PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jack Thompson (ranked 4298 p4p, 3422 weight class) and Zharkov Valentinovich (ranked 476 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Thompson
vs
Valentinovich

179 cm
25
175
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
177
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zharkov Valentinovich!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentinovich tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Thompson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thompson looks to land a left hand but Valentinovich moved out of range nicely.
Valentinovich is looking to land body kicks.
Valentinovich has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Valentinovich there as he acknowledges the shot.
Thompson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thompson takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Valentinovich wants to clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Thompson. Those never looked like landing.
Valentinovich moves in looking to clinch but Thompson pushes him off.
Thompson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Valentinovich.
Thompson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson moves out of range of the body kick from Valentinovich.
Valentinovich throws a predictable looking body shot
and Thompson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Thompson lands with a good body shot.

Oooh a lovely combination from Valentinovich sends Thompson down but not out. Valentinovich dives into side control looking to finish.

It looks like Jack Thompson has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thompson is pushing Valentinovich's head away, looking to escape. Valentinovich manages to hold on to the position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentinovich wants to stand but Thompson is controlling his arm.
Thompson is trying to get back to his feet.

Valentinovich decides to stand back up. Valentinovich steps back and let's Thompson get back to his feet.
Valentinovich moves forwards but Thompson connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Valentinovich takes the fight into the clinch.
Valentinovich lands with a short shot to the head.
Thompson tries to break free but Valentinovich pushes him back against the cage.
Thompson tries to break the clinch but Valentinovich is controlling the position.
Thompson can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson has had enough of the clinch but Valentinovich keeps him there for the moment.
Thompson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Valentinovich working aggressively here.
Valentinovich lands a body shot in the clinch.
Thompson wants to break free but Valentinovich has control.
Valentinovich effectively controlling the action here.
Thompson tries to circle away but Valentinovich has him pinned against the cage.
Valentinovich is stalling here.
Thompson tries to break free but Valentinovich pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentinovich lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Valentinovich scores with a nice short uppercut.
Valentinovich lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Thompson.
Thompson blocks an uppercut.
Valentinovich has Thompson pushed against the cage.
Valentinovich avoiding damage.
Valentinovich softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Valentinovich leaning against his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentinovich dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Valentinovich throws a punch but it's blocked by Thompson.
Valentinovich fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thompson wants to break free but Valentinovich has control.
Valentinovich trying to land knees to the body.
Thompson tries to circle away but Valentinovich has him pinned against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Valentinovich.
Valentinovich misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Valentinovich cracks Thompson with a nice body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zharkov Valentinovich dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jack Thompson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Valentinovich gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thompson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A frustrated look appears on Thompson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Thompson tries to break free but Valentinovich pushes him back against the cage.
Thompson avoids the elbow strike from Valentinovich, against the cage.
Thompson can't break the clinch.
Thompson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zharkov Valentinovich seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Valentinovich lands a body shot in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valentinovich lands a nice elbow.
Thompson wants to get back to striking at distance but Valentinovich won't allow it.
Valentinovich with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thompson is trying to force a seperation but Valentinovich has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Valentinovich with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Valentinovich keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thompson's efforts to push away.
Valentinovich pushes Thompson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Valentinovich keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thompson's efforts to push away.
Thompson wants to break free but Valentinovich has control.
A frustrated look appears on Thompson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Thompson can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Valentinovich tries a body shot but Thompson blocks it.
Thompson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Valentinovich has him pressed against the cage.
Thompson is trying to break the clinch but Valentinovich has him pressed against the cage.
Valentinovich misses with an elbow over the top.
Valentinovich misses with an elbow over the top.
Thompson is trying to break the clinch but Valentinovich is controlling him.
Thompson wants to break free but Valentinovich has control.
Valentinovich avoiding damage.
Valentinovich lands a right hand.
Thompson letting Valentinovich take a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson blocking some punches.
Valentinovich tries to throw a body punch but Thompson avoids it by throwing Valentinovich back against the cage.
Valentinovich has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thompson working hard to break the clinch.
Valentinovich has Thompson pressed against the cage, preventing Thompson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Thompson is trying to force a seperation but Valentinovich has the dominant position.
The referee calls for Valentinovich to work.
Valentinovich tries to land knees in the clinch but Thompson avoids the damage to the body.
Valentinovich stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Valentinovich is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Valentinovich lands a right hand that snaps the head of Thompson backwards.
Valentinovich prevents Thompson from breaking the clinch.
Valentinovich tries a body shot but Thompson blocks it.
Thompson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Valentinovich takes control of his opponent's neck and spins him into the cage. Thompson is off balance and as he stumbles, Valentinovich throws a jumping knee that lands flush on Thompson's chin, knocking him out cold! Oh my word - what a knockout! Definitely one for his highlight reel! If he ever decides to rob a bank and run off to Morocco, that moment is defintely worthy of a tacky mural!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Knee). Zharkov Valentinovich!