PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Valkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cottoneye Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valkov comes to the cage accompanied by A Day Late by Anberlin. Joe has chosen Cottoneye Joe as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Valkov
vs
Joe

175 cm
25
161 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

175 cm
22
158 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Empire Threads - Featuring Deadly Clothing

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vladimir Valkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cottoneye Joe!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Anthony Taglia and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valkov staying out of range there.
Joe lands with a shot to the body.
Valkov thumps Joe with a low kick.
Valkov blocks a low kick nicely.
Valkov looks to score with a jab to the body but Joe is just out of range.
Valkov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Valkov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Joe checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Valkov misses with an uppercut.
Joe shoots for a double leg takedown but Valkov sprawls well. He's pushed Joe's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Valkov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Joe moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Joe lands a jab to the head.
Valkov misses with an uppercut. Joe saw that one coming.

Joe shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Valkov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Joe works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Joe tries to score with some ground and pound. Valkov controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe is looking to take a break and control but Valkov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Joe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Valkov avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Joe.
Joe scores with punches from side control.
Joe is trying to ground and pound but Valkov uses the momentary lack of control by Joe to regain half guard.
Joe with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
I looks like Joe might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Valkov tries to roll over but Joe keeps him under control.
Joe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Valkov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Joe looks to land a strike but Valkov avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe trying to control but Valkov is working from the bottom.
Joe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Joe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Joe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Valkov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Joe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Valkov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Joe throwing strikes from guard but Valkov blocks nicely.
Valkov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Joe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Joe wants to control from the top but Valkov keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Valkov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Joe.
Valkov keeping full guard, as Joe tries to pass.
Joe not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cottoneye Joe dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Valkov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Valkov throws a hook to the side of Joe's head but Joe sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Joe moves out of range as Valkov strikes.
Joe throws a one two combo.
Joe steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Valkov.
Valkov throws a looping overhand right but Joe ducks down to avoid it.
Valkov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Joe.
Joe misses with a hook.
Valkov throws a jab when Joe was well out of range.
Joe scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Valkov avoids the body shot from Joe.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valkov looks to throw the jab but Joe is out of range.

Joe fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Valkov sprawls well initially but Joe persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Joe thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Joe landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Joe working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Valkov defending well though.
Valkov is trying to control but can't.
Joe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Joe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Joe is trying to control. Valkov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Joe missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Joe not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Joe controlling the pace.
Joe slips a nice elbow through Valkov's hands, connecting with Valkov's forehead.

That's two 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.
Valkov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Joe.
Joe takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Joe trying to control the action but Valkov is working from the bottom.
Joe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Valkov defending well though.
Joe landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Joe is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Valkov is just riding it out for now. Joe eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Valkov's head.
Joe trying to control the action but Valkov is working from the bottom.
Joe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Valkov defending well though.

Joe is working for a kimura but Valkov is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Joe looks to land a strike but Valkov avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Joe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Valkov is trying to keep Joe in close.
Joe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Joe drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Valkov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Joe has Valkov in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cottoneye Joe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Joe walks into a stiff left hand from Valkov.
Valkov looks to land a left hand but Joe moved out of range nicely.
Joe throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Joe shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Valkov as he jumps to the side.

Joe shoots in and bounces Valkov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Joe looking to sit in guard and control but Valkov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Valkov stopping the sweep attempt from Joe.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Joe has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Valkov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Valkov sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Joe is on top in guard.
Valkov managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Joe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Joe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Joe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Joe trying to control the position from guard on top but Valkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valkov keeping full guard, as Joe tries to pass.
Vladimir Valkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Joe connects with a couple of short punches.
Joe controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Joe with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joe throwing strikes but missing.
Joe thows a big elbow that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joe throws a strike but Valkov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Joe pulls Valkov in to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cottoneye Joe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Joe has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cottoneye Joe!