PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andre Giant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maik Valua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Giant
vs
Valua

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

203 cm
22
288 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Andre Giant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Maik Valua!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Paul Tew and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valua misses with a double jab.
Valua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Giant swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Valua has a takedown stuffed.

Giant takes the fight into the clinch.
Giant lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

It looks like Maik Valua has been cut.
Valua is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Valua wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Giant has him pressed against the cage.

Valua gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Giant regains guard.

Valua drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Giant manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Valua has Giant in his guard.
Giant cracks Valua with a solid left hand.
Valua really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Giant. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Valua preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Valua throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Giant pushing down on Valua's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Giant wants to control but Valua is keeping him busy.
Giant controlling the pace.
Giant landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valua tries to roll over but Giant keeps him under control.
Valua is staying active underneath Giant, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Giant prevents Valua from standing back up.
Giant lands with a punch from half guard.
Giant looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Valua wants to get back to his feet.
Valua looks gassed!
Giant lands with a punch from half guard.
Ground and pound from Giant.
Giant prevents Valua from standing back up.
Giant looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Valua with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Valua can do anything to dispel that myth.
Giant working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Valua is trying to get back to full guard.

Giant is trying to work for a kimura but Valua is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Giant in particular looking to stall.
Giant looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Valua blocking the ground and pound attempt from Giant.
Giant not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Giant slips a nice elbow through Valua's hands, connecting with Valua's forehead.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valua taking some punishment here, with Giant in his half guard.
Valua flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Giant has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Giant slips a nice elbow through Valua's hands, connecting with Valua's forehead.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Giant lands a nice short elbow.
Valua tries to get to full guard but Giant has control of the leg.
Valua pushes Giant off looking to stand but Giant dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giant tries to pass to full mount but Valua defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Giant lands strikes from half guard.
Valua punching from the bottom.
Giant thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Valua's head.
Valua wants to improve his position but Giant is controlling well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Giant takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
No luck for Valua with that takedown attempt.
Andre Giant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maik Valua.
Valua is looking to clinch.
Valua doesn't manage to clinch there - Giant circles away.
Valua throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Giant's waist but Giant gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Valua off to one side.
Valua throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Giant looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giant shoots in and drives through. Valua sprawls well.

Valua closes the distance and clinches.

Valua is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Giant can't fight it off and eventually Valua manages to take the fight to the floor. Giant looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Valua drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Giant dives on top into guard.
Giant looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Giant stands up and waves to Valua to follow him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Valua takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Giant dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Maik Valua's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Valua throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Valua throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Valua.
Giant throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Giant manages to get back to half guard.

Giant kicks Valua off and gets back to his feet.
Valua looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Giant closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Valua is trying to get back to his feet.
Valua manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Valua throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Giant is holding on to half guard well.
Giant on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giant wants to control but Valua is keeping busy.
Valua tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Valua takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Valua thows a huge punch but Giant dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Valua tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Giant scoring well with a low kick there.

Valua scores with a takedown into Giant's guard.
Giant trying to strike off his back.
Valua looking to pass the guard.
Giant throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valua wants to stand and escape but instead Giant has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Giant works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Giant stops Valua from getting back to his feet.
Giant blocks the strikes from Valua.
Valua is looking to escape.
Nice strikes from Giant there.

Valua has one foot on Giant's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Valua throws a series of punches but Giant moves out of range.
Giant fails in his attempt to clinch.
Valua throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Giant shoots in but Valua avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Valua fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giant avoids a punch combination nicely.
Valua shoots for a double leg takedown but Giant sprawls well. He's pushed Valua's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Valua rushes Giant and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Valua gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Giant.

Valua manages to break the clinch.

Valua rushes Giant and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Giant breaks from the clinch.
Giant showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Valua.

Giant bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Valua sneaks back into half guard.
Valua blocking the ground and pound attempt from Giant.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Valua has one foot on Giant's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Valua wants to clinch.
Giant shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Valua as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andre Giant. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Giant fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Giant. No joy for Valua on that attempt.
Giant connects with a single shot there.
Valua lands with a nice combination. Giant backs away looking to recover.
No joy there for Valua, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Valua tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Giant swivels and escapes.
Valua has his takedown stuffed
and Giant counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valua throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Giant counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Giant.
Valua is trying to break free.

Giant is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Valua can't fight it off and eventually Giant manages to take the fight to the floor. Valua looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valua has a closed guard, preventing Giant from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Maik Valua will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Maik Valua's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Valua tries to close the distance and clinch but Giant swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Valua misses with a combination
letting Giant counter with a right hand.
Andre Giant is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Giant pushes Valua up against the cage in a clinch.
Giant tries to score a body lock takedown but Valua shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Valua is trying to break the clinch but Giant has him pressed against the cage.
Valua wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Giant drops down looking for an ankle pick but Valua pulls his leg out and moves away.

Valua has taken the fight to the clinch.

Valua has Giant pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Valua pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Giant tumbling to the mat - Valua dives into Giant's guard.
Valua working some strikes from top position.
Giant working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Giant avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valua keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Giant's head.
Giant will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Valua lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Valua stands and steps away. Giant gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Giant.
Valua swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Valua closes this distance looking for a takedown but Giant circles away.
Valua fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Horrible takedown by Giant or perhaps it was just good defense by Valua which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andre Giant. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Giant tries to clinch but Valua is having none of it.
Valua throws a right hand that Giant ducks under and follows up with a left that Giant also avoids with ease.
Valua throws a series of punches but Giant moves out of range.
Giant shoots for a takedown but Valua saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Horrible takedown by Giant or perhaps it was just good defense by Valua which made him look bad.
Valua shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valua throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Giant 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.
Giant shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Valua as he jumps to the side.
Giant shoots in for a double leg but Valua sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Valua scores a takedown into full mount!
Giant bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Valua wants to stand up but Giant is controlling him.
Giant lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Valua keeping moving, preventing Giant from controlling successfully.
Valua tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giant postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Valua uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Giant fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Giant fails to land the takedown.

Giant looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Valua!
Giant scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Giant controlling the pace for now.
Valua is in all sorts of trouble here.
Giant can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Valua is looking to escape.
Giant throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valua can't escape the position.
Andre Giant overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Valua is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maik Valua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Valua has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!