PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dougie Acton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Boris Valnokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Acton
vs
Valnokov

210 cm
24
240 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

200 cm
23
273 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dougie Acton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Boris Valnokov!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Acton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Valnokov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Acton circles away from the clinch attempt.
Acton tries to clinch up

and Valnokov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Acton.
Acton blocks an elbow strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Acton is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Valnokov gets underhooks to prevent Acton's takedown attempt.
Valnokov tries to land a knee to the head but Acton blocks with his arms.
Valnokov misses with a knee to the head.
Valnokov connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Dougie Acton has been cut.
Valnokov blocks an elbow strike from Acton.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Valnokov is trying to break free.
Acton stalling.
Valnokov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Valnokov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Acton jumps guard but Valnokov stands there with Acton around his waist. Acton gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Acton blocks the elbow strike.
Valnokov lands an uppercut.
Valnokov misses with a knee to the head.
Valnokov looking to throw knees to the head but Acton is blocking nicely.
Acton lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Valnokov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Valnokov lands a damaging elbow.
Valnokov lands an elbow just above Acton 's eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valnokov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Acton blocks it with crossed arms.
Acton lands a nice shot to the body.
Valnokov tries to land a knee to the head but Acton blocks with his arms.
Valnokov looks gassed!
Valnokov throws a knee to the head but misses.
The is referee keeping an eye on Valnokov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Valnokov.
Acton throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Valnokov tries a knee to the head but Acton blocks it.
Acton lands an elbow inside that Valnokov shrugs off.
Valnokov misses with an elbow strike.
Acton tries to stall but Valnokov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Valnokov takes an elbow to the temple.
Acton lands an elbow that stopped Valnokov in his tracks for a moment.
Acton will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Valnokov up against the cage.
Knees to the body from Acton.
Valnokov dodges an elbow strike from Acton.
Acton lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Acton lands an elbow inside that Valnokov shrugs off.
Acton stalling in the clinch but Valnokov improves position.
Valnokov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Acton lands a left hand that snaps the head of Valnokov backwards.
Valnokov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Valnokov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acton creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Valnokov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Acton's brow.
Valnokov misses with an elbow over the top.
A looping hook to the body misses from Valnokov. Acton does a little dance to reset his feet.

Acton takes the fight into the clinch.
Acton lands a nice knee to the body.

Acton successfully pulls guard.
Acton wants to stand and escape but Valnokov is having none of it.

Valnokov stands and steps away. Acton gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Valnokov looks to clinch
and Acton counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Acton lands a high kick!
Acton wants to clinch

and Valnokov counters by moving into the clinch.
Acton is working Valnokov over against the cage.
Acton lands a damaging elbow.
Acton blocks an elbow strike from Valnokov.
Acton lands with a short shot to the head.
Knees to the body from Acton.
Acton takes an elbow to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acton lands a knee to the body.
Acton lands a nice elbow.

Valnokov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Valnokov pushes Acton up against the cage in a clinch.
Valnokov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Valnokov lands a damaging elbow.
Valnokov misses with a knee to the head.
Acton keeps control of Valnokov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Valnokov takes an elbow to the forehead.
Acton creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A knee to the head by Valnokov.
Acton lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Acton avoids the elbow strike from Valnokov, against the cage.
Acton lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Valnokov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Acton fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dougie Acton. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Valnokov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Valnokov forces Acton back against the cage and clinches.
Valnokov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nice elbow from Acton.
Valnokov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Acton missing with knees to the body.

Valnokov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dougie Acton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valnokov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Valnokov tries to clinch but Acton moves out of range.
Valnokov wants to clinch but Acton slips to the side
and Acton counters with a series of strikes. Valnokov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Acton wants to clinch.

Valnokov has managed to clinch.
Valnokov throws an elbow but it misses.
Valnokov lands an elbow just above Acton 's eye.
Acton avoids the elbow strike from Valnokov, against the cage.
Valnokov lands an elbow that stopped Acton in his tracks for a moment.
Valnokov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Valnokov throws an elbow but it misses.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A short right from Valnokov on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Valnokov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Acton tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Valnokov counters by moving into the clinch.
Acton lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Valnokov misses with an elbow over the top.
Valnokov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
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 Dougie Acton will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dougie Acton's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Valnokov darts in trying to clinch

and Acton counters by clinching up.
Acton lands a left hand.
Acton pushes off an throws an elbow but Valnokov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Valnokov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Valnokov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Acton gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Valnokov takes an elbow to the forehead.
Acton trying to stall but Valnokov improves his position.
Valnokov looking to throw knees to the head but Acton is blocking nicely.
Valnokov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Acton is pushing Valnokov up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Valnokov lands an elbow inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valnokov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Valnokov lands a damaging elbow.
Valnokov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Valnokov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Acton lands a right hand.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Valnokov as Acton tries to tie him up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valnokov taking a breather.
Dougie Acton has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Valnokov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Acton lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Valnokov misses with an elbow over the top.
Valnokov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Acton blocks it with crossed arms.

Acton gets control of Valnokov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Acton will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Acton has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Valnokov off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Valnokov tries to clinch but Acton is having none of it.
Valnokov is looking to clinch.
Acton fails in his attempt to clinch.

Valnokov has Acton up against the cage in a clinch.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Acton here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Acton misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Valnokov.
Valnokov scores a nice knee to the body.
Valnokov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Acton's face.
Acton avoids a wild elbow strike from Valnokov.
Acton comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Valnokov avoids the elbow strike from Acton, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acton lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Acton pushes off an throws an elbow but Valnokov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Valnokov avoiding damage as Acton throws knees to the body.
Valnokov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Valnokov lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Acton takes an elbow to the forehead.
Valnokov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Valnokov tries to land a knee to the head but Acton blocks with his arms.
Acton lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Valnokov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Valnokov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Acton has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Valnokov with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Acton pulls guard effortlessly.
Valnokov stops Acton from standing up.

Acton pushes Valnokov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Valnokov is looking to clinch but Acton is avoiding it.
Valnokov is looking to clinch but Acton is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Valnokov moves into the clinch.
Acton lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Nice elbow from Valnokov.
Valnokov takes a shot to the head.
Valnokov pushes off an throws an elbow but Acton leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Acton tries to land a knee to the head but Valnokov blocks with his arms.
Valnokov tries to land a knee to the head but Acton blocks with his arms.

Valnokov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Acton rushes Valnokov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Valnokov looking to throw knees to the head but Acton is blocking nicely.
With the fighters up against the cage, Acton throws an elbow but misses.
Valnokov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Acton blocks it with crossed arms.
Valnokov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Acton just misses with a elbow thrown towards Valnokov's brow.
Valnokov lands a knee to the head.
Valnokov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Valnokov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Acton.
With the fighters up against the cage, Acton throws an elbow but misses.
Valnokov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Acton prevents Valnokov from breaking the clinch.
Valnokov misses with a knee to the head.
Valnokov landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Valnokov lands an elbow that stopped Acton in his tracks for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valnokov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Acton's defenses.
Valnokov tries to land a knee to the head but Acton blocks with his arms.
A body shot lands from Acton.
Valnokov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Acton avoids a wild elbow strike from Valnokov.
Acton dodges an elbow strike from Valnokov.

Valnokov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Acton tries to clinch

and Valnokov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Valnokov throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Valnokov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Valnokov tries a knee to the head but Acton blocks it.
Acton pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Valnokov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Acton blocks it with crossed arms.
Valnokov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Acton blocks it with crossed arms.
Valnokov lands with a short shot to the head.
Valnokov pushes off an throws an elbow but Acton leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Acton wants a takedown but no success here.
A knee to the head by Valnokov.
A bit of stalling here from Valnokov.
Acton using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Acton pressing his opponent against the cage.
Valnokov throws a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dougie Acton dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dougie Acton's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Acton wants to clinch but Valnokov slips to the side
and Valnokov counters with a slapping leg kick.
Valnokov closes the distance looking to clinch
and Acton counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Acton tries to clinch but Valnokov moves out of range.
Valnokov throws a big shot that misses.
Valnokov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Acton. That did some damage!

Valnokov drives through and clinches with Acton against the cage.
Acton tries to land knees in the clinch but Valnokov avoids the damage to the body.
Valnokov misses with a knee to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Valnokov.
Acton has Valnokov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Valnokov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Valnokov lands an elbow that stopped Acton in his tracks for a moment.
Valnokov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Acton has him pressed against the cage.
Acton changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Valnokov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dougie Acton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Valnokov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Valnokov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Acton's defenses.
Valnokov lands an elbow just above Acton 's eye.
Acton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acton has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Valnokov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dougie Acton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Acton dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Valnokov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Valnokov lands an elbow inside.
Acton misses with a knee to the head.
Valnokov lands an elbow that stopped Acton in his tracks for a moment.
Valnokov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Valnokov lands a knee to the head.

Valnokov manages to break the clinch.
Valnokov looks to clinch
and Acton counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Acton tries to clinch

and Valnokov counters by moving into the clinch.
Acton pushes off an throws an elbow but Valnokov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Valnokov.
Valnokov lands a damaging elbow.
Valnokov tries a knee to the head but Acton blocks it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Valnokov.
Acton lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Valnokov.
Valnokov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Acton dodges an elbow strike from Valnokov.
Valnokov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two 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.
Valnokov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Acton jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Valnokov walks away with a smile on his face. Acton gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Acton is looking to clinch but Valnokov is avoiding it.
Acton misses with the combination.
Acton tries to close the distance and clinch but Valnokov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Valnokov moves in looking to clinch but Acton pushes him off.
Acton closes the distance looking to clinch

and Valnokov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Valnokov throws a head punch that misses.
Valnokov landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Valnokov lands an elbow inside that Acton shrugs off.
Valnokov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Acton takes a knee right on the jaw!
Acton lands an elbow that stopped Valnokov in his tracks for a moment.
Valnokov blocks the elbow strike.
Valnokov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Valnokov blocks an elbow strike.
Acton has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Valnokov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Valnokov tries to stall but Acton uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Acton unloads a knee to the mid-section. Valnokov lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Valnokov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Acton creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Valnokov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Acton has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Valnokov lands a nice knee to the body.
Valnokov blocks an elbow strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Valnokov.
Valnokov lands an elbow that stopped Acton in his tracks for a moment.
Valnokov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Acton's face.
Acton is stalling here.
Valnokov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Valnokov misses with a knee to the head.

Valnokov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Acton swats away the attempt to clinch by Valnokov.

Acton takes the fight into the clinch.
Valnokov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Acton's defenses.
Valnokov controlling the action here for a moment.
Acton is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Valnokov is keeping busy.

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.
Valnokov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Acton has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Acton lands an elbow inside.
Acton wants a takedown.
Valnokov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Acton's face.
Valnokov taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Valnokov misses with a knee strike.
Valnokov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Acton has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Valnokov unloads a knee to the mid-section. Acton lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Acton blocks an elbow strike from Valnokov.
Acton drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Valnokov misses with a knee to the head.
Valnokov scores with a knee to the head.
Valnokov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Acton has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Knees to the body from Acton.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Valnokov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Boris Valnokov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dougie Acton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Acton avoids the elbow strike from Valnokov, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Acton.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boris Valnokov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Acton has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dougie Acton!