PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Omid Babak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valentin Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Omid Babak has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Omid Babak seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Babak
vs
Valentine

168 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

171 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Omid Babak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Valentin Valentine!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Radbod Blank and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Babak shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Valentine keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Babak shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Babak throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are battling for position here. Valentine manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Valentine trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babak controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Valentine is trying to control the position but Babak postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Babak haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Valentine trying to control the position here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Babak takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Babak gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Valentin Valentine is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Babak stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Valentine.
Babak fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Omid Babak. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Valentine. Babak shrugs it off though.
Valentine's coach down at Next Level Training $550 was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Valentine's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Valentine buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Babak on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Babak takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Valentine dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Babak. That did some damage!
No luck for Babak with that takedown attempt.
Babak is looking to clinch.

Babak scores with a takedown into Valentine's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valentine not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Babak trying to control but Valentine is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babak postures up in Valentine's guard and throws a big left but Valentine blocks it.
Valentine trying to keep a closed guard but Babak is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Babak is defended easily by Valentine.
Babak shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Valentine defends it nicely.

Babak closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Babak moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Valentine is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Babak's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Valentin Valentine will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A solid body kick from Valentine.
Valentine fakes the leg kick and cracks Babak in the body.

Babak looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Valentine is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Babak has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Babak passes Valentine's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Omid Babak overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Valentine wants to control but Babak is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babak passes into side control, despite Valentine's attempt to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine tries to buck Babak off but Babak is having none of it.
Babak landing strikes.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Valentine can't do much from the bottom here.
Valentine is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Babak is staying active.
Valentine takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Babak scoring with punches from side control.
Babak controls the position.
Babak working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The ground and pound from Babak seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Valentine regains half guard.
Babak trying to mount his opponent but Valentine defends it.

Babak is looking for a kimura here.
Babak trying to pass the guard but Valentine defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine trying to control but Babak postures up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Babak with the ground and pound but Valentine uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Babak trying to control but Valentine is working from the bottom.
Valentine controls Babak momentarily but Babak frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Babak fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Valentine sprawls well initially but Babak persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Valentine taking some punishment here, with Babak in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine wants to control but Babak is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Babak looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Valentine has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Babak is working away from the top position though.
Babak takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Babak works his way into side control.
Valentine tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Omid Babak dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Babak fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Valentine scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Valentine fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Babak looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Valentine lands a front kick.
Valentine scores with a kick to the midsection.
Valentine lands a nice looking body kick.
Babak has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Valentine.
Valentin Valentine seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick misses from Babak.
And Valentine responds with a good body kick, but Babak manages to step out the way in time.
A nice leg kick lands there from Valentine.
Valentine avoids the head kick by Babak.
Valentine lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Babak chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Valentine can pounce on him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Babak takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Babak takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Valentine.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Valentine, right into the meat.
Valentine scores with a push kick.
Valentine explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Valentine connects with a leg kick. Babak looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Babak takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Valentine fakes the leg kick and cracks Babak in the body.
Babak takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Valentine stuffs the takedown attempt from Babak. Babak gets slowly back to his feet.
Valentine works Babak's body with a nice hook.
Babak misses with a takedown attempt - Valentine sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Omid Babak. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Valentine.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Valentine.
Babak is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Babak misses with a head kick.
Valentine only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Valentine.
Omid Babak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Valentine throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Babak looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Valentine!
You can see the frustration on Valentine's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babak in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Babak cracks Valentine with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Valentine is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Babak trying to control the position but Valentine is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Valentine wants to control but Babak postures up.
Babak scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Valentine to see if he's OK.
Babak tries to move to mount but Valentine blocks the move with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Babak creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Valentine sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Valentine being controlled for a moment.
Valentine struggling a bit here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valentin Valentine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valentin Valentine!