PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Boris Valnokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taylor Sphinx (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Valnokov
vs
Sphinx

200 cm
25
273 lbs
6 - 6 - 1

175 cm
25
225 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Boris Valnokov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Taylor Sphinx!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Valnokov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sphinx dives in and grabs Valnokov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Valnokov pushes down on Sphinx's head and hops out.
Valnokov tries to clinch up but Sphinx circles away and keeps his distance.

Sphinx looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Valnokov is trying to stand.

Sphinx is working for a kimura but Valnokov is defending it quite comfortably.

Sphinx is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Valnokov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Valnokov is trying to stand up here but Sphinx is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valnokov trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Sphinx wants to take a breather but Valnokov is having none of it.
Sphinx is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Sphinx stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Valnokov to get to his feet.
Sphinx throws a right and a left that both miss.
Valnokov is looking to clinch but Sphinx is avoiding it.

Valnokov moves into the clinch successfully.
Sphinx takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Taylor Sphinx has been cut.
Valnokov is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Sphinx takes an elbow to the forehead.
Valnokov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sphinx's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valnokov lands an elbow that stopped Sphinx in his tracks for a moment.
Valnokov landing knees to the head.
Sphinx looks gassed!
Valnokov utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Valnokov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Valnokov lands an elbow just above Sphinx 's eye.
Valnokov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Valnokov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sphinx's face.
Valnokov connects with a knee to the head.
Valnokov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Valnokov scores with a knee to the head.

Sphinx has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Valnokov uses from the top position.

Sphinx is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Valnokov defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sphinx is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Valnokov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sphinx's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sphinx looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Valnokov is defending well. Sphinx quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Valnokov has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Sphinx celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Taylor Sphinx!