PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Valcone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zurab Basilashvili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Basilashvili has chosen Eye Of The Tiger as his entrance music. Ben Valcone has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Valcone
vs
Basilashvili

193 cm
25
222 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
16
258 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ben Valcone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zurab Basilashvili!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Basilashvili shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Basilashvili misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Valcone.
Valcone misses with an uppercut
and Basilashvili counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Valcone wants to clinch.
Basilashvili misses with an uppercut. Valcone saw that one coming.
Ben Valcone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valcone wants to slow Basilashvili down by chopping away at his legs.
Basilashvili looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Valcone looks to land a body kick but Basilashvili moved away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Basilashvili slips a jab from Valcone.
Valcone lands a body shot.
Valcone misses with a leg kick
and Basilashvili counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valcone has managed to clinch.
Valcone comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Valcone throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Basilashvili blocks an elbow strike from Valcone.
Basilashvili has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Basilashvili trying to stall but Valcone improves his position.
A nice right hand lands inside from Valcone.
Basilashvili is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Valcone is keeping busy.
Valcone throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Basilashvilis head.
Valcone misses with an elbow strike.
Basilashvili looking to stall.

Valcone escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Basilashvili throws out a loose jab but Valcone uses good head movement to avoid it.

Valcone drives through and clinches with Basilashvili against the cage.
Basilashvili avoids a wild elbow strike from Valcone.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Valcone doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Valcone breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A bone on bone clash there as Basilashvili blocks the leg kick.
Basilashvili doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Valcone closes the distance but Basilashvili moves to the side
and Basilashvili makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Valcone throws a looping overhand right but Basilashvili ducks down to avoid it.
Basilashvili unleashes a big counter combination but Valcone bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Valcone throws a hook but Basilashvili blocks it.
Valcone doesn't manage to clinch there - Basilashvili circles away.
Basilashvili checks a low kick from Valcone.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Basilashvili moves away from the strike by Valcone.
Nice defenses there by Basilashvili.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valcone throws a low kick, looking for Basilashvili's leg but Basilashvili calmly moves out of range.

Valcone clinches with his opponent.
Basilashvili tries to circle away but Valcone has him pinned against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Valcone throws an elbow that misses.
Valcone throws an elbow that misses.
Valcone lands an elbow that stopped Basilashvili in his tracks for a moment.
Basilashvili taking a breather.
Basilashvili blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Valcone is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Valcone manages to break the clinch.
Valcone swings widly with a right hand
and Basilashvili counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Valcone throws a jab but it's blocked by Basilashvili.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valcone misses with a straight left.
A countering left hand to the body from Basilashvili misses.
Basilashvili throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Basilashvili checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Basilashvili throws out a counter right but Valcone avoids it with no problem.
Valcone fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Valcone misses with a lunging right hand
and Basilashvili counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Valcone scores with a nice head shot.
Basilashvili slips under a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Basilashvili checks a leg kick.
Valcone misses with a low kick.
Valcone misses with a left hand
and Basilashvili counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Valcone throws a lazy right hand but Basilashvili sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Valcone, right into the meat.
The crowd cheers as Basilashvili lands an impressive looking overhand right. Valcone doesn't seem phased though.
Valcone misses with an uppercut.
Basilashvili uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Valcone.
A nice side step and Basilashvili releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Basilashvili displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Valcone throws out the jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Basilashvili! But no joy.

Basilashvili gets tackled into the cage by Valcone. Valcone maintains the clinch.
Valcone is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Basilashvili can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valcone misses with a punch on the inside.

Valcone breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Valcone throws a leg kick
and Basilashvili counters with a nice uppercut.
Valcone looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Valcone lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Basilashvili at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valcone throws a right and a left that Basilashvili avoids nicely.
Basilashvili walks forward, straight into a front kick from Valcone.
Valcone throws a leg kick
and Valcone takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Valcone looks to land a left hand but Basilashvili moved out of range nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Basilashvili! But no joy.
Valcone fails in his attempt to clinch.
Basilashvili swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Valcone falls off balance throwing a combination
and Basilashvili makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Valcone throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
That kick from Valcone tenderised Basilashvili's leg. Basilashvili is trying to keep his angry face on.
Valcone misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Basilashvili swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valcone throws a body punch but Basilashvili moves out of range.
Basilashvili clobbers Valcone with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Valcone throws a poor cross that misses
and Basilashvili cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Basilashvili takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Valcone has closed the distance and engaged Basilashvili in a clinch.

Valcone breaks the clinch.
Valcone throws a poor cross that misses
and Basilashvili counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Basilashvili checks a leg kick.
Valcone pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Basilashvili unleashes a big counter combination but Valcone bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Valcone takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Valcone is rocked!
Valcone tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Basilashvili counters with a huge right that knocks Valcone out cold! Basilashvili is running around with a crazed look on his face - you can see how much that meant to him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Zurab Basilashvili!
A victorious Zurab Basilashvili thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.