PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hugo Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lewis
vs
Valentine

192 cm
28
196 lbs
13 - 12 - 0

185 cm
38
193 lbs
47 - 21 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Perkele!

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 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hugo Lewis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 47 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Valentine!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lewis tries to clinch up.
And Valentine tries to counter it with a takedown but Lewis pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Valentine misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lewis throws a sloppy head kick and Valentine moves out of range easily.
Lewis tries to clinch but Valentine moves out of range.
Valentine throws out a loose jab but Lewis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valentine throws a jab when Lewis was well out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Lewis.
Valentine lands a nice looking body kick.
Lewis looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lewis moves into range and connects with a jab.
Valentine lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Hugo Lewis has been cut.
Valentine swats away the attempt to clinch by Lewis.
Valentine jabs at Lewis's body.

Lewis rushes Valentine and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lewis makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Lewis lands a nice elbow.
Lewis tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Valentine is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Valentine fails to land.
Lewis working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Valentine tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Come on Valentine - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Lewis unloads a knee to the mid-section. Valentine lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Lewis blocks an uppercut.
Lewis pushes off an throws an elbow but Valentine leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Valentine tries to work over Lewis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right from Lewis.
A right hand to the body from Lewis.
Lewis blocks a body shot from Valentine.
Lewis throws a punch but it's blocked by Valentine.
A nice left hand lands by Lewis.
Valentine managing to block the knees to the body from Lewis.
A short right from Lewis.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Lewis struggles to land a body shot inside as Valentine controls his hands.
Lewis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Valentine misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Valentine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Valentine has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Valentine throws a shot from downtown. Lewis moves away and avoids it.
Lewis was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Valentine clobbers Lewis with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Valentine misses with a looping left.
Valentine throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Valentine takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lewis is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Valentine.
Lewis slips under a jab from Valentine.
Valentine lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Lewis backs up against the cage.

Lewis takes the fight into the clinch.

Valentine lands a takedown into guard.
Lewis is looking to stand up but Valentine isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valentine landing some decent shots from guard.
Valentine throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine is looking to work some ground and pound but Lewis has wrist control.
Valentine stops Lewis from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Valentine accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Valentine won't allow Lewis to get back to his feet.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Valentine works over Lewis with some ground and pound from guard.
Valentine has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lewis is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Valentine trying to control but Lewis is working from the bottom.
Valentine throwing strikes from guard but Lewis blocks nicely.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lewis 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Valentine throws a big shot that misses.
Lewis uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Lewis moves into the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Lewis.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lewis.
Valentine's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Lewis blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lewis creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lewis lands a nice uppercut.
Lewis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Valentine tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lewis's elbow.
Valentine lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Lewis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fighters circling - Valentine throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A swing and a miss from Valentine.
Lewis connects with a right hand. Valentine shakes it off.
Valentine walks into a stiff left hand from Lewis.
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 Hugo Lewis will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Hugo Lewis'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.

Valentine misses with an attempted mid kick.

Lewis knocks Valentine to the floor with a head kick! Can he finish him!?

Valentine is rocked!

Lewis decides to stand back up. Lewis steps back and let's Valentine get back to his feet.

Lewis darts in and clinches Valentine up against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Valentine blocks an elbow strike.
Valentine blocks an uppercut.
Valentine lands a body punch.
Hugo Lewis has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lewis misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lewis lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Valentine backwards.

Lewis manages to break the clinch.
Valentine lands a jab to Lewis's midsection.
Lewis defending well as Valentine loads up on a big left hand.
Valentine keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Lewis lands with a cross.
Lewis is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Valentine lands a really nice looking cross but Lewis seems unphased.
Lewis moves out of range of the strikes.
Lewis doesn't manage to clinch there - Valentine circles away.
Lewis misses with a right hand

and Valentine counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis tries to kick Valentine off but Valentine keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Valentine not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lewis is staying active underneath Valentine, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Valentine working the head and body with strikes.
Lewis is looking to escape.
Alexander Valentine has got the better of the ground game so far.
Valentine thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Valentine looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Valentine lands strikes from half guard.
Valentine prevents Lewis from standing back up.
Still in half guard, Valentine seems content to control.
Lewis regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Valentine.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine trying to control the position from guard on top but Lewis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valentine connects with a couple of short punches.
Lewis wants to stand and escape but Valentine is having none of it.
Valentine throws a big elbow that misses.
Valentine with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Valentine throws a big elbow that misses.
Valentine is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Valentine wants to control from the top but Lewis keeps moving.
Valentine throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine wants to pass the guard but Lewis is keeping the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Lewis tries to clinch there but Valentine circles away.
Valentine changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Valentine uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lewis.
Valentine with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Valentine throws a jab when Lewis was well out of range.
Lewis throws a shot from downtown. Valentine moves away and avoids it.
Valentine just misses with a punch to the body.
Valentine scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Lewis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lewis lands an overhand right.
Lewis wants to clinch.
Lewis wants to clinch up but Valentine keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis misses with a head kick.
Lewis tries to close the distance and clinch but Valentine swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Valentine lands a jab to Lewis's midsection.
Lewis has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Valentine.
Valentine checks a leg kick.
Lewis on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Valentine. Valentine obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lewis fails with an attempt to clinch.
Valentine takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A bone on bone clash there as Lewis blocks the leg kick.
Valentine slips a jab from Lewis.
Valentine pivots, looking for a leg kick but Lewis is out of range and Valentine settles back down.
Lewis wants to clinch.
Lewis tries to clinch but Valentine is having none of it.
Lewis tries to clinch but Valentine moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alexander Valentine will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Hugo Lewis'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. This is the final round!

Lewis takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Valentine misses with a straight right.
Lewis moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A bone on bone clash there as Valentine blocks the leg kick.
Lewis missing with a left hand there. Valentine was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Valentine feints the counter takedown.
Valentine throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Lewis wants to clinch up but Valentine keeps it at a distance.
Lewis tries a head kick but it misses.
Lewis fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lewis moves in looking to clinch but Valentine pushes him off.
Hugo Lewis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valentine looks to land a right hand but Lewis moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lewis scores with a push kick.
Lewis tries to clinch up.
Lewis moves away from the strike by Valentine.
Lewis tries to clinch but Valentine moves out of range.
Valentine looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Valentine lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lewis clinches up with Valentine and pushes him back against the cage.
Valentine lands a body punch in the clinch.
Valentine gets through Lewis's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Valentine is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Valentine throws a punch but it's blocked by Lewis.
Valentine misses with some punches.

Lewis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lewis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Valentine swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Valentine misses the jab.
Lewis is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Valentine stuns Lewis with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Valentine fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lewis manages to avoid it.
Valentine throws a head kick that half lands.
Valentine throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Lewis fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Valentine just misses with a punch to the body.
Valentine ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lewis is looking to clinch but Valentine is avoiding it.
Lewis is looking to clinch but Valentine is avoiding it.
No joy there for Lewis, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Valentine lands a jab to the nose.
Valentine throws a nice inside leg kick.
Valentine connects with a leg kick. Lewis looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Valentine steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lewis.
Lewis throws a shot to the body.
Lewis is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Good standup being displayed there by Lewis as he connects with a hook.
Valentine lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Valentine throws the left hand but Lewis avoids the punch easily.
Valentine throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lewis tries to clinch up but Valentine circles away and keeps his distance.
Valentine lands with a shot to the body.

Lewis moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Lewis.
Valentine tries to throw a body punch but Lewis avoids it by throwing Valentine back against the cage.
Valentine lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Lewis or not.
Valentine tries to work over Lewis's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Valentine misses with some punches.
Lewis lands a nice knee to the body.
Valentine takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Valentine avoids a wild elbow strike from Lewis.
Valentine tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Lewis fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Lewis fails to land.
Valentine blocking some punches.
Valentine lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Lewis lands with a left to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Lewis.
Lewis misses with an elbow strike.
Lewis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lewis swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lewis trying to land knees to the body.
Valentine trying to stall but Lewis improves his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine taking a breather.
Valentine working aggressively here.
Valentine struggles to land a body shot inside as Lewis controls his hands.
Valentine trying to control the position but instead, Lewis has worked for underhooks and has pushed Valentine into the cage.
Valentine misses with a punch to the body.
A short left from Lewis.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valentine tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lewis creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lewis has a couple of punches blocked by Valentine.
Good body shot from Valentine.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Valentine on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lewis misses with a knee to the head.
Lewis fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lewis misses with a punch on the inside.
Valentine blocks an elbow strike from Lewis.
Valentine tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alexander Valentine.
I think Valentine 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Alexander Valentine!
Alexander Valentine took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'In a career full of ups and downs, this win , hopefully, is the start of something amazing! '.