PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jelfy Valuev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santian Sultan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valuev has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Santian Sultan looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Valuev
vs
Sultan

225 cm
23
375 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

199 cm
21
288 lbs
5 - 17 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jelfy Valuev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Santian Sultan!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Edson Gomes and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sultan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Valuev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sultan somewhat.
Sultan looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Valuev shoots in and bounces Sultan off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Sultan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sultan wants to sweep but no luck.
Valuev will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Valuev wanted to stand there but Sultan had control of the position.
Sultan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sultan is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sultan is on top in guard.
Valuev wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Sultan manages to pass to side control.

Sultan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Valuev looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sultan tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Valuev.
Valuev is trying to stand up here but Sultan is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Valuev is looking to improve his position.

Sultan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Valuev scores with a one two! Sultan had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Valuev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Sultan wants to control but Valuev is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valuev controlling his opponent.
Sultan is desperately trying to improve his position but Valuev has a good base and remains in mount.
Valuev controlling from the full mount.
Valuev looking to control but Sultan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

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.
Valuev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sultan is squirming around, avoiding Valuev's attempts to control the action.
Sultan wants to hold on but Valuev pushes him away.
Valuev sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jelfy Valuev just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sultan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jelfy Valuev dominated that round.
That's time! Valuev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Valuev lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Jelfy Valuev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sultan chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sultan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sultan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Valuev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sultan manages to avoid it.
Valuev fails to land with a series of punches.
Valuev moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sultan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Valuev as he avoids it easily.
Valuev misses with a two punch combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valuev slaps away a takedown attempt from Sultan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jelfy Valuev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santian Sultan.

Sultan scores with a takedown into Valuev's guard.
Sultan's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valuev doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Sultan throwing strikes but missing.
Sultan trying to control but Valuev is working from the bottom.
Valuev is looking to stand up but Sultan isn't so interested in that idea.
Sultan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Valuev keeping moving, preventing Sultan from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Valuev misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two 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.
Sultan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Donk. Valuev catches Sultan right on the button with a cross.
Sultan misses with a takedown attempt
and Valuev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sultan misses with a takedown attempt
and Valuev counters with a left and a right that stings Sultan.
Sultan with a poor takedown

and Valuev counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Valuev stops Sultan from getting back to his feet.
Sultan is looking to improve his position.
Valuev tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Valuev decides to stand and escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sultan lands with a kick to the temple. Valuev shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Valuev throws a combination. Sultan tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Sultan walks into a left hand.
Valuev is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Sultan with a poor takedown

and Valuev counters with a single leg into guard. Sultan didn't expect that.
Sultan looking for a sweep. Not yet Sultan, not yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sultan is on top in guard.
Sultan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Valuev wants to stand and escape but Sultan is having none of it.
Valuev tries to strike from the bottom.

Sultan stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Valuev scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valuev throws a right and a left that Sultan avoids nicely.
Valuev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sultan needs to keep his hands up - Valuev had a free shot at his head there.
Sultan throws a head kick that Valuev semi-blocks.
Valuev throws a lazy head kick

and Sultan counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sultan stands up from half guard.

Valuev shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sultan manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Valuev wants to stand but Sultan is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valuev trying to control the position from guard on top but Sultan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jelfy Valuev will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Valuev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sultan has his takedown stuffed
and Valuev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Valuev lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Valuev.
Sultan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Valuev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sultan slips a jab and a cross from Valuev.
Sultan fails with the takedown
and Valuev counters with a two punch combo.
Sultan shoots and misses
and Valuev counters with a stiff right hand.
Jelfy Valuev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santian Sultan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valuev misses with a double jab.
Sultan shoots and misses

and Valuev counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sultan is trying to get back to full guard.

Valuev stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sultan scores with a nice right hand.
Valuev throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sultan tries to bum rush Valuev with a series of wild strikes but Valuev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Valuev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Valuev scores with a shot to the body.
Sultan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Valuev counters with a nice uppercut.
Sultan takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sultan misses with a straight left.

Valuev shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sultan is trying to defend but Valuev finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Valuev stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sultan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Valuev has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sultan is proving hard to escape from.
Sultan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Valuev would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Jelfy Valuev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sultan trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valuev has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sultan is proving hard to escape from.
Sultan throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sultan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Valuev is controlling him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Valuev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sultan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A combination from Valuev does no damage.
Sultan with a poor takedown

and Valuev moves into the clinch.

Valuev works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Valuev tries to stand but Sultan is controlling from the bottom.
Valuev wants to pass the guard but Sultan is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sultan pushes Valuev off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Valuev is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
No joy there for Valuev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sultan tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Valuev counters with a two punch combo.
Jelfy Valuev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Valuev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Valuev controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jelfy Valuev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Valuev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jelfy Valuev!