PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanchez's entrance music is Sublime - Santaria. A fine choice. Alexander Valentine has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sanchez
vs
Valentine

188 cm
26
180 lbs
22 - 3 - 0

185 cm
24
193 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Seven Sins™

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Xavier Sanchez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alexander Valentine!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentine throws a body punch but Sanchez moves out of range.
Valentine misses the shot to the body.

Valentine tries to sprawl but Sanchez drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Valentine looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Valentine is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sanchez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sanchez's back!
Sanchez staying busy and making it hard for Valentine to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Valentine breaks from Sanchez's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Valentine sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Sanchez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Valentine unloads with some shots from mount but Sanchez bucks and avoids them well.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sanchez regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine slows the pace down in half guard.
Valentine trying to control the action but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Sanchez tries to get to full guard but Valentine has control of the leg.
Valentine wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sanchez keeps working.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alexander Valentine was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Sanchez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine connects with an inside leg kick.
Valentine throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sanchez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Valentine.
Sanchez looks to score with a jab to the body but Valentine is just out of range.

Sanchez scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Valentine wants to improve his position but Sanchez is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez is pressing down on Valentine's thigh, looking to free his foot. Valentine is holding on for now.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sanchez lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanchez throwing shots but Valentine is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sanchez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Valentine with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sanchez tries to pass to full mount but Valentine defends it.
Valentine is trying to control but can't.
Sanchez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Valentine is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Valentine is refusing to be controlled, as Sanchez sits in half guard.
Valentine keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine gets back to full guard.
Valentine looking for a sweep. Not yet Valentine, not yet.
Valentine keeping full guard, as Sanchez tries to pass.
Sanchez throws a big elbow that misses.
Sanchez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Valentine controlling the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchezis looking to pass into half guard but Valentine pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Valentine is in guard.
Sanchez looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanchez, not yet.
Sanchez is working hard here to advance position.
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 Xavier Sanchez will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Valentine takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sanchez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Valentine manages to avoid it.
Valentine pushes Sanchez away with a front kick.
Sanchez throws a body punch but Valentine moves out of range.
Sanchez shoots in and drives through. Valentine sprawls well.
Nice straight punches there by Valentine. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Valentine.
Sanchez throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Sanchez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sanchez moves out of range of the body kick from Valentine.
Sanchez misses with a jab to the body
and Valentine counters with a nice low kick that buckles Sanchez's knee momentarily.
Sanchez misses with a body shot.
Sanchez stuns Valentine with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sanchez blocks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez checks a low kick from Valentine.
Valentine misses with a low kick.
Sanchez is looking to wear down Valentine with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Sanchez throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sanchez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Valentine.
Valentine slips under a jab from Sanchez.
Sanchez throws a head kick that Valentine semi-blocks.
Valentine throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Valentine feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sanchezs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A looping hook to the body misses from Sanchez. Valentine does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sanchez looks to land a body kick but Valentine moved away.
Sanchez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine wants to land a leg kick but Sanchez is out of range.
Valentine fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sanchez.
Sanchez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Valentine.
Valentine moves out of range as Sanchez throws a body kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Valentine!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanchez on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Sanchez looks to throw the jab but Valentine is out of range.
Alexander Valentine seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Valentine digs a good hook to Sanchez's body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sanchez. Valentine does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sanchez tries to land a front kick but Valentine steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A big left from Valentine misses.
Valentine throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez misses with a body kick.
Valentine throws an overhand right that lands on Sanchez's shoulder, as Sanchez tries to avoid the shot.
Sanchez swings for the body but Valentine moves out of range.
Sanchez motions for Valentine to come forward. Sanchez throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sanchez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Valentine.
Valentine throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Valentine misses with a kick to the body.
Sanchez misses with a body kick.
Valentine misses with a body shot.
Sanchez keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Sanchez moves into the clinch.
Sanchez throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Sanchez takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Valentine on the inside.
Valentine is looking to control Sanchez's arms but Sanchez gets an underhook and turns him. Now Valentine has his back to the cage.
Valentine is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Valentine goes for a takedown attempt but Sanchez pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Valentine gets caught flat footed, as Sanchez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanchez is working Valentine over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sanchez postures up in Valentine's guard and throws a big left but Valentine blocks it.
Sanchez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sanchez throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alexander Valentine will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sanchez keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sanchez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sanchez fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Valentine.
Valentine lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sanchez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Valentine takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Valentine throws a leg kick but Sanchez moved away.
Valentine ducks right into an uppercut from Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Valentine moves out of range.
Sanchez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Valentine circles away.
Sanchez fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sanchez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Valentine scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sanchez lands a really nice looking cross but Valentine seems unphased.
Valentine throws a head kick but Sanchez moves out of range.
Sanchez moves out of range of the body kick from Valentine.
Sanchez cracks Valentine with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Valentine scores with a nice strike.
Sanchez just misses with a punch to the body.
Sanchez throws a front kick aimed at Valentine's knee but Valentine avoids it well.
Sanchez misses with a wild body shot.
Valentine punishes Sanchez's body with a nice straight punch.
Valentine misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine moves out of range as Sanchez throws a body kick.
Sanchez avoids the body shot from Valentine.
Sanchez checks a leg kick nicely.
Valentine looks to land a right hand but Sanchez moved out of range.
Xavier Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valentine dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice jab there from Valentine.
Sanchez lands with a nice body punch.
Valentine lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Valentine throws a push kick but Sanchez slaps the foot to one side.
Valentine looks to score with a jab to the body but Sanchez is just out of range.

Valentine drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sanchez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Valentine is one step ahead there.
Valentine scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sanchez lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Valentine!
Sanchez is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Sanchez trying to control but Valentine is having none of it.
Valentine is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sanchez throwing shots but Valentine is blocking nicely.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sanchez working the head and body with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sanchez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Valentine defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Xavier Sanchez did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sanchez tries a low kick but Valentine avoids it.
Sanchez jabs Valentine right on the nose. Valentine blinks but takes it well.
Valentine throws a leg kick but Sanchez checks it.
Sanchez misses with a few strikes there.
Sanchez throws a right and a left that Valentine avoids nicely.
Sanchez walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Valentine misses with a body kick.
Valentine blocks a low kick nicely.
Sanchez connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sanchez scores with a hook.
Sanchez explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Valentine lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sanchez looks to throw the jab but Valentine is out of range.
Sanchez thumps Valentine with a low kick.
Valentine slaps away a takedown attempt from Sanchez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sanchez wants to clinch.
Valentine shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sanchez defends it nicely.
Valentine throws a leg kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine ducks under a wild hook from Sanchez.
Sanchez misses with a body shot.
Valentine does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Valentine takes a swing at Sanchez's ribcage but misses.
Valentine misses with an uppercut.
Valentine throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A shot to the liver by Sanchez. Beautiful body shot.
Valentine pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sanchez staying out of range there.
Valentine misses with a leg kick.
Valentine looks for the body kick but Sanchez saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Valentine's guard.
Valentine controls Sanchez momentarily but Sanchez frees himself.
Sanchez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Valentine utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Valentine looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sanchez lands a couple of elbows.
Sanchez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sanchez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Valentine is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Valentine works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sanchez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Valentine is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sanchez trying to hold on to Valentine's head to control him but Valentine postures up.
Xavier Sanchez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Valentine is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Sanchez had his way with Alexander Valentine in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Sanchez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Valentine throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sanchez moves out of range of the body kick.
Sanchez dodges the punch combination from Valentine.
Sanchez tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sanchez punishes Valentine's body with a nice straight punch.

Sanchez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sanchez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but Valentine defending well.
Sanchez trying to control the action but Valentine is working from the bottom.
Sanchez is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Valentine is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Valentine is pressing down on Sanchez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Valentine keeps moving.
Alexander Valentine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine looking to control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Valentine is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Valentine keeps moving.
Sanchez is really struggling to control Valentine but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Sanchez postures up in Valentine's guard and throws a big left but Valentine blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Valentine keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Xavier Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a head kick. Valentine smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Valentine avoids the body shot from Sanchez.
Valentine tries to work over Sanchez's front leg with a kick but Sanchez checks it.
Sanchez sizes up Valentine with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Valentine throws a lazy right hand but Sanchez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Valentine jabs at Sanchez's body.
Valentine throws a low kick, looking for Sanchez's leg but Sanchez calmly moves out of range.
Sanchez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Valentine was well out of range. Poor timing from Sanchez.
Valentine swings for the body but Sanchez moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Sanchez. Beautiful body shot.
Sanchez lands a nice hook to Valentine's body. Valentine takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sanchez throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Valentine takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Valentine swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Valentine throws a nice outside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valentine misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Sanchez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Valentine thinking.
Valentine is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Sanchez lands a lovely overhand right.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valentine takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sanchez lands an overhand right.
Xavier Sanchez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sanchez is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Sanchez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier Sanchez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sanchez 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 49:46
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 49:46
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xavier Sanchez!
Xavier Sanchez retains his middleweight title!
After the big win, Xavier Sanchez made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Seven Sins™ and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.