PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Knees Clinch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ramonez Valderon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valderon has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Clinch
vs
Valderon

189 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Knees Clinch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ramonez Valderon!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Daniel Cesar and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clinch shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Valderon defends it nicely.
Clinch tries to score a power double leg takedown but Valderon sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Clinch somewhat.
Clinch tries to clinch but Valderon is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Clinch shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Clinch content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clinch has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Clinch is looking to advance position but Valderon won't allow it.

Clinch stands up from half guard.
Valderon looks gassed!
Clinch shoots for a double leg takedown but Valderon sprawls well. He's pushed Clinch's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Knees Clinch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clinch doesn't manage to clinch there - Valderon circles away.
Valderon leaves Clinch with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Clinch walks forward, straight into a front kick from Valderon.
Clinch looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Valderon throws a leg kick but Clinch sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Valderon throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Clinch tries to clinch up.
Valderon misses with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clinch tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Valderon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A low kick from Clinch is predictable there
and Valderon counters with a nice leg kick.
Valderon throws the kick towards the body but Clinch avoids it.

Clinch shoots in and gets a takedown into Valderon's guard.
Clinch seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Clinch pushes down on Valderon's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clinch frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Clinch looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Clinch controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Knees Clinch dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Valderon keeps the fight on the outside.
Clinch doesn't manage to clinch there - Valderon circles away.
Clinch tries to clinch but Valderon moves out of range.
Clinch tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Valderon paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clinch changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Valderon tries to avoid it but Clinch manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Valderon to the ground. Valderon escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Clinch shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Valderon but Valderon pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Clinch shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Knees Clinch. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clinch shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Valderon pinned against the cage. Valderon gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Clinch tries to close the distance and clinch but Valderon swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Valderon leaves Clinch with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Valderon tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Valderon throws a low kick but Clinch moves out of range easily.
Valderon fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Clinch has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Clinch blocks a head kick by Valderon.
Clinch closes this distance looking for a takedown but Valderon circles away.
Nice body kick from Valderon.
Valderon thumps Clinch with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valderon explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Clinch tries to clinch up but Valderon circles away and keeps his distance.
An inside leg kick lands from Valderon.
Valderon 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.
Valderon fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Clinch has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Valderon scoring well with a low kick there.
Nice takedown defense from Valderon. No joy for Clinch on that attempt.

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.
Valderon fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Clinch checks it well.
Clinch tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Valderon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Some bone on bone action there as Clinch checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Valderon lands a head kick!
Valderon throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Valderon throws a nice outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ramonez Valderon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Clinch shoots in for a double leg but Valderon sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Clinch is trying hard to land a takedown here. Valderon sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Knees Clinch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valderon throws a chopping leg kick but Clinch manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clinch closes the distance and clinches up with Valderon, looking for a takedown. Clinch pushes Valderon against the cage but Valderon circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Valderon scores with a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Clinch avoids the head kick by Valderon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valderon throws a solid leg kick but Clinch takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Valderon.
Clinch shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Valderon but Valderon pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Clinch is looking to clinch.
Valderon tries to land a front kick but Clinch steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Clinch shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Valderon as he jumps to the side.

That's two 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.
A leg kick checked by Clinch.
Valderon looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Clinch gets the takedown into side control.

Clinch decides to stand back up. Clinch steps back and let's Valderon get back to his feet.
Valderon thows a leg kick but Clinch checks it

and Clinch counters with a single leg into guard. Valderon didn't expect that.
Clinch is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Valderon working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clinch scoring with some ground and pound.
Clinch is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Valderon is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Clinch stops Valderon from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Clinch gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Valderon misses with a head kick.
Valderon circles away from the clinch attempt.
Clinch tries to clinch up.
Clinch shoots for a takedown but Valderon saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Horrible takedown by Clinch or perhaps it was just good defense by Valderon which made him look bad.
Clinch tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Valderon counters with a solid body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Knees Clinch showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Clinch 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Knees Clinch!