PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dante Gael Roman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and German Valdez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gael Roman
vs
Valdez

183 cm
19
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
32
117 lbs
2 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dante Gael Roman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, German Valdez!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Valdez closes the distance and clinches up with Roman, looking for a takedown. Valdez pushes Roman against the cage but Roman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Valdez keeps the fight on the outside.
Roman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Roman tries to clinch up but Valdez circles away and keeps his distance.
Valdez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Roman closes the distance and clinches.
Roman has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Valdez after a bit of a struggle.
Roman stalling in the clinch but Valdez improves position.
Roman changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Valdez fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Roman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Valdez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Valdez shoots for a takedown but Roman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dante Gael Roman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of German Valdez.

Roman clinches up against the cage.

Roman tightens his grip and picks Valdez up, before dumping him to the ground. Valdez manages to land in guard.
Roman lands a couple of digs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Roman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Valdez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Roman keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Valdez's head.

Valdez manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roman clinches.
Roman is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Valdez is defending well.
Valdez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Roman prevents it.

Roman jumps into guard, dragging Valdez to the mat.

Roman has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Valdez is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Roman.
Roman wants to control but Valdez postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman is not content to let Valdez control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Roman is looking for a sweep.

German Valdez has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Valdez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Roman swivels and escapes.
Valdez shoots in looking for a takedown but Roman manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Valdez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Roman moves in looking to clinch but Valdez pushes him off.

Valdez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Roman's half guard.
Roman is looking to control Valdez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Roman avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roman is trying to get back to full guard.
Roman is controlling Valdez's trapped leg to prevent Valdez from advancing to side control.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dante Gael Roman just wasn't active enough.
Valdez fails with a takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Roman wants it to stay on the feet.
Valdez shoots in for a takedown but Roman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Gael Roman dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Roman looks to score with a jab to the body but Valdez is just out of range.
Roman misses with a two punch combination.
Valdez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Roman is fending him off so far but Valdez persists. Nope, Roman circles away and we're back to standing.
German Valdez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valdez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Roman avoids it really well and circles away.
Valdez tries for a takedown but Roman circles away easily

and Roman counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Dante Gael Roman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of German Valdez.
Roman is trying to control. Valdez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Roman is looking for a kimura but Valdez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Roman to get the leverage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Roman wants to work for an arm triangle but Valdez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Valdez is looking to escape.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Roman in particular looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Valdez manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Roman is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Valdez's half guard.
Roman is taking a breather. Valdez says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Roman thows a huge punch but Valdez dodges it nicely.
Roman throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman tries to pass to full mount but Valdez defends it.
Roman lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Roman trying to control the pace.
Valdez looks like he's trying to stand up.
Roman sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Roman is working for a submission of some sort.

Roman is working for a kimura but Valdez is defending it quite comfortably.
Roman slips a nice elbow through Valdez's hands, connecting with Valdez's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdez pushes Roman off looking to stand but Roman dives back in and keeps control.
Roman tries to pass the half guard into mount. Valdez knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Roman prevents Valdez from standing back up.
Valdez won't allow Roman to pass to mount.
Valdez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Roman is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Valdez has managed to free his arm - good work.

Roman is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Valdez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Valdez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Roman.
Roman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Valdez defending well though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Valdez is trying to stand back up but Roman is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman lands with a punch from half guard.
Roman landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Roman is controlling the pace.
Valdez is trying to stand.
Roman thows a huge punch but Valdez dodges it nicely.

Valdez manages to escape and get back to his feet!
German Valdez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roman wants to clinch.

Roman gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Roman wants to break free but Valdez has control.
Roman pressing his opponent against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roman tries to pull guard but Valdez forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Valdez is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Roman prevents a takedown attempt there.

Roman pulls guard successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Valdez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
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!
Roman wants to improve his position but instead Valdez has moved into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roman is looking to control Valdez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Roman avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Gael Roman dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Valdez tries for a takedown but Roman circles away easily

and Roman counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dante Gael Roman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Roman wants to control from the top but Valdez keeps moving.
Valdez wants to get back to his feet but Roman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Valdez is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Roman is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Valdez wants to get back to his feet but Roman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Valdez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Roman trying to control the position from guard on top but Valdez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roman prevents Valdez from getting back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Dante Gael Roman has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Roman. No joy for Valdez on that attempt.

Roman darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Valdez is trying to stand.
Valdez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roman is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Valdez defends it well.
Roman tries to pass to full mount but Valdez defends it.
Valdez wants to get back to his feet.
Roman thows a huge punch but Valdez dodges it nicely.
Valdez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Roman scores with a couple of nice shots.
Roman sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Roman trying to pass the guard but Valdez defending well.
Valdez wants to get back to his feet.
Roman with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Roman trying to control the pace.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Roman prevents Valdez from standing back up.
Roman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Valdez is defending against the submission attempts here by Roman.
Roman throwing shots but Valdez is blocking nicely.
Valdez tries to kick Roman off but Roman keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Roman seems to be working for a kimura but Valdez defends the submission attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Roman seems to be looking for submissions.
Roman is taking a breather. Valdez says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Roman is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Valdez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Valdez is trying to stand.

Roman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Valdez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Roman.
Roman stops Valdez from getting back to his feet.

Roman wants to work for an arm triangle but Valdez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Valdez is trying to stand back up but Roman is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roman scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Roman looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Roman wants to take a breather but Valdez is having none of it.
Roman working Valdez over with strikes.
Roman looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Valdez is trying to stand.

Roman is working for a submission of some sort.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valdez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
German Valdez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dante Gael Roman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Valdez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dante Gael Roman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Roman has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dante Gael Roman!