PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Francisco Valdez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sven Verdek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Valdez
vs
Verdek

181 cm
19
166 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

167 cm
26
162 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Fight Club Clothing™

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Francisco Valdez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sven Verdek!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valdez staying out of range there.
Valdez checks a low kick from Verdek.
Verdek swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Valdez throws out a loose jab but Verdek uses good head movement to avoid it.
Verdek fails with a takedown attempt.
Verdek pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Valdez connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Verdek's hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valdez checks the leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Verdek.

Verdek gets the takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Valdez prevents Verdek from improving position.
Verdek advances to full mount.
Verdek wants to take Valdez's back here but Valdez is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

Verdek goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Valdez turns into him and now he's in Verdek's guard.

Verdek is looking for a triangle but Valdez pushes his legs off easily.
Valdez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdez wants to stand but Verdek is controlling his posture from full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Verdek is on top in guard.
Valdez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Verdek trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Verdek drops back looking for a leg! Valdez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Valdez manages to kick Verdek off! Verdek jumps back into Valdez's guard.

Verdek drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Valdez dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez preventing the sweep.
Verdek not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Valdez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Verdek's guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Verdek working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Valdez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Valdez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Verdek tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Valdez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Verdek throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Valdez escapes and throws Verdek's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Verdek looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Valdez decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Verdek ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Valdez slips under a jab from Verdek.
Valdez attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Valdez looks to land a left hand but Verdek moved out of range nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Verdek wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Valdez misses with a looping left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sven Verdek will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Valdez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Verdek thows a leg kick but Valdez checks it
and Valdez counters with a stiff right hand.
Valdez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Verdek lands a two punch combo.
Verdek throws a head kick but Valdez moves out of range.
Valdez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Verdek moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verdek misses with a double jab
and Valdez counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Sven Verdek has been cut.
Some wild striking there from Verdek.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Verdek on the side of the head.
Francisco Valdez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Valdez takes a swing at Verdek's ribcage but misses.
Valdez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Verdek.
Verdek moves out of range as Valdez strikes.
Valdez throws a head kick that misses.
Verdek misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Valdez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Danga de danga de dang - Valdez scores with a four punch combination!
Francisco Valdez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A shot to de liver by Verdek. Beautiful body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Verdek manages to avoid it.
Verdek turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Valdez is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Valdez blocks a leg kick.
Valdez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Verdek counters with a head kick. That will keep Valdez thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Verdek shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Valdez pinned against the cage. Valdez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Valdez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verdek misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Verdek throws a leg kick but Valdez sees it coming and moves out of range.
Valdez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Verdek moves away.
Valdez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Valdez is looking to score with low kicks.
Verdek connects with a jab.
Valdez tries a head kick but it misses.
Valdez with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Verdek gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Valdez counters with a series of strikes. Verdek will be more careful next time no doubt.
A right-left combo lands from Valdez.
Verdek takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Verdek shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Verdek showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Verdek thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Verdek wants to pass to mount but Valdez is defending the position.
Verdek is trying to control. Valdez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francisco Valdez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sven Verdek's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Valdez connects with a right hand. Verdek shakes it off.
Valdez misses with a combination

and Verdek counters with a single leg into guard. Valdez didn't expect that.
Valdez wants to get back to his feet but Verdek is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Verdek trying to control but Valdez is working from the bottom.
Valdez wants to stand but Verdek is controlling the position.
Verdek trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Verdek drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Verdek jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Verdek tries to free his leg and advance position but Valdez is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Verdek drops back looking for a leg! Valdez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Valdez manages to kick Verdek off! Verdek jumps back into Valdez's guard.
Verdek takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Valdez wants to stand up but Verdek is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Valdez lands with an overhand left.
Valdez tries to bum rush Verdek with a series of wild strikes but Verdek uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Valdez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Verdek.
Valdez swings for the body but Verdek moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Valdez throws a series of punches but Verdek avoids them all with ease.
Nice straight punches there by Valdez. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Valdez.
Verdek takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Verdek on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Verdek is rocked!
Valdez is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Verdek misses with a body shot.
Verdek will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Verdek is looking to chop away at Valdez's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez falls off balance throwing a combination
and Verdek counters with a left and a right that stings Valdez.
Valdez digs a good body shot into Verdek's ribs.
Valdez misses with a straight right.
Valdez fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Verdek on the side of the head.
Valdez leaves Verdek with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Francisco Valdez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Verdek slips a jab and a cross from Valdez.
Valdez moves out of range of the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Verdek misses with a kick to the body
and Valdez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Valdez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Verdek.
Verdek looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Francisco Valdez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sven Verdek.
Valdez misses with a straight left.
Verdek misses with a wild body shot.
Verdek misses with a leg kick.
Verdek takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francisco Valdez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Valdez 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:28

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