PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dick Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gideon Gabriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valentine comes to the cage accompanied by I Buy the Drugs. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Valentine
vs
Gabriel

181 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
19
179 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dick Valentine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gideon Gabriel!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Anthony Taglia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentine smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nice shot by Valentine.
Gabriel takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Valentine digs a good body shot into Gabriel's ribs.
A head kick misses from Gabriel.

Gabriel closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gabriel lands in his opponent's guard.
Gabriel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gabriel tries to free his leg and advance position but Valentine is retaining full guard.
Valentine preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gabriel trying to control but Valentine is working from the bottom.
Gabriel tries to free his leg and advance position but Valentine is retaining full guard.
Gabriel trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabriel trying to control the position from guard on top but Valentine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gabriel postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Valentine is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gabriel, into his guard.
Valentine tries to stand but Gabriel is controlling from the bottom.

Valentine decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Valentine with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Valentine wants it to stay on the feet.
Valentine is looking to clinch.
Valentine works Gabriel's body with a nice hook.
Valentine fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Gabriel on the side of the head.
Valentine lands a right hook to the body.
Valentine stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Valentine wants it to stay on the feet.
Gabriel swats away the attempt to clinch by Valentine.
Valentine connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gabriel momentarily.
Valentine lands with an overhand left.
Nice body punch from Valentine.
Valentine checks a leg kick.
Valentine throws a nice outside leg kick.
Valentine lands a nice shot that snaps Gabriel's head back.
Gabriel shoots in but Valentine avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Dick Valentine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gideon Gabriel.
Gabriel misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine throws a shot to the body.

Gabriel shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Valentine manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gabriel with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gabriel trying to control but Valentine is working from the bottom.
Gabriel slips nicely into half guard.
Gabriel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Gabriel is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Gabriel is looking to stall here but Valentine recovers full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel wants to pass the guard but Valentine is keeping the position.
Gabriel is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Valentine utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Valentine is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Gabriel throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dick Valentine will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Valentine lands a jab to the head.
Gabriel takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Gabriel keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Valentine.
Horrible takedown by Gabriel or perhaps it was just good defense by Valentine which made him look bad.
Gabriel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Valentine circles away.
Valentine fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Gideon Gabriel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Valentine scores with a jab to the body.
Valentine scores with a jab to the head.
Valentine takes a swing at Gabriel's ribcage but misses.
Gabriel will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dick Valentine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gideon Gabriel.
Gabriel throws a head kick that misses.
Gabriel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Valentine dips to his left and cracks Gabriel with an uppercut!
Valentine cracks a nice hook into Gabriel's ribs.
Valentine with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gabriel swats away the attempt to clinch by Valentine.
Valentine lands a nice shot that snaps Gabriel's head back.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gabriel checks a leg kick.
Gabriel takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Valentine stuns Gabriel with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Gabriel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gabriel checks the leg kick nicely there.
A punch combination from Gabriel misses.

Gabriel shoots in and gets a takedown into Valentine's guard.
Gabriel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Valentine keeping moving, preventing Gabriel from controlling successfully.
Gabriel stopping the sweep attempt from Valentine.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel postures up in Valentine's guard and throws a big left but Valentine blocks it.
Gabriel lands a couple of elbows.
Gabriel looking to sit in guard and control but Valentine gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Valentine stands up and waves to Gabriel to follow him.
Valentine lands with a straight right. Gabriel didn't see that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Valentine stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Valentine wants it to stay on the feet.
Dick Valentine is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Valentine thuds his right hand into Gabriel's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Valentine doesn't manage to clinch there - Gabriel circles away.
Gabriel will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Valentine paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gabriel takes a shot to the head.
Gabriel wants a takedown.
Valentine pushes Gabriel back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Valentine being controlled against the cage.
Gabriel wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Gabriel turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Gabriel manages to end up in side control.
Gabriel throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Valentine taking a bit of punishment here - Gabriel scoring with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Gabriel.
Gabriel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The ground and pound from Gabriel seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gabriel throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Gabriel throwing strikes but Valentine manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Valentine stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Valentine throws a looping overhand right but Gabriel ducks down to avoid it.
Valentine misses with an uppercut.
Gabriel fails with a takedown attempt.
Valentine tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
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 Dick Valentine will probably get the nod.
That's time! Valentine's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Valentine tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gabriel was well out of range. Poor timing from Valentine.
Valentine lands with a nice combination. Gabriel backs away looking to recover.

Gabriel closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Valentine to the mat! Valentine manages to get full guard.
Valentine tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gabriel missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gabriel throws a big right hand that misses.
Gabriel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Gabriel is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Valentine is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Valentine has escaped and now he's on top!

Gabriel throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine pushing down on Gabriel's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Valentine tries to stand but can't do so whilst Gabriel controls his leg.

Valentine gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Gabriel will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gabriel shoots in but no luck this time.
Gabriel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Valentine as he avoids it easily.
Dick Valentine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gideon Gabriel.
Gabriel throws a head kick but Valentine moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine avoids the head kick by Gabriel.
Valentine cracks Gabriel with an open hand slap.
Valentine lands a jab to the nose.
Valentine connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Gabriel changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Valentine looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gabriel has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Valentine!
Valentine is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gabriel trying to control but Valentine is having none of it.
Gabriel thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine avoids a series of strikes thrown by Gabriel.
Valentine blocking the ground and pound.
Gabriel lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Gabriel pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Gabriel sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
A nice elbow there by Gabriel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gabriel with good strikes from the mount here!
Valentine holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gabriel tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Gabriel looking for a guillotine from mount but Valentine is having none of it.
Gabriel wants to control the pace but Valentine is squirming around nicely.
Gabriel throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Gideon Gabriel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dick Valentine is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gabriel punching from mount but Valentine doing a good job of avoiding damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gideon Gabriel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Valentine has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dick Valentine!