PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Boris Valnokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Valnokov
vs
Jones

200 cm
22
273 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
20
298 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Boris Valnokov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kurt Jones!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Igor Prikhodko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones misses with a hook.
Jones throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jones fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jones fails to land with a series of punches.
Valnokov scores with a jab. Jones acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Valnokov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Valnokov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jones misses with a series of wild punches.
Valnokov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jones swivels and escapes.
Valnokov dodges the punch combination from Jones.

Valnokov closes the distance and clinches.
Jones jumps guard but Valnokov stands there with Jones around his waist. Jones gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jones scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Valnokov.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jones.
Jones looking to slow down the pace here.

Valnokov breaks the clinch.
Jones misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jones tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Valnokov counters with a combination of strikes to the head and body that crumple Jones!

Jones is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valnokov wants to take a breather but Jones is having none of it.
Jones is still in real trouble! Can Valnokov finish him?
Jones seems to have recovered his senses.
Valnokov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Valnokov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Valnokov is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Jones blocking the ground and pound attempt from Valnokov.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones is refusing to be controlled, as Valnokov sits in half guard.
Jones is looking to improve his position.
Jones is staying active underneath Valnokov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jones throws a combination that misses

so Valnokov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Jones looks gassed!
Jones is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Valnokov from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Valnokov is controlling him.

Jones wriggles free and stands up.
Valnokov misses with a takedown attempt - Jones sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Jones darts in trying to clinch

and Valnokov counters by clinching up.
Valnokov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boris Valnokov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valnokov just leaning against Jones, taking a breather.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Valnokov for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

Valnokov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valnokov shoots for a takedown but Jones saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Valnokov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Valnokov closes the distance and clinches.

Valnokov breaks from the clinch.

Valnokov darts in and clinches Jones up against the cage.
Valnokov stalling in the clinch.

Valnokov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kurt Jones is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jones connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Valnokov avoids the body shot from Jones.
Jones throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Valnokov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Valnokov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Valnokov.
Jones swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Valnokov is trying to trip Jones. He has hold of a leg but Jones is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Valnokov persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Jones wants to stand but Valnokov is controlling the position.
Jones is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jones has his hands on Valnokov's head, controlling the position.

Jones has his feet on Valnokov's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Jones lands a two punch combo.

Valnokov is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jones throws a combination that misses
and Valnokov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Valnokov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jones is fending him off so far but Valnokov persists. Nope, Jones circles away and we're back to standing.
Valnokov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jones tries to clinch up.
Jones misses with a combination

and Valnokov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valnokov looking to stall.
Valnokov tries to pull guard but Jones holds him up against the cage and eventually Valnokov drops back down to his feet.
Jones throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Valnokov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Jones tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Valnokov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Jones clinches.
Valnokov tries to score a body lock takedown but Jones shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Jones prevents the takedown attempt.
Jones is pressed up against the cage. Valnokov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Jones down to the mat. Jones avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boris Valnokov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones fails in his attempt to clinch.
Valnokov tries to clinch up.
Valnokov throws out a leg kick but Jones moves out of range and Valnokov only half commits.
Valnokov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Valnokov swats away the attempt to clinch by Jones.
Valnokov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jones as he jumps to the side.
Valnokov looks for a takedown but Jones sprawls well.
Valnokov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jones looks to throw the jab but Valnokov is out of range.
Valnokov throws a nice inside leg kick.

Valnokov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Valnokov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jones misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones swings wildly with an uppercut but Valnokov uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Valnokov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Valnokov throws a left that rocks Jones and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Valnokov dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Jones regain composure!

It looks like Kurt Jones has been cut.
Valnokov misses with the ground and pound.
Jones is not content to let Valnokov control the position.
Jones is looking for a sweep.
Jones parries the strikes from Valnokov easily there. Valnokov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Jones to escape.
Jones avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Valnokov.
Valnokov is looking to take a break and control but Jones is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Valnokov in side control, throwing shots but Jones defends.

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

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Valnokov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Valnokov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Boris Valnokov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Valnokov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Jones pinned against the cage. Jones gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jones fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Valnokov manages to avoid it.
Jones throws a series of punches but Valnokov moves out of range.
Valnokov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Horrible takedown by Valnokov or perhaps it was just good defense by Jones which made him look bad.
Valnokov shoots in for a takedown but Jones shows good takedown defense.

Valnokov rushes Jones and presses him up against the cage.
Valnokov wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valnokov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jones is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Valnokov manages to pull guard.
Valnokov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jones manages to get himself to full guard.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Valnokov from controlling successfully.
Jones lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Valnokov!
Jones controlling his opponent.
Jones scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Jones controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones prevents Valnokov from getting the reversal.
Jones looking to control and managing it successfully.
Jones throwing strikes here but Valnokov is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Jones looking to control but Valnokov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones controlling the pace for now.
Valnokov taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kurt Jones will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Kurt Jones's cut.
That's time! Valnokov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Valnokov darts in and clinches Jones up against the cage.
Jones tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Jones gets underhooks to prevent Valnokov's takedown attempt.
Jones wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Valnokov breaks the clinch.
Valnokov tries to close the distance and clinch but Jones swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jones tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Valnokov counters by moving into the clinch.
Valnokov prevents Jones from breaking the clinch.
Jones tries a body shot but Valnokov blocks it.
Jones has had enough of the clinch but Valnokov keeps him there for the moment.
Valnokov landing knees to the body.
Valnokov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Valnokov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Jones uses from the top position.
Valnokov working a defensive guard here.
Jones trying to stand up but can't free himself from Valnokov's guard.
Jones takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Valnokov wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Jones manages to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valnokov is pressing down on Jones's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Jones controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Valnokov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jones doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jones manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Jones wants to control from the top but Valnokov keeps moving.
Jones slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Valnokov manages to work his way to half guard, despite Jones's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valnokov wants to get back to his feet.
Valnokov gets back to full guard.
Valnokov is pulling down on Jones's head to control his posture.

Jones gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A jab-cross combination lands for Jones and sends Valnokov crashing to the mat! Jones follows him down to the mat - Valnokov regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!
Oh Valnokov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Jones escapes and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jones sees an opening and throws a straight punch right through Valnokov's defenses. It connects perfectly with Valnokov's jaw and knocks him out cold! Wow - that's a contender for knockout of the year - absolutely brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Kurt Jones!