PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tapio Valo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronny Hilfiger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tapio Valo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Valo
vs
Hilfiger

187 cm
25
190 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
196 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Hellraiser Fightgear

Sully's Bar & Grill
Hellraiser Fightgear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tapio Valo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ronny Hilfiger!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Michael Johnstone and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hilfiger tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Valo misses with a low kick.
A countering left hand to the body from Hilfiger misses.
Hilfiger swings for the body but Valo moves out of range.
Hilfiger throws out a loose jab but Valo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valo blocks a jab.
Hilfiger has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Valo.
Hilfiger throws a shot to the body.
Valo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hilfiger paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tapio Valo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hilfiger throws a leg kick which misses Valo's front leg but catches the back leg as Valo tries to avoid it.
Hilfiger keeps the fight on the outside.
Valo avoids the head kick by Hilfiger.

Oooooh!!! Valo has knocked Hilfiger down with a huge combo! Valo steps away and waves a wobbly Hilfiger back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like Ronny Hilfiger has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valo is looking to chop away at Hilfiger's legs.
Hilfiger is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Valo with a body shot.
Valo gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Valo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hilfiger.
Valo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hilfiger swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Valo.
Valo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hilfiger.
Valo moves out of range as Hilfiger throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valo misses with an uppercut.
Valo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hilfiger paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hilfiger throws a leg kick but Valo moved away.
Valo moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Valo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hilfiger.
Hilfiger throws out a counter right but Valo avoids it with no problem.
Valo throws a low kick, looking for Hilfiger's leg but Hilfiger calmly moves out of range.
Hilfiger tries a quick counter leg kick but Valo is wise to it.
Hilfiger scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Valo avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Valo tries a low kick but Hilfiger avoids it.
Hilfiger throws a looping overhand right but Valo ducks down to avoid it.
Hilfiger connects with a high kick.

It looks like Tapio Valo has been cut.
Hilfiger throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hilfiger throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Valo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Valo scores with a one two! Hilfiger had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hilfiger finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Valo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Valo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hilfiger tries a head kick but it misses.
Valo throws a series of punches but Hilfiger avoids them all with ease.
A slapping leg kick lands for Valo.
Valo connects with a leg kick. Hilfiger looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Hilfiger takes a swing at Valo's ribcage but misses.
Hilfiger fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hilfiger throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It looked like Valo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hilfiger swats away the attempt to clinch by Valo.
Valo misses with a leg kick
letting Hilfiger counter with a right hand.
Hilfiger cracks Valo with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hilfiger checks a low kick from Valo.
Valo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hilfiger counters with a nice body shot.
Valo looks to land a right hand but Hilfiger moved out of range.
Valo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Hilfiger misses.
Hilfiger blocks a low kick nicely.
Valo throws a body punch but Hilfiger moves out of range.
Hilfiger appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Hilfiger connects with a crisp jab.
Hilfiger tries to clinch but Valo is having none of it.
Hilfiger throws a lazy right hand but Valo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hilfiger's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hilfiger buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Hilfiger checks a leg kick.
Valo looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Valo clinches.
Valo blocks an uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Valo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hilfiger misses with a hook from the clinch.
Valo blocking some punches.
Good body shot from Valo.
Hilfiger tries a body shot but Valo blocks it.
Valo misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valo stalling against the cage.
Hilfiger misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hilfiger fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hilfiger lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hilfiger swings wildly with an uppercut but Valo uses good head movement to avoid it.
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!
Hilfiger misses with the head strike.
Valo avoiding damage.
Hilfiger has a couple of punches blocked by Valo.
Valo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Hilfiger.
Hilfiger presses Valo against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Valo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hilfiger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Hilfiger.
Hilfiger blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Valo scores with a shoulder strike.
Hilfiger goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Hilfiger fails to land.
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 Tapio Valo will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hilfiger smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hilfiger looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Valo pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hilfiger is out of range and Valo settles back down.
A shot to the liver by Hilfiger. Beautiful body shot.
Valo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hilfiger checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Valo throws a low kick but Hilfiger avoids it.
Hilfiger doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Valo tries to close the distance and clinch but Hilfiger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick misses from Hilfiger.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Hilfiger.
Hilfiger slips a jab from Valo.
Hilfiger looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hilfiger dodges the punch combination from Valo.
Valo throws a leg kick which misses Hilfiger's front leg but catches the back leg as Hilfiger tries to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valo on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Valo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hilfiger on the side of the head.
Valo pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hilfiger is out of range and Valo settles back down.
Hilfiger appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Valo throws the left hand but Hilfiger avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilfiger slips under a jab from Valo.
Hilfiger misses with a body shot.
Valo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hilfiger throws a body shot but no joy.
Valo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Valo just misses with a punch to the body.
Valo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Valo connects with the punch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Valo checks a leg kick.
Hilfiger blocks a low kick nicely.
Hilfiger keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Valo.
Hilfiger ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Valo moves away.
Valo feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Hilfiger looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Valo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hilfiger checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Valo throws a lazy right hand but Hilfiger sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A swing and a miss from Valo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hilfiger 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.
Hilfiger tries to clinch but Valo moves away
and Valo counters with a stiff right hand.
Valo tries to close the distance and clinch but Hilfiger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Valo sets himself, and Hilfiger steps forward looking for the clinch! Valo avoids it this time.
Valo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hilfiger moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hilfiger throws a head kick that misses.
Hilfiger scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Valo doesn't seem bothered though.
Valo ducks right into an uppercut from Hilfiger.
Hilfiger looks to land a combination but Valo avoids it well.
Valo tries to land a leg kick but Hilfiger saw it coming and moves away.
Hilfiger cracks the inside of Valo's front leg.
A nice inside leg kick there by Valo. That's going to slow Hilfiger down.
Valo throws a leg kick but Hilfiger moved away.
Hilfiger appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Valo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
The fighters circling - Valo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hilfiger sizes up Valo with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hilfiger closes the distance and pushes Valo back into the cage.
Valo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Valo blocks an uppercut.
A short right from Hilfiger on the inside.
Valo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hilfiger misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hilfiger takes a shot to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Hilfiger.
Hilfiger misses with the head strike.
Hilfiger is looking to break free of the clinch but Valo has double underhooks.

Hilfiger escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Valo is looking to clinch but Hilfiger is avoiding it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Hilfiger checks a leg kick.
Valo wants to clinch up but Hilfiger keeps it at a distance.
Valo misses with a leg kick.
Valo backing away here, and Hilfiger unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Hilfiger scores with a nice strike.
Hilfiger misses the shot to the body.
Hilfiger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Valo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hilfiger throws a sloppy body shot

and Valo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Valo.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Hilfiger looking to stall.
Hilfiger misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hilfiger gets through Valo's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valo scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hilfiger is looking to control Valo's arms but Valo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hilfiger has his back to the cage.
Valo looking to slow down the pace here.
Valo trying to stall but Hilfiger improves his position.
Valo has a couple of punches blocked by Hilfiger.
Valo presses Hilfiger against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Hilfiger lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Valo pushes Hilfiger back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Hilfiger misses with the head strike.
Hilfiger blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hilfiger trying to control the position but instead, Valo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hilfiger into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronny Hilfiger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Valo blocks a leg kick.
Hilfiger just misses with a punch to the body.
Valo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hilfiger swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ronny Hilfiger seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Valo looks to land a left hand but Hilfiger moved out of range nicely.
Valo throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hilfiger on the side of the head.
Valo has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Valo there as he acknowledges the shot.

Valo instigates a clinch.

Valo breaks from the clinch.
Hilfiger walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Hilfiger is rocked!
Hilfiger works Valo's body with a nice hook.
Hilfiger lands a head shot.
Valo doesn't manage to clinch there - Hilfiger circles away.
Hilfiger scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Valo slips a jab from Hilfiger.
Valo is looking to counter the offense by Hilfiger and move into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valo moves into range and connects with a jab.
Valo is looking to clinch.
Hilfiger throws a leg kick but Valo moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilfiger works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hilfiger circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hilfiger let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Valo throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hilfiger cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Valo has Hilfiger up against the cage in a clinch.
Valo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hilfiger's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hilfiger.
Hilfiger lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hilfiger works on Valo's body with a couple of short punches.
A short left from Valo.
Valo blocking some punches.
Valo misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Valo breaks the clinch.
Hilfiger takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Valo takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valo fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Valo blocking some punches.
Still in the clinch, Valo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hilfiger tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hilfiger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Valo prevents a body shot from Hilfiger.
Hilfiger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Valo.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Valo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Valo stalling against the cage.
Valo takes a shot to the head.
Valo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Valo is looking to control Hilfiger's arms but Hilfiger gets an underhook and turns him. Now Valo has his back to the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Valo.
Hilfiger is still on wobbly legs! Can Valo finish him?
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hilfiger.
Valo struggles to land a body shot inside as Hilfiger controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valo tries to throw a body punch but Hilfiger avoids it by throwing Valo back against the cage.
Valo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hilfiger seems to have recovered his senses.
Valo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hilfiger lands a body punch in the clinch.
Valo trying to control the position but instead, Hilfiger has worked for underhooks and has pushed Valo into the cage.
Tapio Valo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Valo blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Hilfiger escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Valo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hilfiger.
Hilfiger chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Valo can pounce on him.
Valo throws a leg kick but Hilfiger checks it.

Valo closes the distance and pushes Hilfiger back into the cage.
Hilfiger throws a punch but it's blocked by Valo.
Valo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hilfiger as Valo tries to tie him up.
Valo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hilfiger fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Hilfiger manages to break the clinch.
Hilfiger blocks a jab.
Valo tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hilfiger throws a leg kick but Valo sees it coming and moves out of range.
Hilfiger misses with a body kick.
Valo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Valo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hilfiger moves away from the strike by Valo.
Hilfiger gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Valo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valo misses with a straight right.
Valo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A jab from Valo misses.
Valo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hilfiger has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Tapio Valo did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Valo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Valo misses with a looping right.
Valo uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Hilfiger swings for the body but Valo moves out of range.
Hilfiger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hilfiger misses with a body shot.
Valo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hilfiger was well out of range. Poor timing from Valo.

Valo moves into range and clinches up with Hilfiger.
Hilfiger lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Valo backwards.
Hilfiger lands with a right to the head.
Valo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Valo tries a body shot but Hilfiger blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right from Hilfiger.
Hilfiger tries a body shot but Valo blocks it.
Valo will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hilfiger up against the cage.
Hilfiger doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilfiger throws a head punch that misses.
Hilfiger can't find room to land a body shot as Valo controls the action.
Hilfiger has a couple of punches blocked by Valo.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hilfiger tries to throw a body punch but Valo avoids it by throwing Hilfiger back against the cage.
Valo lands a left hand.
Hilfiger working aggressively here.
Hilfiger misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hilfiger blocking some punches.
Hilfiger misses with a body punch.
Valo swings wildly with an uppercut but Hilfiger uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valo lands a body punch in the clinch.
Valo blocks an uppercut.
A hook to the body from Valo.
Valo misses with the head strike.
Valo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hilfiger backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valo blocking some punches.
Still in the clinch, Valo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hilfiger struggles to land a body shot inside as Valo controls his hands.
Valo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hilfigers head.
Valo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hilfiger tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hilfiger will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Valo up against the cage.
Valo misses with a body punch.
Hilfiger blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hilfiger tries a body shot but Valo blocks it.
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!
Hilfiger tries to stall but Valo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Valo has Hilfiger pressed against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Valo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hilfiger blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Valo just leaning against Hilfiger, taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Valo.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Valo.
Valo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Hilfiger.
Valo trying to control the position but instead, Hilfiger has worked for underhooks and has pushed Valo into the cage.
A short uppercut from Valo.
Valo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hilfiger has a couple of punches blocked by Valo.

Hilfiger escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Valo punishes Hilfiger's body with a nice straight punch.
Valo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hilfiger swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hilfiger keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Valo closes the distance and pushes Hilfiger back into the cage.
Hilfiger misses with a punch on the inside.
Hilfiger misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hilfiger working aggressively here.
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!
Valo holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hilfiger misses with a punch to the body.
Valo lands with a left to the head.
Valo struggles to land a body shot inside as Hilfiger controls his hands.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hilfiger.
Hilfiger misses with some punches.
Hilfiger prevents a body shot from Valo.
Valo blocks an uppercut.
Hilfiger struggles to land a body shot inside as Valo controls his hands.
Hilfiger looking to slow down the pace here.
Hilfiger throws a head punch that misses.
Valo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hilfiger takes a shot to the head.
Valo lands an uppercut.
Hilfiger misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tapio Valo had his way with Ronny Hilfiger in that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hilfiger misses with a body shot.
Valo misses the body punch
and Hilfiger counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hilfiger scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hilfiger throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hilfiger 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.

Valo feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Hilfiger sprawling to the canvas! Hilfiger rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Valo finish him?!
Valo throws a front kick aimed at Hilfiger's knee but Hilfiger avoids it well.
Hilfiger doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Valo looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A jab from Valo misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hilfiger scores with a nice head shot.
Hilfiger scores with a hook.
Valo works Hilfiger's body with a nice hook.
Valo throws a leg kick which misses Hilfiger's front leg but catches the back leg as Hilfiger tries to avoid it.
Hilfiger chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Valo can pounce on him.
A swing and a miss from Hilfiger.
Hilfiger bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilfiger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Valo.
Valo tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Hilfiger manages to circle out of the way.
Valo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Valo defending well as Hilfiger loads up on a big left hand.
Valo tried to counter with a leg kick but Hilfiger avoided it.
No joy there for Valo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Valo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hilfiger.
Hilfiger checks the leg kick nicely there.
Valo drops his hands momentarily and Hilfiger takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hilfiger throws a jab but it's blocked by Valo.
Valo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hilfiger throws a head kick but Valo moves out of range.
Valo throws a chopping leg kick but Hilfiger manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Valo lands a right hook to the body.
Hilfiger is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
An inside leg kick from Hilfiger misses.
Nice shot by Valo.
A lazy body kick from Hilfiger
and Valo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Ronny Hilfiger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hilfiger swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Valo half committed to a counter leg kick.
Nice uppercut there from Valo.
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!
Valo tries to clinch up but Hilfiger circles away and keeps his distance.
Valo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Valo tries to clinch
and Hilfiger counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Valo lands a big right hand that sends Hilfiger crashing to the mat! Valo stays standing though and waves Hilfiger back to his feet!

Valo instigates a clinch.
A body shot lands from Hilfiger.
Hilfiger lands a right hand that snaps the head of Valo backwards.
Hilfiger misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hilfiger misses with a punch to the body.
Hilfiger lands a body shot in the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Valo.
Valo blocking some punches.
Valo is struggling to control the position.

Valo manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Valo rushes Hilfiger and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Valo avoiding damage.
Valo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hilfiger.
Hilfiger is looking to control Valo's arms but Valo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hilfiger has his back to the cage.
Valo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Hilfiger misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hilfiger tries a body shot but Valo blocks it.
Valo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hilfiger lands with a right to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Valo.
Hilfiger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hilfiger.
Hilfiger working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hilfiger misses with the head strike.
Valo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hilfiger.
Hilfiger content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Hilfiger tries to throw a body punch but Valo avoids it by throwing Hilfiger back against the cage.
Valo wants to stall.
Hilfiger lands a body shot.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hilfiger.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Valo.
Hilfiger tries a body shot but Valo blocks it.
Tapio Valo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hilfiger lands an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valo is struggling to control the position.
Hilfiger working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Valo struggles to land a body shot inside as Hilfiger controls his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tapio Valo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Valo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 49:47
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 49:46
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tapio Valo!
Tapio Valo is the new middleweight champion!
Our winner, Tapio Valo, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.