PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alex Valentine (ranked 1956 p4p, 234 weight class) and Jamie Stetson (ranked 8052 p4p, 550 weight class). Valentine's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Bloodborne OST - Gehrman, The First Hunter. Alex Valentine has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Valentine
vs
Stetson

176 cm
20
155 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

169 cm
20
162 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Arcticus University: London
Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Valentine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jamie Stetson!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentine shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stetson defends it nicely.
As Valentine backs off Stetson throws a huge counter combo but Valentine manages to avoid it all.
Stetson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Valentine dives in and grabs Stetson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stetson pushes down on Valentine's head and hops out.
Stetson defending well as Valentine loads up on a big left hand.

Stetson closes the distance and clinches.

Stetson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Valentine shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stetson as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Valentine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valentine darts in looking for a takedown but Stetson gets double underhooks and turns Valentine into the cage.
Valentine fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valentine misses with a takedown attempt - Stetson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stetson misses with a body kick.
Stetson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Alex Valentine has been cut.
Stetson throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stetson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stetson stalling.
Valentine is trying to pull guard but Stetson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Valentine is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Stetson to keep the fight standing.

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

Stetson rushes Valentine and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Valentine fails to pull guard.
Valentine tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stetson just stands there and leans against the cage.

Stetson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stetson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stetson throws a head kick but Valentine moves out of range.
Valentine throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stetson's waist but Stetson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Valentine off to one side.
Stetson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Valentine pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Stetson clinches up with Valentine and pushes him back against the cage.
Stetson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Valentine jumps guard and drags Stetson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stetson preventing the sweep.
Valentine lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Valentine pushing down on Stetson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Stetson is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Valentine is working for a kimura but Stetson is defending it quite comfortably.
Stetson tries to get to full guard but Valentine has control of the leg.

Valentine seems to be looking for submissions.
Stetson is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stetson wants to control but Valentine is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Valentine looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Valentine wants to pass the guard but Stetson is defending well.
Valentine is trying to control the action in half guard but Stetson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Valentine not doing much here.
Stetson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Stetson.
Valentine prevents Stetson from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Valentine advances position into side control!

Valentine is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Stetson has escaped the position, nice work there.
Stetson is trying to buck Valentine off.
Stetson is trying to get back to half guard.

Stetson bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Stetson has closed the distance and engaged Valentine in a clinch.
Stetson slowing the pace effectively.
Valentine is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Stetson to keep the fight standing.
Stetson looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamie Stetson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alex Valentine's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Valentine shoots in looking for a takedown but Stetson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Valentine's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Despite the aggression on Stetson's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Stetson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Valentine.
Valentine lands with a good body shot.
Stetson misses with a body kick.
Stetson tries a head kick but it misses.
Stetson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stetson wants it to stay on the feet.
Stetson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Valentine shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stetson as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Valentine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valentine slips a jab and a cross from Stetson.
Stetson thuds his shin into the meat of Valentine's side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stetson drives through and clinches with Valentine against the cage.
Valentine fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Valentine fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Stetson breaks from the clinch.
Valentine tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stetson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Valentine somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stetson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Jamie Stetson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Valentine gets a takedown into half guard.
Stetson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Valentine. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Stetson is refusing to be controlled, as Valentine sits in half guard.
Valentine prevents Stetson from improving his position.
Stetson controlling the position for now.
Valentine tries to pass to full mount but Stetson defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine works his way into side control.
Stetson wants to control but Valentine postures up.
Valentine advances nicely into full mount.
Valentine is looking to work his way around to Stetson's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Valentine is working hard here to advance position.
Stetson's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Valentine tries to control but Stetson wriggling away.

Valentine working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Alex Valentine overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Valentine is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Stetson has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Stetson!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stetson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Valentine is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Valentine is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stetson is aware though and is defending well.
Valentine looking for a sweep. Not yet Valentine, not yet.
Stetson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Stetson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Valentine's guard.

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.
Stetson wants to control from the top but Valentine keeps moving.
Valentine looking for a sweep. Not yet Valentine, not yet.
Stetson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Valentine is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stetson defends well.
Valentine wants to sweep here but Stetson controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stetson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Valentine working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jamie Stetson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Alex Valentine's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Valentine shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Valentine looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Valentine seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stetson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Stetson is looking for a sweep. Valentine is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Valentine is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stetson is squirming around, avoiding Valentine's attempts to control the action.
Stetson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Valentine is trying to take his opponent's back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stetson tries to hold on but Valentine pushes him away.

Valentine wants to finish this one by submission but Stetson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Valentine.
Stetson gets back to half guard.
Stetson wants to improve his position but Valentine is controlling well.

Valentine seems to be looking for submissions.
Stetson is trying to control but Valentine passes into side control!
Valentine wants to control but Stetson is keeping him busy.

Valentine is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Stetson has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valentine tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Stetson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Stetson wants to improve his position but Valentine is controlling well.

Valentine is working for a submission of some sort.
Stetson looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine is looking to advance position but Stetson won't allow it.
Stetson wants to get back to his feet.
Valentine tries to pass the half guard into mount. Stetson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Stetson is staying active underneath Valentine, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Valentine is controlling the pace.
Valentine is thwarting Stetson's attempts to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Valentine throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stetson's waist but Stetson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Valentine off to one side.

Stetson takes the fight into the clinch.
Valentine jumps guard but Stetson stands there with Valentine around his waist. Valentine gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Valentine tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stetson smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Valentine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stetson swinging wildly here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stetson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Valentine.
Stetson leaves Valentine with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Alex Valentine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jamie Stetson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Valentine dives in and grabs Stetson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stetson pushes down on Valentine's head and hops out.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Valentine showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stetson 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jamie Stetson!