PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valentin Hristov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maximus Rising (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maximus Rising has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hristov
vs
Rising

182 cm
24
220 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

190 cm
21
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Valentin Hristov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maximus Rising!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rising misses with a takedown attempt - Hristov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rising fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hristov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rising shoots in for a takedown but Hristov shows good takedown defense.
Valentin Hristov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximus Rising.
Rising misses with a head kick.
Rising closes the distance and clinches up with Hristov, looking for a takedown. Rising pushes Hristov against the cage but Hristov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hristov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rising fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Rising shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hristov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rising trying to control the position from guard on top but Hristov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hristov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rising sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hristov's guard.

Rising is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hristov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rising.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rising is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hristov defends it well.
Rising looks gassed!
Rising frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rising lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Rising working for a submission but Hristov is keeping him at bay.
Hristov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hristov tries to get out of the position.
Rising looking to control but Hristov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hristov working to try and regain half guard.

Rising swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Hristov is now in Rising's guard. A big mistake from Rising there, giving up the dominant position!
Hristov prevents Rising from getting back to his feet.
Rising bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hristov's guard.
Rising pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hristov is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hristov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hristov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rising postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hristov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rising trying to control but Hristov is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Hristov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hristov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hristov connects with a knee to the head.
Hristov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rising.
Hristov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rising takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hristov taking a breather.
Rising can't get the takedown.
Hristov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rising changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hristov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hristov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rising shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rising keeps the fight on the outside.
Hristov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Maximus Rising will probably get the nod.
That's time! Hristov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rising shoots for a takedown but Hristov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rising has a takedown stuffed.

Hristov moves into the clinch.
Hristov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hristov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rising.
Valentin Hristov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximus Rising.
Hristov tries to land a knee to the head but Rising blocks with his arms.
Hristov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hristov taking a breather.
Hristov stops a takedown attempt from Rising.
Rising tries to pull guard but Hristov holds him up against the cage and eventually Rising drops back down to his feet.
Hristov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hristov.
Hristov pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rising is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hristov unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rising lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hristov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hristov gets underhooks to prevent Rising's takedown attempt.
Hristov with a knee to the head.
Rising tries for a takedown but Hristov manages to get underhooks.
Hristov lands a nice knee to the body.
Hristov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rising's face.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hristov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hristov stops a takedown attempt from Rising.
Hristov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rising's face.
Hristov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hristov utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Hristov with a knee to the head.
Rising drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hristov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hristov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hristov connects with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rising wants a takedown but no success here.
Rising goes for a takedown attempt but Hristov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hristov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hristov wants to clinch.
Rising tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Hristov counters by clinching up.
Hristov could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hristov controlling the action here for a moment.
Hristov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hristov.
Hristov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rising can't get the takedown.
Rising has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hristov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rising has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hristov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hristov scores with a knee to the head.
Rising is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hristov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hristov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hristov is pushing Rising up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rising wants a takedown but no success here.
Hristov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rising in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rising is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hristov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hristov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hristov unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rising lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rising tries for a takedown but Hristov manages to get underhooks.
Hristov scores with a knee to the head.
Rising jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hristov walks away with a smile on his face. Rising gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Valentin Hristov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hristov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rising paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rising doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hristov counters by clinching up.
Hristov landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Hristov crunches a lovely knee into Rising's ribcage.
Hristov lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rising has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hristov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rising has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hristov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hristov gets underhooks to prevent Rising's takedown attempt.
Hristov lands a knee to the head.
Rising wants a takedown but no success here.
Rising tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rising has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hristov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hristov.
Hristov looking to throw knees to the head but Rising is blocking nicely.
Rising goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hristov prevents it.
Hristov landing knees to the body.
Rising tries to pull guard but Hristov won't allow it.
Hristov lands a knee to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hristov missing with knees to the body.
Rising wants a takedown but no success here.
Rising goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hristov prevents it.
Hristov stops a takedown attempt from Rising.
Hristov crunches a lovely knee into Rising's ribcage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Hristov dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rising misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hristov tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rising counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hristov's guard now.
Hristov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rising trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rising drops back looking for a leg! Hristov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hristov manages to kick Rising off! Rising jumps back into Hristov's guard.
Rising trying to control the position from guard on top but Hristov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hristov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rising defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rising is pushing down on Hristov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hristov is fighting to maintain full guard but Rising has managed to sneak the leg through.

Rising is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rising throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Rising is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hristov is trying to stand back up but Rising is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rising is trying to work for a kimura but Hristov is defending well.
Rising trying to control from half guard but Hristov is working away.
Hristov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rising on the ground.
Hristov tries to roll over but Rising keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rising is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Hristov is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Maximus Rising!