PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Henrique Gusmao (ranked 163 p4p, 20 weight class) and DeMario Valdez (ranked 195 p4p, 23 weight class). Valdez has chosen Era - Ameno as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gusmao
vs
Valdez

179 cm
26
155 lbs
18 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
154 lbs
15 - 6 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Bloodsport clothing
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 18 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Henrique Gusmao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, DeMario Valdez!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Steven Brown and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gusmao looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gusmao misses the shot to the body.
Gusmao misses with a straight left.
Valdez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Gusmao fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Gusmao lands with a thumping leg kick.
Henrique Gusmao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gusmao throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Valdez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Gusmao drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Valdez moves out of range as Gusmao throws a body kick.
Valdez swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jab by Gusmao.
Gusmao misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Valdez.
Valdez is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Gusmao slips under a jab from Valdez.
Nice body punch from Gusmao.
Gusmao lunges at Valdez with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Valdez's hand.
Valdez has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gusmao.
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!
Gusmao throws a body shot but no joy.
It seemed like Valdez was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Gusmao lands with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valdez moves out of range as Gusmao strikes.
Valdez uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Gusmao moves into range and connects with a jab.
Gusmao punishes Valdez's body with a nice straight punch.
Valdez on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Valdez avoids the body shot from Gusmao.
Gusmao throws a sloppy body shot
and Valdez counters with a straight right hand.
Valdez checks a leg kick.
Gusmao misses with a hook
and Valdez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gusmao's corner calls for a 1-2. Gusmao obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Gusmao scores with a punch to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valdez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gusmao.
Valdez throws a body kick that misses
and Gusmao counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Valdez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gusmao throws a leg kick which misses Valdez's front leg but catches the back leg as Valdez tries to avoid it.
Valdez throws the left hand but Gusmao avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gusmao misses the shot to the body.
Gusmao uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Valdez.
Valdez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Valdez throws a series of punches but Gusmao avoids them all with ease.
Gusmao is looking to wear down Valdez with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Valdez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gusmao throws a jab but it's blocked by Valdez.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Valdez.
Gusmao with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gusmao. Valdez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gusmao swings for the body but Valdez moves out of range.
Gusmao ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Valdez moves away.
A slow jab from Valdez misses its intended target.
Gusmao misses the shot to the body.
Jab, jab by Gusmao - just one landing.
Gusmao blocks the body kick.
Gusmao throwing a counter right hand but Valdez manages to avoid it.
Gusmao fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Valdez is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez misses the jab.
Gusmao misses with an uppercut.
A jab from Gusmao finds it's way through Valdez's defenses.
Gusmao throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gusmao throws a jab but it's blocked by Valdez.
Gusmao scoring well with a low kick there.
Jab by Gusmao.
Gusmao throws a nice head kick!
Gusmao feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Valdez's calf.
Gusmao uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
The crowd cheers as Gusmao lands an impressive looking overhand right. Valdez doesn't seem phased though.
Gusmao throws a nice inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gusmao tests Valdez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A lazy left from Valdez finds it's target.
Gusmao connects with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valdez moves away from the strike by Gusmao.
Valdez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gusmao.
Gusmao avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gusmao needs to keep his hands up - Valdez had a free shot at his head there.
Valdez takes a swing at Gusmao's ribcage but misses.
Gusmao wants to land a leg kick but Valdez is out of range.
Despite the aggression on Valdez's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Gusmao connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gusmao misses with a looping right.
Gusmao throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice jab there from Valdez.
Gusmao throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gusmao just misses with a punch to the body.
A jab lands there for Gusmao.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Valdez takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Valdez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gusmao.
Gusmao misses with a straight left.
Gusmao lunges at Valdez with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Valdez's hand.
Gusmao lands a jab to Valdez's midsection.
Gusmao misses with a wild body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Valdez! But no joy.
An inside leg kick lands from Gusmao.
Gusmao blocks a head kick by Valdez.
Valdez just misses with a punch to the body.
Gusmao cracks a nice hook into Valdez's ribs.
A slow jab from Valdez misses its intended target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gusmao looks to land a left hand but Valdez moved out of range nicely.
Valdez looks to throw the jab but Gusmao is out of range.
Valdez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gusmao.
Valdez is trying to counter with his kicks.
Valdez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Gusmao loads up on a big right hand but Valdez slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusmao misses the jab.
Gusmao cracks Valdez with a right hand to the side of the head.
Valdez ducks right into an uppercut from Gusmao.
Gusmao walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Gusmao throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gusmao wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Gusmao throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Valdez counters with a nice body shot.
Gusmao lands a lovely overhand right.
Gusmao misses with a hook. Valdez ducked under it nicely.
Gusmao throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Valdez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Valdez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gusmao lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Gusmao throws a looping overhand right but Valdez ducks down to avoid it.
Gusmao thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Valdez if he has to take too many more of those.
Gusmao with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gusmao missing with a left hand there. Valdez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gusmao pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gusmao scores with a jab to the body.
Valdez blocks a jab.
A countering left hand to the body from Valdez misses.
Gusmao lands a leg kick that knocks Valdez off balance momentarily.
Gusmao connects with a looping right hand.
Valdez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gusmao throws out the jab.
Valdez throws a head kick but Gusmao moves out of range.
Gusmao throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Valdez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gusmao.
Valdez misses with a straight right.
Gusmao jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Valdez! But no joy.
Gusmao lands with a right hand.
Valdez tries to land a front kick but Gusmao steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gusmao misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Valdez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valdez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gusmao throws out the jab.
Gusmao throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The fighters circling - Valdez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Valdez ducks under a wild hook from Gusmao.
Valdez now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Henrique Gusmao is winning the standup battle so far.
Gusmao throws a body punch but Valdez moves out of range.
Nice body punch from Gusmao.
Jab from Gusmao.
Gusmao uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Valdez has time to react.
Valdez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Valdez throws a head kick that misses
and Gusmao counters with a left to the body.
Gusmao with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Valdez misses with a wild body shot.
Valdez misses with a body kick.
Gusmao misses with an uppercut
enabling Valdez to counter with a crisp jab.
Gusmao works the jab nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valdez throws the kick towards the body but Gusmao avoids it.
Gusmao pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gusmao jabs at Valdez's body.
Gusmao ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Gusmao lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Gusmao lands a head shot.
Gusmao misses with a wild body shot.
Gusmao lands a jab to the head.
Gusmao moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Gusmao throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gusmao scores with a nice body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice combination there by Valdez.
Valdez connects with a crisp jab.
Gusmao ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gusmao lands with a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henrique Gusmao dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Valdez slips a jab and a cross from Gusmao.
Gusmao avoids the head kick by Valdez.
Gusmao throws out a loose jab but Valdez uses good head movement to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gusmao. Valdez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gusmao tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Valdez was well out of range. Poor timing from Gusmao.
Gusmao misses with an attempted mid kick.
Valdez throws out a loose jab but Gusmao uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gusmao swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gusmao uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Valdez.
Valdez looks to score with a jab to the body but Gusmao is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice jab there from Gusmao.
Valdez's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Valdez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Valdez throws a head kick but Gusmao moves out of range.
Gusmao lands the left hand.
Gusmao ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusmao scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Gusmao ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Valdez moves away.
Gusmao scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Gusmao throws a jab but it's blocked by Valdez.
Valdez throws a sloppy head kick and Gusmao moves out of range easily.
Gusmao lands with a shot to the body.
Valdez has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Valdez throws a nice looking combination but Gusmao bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
An attempted straight right counter from Gusmao misses the target.
Gusmao fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Gusmao misses with a straight right.
Gusmao digs a good body shot into Valdez's ribs.
Gusmao lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Valdez circles away quickly and effectively.
A countering left hand to the body from Valdez misses.
Valdez lands a front kick.
Valdez takes a body punch but keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A shot to the body from Gusmao misses
and Valdez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Valdez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
DeMario Valdez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valdez sizes up Gusmao with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Valdez, as that shot connected.
Gusmao swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Gusmao takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sloppy strikes from Valdez. Those never looked like landing.
Gusmao lands with a good body shot.
Valdez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gusmao.
Gusmao connects with a leg kick. Valdez looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Gusmao throws a lazy uppercut
and Valdez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gusmao lunges at Valdez with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Valdez's hand.
Valdez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Valdez takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Gusmao is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Valdez can do to turn this around?
Gusmao throws a body shot but no joy.
Gusmao lands a slapping body shot.
Gusmao uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Valdez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Valdez drops Gusmao with a beautiful combination! Gusmao stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Valdez is looking for the KO!

Gusmao is rocked!
Gusmao bobbing and weaving nicely... He's ducked under a jab and ducks again but ooooooh! Valdez comes at him with an uppercut from hell! Gusmao falls to the canvas, unconscious! This one is all over! Oh man, looking at the replay that was right on the button! Gusmao was out before he hit the floor!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:14 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). DeMario Valdez!
A determined DeMario Valdez didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!