PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kirk Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Domagoj Radas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kirk Valentine has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Valentine
vs
Radas

180 cm
22
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kirk Valentine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Domagoj Radas!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Valeri Chadov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentine shoots in for a takedown but Radas shows good takedown defense.

Radas fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Valentine to the ground. Radas is now in Valentine's guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Radas stops Valentine from standing up.
Valentine bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Radas's guard.
Valentine throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Radas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Valentine stopping the sweep attempt from Radas.
Valentine postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Radas wants to sweep here but Valentine controlling him for the moment.

Valentine drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Valentine jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Valentine trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Radas has his foot on Valentine's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Valentine works his way back into a safe position though.
Valentine with a nice head shot there.
Valentine trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Valentine is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Valentine with a nice head shot there.

Radas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Radas throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Valentine throwing strikes from guard but Radas blocks nicely.
Radas is looking to stand back up but Valentine counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Radas.
Valentine has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Radas looks winded!

Radas is defending against the submission attempts here by Valentine.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valentine is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Radas defends it well.
Valentine is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Valentine is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Radas doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Valentine.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Radas is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Radas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Valentine.
Valentine is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Valentine throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Radas wants to control but Valentine is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Valentine thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Radas's head.
Valentine winds up and cracks Radas with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Radas is staying active underneath Valentine, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Valentine postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Radas to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Radas throws a head kick that half lands.
Valentine takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Radas gets caught flat footed, as Valentine shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Valentine is stalling in the full guard.
Radas is trying to keep Valentine in close.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Radas wants to get back to his feet but Valentine is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Valentine postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk Valentine 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.

Radas throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Valentine tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Radas is in Valentine's guard.

Valentine kicks Radas off and gets to his feet.

Valentine closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Valentine is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Valentine is looking to take a break and control but Radas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kirk Valentine overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Radas has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Valentine is working away from the top position though.

Valentine is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Radas has managed to free his arm - good work.
Radas is breathing heavily.

Radas looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Radas wants to get back to his feet.

Radas is defending against the submission attempts here by Valentine.
Valentine is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Radas wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine winds up and cracks Radas with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Radas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Valentine.

Valentine is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Radas sees it coming and defends easily.
Radas gets back to full guard.
Valentine chips away with some ground and pound.
Valentine in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Valentine is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Radas throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Valentine trying to control but Radas is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Valentine drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Valentine jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Valentine throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Valentine is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Radas is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Radas has escaped and now he's on top!

Radas gets to his feet - Valentine follows without any prompting.

Radas shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Radas scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Radas has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Valentine works to full guard.
Valentine tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Radas is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Valentine is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Valentine has escaped and now he's on top!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valentine sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kirk Valentine will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Valentine decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Radas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Valentine.
Valentine controlling the action here.
Radas wants to control but Valentine is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Valentine postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Radas to stand up.
Domagoj Radas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Radas decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Radas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Radas scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Valentine tries to get to full guard but Radas has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine wants to sweep but Radas has passed to side control!
Valentine gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Valentine is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Valentine regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valentine throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Radas wants to control from the top but Valentine keeps moving.
Radas engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Valentine is looking to sweep but instead, Radas has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radas trying to control the pace.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Radas is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Radas controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine regains half guard.
Valentine is trying to control but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valentine is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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 Kirk Valentine.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Valentine, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kirk Valentine!