PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Ortiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denis Valentinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ortiz
vs
Valentinov

173 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Miguel Ortiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Denis Valentinov!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Luis Engracia and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentinov tries a head kick but it misses.
Ortiz throws a head kick that misses.
Ortiz avoids the body shot from Valentinov.

Valentinov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ortiz's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Valentinov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Valentinov postures up and lands a big shot to Ortiz's brow.
Valentinov stops Ortiz from standing up.
Valentinov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Valentinov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Ortiz lands a nice looking kick to the body. Valentinov takes a step back to recover.
Valentinov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ortiz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Valentinov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Valentinov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Valentinov lands some shots froms side control.
Valentinov is working Ortiz over with some ground and pound from side control.
Valentinov working the body and head with strikes.
Valentinov happy to just control the position for now.
Valentinov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Valentinov lands some shots froms side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Valentinov cracks Ortiz with a big right hand but Ortiz just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Valentinov stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentinov misses with a head kick.
Valentinov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Miguel Ortiz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Valentinov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ortiz to the ground. Valentinov is now in Ortiz's guard.
Ortiz being controlled here, momentarily.
Valentinov is pushing down on Ortiz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ortiz is fighting to maintain full guard but Valentinov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ortiz is breathing heavily.
Valentinov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Denis Valentinov.

Valentinov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Valentinov decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Valentinov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ortiz misses with a wild combination.

Valentinov feints and as Ortiz raises his hands in defense, Valentinov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Valentinov content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Valentinov on the ground.
Valentinov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Valentinov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ortiz's head.
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!
Valentinov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Valentinov slips nicely into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ortiz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Valentinov is nestled in close to Ortiz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Valentinov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Good exchange - Valentinov coming out on top.
Ortiz lands a leg kick that knocks Valentinov off balance momentarily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ortiz.
Ortiz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Valentinov.

Valentinov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Valentinov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ortiz to see if he's OK.
Valentinov working the ground and pound.
Valentinov is staying tight to Ortiz's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Ortiz wants to get back to his feet but Valentinov is dominant here and he's now got Ortiz's back!
Valentinov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Valentinov biding his time, looking for the opening.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valentinov lands with a hammerfist to the side of Ortiz's head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Valentinov is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentinov connects with a big shot to the side of Ortiz's head.
Valentinov punishes Ortiz with strikes from the back mount.
Valentinov is landing with strikes from the back.
Valentinov trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Ortiz doesn't escape.
Valentinov is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Valentinov gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Valentinov gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Valentinov apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Valentinov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Valentinov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valentinov slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentinov is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Ortiz!
Valentinov controlling from mount.
Valentinov landing strikes, looking to finish!
Denis Valentinov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Valentinov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Valentinov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ortiz hang on?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentinov controlling his opponent.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Valentinov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Valentinov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentinov landing shots from mount.
Valentinov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Valentinov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Valentinov fails to land with a series of punches.
Valentinov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A punch combination from Ortiz misses.
Ortiz lands a high kick!
Ortiz looks to land a combination. Valentinov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Valentinov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Valentinov looks to land a left hand but Ortiz moved out of range nicely.

Valentinov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ortiz!
The referee warns Ortiz that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Valentinov controlling from the full mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Valentinov landing punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentinov with good strikes from the mount here!
Valentinov lands a big shot there that rocks Ortiz but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Ortiz takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Valentinov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Valentinov landing strikes, looking to finish!
Valentinov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Miguel Ortiz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentinov landing shots from mount.
Valentinov scoring with strikes but Ortiz is staying in there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valentinov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Valentinov has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ortiz's face.
Valentinov cracks Ortiz with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Ortiz is bucking up trying to escape but Valentinov cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Valentinov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Valentinov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Valentinov looking to finish Ortiz with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ortiz!
Valentinov lands with some strikes.
Ortiz taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentinov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Valentinov lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valentinov controlling from the full mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Valentinov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
Denis Valentinov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Valentinov 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 Seu Braga scores the fight for Denis Valentinov!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Denis Valentinov!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Denis Valentinov!

Denis Valentinov wins by unanimous decision!