin there.
Diaz throws a series of punches but Valdez moves out of range.
Valdez throws the kick towards the body but Diaz avoids it.
Valdez checks a leg kick nicely.
Valdez throws the left hand but Diaz avoids the punch easily.
Diaz half committed to a counter leg kick.
Valdez swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Valdez cracks Diaz with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Valdez tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.
Nice shot lands for Diaz.
Valdez lands with a good body shot.
Diaz moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Valdez moves to clinch but Diaz breaks away
and Diaz counters with a left and a right that stings Valdez.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valdez moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Valdez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Diaz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Valdez misses with a combination
and Diaz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Valdez checks a leg kick nicely.
Valdez scores with a shot to the body.

Valdez moves into the clinch.
Valdez lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
A right handed body shot lands from Valdez.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Valdez has a couple of punches blocked by Diaz.
Valdez has Diaz pressed against the ropes, preventing Diaz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Valdez has him pressed against the ropes.
Valdez lands a shot to the body.
Valdez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Diaz's elbow.
Diaz wants to get back to striking at distance but Valdez won't allow it.
Valdez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Valdez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Diaz tries to circle away but Valdez has him pinned against the ropes.
Valdez throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Diazs head.
Diaz is trying to break the clinch but Valdez is controlling him.
Diaz prevents a body shot from Valdez.
Valdez prevents Diaz from breaking the clinch.
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 Joey Diaz will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Diaz on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Valdez is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Diaz blocks a jab.

Valdez gets a clinch.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Valdez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Diaz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Valdez misses the jab.
Valdez moves in looking to clinch but Diaz pushes him off.
Diaz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Valdez.
Diaz tries a head kick but it misses.
Diaz walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Diaz pivots, looking for a leg kick but Valdez is out of range and Diaz settles back down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Valdez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Valdez throws out a loose jab but Diaz uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Valdez.
Valdez digs a good hook to Diaz's body.
Joey Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Valdez works over Diaz's head and body with a nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz throws a sloppy head kick and Valdez moves out of range easily.
Diaz gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Valdez tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Diaz manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Valdez works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Valdez tries to clinch up.
Valdez throws a jab when Diaz was well out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Diaz on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Diaz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Valdez circles away quickly and effectively.
Valdez tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Valdez. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Valdez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Valdez takes a swing at Diaz's ribcage but misses.
Valdez misses with a hook. Diaz ducked under it nicely.

Valdez has closed the distance and engaged Diaz in a clinch.
Valdez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Diaz is trying to push Valdez away but Valdez has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

Diaz manages to break the clinch.
Valdez tries to clinch but Diaz moves out of range.
Valdez throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdez walks into a jab.
Valdez is looking to clinch but Diaz is avoiding it.
Valdez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Some wild striking there from Valdez.
Valdez lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Valdez does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Valdez doesn't manage to clinch there - Diaz circles away.
Diaz seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Valdez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Diaz misses with a body kick.

Valdez drives through and clinches with Diaz against the ropes.
Valdez tries to throw a body punch but Diaz avoids it by throwing Valdez back against the ropes.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Valdez slips a jab and a cross from Diaz.
Diaz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Valdez lands the left hand.
Valdez's jab looks to have found its range, popping Diaz under the eye.
Diaz lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Diaz misses with an attempted mid kick.
Diaz feints a jab promting Valdez to slip. Diaz then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Valdez slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Diaz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Valdez connects with the punch.
Valdez smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Valdez tries to clinch up but Diaz circles away and keeps his distance.
Diaz scores with the left hand. Valdez knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valdez slips a jab and a cross from Diaz.
Valdez lands with an overhand left.
Diaz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Valdez.
Valdez tries to clinch up.
Valdez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Diaz throws out the jab.

Diaz tries to keep at a distance but Valdez has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valdez misses with a punch to the body.

Diaz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Diaz avoids a kick to the body.
Diaz getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Valdez connects with a looping right hand.

Valdez drives through and clinches with Diaz against the ropes.

Diaz breaks the clinch.
Valdez checks a leg kick.
Valdez wants to clinch up but Diaz keeps it at a distance.
Diaz swats away the attempt to clinch by Valdez.
Valdez closes the distance but Diaz moves to the side
and Diaz counters with a leg kick.
Valdez throws a hook to the side of Diaz's head but Diaz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab from Valdez misses.
A punch combination from Diaz misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Valdez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Valdez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigo Valdez!