PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe Valchek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ron Culerovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ron Culerovich is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Valchek
vs
Culerovich

179 cm
21
162 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Team S.W.A.T.

Demonic Drugs
Demonic Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joe Valchek!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ron Culerovich!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksandr Martynov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Culerovich doesn't manage to clinch there - Valchek circles away.
Culerovich tries to clinch up but Valchek circles away and keeps his distance.

Culerovich closes the distance and clinches.
Culerovich with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Culerovich with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Valchek pulls Culerovich into guard.
Culerovich won't allow Valchek to sweep him here.
Valchek manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Poor strikes thrown by Valchek there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Valchek looking to finish with strikes here!

Valchek is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Culerovich has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Culerovich!
Culerovich stopping the sweep attempt from Valchek.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valchek escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Culerovich gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Culerovich avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Culerovich stopping the sweep attempt from Valchek.
Culerovich really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Valchek. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Valchek working for submissions but it's allowed Culerovich to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Culerovich wants to get back to his feet.
Valchek is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valchek moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Valchek has a closed guard, preventing Culerovich from standing up.
Valchek looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Culerovich puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Valchek manages to get to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Valchek looking for a guillotine here but Culerovich defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Valchek throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Valchek has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Culerovich can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Valchek looking for a guillotine here but Culerovich defends easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Valchek looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Culerovich puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
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 Joe Valchek will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Culerovich is looking to clinch but Valchek is avoiding it.

Valchek looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Valchek throws and elbow that misses. Culerovich uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Valchek's guard. Nice move by Culerovich!

Valchek is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Valchek looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Valchek wants to sweep here but Culerovich controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Culerovich avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Valchek keeping busy on the bottom but Culerovich has passed one foot through into half guard.
Culerovich tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Valchek.

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.
Valchek is pressing down on Culerovich's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Culerovich stopping the sweep attempt from Valchek.
Culerovich trying to stand up but can't free himself from Valchek's guard.

Valchek working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Culerovich has passed into half guard!
Valchek is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valchek punching from the bottom.
Valchek is looking to improve his position.
Valchek manages to get to full guard.

Valchek working for a triangle but Culerovich defends it easily.
Valchek is trying to keep Culerovich in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Valchek working for a triangle but Culerovich defends it easily.
Culerovich wants to get up but he can't break Valchek's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Valchek looking for a sweep. Not yet Valchek, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Valchek dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Culerovich rushes Valchek and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Culerovich tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Valchek has Culerovich pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Culerovich manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Culerovich tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Culerovich misses with a knee to the head.
Valchek drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Culerovich gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Culerovich using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Valchek has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Culerovich misses with a knee to the head.
Valchek tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Valchek. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Culerovich landing knees to the head.
Culerovich using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Valchek has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Valchek is working for takedown but Culerovich is calmly controlling the position for now.
Culerovich misses with a knee to the head.
Culerovich prevents a takedown attempt there.
Culerovich throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Valchek blocks it with crossed arms.
Culerovich throws a knee to the head but misses.
Culerovich with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Culerovich looking to throw knees to the head but Valchek is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Culerovich prevents the takedown attempt.
Culerovich is pressed up against the cage. Valchek has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Culerovich down to the mat. Culerovich avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Valchek drives through and clinches with Culerovich against the cage.

Valchek gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Culerovich regains guard.

Valchek has gone for a leg lock! Culerovich slips out almost immediately though and dives into Valchek's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Valchek tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valchek is working hard here to advance position.
Valchek manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Valchek moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Culerovich has worked his arm free - good work by Culerovich!

Valchek is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Culerovich is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valchek swings around for an armbar but Culerovich sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Valchek's guard.
Culerovich wants to stand but Valchek has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Valchek escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Culerovich gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Valchek is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valchek wants to sweep here but Culerovich controlling him for the moment.

Valchek has his foot on Culerovich's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Culerovich works his way back into a safe position though.

Valchek is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Valchek working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Culerovich doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Culerovich manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Culerovich decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Valchek, up you get!

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.

Culerovich closes the distance and clinches.
Valchek looking for a takedown.
Valchek has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Culerovich avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Culerovich misses with a knee strike.
Culerovich misses with a knee to the head.
Valchek goes for a takedown attempt but Culerovich pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Valchek will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Valchek circles away from the clinch attempt

and Valchek decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Culerovich's guard.
Valchek wants to pass the guard but Culerovich is keeping the position.
Joe Valchek overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Culerovich is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Valchek clearly takes that round.
That's time! Valchek's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Culerovich closes the distance but Valchek moves to the side

and Valchek counters by clinching up.
Culerovich gets underhooks to prevent Valchek's takedown attempt.
Valchek has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Culerovich is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Valchek is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Culerovich pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Valchek. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Culerovich with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Culerovich throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Valchek blocks it with crossed arms.
Valchek drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Culerovich gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Culerovich throws a knee to the head but misses.
Valchek tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Culerovich smiles and moves away.
Culerovich wants to clinch

and Valchek counters with a takedown into side control.

Valchek is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Culerovich knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Culerovich wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Culerovich is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valchek is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Culerovich has escaped the position, nice work there.
Valchek working the body and head with strikes.
Valchek trying to control the position but Culerovich is working away.
Culerovich is trying to buck Valchek off.

That's two 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.
Valchek fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Culerovich is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Valchek is controlling him well.

Valchek working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Valchek lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Culerovich down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valchek wants to lay and pray for a moment but Culerovich keeps working.

Valchek wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Culerovich, who protects the arm well.

Valchek is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Culerovich has escaped the position, nice work there.
Valchek misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Culerovich is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Valchek is controlling him well.
Valchek throws an elbow but Culerovich slips to the side and avoids it well.
Culerovich wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

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

Valchek looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Culerovich!
Valchek works his way to his opponent's back.

Valchek looking for the RNC.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Valchek had his way with Ron Culerovich in that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Culerovich closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Culerovich with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Culerovich prevents the takedown attempt.

Culerovich is fighting off a takedown attempt but Valchek is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Culerovich to the mat. Culerovich regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Valchek tries to free his leg and advance position but Culerovich is retaining full guard.
Valchek in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Valchek postures up and lands a big shot to Culerovich's brow.
Valchek looking to pass the guard.
Culerovich is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valchek is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Culerovich wants to clinch but Valchek slips to the side

and Valchek counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Culerovich!
Valchek pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Valchek wants to finish this one by submission but Culerovich is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Valchek.
Valchek seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Culerovich is holding on tight.
Culerovich avoids a strike by Valchek and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Valchek's guard! Fantastic escape!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valchek had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Culerovich is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Valchek Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Culerovich's back instead.
Culerovich is trying to stand back up.
Valchek lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Culerovich.

Valchek tightening his grip on Culerovich, looking for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Culerovich is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Valchek gets his way!
Valchek misses with a punch to the head.

Valchek sinks in the hooks and is looking for the choke. He's got it! Culerovich taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Joe Valchek!
Joe Valchek is the new lightweight champion!