PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jeremy Staton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anatoli Valutchko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valutchko has chosen Gimn Sovetskogo Sojuza as his entrance music. 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.

Staton
vs
Valutchko

190 cm
23
274 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

204 cm
26
281 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Control Nutrition
Frank`s TASTE 'Q147 Recovery/Muscle

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jeremy Staton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Anatoli Valutchko!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Staton. No joy for Valutchko on that attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Staton.
Staton working the ground and pound from side control.
Valutchko is looking for a sweep.
Staton with the ground and pound but Valutchko regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Staton working over Valutchko with some ground and pound. Valutchko looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Valutchko regains full guard. Nicely done.
Valutchko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Valutchko is on top in guard.
Valutchko looking to sit in guard and control but Staton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Staton's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valutchko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Valutchko pulls Staton in close to prevent any damage.
Staton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Staton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Staton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Staton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Valutchko is keeping the position for now.
Staton stands up over Valutchko, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Valutchko pulls Staton in close to his closed guard and prevents Staton from doing any damage or advancing position.
Staton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Valutchko is keeping the position for now.
Staton wants to control from the top but Valutchko keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valutchko wants to sweep here but Staton controlling him for the moment.
Staton throwing strikes from guard but Valutchko blocks nicely.
Staton with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Staton 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.
Staton trying to control but Valutchko is working from the bottom.
Staton postures up in Valutchko's guard and throws a big left but Valutchko blocks it.
Staton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Valutchko has momentary wrist control but Staton slips an elbow through the middle.
Staton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Valutchko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Valutchko wants to sweep here but Staton controlling him for the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A big right from Valutchko misses.

Valutchko is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Staton's half guard.

Staton looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Valutchko prevents Staton from improving his position.
Staton wants to control but Valutchko is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Valutchko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Staton's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staton gets full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Valutchko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Staton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Valutchko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Valutchko.
Staton slips a jab from Valutchko.
Valutchko uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Staton.
Valutchko connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Valutchko looks to land a right hand but Staton moved out of range.

Valutchko shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Valutchko was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
A nice elbow there by Valutchko.
Valutchko raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Staton keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anatoli Valutchko will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Valutchko avoids the body shot from Staton.
Staton slips under a jab from Valutchko.
Staton jabs at Valutchko's body.
Valutchko scores with a jab.
Valutchko has his takedown stuffed
and Staton counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Valutchko thuds his right hand into Staton's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Good shot there by Valutchko.
Staton swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Valutchko misses with a wild body shot.
Valutchko misses with a hook. Staton ducked under it nicely.
Valutchko lands a jab to Staton's midsection.
No joy there for Staton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Valutchko shoots in but no luck this time.
Staton misses with a jab to the body
and Valutchko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Valutchko dives in and grabs Staton's left leg, looking for a takedown. Staton pushes down on Valutchko's head and hops out.
Jeremy Staton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anatoli Valutchko.
Decent striking displayed by Valutchko there.
Valutchko is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valutchko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Staton.
Staton thows a body shot but no joy.
Staton moves out of range of the strikes.
Staton throws a predictable looking body shot

and Valutchko counters with a single leg into guard. Staton didn't expect that.
Valutchko keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Staton's head.
Staton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Staton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Valutchko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Valutchko looking to sit in guard and control but Staton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Staton is in close to Valutchko's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Staton preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Statonis looking to pass into half guard but Valutchko pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Valutchko is in guard.
Valutchko wants to control from the top but Staton keeps moving.
Staton has momentary wrist control but Valutchko slips an elbow through the middle.
Staton can't keep his opponent in guard - Valutchko advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Valutchko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Valutchko trying to control the pace.
Staton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valutchko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Valutchko connects with a nice short shot to Staton's temple.
Valutchko throwing shots but Staton is blocking nicely.
Valutchko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Staton keeps working.
Valutchko throwing shots but Staton is blocking nicely.
Staton tries to roll over but Valutchko keeps him under control.
Valutchko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Valutchko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Staton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Valutchko seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Valutchko controlling the pace.
Valutchko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Valutchko looks to land a strike but Staton avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valutchko trying to control the position from guard on top but Staton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anatoli Valutchko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Valutchko passes Staton's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anatoli Valutchko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Staton lands a body shot.
Valutchko bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Valutchko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Valutchko doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Staton swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Valutchko misses with a straight left.

Valutchko feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Valutchko trying to control the position from guard on top but Staton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valutchko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Staton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Valutchko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Valutchko is looking to work some ground and pound but Staton has wrist control.
Valutchko works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valutchko is looking to stall here but Staton recovers full guard.
Valutchko trying to control but Staton is working from the bottom.
Valutchko thows a big elbow that misses.
Valutchko controls from within his opponent's guard.
Valutchko thows a big elbow that misses.
Valutchko trying to control but Staton is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Staton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Valutchko defends it easily.
Valutchko lands a couple of elbows.
Valutchko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Staton swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Staton lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Valutchko!
Valutchko is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valutchko tries to hold on but Staton pushes him away.
Staton lands a nice shot to the head.
Staton fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Staton pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Valutchko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Staton raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Staton lands a nice shot to the head.
Staton connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Valutchko tries to hold on but Staton postures up.
Staton lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Valutchko hang on?
Staton is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Jeremy Staton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valutchko really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Valutchko tries to hold on but Staton pushes him away.
Valutchko is working to get back to half guard.
Valutchko wants to hold on but Staton pushes him away.
Anatoli Valutchko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Valutchko is in a horrible position here. Staton smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Staton landing punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Staton working Valutchko over with strikes here.
Valutchko avoids a series of strikes thrown by Staton.
Staton landing strikes, looking to finish!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeremy Staton showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Valutchko 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anatoli Valutchko!