PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Richard Hickock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hickock's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Turn me on Mr Deadman. Richard Hickock is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Hickock
vs
Valentine

182 cm
28
193 lbs
20 - 9 - 1

185 cm
31
193 lbs
33 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

TWGC Champion
World class MT
Good gas tank

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry

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 20 - 9 - 1, fighting out of New York, Richard Hickock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alexander Valentine!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, William Gold and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentine scores with a jab.
Hickock misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hickock scores with a nice right hand.
Valentine lands a jab.
Richard Hickock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valentine lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Valentine moves out of range of the body kick.
Valentine digs a good body shot into Hickock's ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valentine avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hickock throws a head kick that misses.
Hickock gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hickock misses with a two punch combination.
Valentine keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Valentine tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hickock was well out of range. Poor timing from Valentine.
Valentine throws a front kick that sends Hickock stumbling back into the cage.
Valentine fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hickock looks to land a combination but Valentine avoids it well.
Hickock takes a jab right on the kisser.
Valentine lands with a thumping leg kick.
Valentine cracks Hickock with an open hand slap.
Hickock throws a jab but it's blocked by Valentine.
Richard Hickock is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hickock pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Hickock clinches with his opponent.
Hickock struggles to land a body shot inside as Valentine controls his hands.
Valentine avoiding damage as Hickock throws knees to the body.
Valentine misses with a body punch.
Valentine has a couple of punches blocked by Hickock.
A head punch on the inside from Valentine fails to land.
A bit of stalling here from Valentine.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Valentine.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine is trying to pull guard but Hickock turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Valentine can't find room to land a body shot as Hickock controls the action.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Valentine blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valentine.
Hickock lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hickock lands a right hand.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hickock misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hickock doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Valentine tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Valentine swings wildly with an uppercut but Hickock uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valentine lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Valentine fails to land.
Valentine lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hickock throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Valentine tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Valentine blocks a body shot from Hickock.
Valentine struggles to land a body shot inside as Hickock controls his hands.
Valentine drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Valentine decides to pull guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hickock looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hickock's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Richard Hickock wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Valentine misses with an uppercut. Hickock saw that one coming.
Valentine lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valentine on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A solid body kick from Hickock.
Hickock pivots, looking for a leg kick but Valentine is out of range and Hickock settles back down.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice shot by Hickock.
Hickock wants to clinch but Valentine slips to the side

and Valentine counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Valentine.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valentine won't allow Hickock to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Valentine throws a leg kick that misses.
Hickock swings widly with a right hand

and Valentine counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hickock won't be happy with that.
Valentine trying to control the position but Hickock is working away.
You can see the frustration on Hickock's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Valentine trying to control the position but Hickock is working away.
Hickock tries to bench press Valentine off him but Valentine keeps the position.
Hickock stops Valentine from passing to mount.
Valentine working away.
Hickock tries to bench press Valentine off him but Valentine keeps the position.
Hickock sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickock is staying active underneath Valentine, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hickock is looking for a sweep. Valentine is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Valentine perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hickock wants to get back to his feet.
Valentine tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hickock knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hickock wants to control but Valentine is keeping busy.
Valentine wants to control but Hickock is keeping him busy.
Valentine lands with a punch from half guard.
Hickock works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hickock looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Valentine trying to control but Hickock is working from the bottom.
Hickock working a defensive guard here.
Valentine throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine 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.
Valentine trying to control but Hickock is working from the bottom.

Alexander Valentine has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Valentine on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hickock misses with a hook to the body

and Valentine counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hickock won't be happy with that.
Hickock is looking to regain half guard here but Valentine keeps moving and retains side control.
Hickock is working hard here to advance position.
Valentine wants to control but Hickock is keeping him busy.
Hickock tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Valentine wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Alexander Valentine has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine controls the position from side control.
Check out the look on Valentine's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Valentine tries to move to mount but Hickock blocks the move with his legs.
Valentine trying to control the position but Hickock is working away.
You can see the frustration on Hickock's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hickock pushes Valentine away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Valentine gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Hickock sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Valentine is looking to take a break and control but Hickock is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Valentine wants to pass the guard but Hickock is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hickock wants to sweep but Valentine has passed to side control!
Hickock is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hickock wants to control but Valentine is keeping busy.
Hickock wants to improve his position but Valentine is controlling well.
Hickock is trying to control but Valentine manages to pass to mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hickock wants to control but Valentine is having none of it.
Valentine lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Valentine is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hickock can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Hickock sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hickock manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Valentine 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!

Good shot there by Valentine.
Hickock throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hickock throws a left and a right that both miss

and Valentine counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Valentine.
Valentine postures up and lands a big shot to Hickock's brow.
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.
Hickock looking to control.
Hickock lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Valentine!
Hickock is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Valentine can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hickock connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Valentine working to try and regain half guard.
Hickock trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickock is really struggling to control Valentine but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Valentine is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Valentine regains half guard.
Valentine is not content to let Hickock control the position.
Valentine moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Richard Hickock has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valentine has his foot on Hickock's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hickock works his way back into a safe position though.
Valentine avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hickock throwing strikes from guard but Valentine blocks nicely.
Valentine keeping moving, preventing Hickock from controlling successfully.
Hickock loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Valentine keeping moving, preventing Hickock from controlling successfully.
Hickock tries to stand but Valentine is controlling from the bottom.

Valentine working for a triangle but Hickock defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine working a defensive guard here.

Valentine looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hickock pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Valentine is keeping the position for now.
Hickock makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hickock in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Alexander Valentine is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine controlling Hickock's posture.
Hickock has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hickock throwing strikes but missing.
Hickock throws a big elbow that misses.
Hickock is looking to work some ground and pound but Valentine has wrist control.
Hickock throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Valentine works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hickock working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hickock won't allow Valentine to sweep him here.
Valentine looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alexander Valentine.
Well Valentine has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Valentine!
In his post fight interview, Alexander Valentine gave a big smile as he said 'In a career full of ups and downs, this win , hopefully, is the start of something amazing! '.