PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pat McDermot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McDermot
vs
Valentine

180 cm
32
191 lbs
38 - 7 - 1

185 cm
30
193 lbs
29 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class MT
Good gas tank

Reaper Combatwear
Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 38 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Pat McDermot!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Valentine!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentine drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Valentine lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A nice inside leg kick there by Valentine. That's going to slow McDermot down.
Valentine cracks the inside of McDermot's front leg.
Valentine lands with a hook. McDermot tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Valentine misses with a low kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McDermot avoids the body shot from Valentine.
McDermot's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Valentine connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! McDermot scrambles back to his feet.
Valentine turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Valentine throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck McDermot on the side of the head.
A nice leg kick lands there from Valentine.
Valentine connects with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDermot throws a low kick but it's checked well by Valentine.
McDermot throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Valentine counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Valentine.
McDermot working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Valentine.
McDermot has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
McDermot working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Valentine.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDermot controls Valentine momentarily but Valentine frees himself.
McDermot is really struggling to control Valentine but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Pat McDermot.
A jab from Valentine does it's job there.
Valentine scoring well with a low kick there.
Valentine sizes up McDermot with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good leg kick by Valentine there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
McDermot misses the body punch

and Valentine counters with a nice double leg into side control. McDermot won't be happy with that.
Valentine working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
McDermot tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine working the strikes but McDermot uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
McDermot is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Valentine jumps into side control!
Valentine lands a decent elbow from side control.
Valentine working away.
Valentine is looking to take a break and control but McDermot is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McDermot tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine is trying to ground and pound but McDermot uses the momentary lack of control by Valentine to regain half guard.
McDermot wants to improve his position but Valentine is controlling well.
Valentine moves into full mount! McDermot won't be happy about that!
McDermot is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McDermot takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Valentine with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Alexander Valentine seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Valentine throws a series of punches but McDermot moves out of range.
Valentine moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Valentine cracks McDermot with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
McDermot on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A punch lands to the side of McDermot 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nice uppercut there from Valentine.
A head kick by McDermot misses

and Valentine counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in McDermot's guard now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valentine stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McDermot swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McDermot keeping moving, preventing Valentine from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Valentine working some strikes from top position.
Valentine trying to control but McDermot is working from the bottom.
McDermot trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alexander Valentine.
Valentine pushes McDermot away with a front kick.
That kick from Valentine tenderised McDermot's leg. McDermot is trying to keep his angry face on.
McDermot lands with an uppercut that bounces Valentine off the cage and back into range.
McDermot keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McDermot is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
McDermot throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Valentine slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
McDermot tried to score with a low kick but Valentine checks it.
Valentine buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McDermot takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDermot misses with a low kick.
McDermot tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Valentine paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A low kick from McDermot is predictable there

so Valentine counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Valentine controls from within his opponent's guard.
Valentine forces his way into half guard.
Valentine thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McDermot's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDermot is holding on to half guard well.
McDermot trying to control but Valentine postures up.
McDermot wants to improve his position but Valentine is controlling well.
Valentine throwing shots but McDermot is blocking nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McDermot makes his way to full guard. A much better position for McDermot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Valentine showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A slapping leg kick lands for Valentine.
McDermot has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Valentine with a jab.
Valentine lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
McDermot lets loose with a powerful body kick. Valentine will feel that in the morning.
McDermot tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Valentine was well out of range. Poor timing from McDermot.
McDermot moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Valentine does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Valentine scores with a nice strike.
McDermot tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Valentine paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine thows a body shot but no joy.
Valentine lands a right hook to the body.
Valentine misses with a wild body shot.
Valentine throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Valentine digs a good body shot into McDermot's ribs.
Valentine throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
McDermot with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Valentine moves out of range of the leg kick from McDermot.
Valentine connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine looking to land some kicks to the body here.
McDermot throws a low kick but Valentine avoids it.
That kick from Valentine tenderised McDermot's leg. McDermot is trying to keep his angry face on.
McDermot misses with a hook.
Valentine misses with a body shot.

Valentine tries to keep at a distance but McDermot has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McDermot throws an elbow but it's blocked.
McDermot misses with a body punch.
Valentine avoiding damage as McDermot throws knees to the body.
Valentine dodges an elbow strike from McDermot.
McDermot prevents a body shot from Valentine.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDermot lands with a left to the head.
McDermot blocking some punches.
Valentine misses with a punch on the inside.
McDermot missing with knees to the body.
Valentine misses with a body punch.
Valentine misses with some punches.
Valentine misses with a body punch.
McDermot is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Valentine lands a body shot in the clinch.
Valentine misses with a short punch on the inside.
Valentine throws a blind hook that connects with the side of McDermots head.
Valentine has a couple of punches blocked by McDermot.
Valentine is trying to maintain a safe position but McDermot gets an underhook and turns Valentine into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Valentine.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McDermot.
McDermot's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Valentine has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McDermot tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Valentine can't find room to land a body shot as McDermot controls the action.
Valentine tries to break free but McDermot pushes him back against the cage.
McDermot doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Valentine misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McDermot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valentine is trying to maintain a safe position but McDermot gets an underhook and turns Valentine into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Valentine fails to land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valentine blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Valentine's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Valentine lands a left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Valentine really 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.

Valentine connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Valentine misses with a wild body shot.
McDermot ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Valentine moves away.
Valentine blocks a jab.
McDermot missing with a left hand there. Valentine was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
McDermot blocks the body kick.
Valentine thows a body kick. McDermot tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Valentine works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Valentine throws a leg kick that misses.
McDermot shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDermot throws a looping overhand right but Valentine ducks down to avoid it.
Valentine scores with a jab to the head.
Valentine is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McDermot.
Valentine misses with a body shot
and McDermot counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
McDermot ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Valentine moves away.
McDermot is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
McDermot gets cracked there but stands up to it.
McDermot misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Valentine counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McDermot trying to control from the bottom.
Valentine working McDermot over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDermot is trying to maintain the position but Valentine is very close to passing his half guard.
McDermot is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Valentine missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Alexander Valentine has got the better of the ground game so far.
McDermot wants to improve his position but Valentine is controlling well.

Valentine seems to be looking for submissions.
Valentine with the ground and pound but McDermot uses the opportunity to regain guard.
McDermot controls Valentine momentarily but Valentine frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine tries to free his leg and advance position but McDermot is retaining full guard.
Valentine's corner is telling him to maintain position.
McDermot trying to control the position.
Valentine pushing down on McDermot's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McDermot is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Valentine controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Valentine dominated that fourth 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. This is the final round!

Valentine shoots in for a takedown but McDermot shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
McDermot throws an off balance right hand

and Valentine counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
McDermot is looking to improve his position.
McDermot is positioning himself well to prevent Valentine advancing to mount.
McDermot won't allow Valentine to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDermot is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Valentine is controlling the pace.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alexander Valentine.
McDermot fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Valentine.
McDermot with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Valentine to score with a decent uppercut.
Pat McDermot has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDermot lands a right hook to the body.
McDermot takes one to the chin there.
McDermot checks the leg kick nicely there.
McDermot throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McDermot takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
McDermot blocks the body kick.
McDermot is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McDermot moves out of range of the strikes.
A punch lands to the side of McDermot 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine avoids the body shot from McDermot.

Valentine looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for McDermot!
Valentine sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but McDermot is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
McDermot tries to improve position but can't.
Valentine with the ground and pound but McDermot regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
McDermot is looking for a sweep. Valentine is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Alexander Valentine is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine passes to full mount!
Valentine tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Valentine looking to control but McDermot is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McDermot is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Valentine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Valentine 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 45:50
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 45:50
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Valentine!
Alexander Valentine is the new middleweight champion!
In his post fight interview, Alexander Valentine gave a big smile as he said 'In a career full of ups and downs, this win , hopefully, is the start of something amazing! '.