PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kirk Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hi Thai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hi Thai has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Valentine
vs
Thai

180 cm
22
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

196 cm
23
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kirk Valentine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hi Thai!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Vladimir Khabensky and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thai looks to land a combination but Valentine avoids it well.
Thai scores with a decent looking hook.

It looks like Kirk Valentine has been cut.
Valentine closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thai circles away.
Thai circles away from the clinch attempt

and Thai holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Thai's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Thai drives through with a takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Thai drops back, looking for a kneebar! Valentine looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Valentine looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Valentine!
Valentine scoring with punches and elbows.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The ground and pound from Valentine seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Valentine wants to control but Thai is keeping him busy.
Valentine creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Thai sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine throws a strike aimed at the side of Thai's head but Thai avoids it well.
Thai is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Valentine's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Thai wants to control but Valentine is keeping busy.
Thai is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Valentine jumps into side control!
Thai is looking to regain half guard here but Valentine keeps moving and retains side control.
Thai is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Thai keeps trying to improve his position.

Valentine looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valentine lands a few punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine grinds an elbow into Thai's temple.
Thai is looking to reverse the position.
Thai gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Valentine is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Valentine thows a huge punch but Thai dodges it nicely.

Valentine is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Thai doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Valentine.

Valentine is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Thai has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine drops an elbow to the side of Thai's head.
Valentine missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Valentine looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Valentine is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Thai is trying to stand up here but Valentine is controlling him well.
Valentine is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai is pressing down on Valentine's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Valentine missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Valentine throws a big elbow that misses.
Valentine working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thai's head.
Valentine makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Valentine stopping the sweep attempt from Thai.

Thai is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valentine with a flurry of punches that miss.
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 Kirk Valentine will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kirk Valentine's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thai gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Valentine is looking to regain half guard here but Thai keeps moving and retains side control.
Valentine is not content to let Thai control the position.
Thai throwing strikes but Valentine manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Valentine tries for a kimura but Thai is defending well.

Valentine decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Thai scores with a takedown into Valentine's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine keeping moving, preventing Thai from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Valentine is on top in guard.
Valentine lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Thai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thai has control of Valentine's left arm, preventing Valentine from doing any damage.
Valentine looking to sit in guard and control but Thai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine wants to hit a switch here but Thai passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Valentine there!
Valentine is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Thai misses with a head shot.
A nice elbow there by Thai.
Thai throwing strikes here but Valentine is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Thai takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kirk Valentine overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Thai wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Valentine might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Thai is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Thai tries to pass to full mount but Valentine defends it.
Valentine is looking for a sweep. Thai is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai is keen to just control but Valentine is a slippery customer.
Thai is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Thai is pressing down on Valentine's thigh, looking to free his foot. Valentine is holding on for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hi Thai was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Thai looking to score a takedown here. Valentine is defending well but Thai drives through and ends up in Valentine's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thai trying to control the position from guard on top but Valentine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valentine wants to sweep here but Thai controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hi Thai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kirk Valentine's cut.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Valentine dives in for a single leg takedown but Thai sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Valentine is trying to break the clinch but Thai is controlling him.

Thai jumps guard.

Thai throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Valentine stopping the sweep attempt from Thai.
Thai pulls Valentine in close to his closed guard and prevents Valentine from doing any damage or advancing position.

Valentine drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Thai dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thai gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Valentine shoots in for a takedown but Thai shows good takedown defense.

Thai clinches up against the cage.

Valentine breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Valentine lands a head kick. Thai smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Thai lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A chopping leg kick lands by Thai.

Thai closes the distance and pushes Valentine back into the cage.

Thai ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Thai no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine postures up in Thai's guard and throws a big left but Thai blocks it.
Thai seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valentine won't allow Thai to get back to his feet.
Thai keeping moving, preventing Valentine from controlling successfully.
Thai trying to control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Thai looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Valentine has gone for a leg lock! Thai slips out almost immediately though and dives into Valentine's guard.
Thai is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai stops Valentine from standing up.
Thai sitting in guard here, content to control.

Thai stands and steps away. Valentine gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Thai gets the takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai slows the pace down.
Valentine looks to move to half guard but instead Thai has passed into mount! Damn!
Thai sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Valentine wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Thai.

Thai is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Valentine has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Valentine!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thai keeping moving, preventing Valentine from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hi Thai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thai 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hi Thai!