PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ronnie Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riley comes to the cage accompanied by Queen - It's A Hard Life. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Riley
vs
Valentine

184 cm
34
188 lbs
27 - 11 - 2

185 cm
36
193 lbs
44 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear
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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 27 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Hilo, Ronnie Riley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 44 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Valentine!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Andrew Berry and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentine takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Valentine throws a leg kick which misses Riley's front leg but catches the back leg as Riley tries to avoid it.
Riley tries a low kick but Valentine avoids it.
Riley tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Valentine misses with a body shot.
Riley rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Valentine decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Riley's guard.
Riley looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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.
Riley has his hands on Valentine's head, controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valentine loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Valentine has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Riley preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Valentine trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Riley is trying to control the position but Valentine postures up.
Valentine looking to pass the guard.
Valentine won't allow Riley to sweep him here.
Valentine postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Riley is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Valentine wants to control from the top but Riley keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ronnie Riley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valentine's corner calls for a 1-2. Valentine obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Valentine is looking to slow Riley down with leg kicks.
Riley misses with a looping right.
Valentine connects with the punch.
Riley looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Riley throws a big shot that misses.
Riley lands with a cross.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Valentine.
Valentine throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Riley throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Riley takes a jab right on the kisser.
Valentine looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Riley uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Valentine.
Riley scores with a crisp jab that stopped Valentine in his tracks.
Riley looks for the body kick but Valentine saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine moves out of range as Riley strikes.
Valentine 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.
Riley looks to score with a jab to the body but Valentine is just out of range.
Valentine scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Valentine slips under a jab from Riley.
Valentine turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Valentine moves out of range of the strikes.
A bone on bone clash there as Valentine blocks the leg kick.
Riley throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Riley throws a body shot but no joy.
Riley throws a quick inside leg kick.
Valentine fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Riley manages to avoid it.
Valentine fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Riley is out of range.
Valentine fails with the takedown.
Valentine lands with a shot to the body.
Riley moves out of range as Valentine throws a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine avoids the body shot from Riley.
Valentine takes a swing at Riley's ribcage but misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Riley 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.
Riley cracks Valentine with a right hand to the side of the head.
Valentine throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Valentine lands a front kick.
Riley misses with a jab to the body

and Valentine counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Riley is looking for a sweep. Valentine is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Valentine sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Riley defending well though.
Riley keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Riley keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Riley has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Valentine is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Valentine takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Riley misses with a low kick as Valentine jumps back.
Valentine on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Riley fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Valentine chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Riley thows a leg kick but Valentine checks it

and Valentine counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Valentine throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Riley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Valentine trying to control but Riley is working from the bottom.
Riley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Valentine.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riley trying to keep a closed guard but Valentine is proving a slippery customer.
Riley is pulling down on Valentine's head. It's preventing any offense from Valentine, at least for the moment.

Riley looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Valentine.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Riley tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Valentine working some strikes from top position.
Valentine passes Riley's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Riley is refusing to be controlled, as Valentine sits in half guard.

Riley looking for subs from the bottom but Valentine mounts him!
Valentine raining down hammerfists from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine with a couple of short strikes.
Valentine is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Valentine tries to control but Riley wriggling away.
Riley takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Valentine putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valentine looking to control but Riley is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Riley avoids a series of strikes thrown by Valentine.
Valentine lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Riley hang on?
Valentine in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Riley tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Riley is rocked!
Riley wants to control but Valentine is having none of it.
Oh Riley is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Valentine lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Riley hang on?
Valentine trying to control but Riley is having none of it.
Riley seems to have got his legs back now.
Riley wants to control but Valentine is having none of it.
Valentine has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at The Barracks - LOD. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Riley is bucking up trying to escape but Valentine cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Valentine lands a nice shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riley tries to hold on but Valentine pushes him away.
Riley is in all sorts of trouble here.
Riley is working hard here to advance position.
Valentine looking to control but Riley is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Valentine avoids the attempt from Riley to control.
Riley is bucking up trying to escape but Valentine cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valentine working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Riley really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Valentine lands with some strikes.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Riley misses with a body kick.
Riley scores with a sloppy right hand. Valentine should have avoided that one.
Ronnie Riley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Valentine throws a hook to the side of Riley's head but Riley sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Valentine dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Riley. That did some damage!
Valentine throws a front kick aimed at Riley's knee but Riley avoids it well.
Riley ducks under a wild hook from Valentine.
Valentine misses with a leg kick
and Riley counters with a nice low kick that buckles Valentine's knee momentarily.
Valentine moves out of range of the body kick from Riley.
Riley tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Valentine is able to avoid easily.
Riley throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Valentine counters with a single leg into guard. Riley didn't expect that.
Valentine postures up in Riley's guard and throws a big left but Riley blocks it.
Riley looking to control.
Valentine landing some decent shots from guard.
Valentine trying to control the position from guard on top but Riley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Valentine sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Valentine trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Valentine trying to control but Riley is working from the bottom.
Valentine with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Valentine throws a big right hand that misses.
Riley is adopting a defensive guard.
Valentine scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Riley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Valentine trying to control the position from guard on top but Riley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riley tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Valentine chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Riley can pounce on him.
Valentine uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Riley has time to react.
Ronnie Riley is winning the standup battle so far.
Valentine misses with a few strikes there.
Riley throws out a leg kick but Valentine moves out of range and Riley only half commits.
Valentine doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Valentine, as that shot connected.
Riley lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley misses with a leg kick

and Valentine counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Riley is refusing to be controlled, as Valentine sits in half guard.
Valentine controlling the action here.
Riley taking some punishment here, with Valentine in his half guard.
Riley wants to get back to full guard.
Valentine tries to pass the half guard into mount. Riley knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Riley is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
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 content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Valentine's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Valentine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Valentine winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Valentine!
An intense looking Alexander Valentine took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'In a career full of ups and downs, this win , hopefully, is the start of something amazing! '.
Ronnie Riley was interviewed post fight and said 'Personally I blame my manager for sending me in there with such a ridiculous gameplan, it's about time I got someone else to manage me.'.