PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Valuyskiy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Goran Kristic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kristic has chosen Numb as his entrance music. Goran Kristic will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Valuyskiy
vs
Kristic

180 cm
25
184 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

174 cm
25
196 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aleksandr Valuyskiy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Goran Kristic!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Nard Betker and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kristic tries to bum rush Valuyskiy with a series of wild strikes but Valuyskiy uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kristic scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Valuyskiy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kristic misses with a body shot.
Kristic lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Valuyskiy circles away quickly and effectively.
Kristic throws a looping overhand right but Valuyskiy ducks down to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Kristic.
Valuyskiy misses with a takedown
enabling Kristic to counter with a crisp jab.
Valuyskiy dives in and grabs Kristic's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kristic pushes down on Valuyskiy's head and hops out.
Kristic throws a jab but it's blocked by Valuyskiy.
Valuyskiy moves out of range of the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valuyskiy throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kristic tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Valuyskiy is in Kristic's guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Valuyskiy trying to control but Kristic is working from the bottom.
Valuyskiy with a nice head shot there.
Valuyskiy thows a big elbow that misses.
Valuyskiy in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Valuyskiy wants to control from the top but Kristic keeps moving.
Kristic tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valuyskiy looking to pass the guard.
Valuyskiy with a flurry of punches that miss.
Valuyskiy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kristic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Valuyskiy tries to free his leg and advance position but Kristic is retaining full guard.
Valuyskiy throws a big right hand that misses.
Valuyskiy seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Valuyskiy trying to control but Kristic is working from the bottom.
Valuyskiy loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valuyskiy trying to move into half guard but instead Kristic has managed to sweep!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kristic accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Valuyskiy keeping moving, preventing Kristic from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Valuyskiy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kristic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kristic is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Valuyskiy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kristic wants to control from the top but Valuyskiy keeps moving.
Kristic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Valuyskiy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kristic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Valuyskiy trying to keep a closed guard but Kristic is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kristic wants to control from the top but Valuyskiy keeps moving.
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 Aleksandr Valuyskiy will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Valuyskiy fails to land the takedown.
Kristic lands with a nice combination. Valuyskiy backs away looking to recover.
Valuyskiy avoids the head kick by Kristic.
Valuyskiy takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kristic tries to score a power double leg takedown but Valuyskiy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kristic somewhat.
Kristic defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Valuyskiy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valuyskiy keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Valuyskiy with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kristic counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksandr Valuyskiy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valuyskiy is looking to improve his position.
Valuyskiy trying to control here.
Kristic seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Valuyskiy wants to improve his position but Kristic is controlling well.
Kristic frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kristic tries to control but Valuyskiy wriggling away.
Valuyskiy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valuyskiy wants to hold on but Kristic pushes him away.
Valuyskiy regains half guard.
Kristic is trying to control. Valuyskiy wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valuyskiy controlling the position well.
Kristic is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Valuyskiy moves into full guard.
Kristic tries to free his leg and advance position but Valuyskiy is retaining full guard.
Kristic trying to control the position from guard on top but Valuyskiy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valuyskiy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valuyskiy wants to sweep but no luck.
Kristic trying to control the position from guard on top but Valuyskiy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Valuyskiy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kristic can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kristic trying to control the position from guard on top but Valuyskiy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valuyskiy throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Goran Kristic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kristic misses with a hook.
A bone on bone clash there as Valuyskiy blocks the leg kick.
Valuyskiy throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kristic's waist but Kristic gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Valuyskiy off to one side.
Valuyskiy fails with the takedown
and Kristic counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kristic throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kristic misses with a series of wild punches.
Valuyskiy blocks a low kick nicely.
Valuyskiy misses with a takedown attempt
and Kristic counters with a nice body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksandr Valuyskiy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kristic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Valuyskiy was well out of range. Poor timing from Kristic.
Kristic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Valuyskiy manages to avoid it.
Valuyskiy dives in and grabs Kristic's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kristic pushes down on Valuyskiy's head and hops out.

Kristic drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kristic trying to control the position from guard on top but Valuyskiy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kristic is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Kristic tries to free his leg and advance position but Valuyskiy is retaining full guard.
Valuyskiy wants to sweep here but Kristic controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valuyskiy keeping moving, preventing Kristic from controlling successfully.
Valuyskiy keeping full guard, as Kristic tries to pass.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Goran Kristic hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kristic throws the kick towards the body but Valuyskiy avoids it.
Kristic misses with a few strikes there.
Valuyskiy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kristic counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valuyskiy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kristic looks to land a left hand but Valuyskiy moved out of range nicely.
Kristic throws a sloppy head kick and Valuyskiy moves out of range easily.
A jab from Kristic misses.
Valuyskiy tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kristic swivels and escapes.
Goran Kristic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kristic fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kristic lands with an uppercut that bounces Valuyskiy off the cage and back into rage.
Valuyskiy avoids the body shot from Kristic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valuyskiy doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kristic counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
The fighters circling - Kristic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Valuyskiy shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kristic but Kristic pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Goran Kristic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valuyskiy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kristic counters with a three punch combo that has Valuyskiy backing up. Valuyskiy nods at Kristic to acknowledge the strikes.

It looks like Aleksandr Valuyskiy has been cut.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valuyskiy avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kristic throws a body punch but Valuyskiy moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Goran Kristic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kristic 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Goran Kristic!