PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Exar Sotomayor (ranked 4077 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victorio Valkanov (ranked 2449 p4p, 0 weight class). Victorio Valkanov has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Sotomayor
vs
Valkanov

181 cm
25
160 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

185 cm
25
159 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Exar Sotomayor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Victorio Valkanov!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Bruno Lombardi and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sotomayor lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Jab by Sotomayor.
Valkanov tries to clinch but Sotomayor is having none of it.

Valkanov rushes Sotomayor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Valkanov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sotomayor backwards.
Sotomayor is trying to break the clinch but Valkanov has him pressed against the cage.
Sotomayor wants to break free but Valkanov has control.
Sotomayor tries to break the clinch but Valkanov is controlling the position.
Sotomayor wants to get back to striking at distance but Valkanov won't allow it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sotomayor.
Valkanov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Valkanov swings wildly with an uppercut but Sotomayor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valkanov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sotomayor can't break the clinch.
Sotomayor is trying to break the clinch but Valkanov is controlling him.
A short uppercut from Valkanov.
Valkanov throws a punch but it's blocked by Sotomayor.
Valkanov misses with a punch on the inside.
Valkanov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Valkanov misses with the head strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sotomayor blocks an uppercut.
Valkanov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Valkanov throws a head punch that misses.
Sotomayor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Sotomayor's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotomayor wants to get back to striking at distance but Valkanov won't allow it.
Valkanov keeps control of Sotomayor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sotomayor is trying to break the clinch but Valkanov is controlling him.

Sotomayor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sotomayor swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sotomayor misses with a series of wild punches.
Sotomayor lands a two punch combo.
Valkanov wants to clinch.
Valkanov wants to clinch up but Sotomayor keeps it at a distance.
Valkanov tries to close the distance and clinch but Sotomayor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Valkanov clinches with his opponent.
Sotomayor working hard to break the clinch.
Sotomayor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Valkanov.
Valkanov throws a head punch that misses.
Valkanov keeps control of Sotomayor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Valkanov lands an elbow inside that Sotomayor shrugs off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valkanov has Sotomayor pressed against the cage, preventing Sotomayor from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Valkanov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sotomayor blocks an uppercut.
Valkanov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Valkanov scores with a knee to the head.
Valkanov looks winded!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sotomayor.
Sotomayor is trying to push Valkanov away but Valkanov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Valkanov throws a head punch that misses.
Valkanov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Valkanov keeps control of Sotomayor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sotomayor is trying to break the clinch but Valkanov is controlling him.

Sotomayor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Valkanov closes the distance and clinches.
Valkanov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sotomayor can't break the clinch.
Sotomayor takes a shot to the head.
Sotomayor blocks an uppercut.
Valkanov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valkanov misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valkanov.
Sotomayor working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotomayor is trying to push Valkanov away but Valkanov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sotomayor has had enough of the clinch but Valkanov keeps him there for the moment.
A short right from Valkanov on the inside.
Valkanov tries to land a knee to the head but Sotomayor blocks with his arms.
Valkanov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Valkanov keeps control of Sotomayor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sotomayor is trying to force a seperation but Valkanov has the dominant position.
Sotomayor is trying to push Valkanov away but Valkanov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sotomayor tries to circle away but Valkanov has him pinned against the cage.
Sotomayor is trying to push Valkanov away but Valkanov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Valkanov misses with some punches.

Sotomayor breaks from the clinch.

Valkanov has managed to clinch.
Sotomayor wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sotomayor blocks an uppercut.
Sotomayor is trying to break the clinch but Valkanov has him pressed against the cage.
Sotomayor blocks an elbow strike.
Sotomayor is trying to break free.
Valkanov misses with a punch on the inside.
Sotomayor has had enough of the clinch but Valkanov keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sotomayor breaks from the clinch.
Sotomayor jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A cross from Sotomayor lands.

Valkanov closes the distance and clinches.
Sotomayor blocks an uppercut.

Sotomayor breaks the clinch.
Sotomayor swats away the attempt to clinch by Valkanov.
Sotomayor went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Sotomayor swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Valkanov.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Valkanov clinches up with Sotomayor and pushes him back against the cage.
Sotomayor can't break the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valkanov.
Valkanov misses with the head strike.
Sotomayor has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sotomayor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sotomayor.
Sotomayor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Valkanov has him pressed against the cage.
Sotomayor working hard to break the clinch.
Valkanov has a couple of punches blocked by Sotomayor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victorio Valkanov 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.

Valkanov takes the fight into the clinch.
Victorio Valkanov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Valkanov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sotomayors head.
Valkanov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sotomayor looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Valkanov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sotomayor is trying to force a seperation but Valkanov has the dominant position.
A short right from Valkanov.
Valkanov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sotomayor's efforts to push away.
Sotomayor blocks an uppercut.
Sotomayor blocks the elbow strike.
Valkanov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sotomayor blocks it with crossed arms.
Valkanov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sotomayor backwards.
Sotomayor is trying to force a seperation but Valkanov has the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valkanov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Valkanov has Sotomayor pressed against the cage, preventing Sotomayor from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sotomayor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Valkanov has him pressed against the cage.
Valkanov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sotomayor wants to break free but Valkanov has control.
Sotomayor tries to break free but Valkanov pushes him back against the cage.
Valkanov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Valkanov is breathing heavily.
Sotomayor is trying to break the clinch but Valkanov has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valkanov throws a punch but it's blocked by Sotomayor.
Sotomayor is trying to break the clinch but Valkanov is controlling him.
Valkanov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sotomayor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sotomayor is trying to break the clinch but Valkanov has him pressed against the cage.
Valkanov gets through Sotomayor's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Valkanov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Valkanov misses with a punch on the inside.
Valkanov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Valkanov prevents Sotomayor from breaking the clinch.
Valkanov throws a punch but it's blocked by Sotomayor.
Valkanov throws a head punch that misses.
Sotomayor tries to circle away but Valkanov has him pinned against the cage.
Valkanov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Valkanov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Valkanov prevents Sotomayor from breaking the clinch.
Valkanov prevents Sotomayor from breaking the clinch.
Sotomayor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Valkanov has him pressed against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Valkanov.
Sotomayor blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sotomayor is trying to break the clinch but Valkanov has him pressed against the cage.
Sotomayor is trying to break free.
Sotomayor is trying to push Valkanov away but Valkanov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sotomayor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Valkanov has him pressed against the cage.
Valkanov misses with the head strike.
Sotomayor tries to circle away but Valkanov has him pinned against the cage.
Sotomayor working hard to break the clinch.
Sotomayor wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sotomayor is trying to break the clinch but Valkanov is controlling him.
Valkanov prevents Sotomayor from breaking the clinch.
Valkanov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sotomayor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valkanov.
Sotomayor tries to break free but Valkanov pushes him back against the cage.
Sotomayor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sotomayor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sotomayor blocks an uppercut.
Sotomayor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Valkanov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sotomayor tries to break the clinch but Valkanov is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valkanov misses with a punch on the inside.
Valkanov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Valkanov misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Valkanov fails to land.
Valkanov keeps control of Sotomayor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Valkanov prevents Sotomayor from breaking the clinch.
Sotomayor is trying to break the clinch but Valkanov is controlling him.
Sotomayor blocking some punches.
Valkanov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Valkanov prevents Sotomayor from breaking the clinch.
Sotomayor blocks an uppercut.
Sotomayor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Valkanov fails to land.
Sotomayor has had enough of the clinch but Valkanov keeps him there for the moment.
Sotomayor wants to break the clinch but can't.
A frustrated look appears on Sotomayor's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Valkanov has a couple of punches blocked by Sotomayor.
Sotomayor blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sotomayor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Valkanov has him pressed against the cage.
Valkanov misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sotomayor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Sotomayor's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Valkanov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sotomayor wants to break free but Valkanov has control.
Sotomayor is trying to force a seperation but Valkanov has the dominant position.
Valkanov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Valkanov throws a head punch that misses.
Valkanov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valkanov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sotomayor has had enough of the clinch but Valkanov keeps him there for the moment.
Valkanov working aggressively here.
Valkanov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valkanov has a couple of punches blocked by Sotomayor.
Valkanov has a couple of punches blocked by Sotomayor.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sotomayor is trying to break free.
Valkanov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sotomayor's efforts to push away.
Sotomayor wants to break the clinch but can't.
Valkanov lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victorio Valkanov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sotomayor lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Valkanov circles away quickly and effectively.
Valkanov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sotomayor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sotomayor misses with a series of wild punches.
Valkanov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sotomayor lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Valkanov circles away quickly and effectively.

Valkanov moves into the clinch successfully.
Valkanov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valkanov swings wildly with an uppercut but Sotomayor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valkanov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valkanov lands with a short shot to the head.
Sotomayor has had enough of the clinch but Valkanov keeps him there for the moment.
Valkanov misses with some punches.
Valkanov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valkanov swings wildly with an uppercut but Sotomayor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valkanov prevents Sotomayor from breaking the clinch.
Valkanov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sotomayor can't break the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Valkanov.
Sotomayor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotomayor has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sotomayor blocking some punches.
Sotomayor wants to get back to striking at distance but Valkanov won't allow it.
Valkanov prevents Sotomayor from breaking the clinch.
Valkanov throws a punch but it's blocked by Sotomayor.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valkanov.
Valkanov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sotomayor backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valkanov.
Valkanov has a couple of punches blocked by Sotomayor.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Valkanov.
Valkanov has Sotomayor pressed against the cage, preventing Sotomayor from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Valkanov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sotomayor's efforts to push away.
Sotomayor wants to break the clinch but can't.
Valkanov scores with a shoulder strike.
Sotomayor looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Valkanov misses with the head strike.
Valkanov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sotomayor blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valkanov prevents Sotomayor from breaking the clinch.

Sotomayor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sotomayor misses with a double jab.
Sotomayor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Valkanov wants to clinch up but Sotomayor keeps it at a distance.
Valkanov slips a jab and a cross from Sotomayor.

Valkanov closes the distance and clinches.
Sotomayor has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sotomayor takes a shot to the head.
Sotomayor looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sotomayor looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sotomayor is looking to break free of the clinch but Valkanov has double underhooks.
Sotomayor is trying to break the clinch but Valkanov is controlling him.
Valkanov lands with a left to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sotomayor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sotomayor is trying to break the clinch but Valkanov is controlling him.
A short uppercut from Valkanov.
Valkanov throws a head punch that misses.
Valkanov tries to land a knee to the head but Sotomayor blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valkanov misses with a punch on the inside.
Valkanov swings wildly with an uppercut but Sotomayor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valkanov throws a head punch that misses.
Sotomayor wants to break the clinch but can't.
Valkanov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sotomayor wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sotomayor is trying to break free.
A head punch on the inside from Valkanov fails to land.
Sotomayor has had enough of the clinch but Valkanov keeps him there for the moment.
Valkanov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valkanov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sotomayor wants to break free but Valkanov has control.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sotomayor.
Sotomayor wants to get back to striking at distance but Valkanov won't allow it.
Sotomayor wants to break the clinch but can't.
Valkanov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sotomayor can't break the clinch.
Sotomayor tries to break the clinch but Valkanov is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valkanov misses with a punch on the inside.
Valkanov throws a head punch that misses.
Valkanov misses with the head strike.
Sotomayor is trying to force a seperation but Valkanov has the dominant position.
Sotomayor is looking to break free of the clinch but Valkanov has double underhooks.
Sotomayor tries to break the clinch but Valkanov is controlling the position.
Sotomayor tries to break free but Valkanov pushes him back against the cage.
Valkanov has a couple of punches blocked by Sotomayor.
Valkanov throws a punch but it's blocked by Sotomayor.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valkanov.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valkanov.
Sotomayor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Valkanov fails to land.
Sotomayor wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sotomayor working hard to break the clinch.
Valkanov misses with a punch on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Sotomayor's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Exar Sotomayor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Victorio Valkanov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Valkanov throws a punch but it's blocked by Sotomayor.
With the fighters up against the cage, Valkanov throws an elbow but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victorio Valkanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Valkanov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 26:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victorio Valkanov!