PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Demetrius Valdez (ranked 8191 p4p, 0 weight class) and Declan Newton (ranked 5783 p4p, 0 weight class). Newton has chosen Tribute - Tenacious D as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Valdez
vs
Newton

152 cm
24
140 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

225 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Demetrius Valdez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Declan Newton!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Paul Gruel and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valdez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Newton.
Valdez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Newton moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Newton blocks the body kick.
As Valdez backs off Newton throws a huge counter combo but Valdez manages to avoid it all.
Newton steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Valdez. That one must have hurt.
A punch combination from Newton misses.
Valdez could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
A punch combination from Newton misses.
Newton scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A right-left combo lands from Newton.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Newton throws a series of punches but Valdez avoids them all with ease.
Valdez attempts a counter takedown but Newton avoids it well and moves away.
Newton misses with a two punch combination.
A punch combination from Newton misses.
Newton swinging wildly here.
Newton looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valdez moves into the clinch.

Valdez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No joy there for Newton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Newton throws a nice looking combination but Valdez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Newton scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Newton blocks a jab.

Valdez instigates a clinch.
Valdez wants to take the fight to the mat but Newton manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Newton is trying to break the clinch but Valdez has him pressed against the cage.
Valdez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Newton is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Newton is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Valdez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Newton avoids the body shot from Valdez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton throws a series of punches but Valdez moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Valdez is defended easily by Newton.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demetrius Valdez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Newton fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Newton tries to bum rush Valdez with a series of wild strikes but Valdez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valdez is looking to clinch.
Newton lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Newton throws a right and a left that Valdez avoids nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Newton. Those never looked like landing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Valdez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A punch combination from Newton misses.
Valdez thinks about countering with a body kick.
Newton falls off balance throwing a combination
and Valdez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Valdez shoots in for a takedown but Newton shows good takedown defense.
Newton swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Valdez tried to counter with a leg kick but Newton avoided it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez tries to close the distance and clinch but Newton swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Danga de danga de dang - Newton scores with a four punch combination!
Valdez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Newton is fending him off so far but Valdez persists. Nope, Newton circles away and we're back to standing.
Newton throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Valdez throws a counter high kick but Newton was just alert enough to avoid it.
Newton throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Newton throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Newton looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Valdez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Newton.
Newton throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Valdez feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Newton looks winded!
Newton throws a series of punches but Valdez avoids them all with ease.
Newton looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Valdez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Newton wants to get back to striking at distance but Valdez won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newton wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Valdez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Newton lands with a nice combination. Valdez backs away looking to recover.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Valdez tries to clinch but Newton is having none of it.
Newton looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Valdez tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Newton manages to circle out of the way.
Newton swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Valdez counters with a solid body kick.
Newton misses with the combination.

Valdez clinches.
Newton wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Valdez breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Declan Newton dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Newton looks to land a combination. Valdez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Valdez dodges the punch combination from Newton.
Newton throws a series of punches but Valdez avoids them all with ease.
Valdez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Valdez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Declan Newton seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Valdez is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Newton.
Newton looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Valdez is looking to counter with head kicks.
Valdez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Newton sprawls well. Newton wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Valdez gets slowly back to his feet.
Newton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Newton throws a nice looking combination but Valdez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Newton misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newton misses with a two punch combination.

Valdez rushes Newton and presses him up against the cage.
Newton is looking to break free of the clinch but Valdez has double underhooks.
Newton wants to get back to striking at distance but Valdez won't allow it.

Valdez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Newton throws a nice looking combination but Valdez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Newton throws a series of punches but Valdez avoids them all with ease.
Newton swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Valdez slips a jab and a cross from Newton.
Valdez feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Newton throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Valdez counters with a good, hard body kick but Newton shrugs it off.
Newton is breathing heavily.
Newton throws a series of punches but Valdez moves out of range.
Valdez jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Declan Newton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Newton tries to bum rush Valdez with a series of wild strikes but Valdez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
It appears Valdez was looking to counter with a kick there.
Newton misses with a two punch combination.
Newton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Valdez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Valdez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Newton throws a right and a left that both miss.
Newton has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Valdez.
Newton looks to land a combination but Valdez avoids it well.
Newton misses with a few strikes there.
Valdez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Newton's waist but Newton gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Valdez off to one side.
Valdez is looking to clinch but Newton is avoiding it.
Newton throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Valdez counters with a good, hard body kick but Newton shrugs it off.
Valdez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Newton sprawls well. Newton wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Valdez gets slowly back to his feet.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demetrius Valdez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez fails with the takedown.
Valdez misses with a body kick.
Newton keeps the fight on the outside.
Newton throws a nice looking combination but Valdez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Newton scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Newton swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Valdez finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Valdez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Newton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Valdez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Declan Newton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Newton misses with a few strikes there.
Sloppy strikes from Newton. Those never looked like landing.
Valdez appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

Valdez darts in and clinches Newton up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Valdez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Valdez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Newton but Newton pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Newton goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Valdez throws a head kick that misses.
Valdez slips a jab and a cross from Newton.
Valdez jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Newton misses with a combination
and Valdez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Newton throws a left and a right that both miss
and Valdez counters with a nice low kick that buckles Newton's knee momentarily.
Valdez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Newton.

Valdez rushes Newton and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Declan Newton 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Newton misses with a double jab
and Valdez counters with a stiff right hand.
Newton throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Valdez counters with a thumping low kick.
Valdez wants to clinch up but Newton keeps it at a distance.
Valdez dodges the punch combination from Newton.
Newton swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Valdez counters with a good low kick that Newton was not able to check.
Newton swats away the attempt to clinch by Valdez.
Valdez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valdez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Newton looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A combination from Newton does no damage.
Valdez swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newton scores with a three punch combo!
Newton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Valdez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Newton feints a jab promting Valdez to slip. Newton then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Valdez slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Valdez moves in looking to clinch but Newton pushes him off.
Valdez throws the kick towards the body but Newton avoids it.
Declan Newton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Newton stuffs the takedown attempt from Valdez. Valdez gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demetrius Valdez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Newton scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Newton lands a two punch combo.
A punch combination from Newton misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Valdez clinches up against the cage.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Valdez. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Valdez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Newton throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Valdez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton lands with a nice combination. Valdez backs away looking to recover.
Valdez slips a jab and a cross from Newton.
Valdez tries to clinch up but Newton circles away and keeps his distance.
Newton misses with a double jab.
Valdez tries to clinch up.
Valdez slips a jab and a cross from Newton.
Newton defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Valdez.
Valdez doesn't manage to clinch there - Newton circles away.
Newton throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Valdez is looking to clinch.

Valdez clinches up against the cage.

Valdez breaks from the clinch.
Newton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Newton wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Newton sprawls well. Newton wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Valdez gets slowly back to his feet.
Valdez dodges the punch combination from Newton.
Newton misses with a wild combination.
Newton fails to land with a series of punches.
Newton throws a combination that misses
and Valdez counters with a big head kick but Newton shrugs it off.
Newton swinging wildly here.
Valdez is looking to counter with a body kick.
A combination from Newton does no damage.
Valdez tries to clinch there but Newton circles away.
Newton scores with a three punch combo!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Newton falls off balance throwing a combination
and Valdez counters with a thumping low kick.
Valdez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Newton circles away.
Newton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Newton misses with a jab, cross combination.
Valdez lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Valdez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Valdez breaks the clinch.
Newton misses with a few strikes there.
Newton fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Demetrius Valdez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Declan Newton is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Crunch! Valdez slams his shin into Newton's torso.

And that's the end of the fight!
Declan Newton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Newton 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 Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Declan Newton!
Declan Newton looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'I want to thank Amelia for not being a bellend'.