PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dirk Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sumi Gaeshi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valentine comes to the cage accompanied by Danger! High Voltage. Gaeshi is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Welcome to the Jungle. The key to victory for Dirk Valentine has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Valentine
vs
Gaeshi

179 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

179 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Dirk Valentine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Sumi Gaeshi!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Steven Brown and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentine wants to clinch up but Gaeshi keeps it at a distance.
Valentine fails with the takedown.
Gaeshi misses with a body shot.

Gaeshi pushes Valentine up against the cage in a clinch.
Valentine prevents Gaeshi from breaking the clinch.
Gaeshi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Gaeshi breaks the clinch.
Valentine shoots in but Gaeshi avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Valentine looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Gaeshi!
Valentine sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Gaeshi wants to hold on but Valentine pushes him away.
Gaeshi working to try and regain half guard.
Valentine thowing shots but they're missing.
Valentine lands a heavy elbow.
Gaeshi wants to hold on but Valentine pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaeshi tries to reverse the position but Valentine maintains control.
Gaeshi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
A nice elbow there by Valentine.
Gaeshi avoids a series of strikes thrown by Valentine.
Valentine controlling his opponent.
Valentine looking to ground and pound but Gaeshi is blocking nicely.
Gaeshi is trying desperately to improve position.
Valentine trying to control but Gaeshi is having none of it.
Gaeshi is trying to escape the mount.
Valentine looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Valentine prevents Gaeshi from getting the reversal.
Valentine avoids the attempt from Gaeshi to control.
Valentine thowing shots but they're missing.
BOOM! Valentine connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Valentine lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Gaeshi is looking to improve his position but Valentine isn't that keen on the idea.
Valentine with a couple of short strikes.
Valentine trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Valentine is really struggling to control Gaeshi but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Valentine unloads with some shots from mount but Gaeshi bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Valentine misses with a head shot.
Gaeshi manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Gaeshi wants to get back to full guard.
Valentine uses his free foot to push down on Gaeshi's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gaeshi.
Valentine sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Valentine trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gaeshi tries to hold on but Valentine pushes him away.
Gaeshi working to try and regain half guard.
Gaeshi looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Valentine thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Gaeshi is squirming around, avoiding Valentine's attempts to control the action.
Valentine looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gaeshi wants to hold on but Valentine pushes him away.
Gaeshi is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Valentine avoids the attempt from Gaeshi to control.
Valentine tries to control but Gaeshi wriggling away.
Gaeshi is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dirk Valentine dominated that round.
That's time! Valentine's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gaeshi has managed to clinch.

Valentine is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Gaeshi can't fight it off and eventually Valentine manages to take the fight to the floor. Gaeshi looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Valentine in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gaeshi looking for a sweep. Not yet Gaeshi, not yet.
Valentine has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Valentine throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Valentine trying to control but Gaeshi is working from the bottom.
Gaeshi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gaeshi wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Valentine is now in half guard.
Gaeshi is breathing heavily.
Valentine uses his free foot to push down on Gaeshi's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gaeshi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaeshi is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Gaeshi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Valentine looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gaeshi wants to control but Valentine is having none of it.

Valentine looking to secure an arm triangle but Gaeshi defends it well.

Valentine is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Gaeshi has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Gaeshi!
Gaeshi passes Valentine's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaeshi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Valentine keeps working.

Gaeshi decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Gaeshi slips a jab and a cross from Valentine.

Gaeshi gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Gaeshi breaks the clinch.

Gaeshi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gaeshi drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Gaeshi gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Gaeshi content to stall in guard here.

Gaeshi stands up and waves to Valentine to follow him.
No joy there for Gaeshi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gaeshi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Valentine counters with a single leg into guard. Gaeshi didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaeshi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gaeshi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Valentine looking to sit in guard and control but Gaeshi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gaeshi content to stall in guard here.
Gaeshi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gaeshi sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gaeshi wants to stand but Valentine has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gaeshi sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Valentine has his foot on Gaeshi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gaeshi works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gaeshi gets to his feet - Valentine follows without any prompting.
Valentine tries for a takedown but Gaeshi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Valentine changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gaeshi tries to avoid it but Valentine manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gaeshi to the ground. Gaeshi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Valentine wants to clinch.
Valentine with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gaeshi counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dirk Valentine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valentine fails to pull guard.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Valentine.
Valentine drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gaeshi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Valentine shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gaeshi but Gaeshi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gaeshi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Valentine throws a head kick but Gaeshi moves out of range.

Valentine fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gaeshi sprawls well initially but Valentine persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sumi Gaeshi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gaeshi blocks a head kick by Valentine.
Gaeshi clinches but Valentine breaks the clinch

and Valentine holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gaeshi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Valentine.

Gaeshi pulls guard.
Gaeshi keeping full guard, as Valentine tries to pass.
Gaeshi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Valentine stops Gaeshi from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Valentine accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Valentine decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gaeshi, up you get!

Valentine gets a takedown into half guard.
Valentine wants to control but Gaeshi is keeping him busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Valentine wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaeshi is looking to control Valentine's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gaeshi avoid being mounted?
Gaeshi has hold of Valentine's hands but Valentine slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Valentine throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Still in half guard, Valentine seems content to control.

Valentine stands up and beckons Gaeshi to join him on the feet.
Valentine closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gaeshi circles away.
Gaeshi with a lazy takedown attempt

and Valentine counters with a shoot takedown. Gaeshi fights it but they end up in guard.
Gaeshi has a closed guard, preventing Valentine from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gaeshi thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Gaeshi working for a triangle but Valentine defends it easily.

Gaeshi pushes Valentine off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine tries to clinch but Gaeshi moves out of range.
Gaeshi circles away from the clinch attempt

and Gaeshi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Valentine's guard now.
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!

Valentine pushes Gaeshi off and scrambles back to his feet.
Valentine closes the distance but Gaeshi moves to the side
and Gaeshi counters with a nice uppercut.
Gaeshi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Dirk Valentine is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gaeshi fails with the takedown
and Valentine makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Gaeshi fails with the takedown
and Valentine counters with a head kick. That will keep Gaeshi thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Dirk Valentine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sumi Gaeshi.
Gaeshi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Valentine scores with a jab to the body.
Valentine lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gaeshi backs up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Valentine finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Valentine tries to clinch but Gaeshi is having none of it.
Valentine throws a body kick that misses.
Valentine gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gaeshi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Gaeshi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gaeshi stands and throws Valentine's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on Valentine's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Valentine is looking to regain half guard here but Gaeshi keeps moving and retains side control.
Valentine is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gaeshi's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine gets back to full guard.
Gaeshi is fighting to break Valentine's control of his arms but Valentine is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Valentine wants to sweep here but Gaeshi controlling him for the moment.

Gaeshi gets to his feet - Valentine follows without any prompting.
Sumi Gaeshi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valentine has his takedown stuffed

and Gaeshi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Gaeshi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gaeshi stuffs the takedown attempt from Valentine. Valentine gets slowly back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gaeshi rushes Valentine and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Gaeshi manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Gaeshi wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dirk Valentine.
I think Valentine has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight for Dirk Valentine!
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Dirk Valentine!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Dirk Valentine!

Dirk Valentine wins by unanimous decision!