PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yossi Avitan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Valentine
vs
Avitan

185 cm
37
193 lbs
47 - 19 - 0

191 cm
34
203 lbs
29 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

AnonymouS

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

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 47 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Valentine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yossi Avitan!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Avitan misses with a leg kick.
Avitan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Valentine.
Valentine ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've been informed that Avitan has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Jab, jab by Avitan - just one landing.

Avitan clinches up with Valentine and pushes him back against the cage.
Avitan misses with a punch to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Avitan working aggressively here.
Valentine tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Avitan misses with some punches.
Valentine lands a hook to the side of the head.

Valentine successfully pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valentine is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Valentine wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine being controlled here, momentarily.
Avitan wants to control from the top but Valentine keeps moving.

Valentine looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Valentine is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Avitan won't allow Valentine to sweep him here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Valentine looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Avitan passes into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Valentine prevents Avitan from improving position.
Valentine seems a little lost for a moment, as Avitan dominates the positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine is looking for a sweep.
Valentine is trying to control Avitan's posture but Avitan avoids it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Valentine uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Avitan.
Avitan shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Valentine eats them both and turns towards Avitan to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Valentine throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Avitan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Avitan feints a jab promting Valentine to slip. Avitan then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Valentine slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A jab lands there for Avitan.
Avitan tries to close the distance and clinch but Valentine swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Valentine blocks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Avitan. Avitan obviously looking to wear him down.
Avitan throws a leg kick but Valentine moved away.
Valentine appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Avitan wants to clinch.
Valentine throws a poor cross that misses
and Avitan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Avitan takes the fight into the clinch.
Valentine misses with a hook to the ribs.
Valentine goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Avitan misses with a hook to the ribs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Valentine is trying to stall.
Avitan is looking to control Valentine's arms but Valentine gets an underhook and turns him. Now Avitan has his back to the cage.
Valentine lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Avitan fails to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yossi Avitan dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Avitan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Avitan fails to land with a series of punches.
Valentine looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nice cross by Valentine.
Avitan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Valentine half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Yossi Avitan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Avitan scores with a decent looking hook.
Valentine throws an overhand right that lands on Avitan's shoulder, as Avitan tries to avoid the shot.
Despite the aggression on Avitan's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Avitan throws a jab but it's blocked by Valentine.
Valentine misses with an uppercut.
Avitan scores with a jab to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valentine bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Avitan's head backwards.
Avitan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Valentine thumps Avitan with a low kick.
Valentine blocks a head kick by Avitan.
Valentine misses with an uppercut. Avitan saw that one coming.
Yossi Avitan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Avitan.
Avitan tries a head kick but it misses.
Valentine throws a looping overhand right but Avitan ducks down to avoid it.
Avitan appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Avitan.
Valentine keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Valentine tries to counter with a takedown but Avitan is quick to defend against it.
Avitan tries to clinch up.
Valentine throws a jab but it's blocked by Avitan.
Avitan needs to keep his hands up - Valentine had a free shot at his head there.
Avitan moves to clinch but Valentine breaks away

and Valentine counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Valentine prevents Avitan from getting back to his feet.
Valentine is looking to work some ground and pound but Avitan has wrist control.
Avitan keeping moving, preventing Valentine from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine stopping the sweep attempt from Avitan.
Valentine wants to control from the top but Avitan keeps moving.
Avitan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Valentine stands up over Avitan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Valentine is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Valentine throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Valentine scores with a punch to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Valentine blocks the leg kick.
Avitan throws a jab but it's blocked by Valentine.
Valentine misses with a hook. Avitan ducked under it nicely.
Avitan lands a head kick!
A punch combination from Avitan misses.
Avitan slips a straight right by Valentine.
Avitan throws a head kick but Valentine moves out of range.
Avitan on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Valentine is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Avitan lands with a hook. Valentine tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Avitan cracks Valentine with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Valentine shoots for a double leg takedown but Avitan sprawls well. He's pushed Valentine's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Avitan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Avitan misses with an uppercut. Valentine saw that one coming.
Valentine misses with a hook.
Avitan lands a leg kick that knocks Valentine off balance momentarily.
A jab from Valentine misses.
A lazy left from Avitan finds it's target.
A jab from Avitan does it's job there.
Avitan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Avitan moves out of range of the strikes.
Valentine scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Avitan misses with a body shot.
Avitan blocks a jab.
Avitan scores with a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yossi Avitan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Jab by Avitan.
Avitan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Valentine walks into a left hand.
Valentine throws a low kick but it's checked well by Avitan.
A little jabbing left from Avitan on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Valentine avoids the head kick by Avitan.
Avitan dips to his left and cracks Valentine with an uppercut!
Valentine works Avitan's body with a nice hook.
Valentine swats away the attempt to clinch by Avitan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Avitan ducks under a wild hook from Valentine.
Avitan tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Valentine feinted with a counter takedown.
Avitan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Valentine swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Valentine changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Valentine on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avitan misses with a body shot.
Valentine attempts a counter takedown but Avitan avoids it well and moves away.
Avitan fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Valentine checks it well.
Avitan throws a lazy right hand but Valentine sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Avitan goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Valentine throws a nice inside leg kick.
Avitan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Valentine appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Avitan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A jab from Valentine misses.
Valentine avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Valentine throws out a loose jab but Avitan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alexander Valentine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Avitan looks to clinch

and Valentine decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Avitan's guard.
Valentine working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Avitan's head.
Valentine throwing strikes from guard but Avitan blocks nicely.
Valentine 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.
Valentine throws a big elbow that misses.
Valentine is fighting to break Avitan's control of his arms but Avitan is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Valentine postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Valentine throwing strikes but missing.
Avitan wants to sweep here but Valentine controlling him for the moment.
Valentine pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Avitan is keeping the position for now.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Valentine wants to control from the top but Avitan keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Avitan misses with a head kick.
Avitan throws a head kick but Valentine moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Avitan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine throws a shot from downtown. Avitan moves away and avoids it.
Valentine misses with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Valentine. Avitan does a little dance to reset his feet.

Avitan closes the distance and pushes Valentine back into the cage.
Avitan lands a left hand.
Avitan prevents a body shot from Valentine.
Avitan is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Valentine lands with a left to the head.
Avitan scores with an uppercut up the middle.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valentine.
A short left from Avitan.
A nice left hand lands by Valentine.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Valentine swings wildly with an uppercut but Avitan uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Yossi Avitan.
I've got Avitan 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yossi Avitan!
Yossi Avitan thanked the fans post fight for their support.