PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Valdes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and King Dela Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Valdes
vs
Dela Cruz

185 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

194 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vitor Valdes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, King Dela Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valdes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dela Cruz swivels and escapes.

Dela Cruz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Dela Cruz not doing much here.
Dela Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Valdes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Valdes is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dela Cruz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dela Cruz's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dela Cruz has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Valdes.
Dela Cruz just trying to survive but Valdes is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Dela Cruz takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Dela Cruz looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Valdes is punishing Dela Cruz with strikes - can he finish him?!
Dela Cruz trying to control but not successfully.
Valdes thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Valdes is trying to stick to Dela Cruz's back but Dela Cruz is turning into Valdes. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Valdes's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdes doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Valdes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dela Cruz's guard.
Valdes is pushing down on Dela Cruz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Dela Cruz is fighting to maintain full guard but Valdes has managed to sneak the leg through.
Valdes takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Dela Cruz keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dela Cruz is trying to maintain the position but Valdes is very close to passing his half guard.
Valdes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Valdes tries to pass to full mount but Dela Cruz defends it.
Dela Cruz tries to get to full guard but Valdes has control of the leg.
Valdes is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Dela Cruz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Valdes.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Dela Cruz looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Valdes manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Dela Cruz is wriggling around trying to escape.
Valdes lands a nice shot to the head.
Valdes in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Valdes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Valdes lands a big shot there that rocks Dela Cruz but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Valdes cracks Dela Cruz with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Valdes dominating with strikes here.
Dela Cruz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Dela Cruz tries to hold on but Valdes postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdes lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Dela Cruz tries to hold on but Valdes pushes him away.
Valdes unloading with bombs!
Valdes has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Dela Cruz's face.
Dela Cruz slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Dela Cruz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Valdes is working away from the top position though.
Valdes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dela Cruz can do anything to dispel that myth.
Valdes prevents Dela Cruz from improving his position.
Valdes lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Dela Cruz keeping hold of Valdes's head, controlling as best he can.
Dela Cruz missing with punches from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Valdes there.
Dela Cruz tries to get to full guard but Valdes has control of the leg.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Dela Cruz tries to bum rush Valdes with a series of wild strikes but Valdes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dela Cruz with a lazy takedown attempt

and Valdes decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Dela Cruz's guard.
Valdes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dela Cruz wants to sweep here but Valdes controlling him for the moment.
Dela Cruz looks gassed!
Valdes tries to free his leg and advance position but Dela Cruz is retaining full guard.
Dela Cruz striking off his back but it's not causing Valdes any problems.
Dela Cruz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Valdes dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dela Cruz misses with a head kick.
Valdes misses with a takedown

and Dela Cruz counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Valdes!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valdes is desperately trying to improve his position but Dela Cruz has a good base and remains in mount.
Dela Cruz landing shots from mount.
Valdes is squirming around, avoiding Dela Cruz's attempts to control the action.
Valdes regains half guard.
Dela Cruz slows the pace down in half guard.
Dela Cruz blocks the strikes from Valdes.
Valdes slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Dela Cruz advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdes strikes from the bottom but Dela Cruz uses the opportunity to move to side control.
A lull in the action here as Dela Cruz stalls from top position.
Valdes is looking to reverse the position.
Dela Cruz lands some shots froms side control.
Dela Cruz lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Dela Cruz is looking to take a break and control but Valdes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Valdes gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdes throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Valdes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz is keen to just control but Valdes is a slippery customer.
Valdes wants to improve his position but Dela Cruz is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Valdes manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dela Cruz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dela Cruz lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Dela Cruz connects with a couple of short punches.
Dela Cruz with a nice head shot there.
Dela Cruz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Dela Cruz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dela Cruz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Valdes looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Dela Cruz puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdes is looking for a sweep. Dela Cruz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Valdes flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Valdes is not content to let Dela Cruz control the position.
Valdes gets full guard.
Valdes keeping moving, preventing Dela Cruz from controlling successfully.
Dela Cruz working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Valdes's head.
Valdes thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Dela Cruz wants to control from the top but Valdes keeps moving.
Valdes wants to sweep but no luck.
Dela Cruz passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Dela Cruz content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Valdes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Valdes lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Dela Cruz scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Valdes is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dela Cruz scores with a couple of nice shots.
Valdes throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Dela Cruz seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Valdes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Valdes regains full guard. Nicely done.
Valdes wants to sweep but no luck.
Dela Cruz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Valdes thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Valdes striking off his back but it's not causing Dela Cruz any problems.
Dela Cruz scoring with some ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valdes throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King Dela Cruz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Dela Cruz looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Valdes missing with punches from the bottom.
Valdes is staying active underneath Dela Cruz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Valdes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dela Cruz trying to control from half guard but Valdes is working away.
Valdes tries to roll over but Dela Cruz keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valdes flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Dela Cruz is trying to control. Valdes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Dela Cruz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Valdes counters with a single leg into guard. Dela Cruz didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdes is looking to work some ground and pound but Dela Cruz has wrist control.
Valdes lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Dela Cruz throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Dela Cruz tries to strike from the bottom.
Valdes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Valdes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Valdes throwing strikes from guard but Dela Cruz blocks nicely.
Dela Cruz punching to the body, from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Valdes scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Dela Cruz punching from the bottom.
Valdes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Valdes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz trying to control from the bottom.
Dela Cruz tries to roll over but Valdes keeps him under control.
Valdes working over Dela Cruz with some ground and pound. Dela Cruz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Dela Cruz trying to control but Valdes postures up.
Valdes working Dela Cruz over with strikes.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Valdes shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Dela Cruz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Dela Cruz content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Valdes is looking to improve his position.
Dela Cruz is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdes is not content to let Dela Cruz control the position.
Dela Cruz moves nicely into side control.
Dela Cruz is chipping away with strikes.
Valdes tries to bench press Dela Cruz off him but Dela Cruz keeps the position.
Dela Cruz working the head with strikes.
Valdes tries to buck Dela Cruz off but Dela Cruz is having none of it.
Dela Cruz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Valdes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Check out the look on Dela Cruz's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Dela Cruz cracks Valdes with a big right hand but Valdes just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Dela Cruz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Valdes keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dela Cruz cracks Valdes with a big elbow.
Dela Cruz working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Valdes tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dela Cruz lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Valdes takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Valdes is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Dela Cruz is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Dela Cruz with a couple of short strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dela Cruz controlling the pace for now.
Dela Cruz lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Valdes hang on?

And that's the end of the fight!
King Dela Cruz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dela Cruz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... King Dela Cruz!