PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Valkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Cote (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richard Cote has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Valkov
vs
Cote

175 cm
22
161 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
159 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vladimir Valkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Richard Cote!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Joseph Jones and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cote looks to score with a jab to the body but Valkov is just out of range.
Cote throws a jab but it's blocked by Valkov.
Valkov stalks Cote and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cote's face. Cote staggers backwards, shaken.
Valkov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cote circles away quickly and effectively.
Valkov looks to land a combination but Cote avoids it well.
Valkov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cote swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Valkov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cote misses with a combination

and Valkov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Valkov is stalling here.
Valkov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cote tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cote wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Valkov as the two fighters clinch.

Cote manages to pull guard.
Valkov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cote avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cote is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Valkov defends well.
Valkov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cote on the ground.
Cote is looking to sweep but instead, Valkov has passed into half guard.
Cote slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Valkov works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Cote actively working from the bottom here.
Valkov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valkov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Cote is looking to improve his position.
Cote taking some punishment here, with Valkov in his half guard.
Valkov working the head and body with strikes.
Cote has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Valkov is working away from the top position though.
Valkov controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valkov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Valkov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Valkov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Valkov misses with a head shot. Cote uses the momentum to regain guard.
Valkov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cote not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cote keeping moving, preventing Valkov from controlling successfully.
Cote bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Valkov's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cote trying to control but Valkov is working from the bottom.
Valkov wants to sweep here but Cote controlling him for the moment.
Valkov is working hard here to advance position.
Valkov looking to control but Cote passes into half guard.
Cote passes to side control.
Valkov is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Valkov dominated that round.
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.

Valkov avoids the body shot from Cote.
Valkov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice defenses there by Valkov.

Valkov closes the distance and clinches.
Cote is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Valkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Valkov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Valkov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Valkov is looking to break free of the clinch but Cote has double underhooks.
Cote lands a shoulder strike.
Cote drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Valkov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A short uppercut from Valkov.
Cote jumps guard but Valkov stands there with Cote around his waist. Cote gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Vladimir Valkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richard Cote.
A short body shot lands from Valkov as the two fighters clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Valkov tries to circle away but Cote has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valkov is looking to break free of the clinch but Cote has double underhooks.
Cote tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Valkov smiles and moves away.
A combination from Cote does no damage.
Cote connects with a nice looking jab.
Valkov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Cote to score with a decent uppercut.
Valkov lands a nice looking body shot.
Cote is breathing heavily.
Valkov tries for a takedown but Cote sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cote digs a good hook to Valkov's body.
Cote swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Valkov to counter with a crisp jab.
Cote throws a left and a right that both miss
and Valkov counters with a one-two to the body.
Valkov misses with a few strikes there.
A shot to de liver by Cote. Beautiful body shot.
Cote misses the body punch
and Valkov counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valkov throws a series of punches but Cote moves out of range.
Cote misses with a looping left.
Cote takes a swing at Valkov's ribcage but misses.
Cote misses with a body shot.
Cote dodges the punch combination from Valkov.
Valkov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cote counters with a stiff right hand.
Richard Cote seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Left hook, right uppercut from Valkov.
A nice combination there by Valkov.
Valkov is looking to clinch but Cote is avoiding it.
Cote comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cote scores with a shot to the body.
Jab, jab by Cote - just one landing.
Cote showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Valkov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valkov misses with a double jab.
Nice jab there from Cote.
Cote connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Cote throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cote misses with a double jab

and Valkov moves into the clinch.
Valkov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Cote is looking to break free of the clinch but Valkov has double underhooks.
Valkov avoiding damage.
Valkov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Cote ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cote no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Valkov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Valkov tries to stand but Cote is controlling from the bottom.

Cote has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Valkov doesn't defend quickly enough and Cote has managed to lock this one up! Can Valkov escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Cote on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Richard Cote!