PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Hide (ranked 1335 p4p, 183 weight class) and Valentin Saric (ranked 1664 p4p, 211 weight class). Hide's entrance music is Nightwish. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hide
vs
Saric

178 cm
23
190 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

200 cm
22
195 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
UnderGround Supplements

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raphael Hide!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Valentin Saric!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Glass and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saric rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hide counters with a right hand to the body.
Hide scores with a hook.
A big right from Saric misses.
Hide avoids the body shot from Saric.
Valentin Saric seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hide misses with a wild body shot.
Saric throws a body punch but Hide moves out of range.
Saric slips a jab and a cross from Hide.
Hide misses with a looping left.
Saric listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saric moves into range and connects with a jab.
Saric waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hide.
Saric loads up on a big right hand but Hide slips the punch.
Saric smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hide slips a jab from Saric.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hide tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Saric was well out of range. Poor timing from Hide.
Saric now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Saric throws a poor cross that misses
and Hide makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Saric throws a sloppy body shot
and Hide connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Saric misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hide.
A little feinted left hand from Hide on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Saric misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A jab lands there for Saric.
Saric getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A big right from Saric misses.
Hide was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Saric throws an off balance right hand
and Hide counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Saric lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Saric lands a lovely overhand right.
Saric closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saric just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saric throws a poor cross that misses
and Hide counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Saric thinking.
Hide scores with a jab to the jaw.
Saric misses with a body punch
letting Hide counter with a right hand.
Saric scores with a hook.
Saric swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saric tries to close the distance and clinch but Hide swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hide walks into a straight right hand from Saric.
Hide avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A little feinted left hand from Hide on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Saric digs a good hook to Hide's body.
Hide definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Hide slips a straight right by Saric.
Hide throwing a counter right hand but Saric manages to avoid it.
Saric listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Saric rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hide counters with a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Hide.
Hide on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Saric falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hide counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Saric thinking.
Saric connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hide. Hide circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hide avoids the body shot from Saric.
Hide swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Hide is looking to wear down Saric with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Saric lands with a nice body punch.
Nice uppercut there from Saric.
Hide looks to throw the jab but Saric is out of range.
Saric is looking to clinch.
Saric throws an off balance right hand
and Hide counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Saric throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hide counters with a stiff right hand.
Saric connects with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saric is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hide misses with a straight left.
A nice side step and Saric releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Hide swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A jab lands there for Saric.
Hide moves away from the strike by Saric.
Saric connects with a body shot that sends Hide's belly button to the back.
Saric throws a body shot but no joy.
Saric uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hide.
Saric is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Saric punishes Hide's body with a nice straight punch.
Saric scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Saric uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hide.
Saric is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Hide had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
A shot to the body from Saric misses
and Hide counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saric throws an off balance right hand
and Hide counters with a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Valentin Saric will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sloppy strikes from Saric. Those never looked like landing.
No joy there for Saric, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Saric fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hide manages to avoid it.
Hide closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hide throws a hook to the side of Saric's head but Saric sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Saric avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Saric tries to clinch up.
Saric is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Saric throws a predictable looking body shot
and Hide cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hide lands a nice looking body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hide swats away the attempt to clinch by Saric.
Saric misses with a body shot.
Hide is looking to counter punch.
Saric throws a jab but it's blocked by Hide.
Valentin Saric seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saric waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hide.
Saric tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hide was well out of range. Poor timing from Saric.
A little feinted left hand from Hide on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Saric blocks a jab.
Saric misses with a right hand
and Hide counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Saric looks to throw the jab but Hide is out of range.
It looked like Hide was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Saric.
Saric rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hide counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Saric misses the shot to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Hide misses the target.
Saric lands a jab to the head.
Saric scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Saric scores with a hook to the body. Hide takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Saric uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hide.
Hide misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Saric.
A shot to the liver by Saric. Beautiful body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Saric.
Hide misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Saric! But no joy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saric lands with a hook. Hide tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Saric instigates a clinch.

Hide escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fighters circling - Hide throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Saric throws a body shot but no joy.
Hide keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It looked like Hide was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Saric.
Saric misses with a straight right.
Hide takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Saric throws the left hand but Hide avoids the punch easily.
A quick step to the side and Hide tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saric thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hide misses with a hook
and Saric counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Saric throws a sloppy body shot
and Hide connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Saric works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hide takes one on the button.
Saric moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Hide takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hide needs to keep his hands up - Saric had a free shot at his head there.
A big right from Hide misses.
Saric throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hide.
A little feinted left hand from Hide on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hide takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Saric is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saric slips a jab from Hide.
Saric looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saric throws a combination that misses
and Hide counters with a two punch combo.

Saric moves into the clinch successfully.
Hide scores with a shoulder strike.

Hide breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A swing and a miss from Hide.
Saric displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hide throws out the jab.
Saric throws a body shot but no joy.
Saric swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hide was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Hide smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Saric lands a nice hook to Hide's body. Hide takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hide drops his hands momentarily and Saric takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Saric misses with a looping right.
Hide appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Hide throws a jab when Saric was well out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Saric showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hide takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Hide displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Saric throws out the jab.
Hide swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Hide uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Saric.
Saric gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Hide counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hide blocks a jab.
Saric throws a predictable looking body shot
and Hide counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Saric thinking.
Saric throws a body shot but no joy.
Hide tests Saric's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice shot by Saric.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saric moves out of range of the strikes.
Saric throws a poor cross that misses
and Hide counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice shot lands for Saric.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hide ducks right into an uppercut from Saric.
Saric is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hide.
Hide slips a jab from Saric.
Hide walks into a left hand.
Saric fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hide manages to avoid it.
Nice shot lands for Saric.
Saric with a jab.
Saric jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Saric lands a really nice looking cross but Hide seems unphased.
Nice takedown defense from Hide. No joy for Saric on that attempt.
Hide moves away from the strike by Saric.
Hide is looking to counter punch.
Hide takes a jab right on the kisser.
Valentin Saric is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hide swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hide moves forwards but Saric connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hide ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saric moves away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saric avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Saric has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A slow jab from Saric misses its intended target.
Saric misses with a jab to the body
and Hide counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Saric slips a straight right by Hide.
Saric throws a right and a left that both miss.
Saric connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hide's hands.
Saric tries to bum rush Hide with a series of wild strikes but Hide uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Saric catches Hide with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Saric is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hide.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saric throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hide counters with a right hand to the body.
Saric scores with a body shot.
Saric connects with a body shot.
Saric just misses with a punch to the body.
Saric uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hide has time to react.
Hide darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

It looks like Valentin Saric has been cut.
Saric waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hide.
Hide throws a body punch but Saric moves out of range.
Hide takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hide takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hide fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saric manages to avoid it.
Saric has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saric. Hide does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hide swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Saric keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hide keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Saric misses with a left hand
and Hide counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
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!
Saric scores with a nice right hand.
Saric fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Saric throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hide counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Saric bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hide shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Saric digs a good body shot into Hide's ribs.
Raphael Hide has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saric misses the shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valentin Saric comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Saric has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valentin Saric!