PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ken Irrawaddy (ranked 2474 p4p, 1154 weight class) and DeMario Valdez (ranked 246 p4p, 122 weight class). Irrawaddy kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Laos Rules!. Valdez has chosen Era - Ameno as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Irrawaddy
vs
Valdez

173 cm
29
155
17 - 11 - 0

180 cm
32
154
21 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ken Irrawaddy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, DeMario Valdez!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Joseph Jones and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Irrawaddy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Valdez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Irrawaddy misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Valdez. Irrawaddy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Irrawaddy moves out of range as Valdez strikes.
Irrawaddy takes a kick to the side of the head.
Irrawaddy throws a series of punches but Valdez moves out of range.
Valdez is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Irrawaddy with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Valdez. Irrawaddy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Valdez takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Irrawaddy works over Valdez's head and body with a nice combination.
Irrawaddy misses with a jab to the body
and Irrawaddy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Irrawaddy bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Valdez's head backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Irrawaddy fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Valdez looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
We've been informed that Valdez has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Valdez throws a head kick that misses.
Irrawaddy getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Irrawaddy throws a nice looking combination but Valdez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irrawaddy uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Irrawaddy misses with a looping left.
Irrawaddy throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Irrawaddy misses with a wild body shot.
Irrawaddy looks to score with a jab to the body but Valdez is just out of range.
Valdez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Irrawaddy thows a left - swing and a miss!
Irrawaddy jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Irrawaddy scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Valdez doesn't seem bothered though.
Irrawaddy lands a nice hook to Valdez's body. Valdez takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Irrawaddy swings for the body but Valdez moves out of range.
Irrawaddy misses with a looping right.
Irrawaddy tries to clinch there but Valdez circles away.
Irrawaddy tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Valdez was well out of range. Poor timing from Irrawaddy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Irrawaddy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Irrawaddy takes a swing at Valdez's ribcage but misses.
Valdez is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Valdez instigates a clinch.

Irrawaddy drags the fight down to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Irrawaddy manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Valdez manages to get himself to full guard.

Irrawaddy sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Valdez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Irrawaddy trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Irrawaddy throws a big elbow that misses.
Irrawaddy with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Irrawaddy dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Irrawaddy misses with a body shot.
Irrawaddy tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Valdez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Irrawaddy lands with a right hand.
Irrawaddy looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Irrawaddy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Valdez throws a sloppy head kick and Irrawaddy moves out of range easily.
Valdez misses with a head kick.
Irrawaddy wants to clinch.
Valdez wants to counter the offense by Irrawaddy and move into the clinch position.
Valdez lands with a nice body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irrawaddy works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Valdez plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Irrawaddy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Valdez can do to turn this around?
Valdez misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez throws a head kick that misses.
Irrawaddy was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Irrawaddy catches Valdez with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Valdez swings for the body but Irrawaddy moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Irrawaddy - just one landing.
Valdez throws a predictable looking body shot
and Irrawaddy counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Irrawaddy. Valdez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Valdez throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A big right from Irrawaddy misses.
Irrawaddy jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Valdez tries to move into range but Irrawaddy moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Valdez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Valdez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Irrawaddy loads up on a big right hand but Valdez slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irrawaddy misses with a hook
and Valdez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Valdez misses with a head kick.
Irrawaddy misses with a double jab.
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!
Irrawaddy connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Valdez's hands.
Valdez gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Valdez swats away the attempt to clinch by Irrawaddy.

Valdez clinches.
Irrawaddy misses with a punch on the inside.
Valdez lands with a short shot to the head.
Irrawaddy jumps guard but Valdez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Irrawaddy jumps guard but Valdez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Irrawaddy pulls Valdez into guard.
Irrawaddy trying to control the position.
Valdez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ken Irrawaddy will probably get the nod.
That's time! Irrawaddy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Irrawaddy rushes Valdez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Irrawaddy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A shot in the inside from Valdez.
Valdez digs a right hand underneath Irrawaddy's ribcage. Irrawaddy let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Valdez throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Irrawaddys head.
Irrawaddy tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Valdez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Irrawaddy's elbow.
A right handed body shot lands from Irrawaddy.
Nice body punch from Valdez.
Valdez effectively controlling the action here.
Still in the clinch, Valdez scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valdez blocks an uppercut.

Irrawaddy jumps guard.
Irrawaddy wants to sweep but no luck.
Valdez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Irrawaddy looking to hit a scissor sweep but Valdez is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irrawaddy looking to control but Valdez passes into half guard.
Irrawaddy is looking for a sweep. Valdez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Irrawaddy trying to get back to full guard but Valdez takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Irrawaddy keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Irrawaddy is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irrawaddy slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Irrawaddy is looking for a sweep. Valdez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Irrawaddy gets full guard.
Valdez preventing the sweep.
Valdez slips nicely into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Irrawaddy wants to control but Valdez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Irrawaddy wants to improve his position but Valdez is controlling well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

DeMario Valdez really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Valdez misses the shot to the body.
Irrawaddy takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Irrawaddy misses with a looping right.
Irrawaddy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Valdez moves away.
Irrawaddy looks to land a left hand but Valdez moved out of range nicely.
Irrawaddy tries to clinch there but Valdez circles away.
Irrawaddy loads up on a big right hand but Valdez slips the punch.
Irrawaddy bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
An attempted straight right counter from Irrawaddy misses the target.
Valdez is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Irrawaddy rather than just go for the knockout.
Valdez slips under a jab from Irrawaddy.
Valdez is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irrawaddy walks into a jab.
Irrawaddy throws a hook to the side of Valdez's head but Valdez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ken Irrawaddy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valdez avoids the body shot from Irrawaddy.
Valdez steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Irrawaddy.
Valdez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Irrawaddy.
Irrawaddy takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Irrawaddy.
Valdez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Valdez throws a quick inside leg kick.
Irrawaddy misses with a shot to the body
and Valdez counters with a left to the body.
Irrawaddy misses with a body shot.
Valdez throws a big counter head kick but Irrawaddy avoids it with no problem.
Valdez thuds a left hand into Irrawaddy's body.
Irrawaddy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Valdez manages to avoid it.
Irrawaddy blocks a head kick by Valdez.
Irrawaddy swings for the body but Valdez moves out of range.
Irrawaddy throws a body shot but no joy.
Valdez on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Irrawaddy takes a swing at Valdez's ribcage but misses.
Valdez scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irrawaddy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Valdez manages to avoid it.
Irrawaddy throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Valdez on the side of the head.
Valdez takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Irrawaddy misses with a looping left.
Valdez thinks about the counter body kick.
Valdez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Irrawaddy misses its target.
Irrawaddy's jab looks to have found its range, popping Valdez under the eye.
Valdez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Irrawaddy throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Valdez counters with a stiff right hand.
Valdez misses with the body kick
and Irrawaddy counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Irrawaddy throws a good cross that connects.
Irrawaddy takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Irrawaddy misses with a looping right.
Irrawaddy throws a hook but Valdez blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Ken Irrawaddy will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Valdez misses with a looping left.
DeMario Valdez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters circling - Irrawaddy throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Valdez looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Irrawaddy scores with the left hand. Valdez knows he should have avoided that one.
Valdez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Irrawaddy manages to avoid it.
Valdez throws a half hearted mid kick.
Valdez misses with a hook
and Irrawaddy makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Irrawaddy lands a right hook to the body.
Nice defenses there by Valdez.
Irrawaddy swings for the body but Valdez moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Irrawaddy misses.
Irrawaddy avoids the body shot from Valdez.
Irrawaddy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Valdez moves away.
Valdez takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez dodges the punch combination from Irrawaddy.
Irrawaddy lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Valdez prevents Irrawaddy from breaking the clinch.
Valdez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Irrawaddy.
Irrawaddy jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Valdez walks away with a smile on his face. Irrawaddy gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice uppercut lands for Valdez. That snapped Irrawaddy's head back.
Irrawaddy misses with a right hand

and Valdez counters by moving into the clinch.

Valdez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Valdez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Irrawaddy.
Valdez thuds a left hand into Irrawaddy's body.
Irrawaddy misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irrawaddy ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Irrawaddy lands an overhand right.
Valdez throws a lazy right hand but Irrawaddy sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Valdez scores with a leg kick.
Valdez looks to land a body kick but Irrawaddy moved away.
Irrawaddy fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ken Irrawaddy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ken Irrawaddy is winning the standup battle so far.
A jab from Valdez misses.
Irrawaddy takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Donk. Irrawaddy catches Valdez right on the button with a cross.
Irrawaddy cracks Valdez with a right hand to the side of the head.
Irrawaddy tries to close the distance and clinch but Valdez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Valdez throws a hook to the side of Irrawaddy's head but Irrawaddy sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A little feinted left hand from Irrawaddy on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ken Irrawaddy showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Irrawaddy has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 49:46
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 49:46
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ken Irrawaddy!