PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alan Sanford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Babis Valyras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alan Sanford has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Sanford
vs
Valyras

193 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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, Alan Sanford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Babis Valyras!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanford tries for a takedown but Valyras sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Valyras looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Valyras swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Valyras drives through with a takedown into Sanford's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Sanford is trying to keep Valyras in close.
Valyras won't allow Sanford to sweep him here.
Sanford working a defensive guard here.
Valyras tries to stand but Sanford is controlling from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sanford working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Valyras doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Valyras manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanford looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanford, not yet.
Sanford trying to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sanford looking to hit a scissor sweep but Valyras is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sanford has a takedown stuffed.

Valyras looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sanford really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valyras seems to be looking for submissions.
Sanford is pressing down on Valyras's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Valyras preventing the sweep.
Sanford wants to get back to his feet but Valyras is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sanford thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Sanford is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Valyras dives into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanford is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Valyras has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanford trying his best to control but Valyras has mounted him.
Valyras takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sanford sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Sanford wants to get back to full guard.
Valyras is looking to advance position but Sanford won't allow it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Valyras is trying to control. Sanford wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sanford keeping hold of Valyras's head, controlling as best he can.

Valyras is working for a submission of some sort.
Sanford wants to control but Valyras is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Valyras misses with a straight left.
Sanford went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Babis Valyras dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Valyras shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sanford napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sanford wants to control but Valyras postures up.
Sanford is looking to reverse the position.
Valyras trying to control the action but Sanford is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanford wants to get back to his feet but Valyras is dominant here and he's now got Sanford's back!
Valyras is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valyras misses with punches from the back.
Sanford is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Sanford is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Sanford tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Sanford is working to get back to half guard.
Valyras avoids the attempt from Sanford to control.
Sanford keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sanford wants to control but Valyras is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanford is trying to escape the mount.
Valyras trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Valyras controlling his opponent.
Valyras throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sanford because Valyras loaded up on that one.
Valyras has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanford is trying desperately to improve position.

Sanford bucks up and throws Valyras to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

Valyras throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sanford was covering up waiting for the punch and Valyras finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Valyras stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanford swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Valyras postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanford trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Valyras in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Valyras preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanford looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Valyras is fending him off so far but Sanford persists. Nope, Valyras circles away and we're back to standing.
Valyras tries to counter with a clinch but Sanford shakes him off and moves away.
Sanford moves out of range as Valyras throws a body kick.
Sanford appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Babis Valyras showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Valyras closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sanford wants to get back to his feet.

Valyras is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Valyras missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanford wants to get back to his feet.
Valyras takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sanford slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sanford is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanford is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sanford misses with a body shot.
Valyras tries to counter by closing the distance.
Sanford takes a swing at Valyras's ribcage but misses.
Valyras falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sanford counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sanford scores with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

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

Sanford has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Valyras has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Valyras turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Valyras manages to end up in side control.

Sanford throws Valyras to one side and escapes!

Valyras drives through with a takedown into Sanford's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Sanford kicks Valyras off and gets to his feet.

Valyras fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sanford, pushing him back against the cage.

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

Valyras scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanford is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Valyras has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Valyras throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Valyras misses with the ground and pound.
Sanford sneaks back into half guard.
Sanford avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Valyras.
Valyras missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sanford makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sanford.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sanford wants to hit a switch here but Valyras passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Sanford there!
Valyras looking to finish with strikes here!

Valyras gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Babis Valyras seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Valyras darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Alan Sanford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Babis Valyras is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Valyras content to control rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alan Sanford showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Valyras has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Babis Valyras!