PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dirk Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Terry Pratchett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valentine's entrance music is Danger! High Voltage. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Valentine
vs
Pratchett

179 cm
22
192 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
20
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Dirk Valentine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Terry Pratchett!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Left hook, right uppercut from Pratchett.
Pratchett shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Valentine but Valentine pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Pratchett moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Pratchett throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Pratchett lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Valentine closes the distance and clinches.

Valentine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pratchett looks to clinch

and Valentine counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Pratchett is trying to control but can't.
Valentine content to control rather than advance.

Valentine is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Pratchett has managed to free his arm - good work.
Pratchett works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pratchett is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine has hold of Pratchett's hands but Pratchett slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Valentine keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Valentine is pressing down on Pratchett's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Pratchett throwing strikes but missing.
Pratchett trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pratchett throwing strikes from guard but Valentine blocks nicely.
Valentine doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Pratchett being controlled here momentarily.
Pratchett trying to control but Valentine is working from the bottom.
Valentine is trying to keep Pratchett in close.
Pratchett with a flurry of punches that miss.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Pratchett falls off balance throwing a combination
and Valentine counters with a nice leg kick.
Pratchett shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Valentine counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Pratchett's guard now.
Valentine slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Valentine postures up in Pratchett's guard and throws a big left but Pratchett blocks it.
Valentine preventing the sweep.
Valentine working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pratchett's head.
Pratchett tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pratchett keeping moving, preventing Valentine from controlling successfully.
Valentine won't allow Pratchett to get back to his feet.
Pratchett looks gassed!
Valentine trying to control the position from guard on top but Pratchett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Valentine with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pratchett decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Valentine's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pratchett.
Valentine wants to stand up but Pratchett is controlling him.
Valentine keeping moving, preventing Pratchett from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pratchett accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Valentine is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Pratchett stands and throws Valentine's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Valentine is looking to reverse the position.
Valentine is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Valentine stops Pratchett from passing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pratchett decides to stand back up.
A combination from Pratchett does no damage.
Pratchett lands a jab to the head.
A low kick from Pratchett is predictable there

and Valentine counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Pratchett's guard now.
Valentine trying to control the position from guard on top but Pratchett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pratchett wants to sweep here but Valentine controlling him for the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Valentine's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Pratchett keeping moving, preventing Valentine from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valentine won't allow Pratchett to sweep him here.
Pratchett is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Pratchett throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
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 Dirk Valentine will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Valentine misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pratchett.
Pratchett managing to block the knees to the body from Valentine.
Valentine lands with a light punch inside.
Valentine with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pratchett wants a takedown but no success here.
Pratchett can't get the takedown.
Valentine is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Valentine tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pratchett smiles and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pratchett misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valentine moves into the clinch successfully.
Pratchett is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Valentine gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dirk Valentine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Terry Pratchett.
Pratchett has had enough of the clinch but Valentine keeps him there for the moment.
Pratchett drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Valentine gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Pratchett is breathing heavily.
Valentine drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Valentine is pressed up against the cage. Pratchett has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Valentine down to the mat. Valentine avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Valentine closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Pratchett has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Valentine works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine is looking to take a break and control but Pratchett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pratchett is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Valentine is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Pratchett throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Valentine controlling his opponent.
Pratchett is bucking up trying to escape but Valentine cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Pratchett sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Pratchett is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pratchett is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Valentine is pressing down on Pratchett's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pratchett is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pratchett wants to improve his position but Valentine is controlling well.
Pratchett gets back to full guard.
Valentine trying to control but Pratchett is working from the bottom.
Pratchett throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Some wild striking there from Pratchett.
Valentine wants to clinch but Pratchett slips to the side

and Pratchett counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Valentine blocks the elbow strike.
A knee to the head by Valentine.

That's four 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.
Pratchett is looking to break free of the clinch but Valentine has double underhooks.
Pratchett has Valentine pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Valentine manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pratchett is pressed up against the cage. Valentine has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pratchett down to the mat. Pratchett avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Pratchett scores with a takedown into Valentine's guard.
Pratchett throwing strikes from guard but Valentine blocks nicely.
Pratchett trying to control but Valentine is working from the bottom.
Valentine is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Pratchett lands a couple of elbows.
Pratchett in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pratchett wants to control from the top but Valentine keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Terry Pratchett will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Valentine shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pratchett pinned against the cage. Pratchett gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Pratchett fails with the takedown
and Valentine counters with a stiff right hand.
Pratchett doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Valentine counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Pratchett's guard now.
Pratchett keeping moving, preventing Valentine from controlling successfully.
Pratchett is looking to stand back up but Valentine counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Pratchett.
Dirk Valentine overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Valentine scoring with punches from side control.
Valentine works to advance to full mount. Pratchett defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Valentine with good strikes from the mount here!
Pratchett is in a horrible position here. Valentine smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine lands a big shot there that rocks Pratchett but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pratchett is working to get back to half guard.
Valentine landing strikes from the mount.
Pratchett tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Valentine pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Valentine tries to control but Pratchett wriggling away.
A nice elbow there by Valentine.
Pratchett working to try and regain half guard.
Valentine landing punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
BOOM! Valentine connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Pratchett really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Valentine with the ground and pound from mount.
Valentine controlling from the full mount.
Pratchett is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Valentine working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Pratchett is in all sorts of trouble here.
Pratchett regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pratchett is trying to escape back to his feet but Valentine uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Pratchett is looking to regain half guard here but Valentine keeps moving and retains side control.
Valentine scoring with punches and elbows.
Valentine avoids the strikes from the bottom by Pratchett.
Pratchett throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Valentine trying to control the action but Pratchett is working from the bottom.
Pratchett is trying to get back to half guard.

Valentine working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Valentine tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Pratchett is trying to get back to half guard.
Valentine working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Valentine is looking to take a break and control but Pratchett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pratchett is looking to regain half guard here but Valentine keeps moving and retains side control.
Pratchett tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Valentine presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Dirk Valentine showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Sam Margolis scores the fight for Dirk Valentine!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Dirk Valentine!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Dirk Valentine!

Dirk Valentine wins by unanimous decision!