PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Igor Valuev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Ortiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juan Ortiz acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Valuev
vs
Ortiz

170 cm
24
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

168 cm
24
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Igor Valuev!
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, Juan Ortiz!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Paulo Santos and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ortiz throws the kick towards the body but Valuev avoids it.
Ortiz is looking to clinch but Valuev is avoiding it.
Sloppy strikes from Valuev. Those never looked like landing.
Valuev 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.

Ortiz darts in and clinches Valuev up against the cage.

Ortiz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ortiz throws a right and a left that Valuev avoids nicely.
Ortiz throws a sloppy head kick and Valuev moves out of range easily.
Valuev is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ortiz.

It looks like Igor Valuev has been cut.
Ortiz wants to land a leg kick but Valuev is out of range.
Ortiz tries a low kick but Valuev avoids it.
Ortiz throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Some wild striking there from Ortiz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ortiz moves to clinch but Valuev breaks away

and Valuev counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Valuev.

Valuev gets control of Ortiz's arms and successfully pulls guard. Valuev will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Valuev kicks Ortiz off and gets to his feet.
Ortiz throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Valuev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Valuev throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Valuev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ortiz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Valuev takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz lands with a straight right. Valuev didn't see that one coming.
Ortiz throws a low kick but Valuev avoids it.
Ortiz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Valuev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ortiz sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Valuev somewhat.
Valuev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ortiz swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Igor Valuev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ortiz throws a leg kick that misses.
Ortiz misses with a head kick.
A nice combination there by Ortiz.

Ortiz forces Valuev back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ortiz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Valuev shoots in looking for a takedown but Ortiz manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Valuev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Valuev with a poor takedown
and Ortiz counters with a nice body shot.
Valuev shoots in for a double leg but Ortiz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ortiz throws a head kick that misses.
Juan Ortiz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ortiz throws a head kick that misses.
Ortiz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Valuev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ortiz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ortiz.
Valuev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ortiz avoids it really well and circles away.
A head kick misses from Ortiz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ortiz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ortiz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Valuev swats away the attempt to clinch by Ortiz.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ortiz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Ortiz dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Igor Valuev's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Valuev.
Ortiz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ortiz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Valuev misses with a combination

so Ortiz counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ortiz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Valuev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Valuev has his feet on Ortiz's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Ortiz scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Valuev shoots and misses
and Ortiz counters with a three punch combo that has Valuev backing up. Valuev nods at Ortiz to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valuev takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Valuev is rocked!
Valuev keeps the fight on the outside.
Oh Valuev is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ortiz enables Valuev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ortiz manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Valuev wants to control from the top but Ortiz keeps moving.
Valuev seems to have got his legs back now.
Ortiz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Valuev.
Ortiz is looking to stand up but Valuev isn't so interested in that idea.
Valuev scoring with punches to the head and body.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Valuev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ortiz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Valuev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valuev trying to control the position from guard on top but Ortiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valuev postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Valuev prevents Ortiz from getting back to his feet.
Valuev connects with a couple of short punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valuev distracts Ortiz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Valuev won't allow Ortiz to get back to his feet.
Ortiz is breathing heavily.
Ortiz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Valuev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Valuev scoring with some ground and pound.
Valuev passes into half guard.
Valuev scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nice strikes from Valuev there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valuev throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Valuev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Valuev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Valuev thows a huge punch but Ortiz dodges it nicely.
Ortiz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Valuev 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.
Valuev is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ortiz pushes Valuev off looking to stand but Valuev dives back in and keeps control.

Valuev is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Valuev uses his free foot to push down on Ortiz's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ortiz.
Valuev 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.
Valuev landing strikes from the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valuev lands a heavy elbow.
Ortiz is trying to stand.
Valuev looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Valuev raining down shots from the mount!
Valuev landing strikes from the mount.
Valuev is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ortiz can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Valuev unloading with bombs!
Valuev landing strikes, looking to finish!
Valuev lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Valuev working Ortiz over with strikes here.
Valuev punishing his opponent with strikes.
Valuev with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Valuev dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Igor Valuev's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ortiz gets a clinch.

Ortiz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ortiz stuns Valuev with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Valuev.
Good standup being displayed there by Ortiz as he connects with a hook.
Juan Ortiz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ortiz misses with a body kick.
Valuev checks a leg kick.
Valuev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Valuev fails with the takedown
and Ortiz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ortiz is looking to clinch but Valuev is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valuev keeps the fight on the outside.
Ortiz moves out of range as Valuev throws a body kick.
Igor Valuev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ortiz wants to clinch up but Valuev keeps it at a distance.
Valuev keeps the fight on the outside.
Ortiz misses with a head kick.
Juan Ortiz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ortiz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ortiz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Valuev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ortiz defends well and Valuev ends up having to push Ortiz into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Igor Valuev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ortiz tries to break the clinch but Valuev is controlling the position.
Ortiz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz tries to circle away but Valuev has him pinned against the cage.
Valuev tries to pull guard but Ortiz holds him up against the cage and eventually Valuev drops back down to his feet.
Valuev keeps control of Ortiz as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Valuev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Valuev looking for a takedown.
Valuev keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ortiz's efforts to push away.
Ortiz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Ortiz breaks the clinch.
Ortiz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Valuev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice takedown defense from Ortiz. No joy for Valuev on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valuev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ortiz manages to avoid it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Valuev is defended easily by Ortiz.
Valuev avoids the head kick by Ortiz.

Ortiz pushes Valuev up against the cage in a clinch.
Valuev looking to throw knees to the head but Ortiz is blocking nicely.
Ortiz is pressed up against the cage. Valuev has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ortiz down to the mat. Ortiz avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Ortiz rushes Valuev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Valuev drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ortiz pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz tries to close the distance and clinch but Valuev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ortiz scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Ortiz scores with a hook to the body. Valuev takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ortiz throws a head kick but Valuev moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ortiz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valuev keeps the fight on the outside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Ortiz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ortiz has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Ortiz!