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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Takashi Katsumoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gregg Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valentine is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Downtown Swinga 96 by MOP. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
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| 170 cm
24
175 lbs
11 - 2 - 0 |
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189 cm
29
180 lbs
16 - 4 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Takashi Katsumoto!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gregg Valentine!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, David Schapiro and Steve Montenegro.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Katsumoto checks a leg kick nicely.
Valentine thumps Katsumoto with a low kick.
Valentine lands with a cross.
Valentine lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Katsumoto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Valentine.
Valentine comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Valentine misses with a body shot.
Katsumoto throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Valentine sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Valentine misses with a wild body shot.
Katsumoto has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Katsumoto there as he acknowledges the shot.
Valentine bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A bone on bone clash there as Valentine blocks the leg kick.
Valentine lands a nice hook to Katsumoto's body. Katsumoto takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Katsumoto fakes the leg kick and cracks Valentine in the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valentine blocks the body kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Valentine checks a leg kick.
Katsumoto checks a low kick from Valentine.
Katsumoto bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine shoots in for a takedown but Katsumoto shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Katsumoto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Katsumoto throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Katsumoto throws a push kick but Valentine slaps the foot to one side.
Valentine missing with a left hand there. Katsumoto was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Katsumoto throws a head kick but Valentine moves out of range.
Katsumoto ducks under a wild hook from Valentine.
Valentine throws a low kick, looking for Katsumoto's leg but Katsumoto calmly moves out of range.
Valentine lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Katsumoto at a distance.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Katsumoto.
Katsumoto misses with a wild body shot.
Katsumoto doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A shot to the liver by Valentine. Beautiful body shot.
Katsumoto takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Valentine on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Katsumoto misses with a low kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine scores with a leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Katsumoto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A slapping leg kick lands for Katsumoto.
Katsumoto swings widly with a right hand
and Valentine counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gregg Valentine seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valentine with a nice cross.
Valentine defending well as Katsumoto loads up on a big left hand.
Valentine has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Katsumoto misses with a kick to the body.
Katsumoto swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Valentine takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Katsumoto throws a leg kick but Valentine moved away.
Katsumoto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Katsumoto ducks under a wild hook from Valentine.
Katsumoto closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Katsumoto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Valentine lands a nice shot to the body.
Katsumoto lands an elbow inside.
It looks like Gregg Valentine has been cut.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine tries to break the clinch but Katsumoto is controlling the position.
Katsumoto trying to land knees to the body.
Katsumoto pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Valentine misses with a body punch.
Katsumoto misses with an elbow strike.
Valentine scores with a nice hook to the head.
Katsumoto breaks from the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Valentine.
Valentine looks to land a left hand but Katsumoto moved out of range nicely.
Valentine has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Katsumoto.
Valentine throws a low kick but Katsumoto moves out of range easily.
Valentine just misses with a punch to the body.
Valentine lands a nice leg kick that just misses Katsumoto's sensitive parts.
Valentine buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Katsumoto scores with a nice body kick.
Katsumoto misses with an attempted mid kick.
Valentine checks a low kick from Katsumoto.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Katsumoto.
Katsumoto wants to slow Valentine down by chopping away at his legs.
Katsumoto is looking to land body kicks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Katsumoto avoids a punch combination nicely.
Katsumoto darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Katsumoto rushes Valentine and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Katsumoto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Valentine misses with a hook to the ribs.
Katsumoto throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Valentine blocks it with crossed arms.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Valentine working aggressively here.
Katsumoto misses with a body punch.
Katsumoto misses with a hook to the ribs.
Katsumoto on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Valentine works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Gregg Valentine will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gregg Valentine's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
Katsumoto throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Katsumoto. Valentine does a little dance to reset his feet.
Katsumoto walks into a straight right hand from Valentine.
Valentine pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Katsumoto lets loose with a powerful body kick. Valentine will feel that in the morning.
Gregg Valentine seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Katsumoto lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Katsumoto connects with an inside leg kick.
Valentine uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Katsumoto.
Katsumoto swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Katsumoto throws a body kick that misses.
Katsumoto throws a low kick but it's checked well by Valentine.
Valentine listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Valentine swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A jab from Katsumoto misses.
Katsumoto scores with a push kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Katsumoto avoids a kick to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine scores with the left hand. Katsumoto knows he should have avoided that one.
Valentine avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Katsumoto lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Valentine misses with a low kick as Katsumoto jumps back.
Valentine throws a leg kick
and Katsumoto counters with an inside leg kick.
Valentine takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Katsumoto turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Valentine is breathing heavily.
Katsumoto moves out of range of the body kick from Valentine.
Katsumoto throws the kick towards the body but Valentine avoids it.
Katsumoto lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Katsumoto stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Katsumoto throws a head kick but Valentine moves out of range.
Katsumoto throws a head kick but Valentine moves out of range.
Katsumoto scores with a leg kick.
Valentine takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katsumoto lands with a hook. Valentine tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Nice uppercut there from Katsumoto.
Valentine keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Katsumoto.
Katsumoto throws a leg kick that misses.
Valentine throws a lazy right hand but Katsumoto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Katsumoto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Valentine has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Katsumoto.
An inside leg kick from Katsumoto misses.
Valentine throws a leg kick
and Katsumoto counters with an inside leg kick.
Valentine throws a body punch but Katsumoto moves out of range.
Katsumoto moves out of range of the body kick.
Katsumoto tries to clinch but Valentine moves out of range.
Valentine stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Katsumoto.
Valentine cracks Katsumoto with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine throws a big shot that misses.
Valentine moves out of range as Katsumoto strikes.
Valentine chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Katsumoto can pounce on him.
Valentine throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Valentine is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Katsumoto throws a low kick but it's checked well by Valentine.
Valentine fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Katsumoto manages to avoid it.
Katsumoto throws a head kick that misses.
Katsumoto throws a sloppy head kick and Valentine moves out of range easily.
Katsumoto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Katsumoto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A slow jab from Katsumoto misses its intended target.
Katsumoto keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Valentine scores with a hook.
Katsumoto throws a low kick but Valentine avoids it.
Katsumoto throws a low kick but Valentine avoids it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine jabs Katsumoto to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A slow jab from Katsumoto misses its intended target.
Valentine thows a body shot but no joy.
Valentine's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A head kick misses from Katsumoto.
Valentine keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Katsumoto throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A cross from Valentine lands.
Valentine smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Valentine cracks the inside of Katsumoto's front leg.
Valentine uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Katsumoto has time to react.
A slow jab from Valentine misses its intended target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Valentine drops his hands momentarily and Katsumoto takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Valentine fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Katsumoto is out of range.
Katsumoto checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Takashi Katsumoto dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gregg Valentine's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Katsumoto throws a head kick that misses.
Katsumoto throws a wild body kick that Valentine sees coming a mile off.
Valentine scores with a jab to the body.
Valentine dodges the punch combination from Katsumoto.
Nice cross by Valentine.
Katsumoto jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Valentine keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Katsumoto.
Valentine throws a half hearted mid kick.
Katsumoto throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Katsumoto misses with a straight left.
A chopping leg kick lands by Katsumoto.
Valentine cracks Katsumoto with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Valentine throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A lazy body kick from Valentine
and Katsumoto counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine scores with a leg kick.
Katsumoto throws a low kick but Valentine avoids it.
Valentine tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Valentine misses with a straight left.
Katsumoto turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Katsumoto throws a head kick but Valentine moves out of range.
Katsumoto throws the kick towards the body but Valentine avoids it.
A head kick misses from Katsumoto.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A low kick from Katsumoto is predictable there
and Valentine makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Katsumoto shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Good work by Katsumoto as he checks the leg kick.
Katsumoto chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Valentine is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Valentine dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Katsumoto throws a leg kick
enabling Valentine to counter with a crisp jab.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Valentine just misses with a punch to the body.
Valentine scores with a hook to the body. Katsumoto takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Valentine motions for Katsumoto to come forward. Valentine throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Katsumoto throws a solid leg kick but Valentine takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Katsumoto.
Katsumoto with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Valentine to score with a decent uppercut.
A bone on bone clash there as Valentine blocks the leg kick.
A jab from Valentine finds it's way through Katsumoto's defenses.
Katsumoto tries to clinch there but Valentine circles away.
Katsumoto buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Valentine. Katsumoto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Valentine thumps Katsumoto with a low kick.
Valentine throws a hook but Katsumoto avoids it easily.
Valentine pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Katsumoto lets loose with a powerful body kick. Valentine will feel that in the morning.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine scoring well with a low kick there.
Good leg kick by Valentine there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Valentine checks a low kick from Katsumoto.
Katsumoto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Valentine feints and then cracks Katsumoto's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Katsumoto down.
Katsumoto tries to move into range but Valentine moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Katsumoto throws out a leg kick but Valentine moves out of range and Katsumoto only half commits.
Valentine explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Valentine wants to slow Katsumoto down by chopping away at his legs.
Valentine takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Katsumoto keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Valentine feints and then cracks Katsumoto's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Katsumoto down.
A jab from Valentine misses.
Katsumoto tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Valentine manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Katsumoto was well out of range. Poor timing from Valentine.
Katsumoto throws a leg kick but Valentine checks it.
Katsumoto with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Katsumoto motions for Valentine to come forward. Katsumoto throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valentine slips under a jab.
Katsumoto tries a head kick but it misses.
Valentine throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Katsumoto walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Valentine checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Katsumoto's jab looks to have found its range, popping Valentine under the eye.
Katsumoto keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A good leg kick by Valentine.
A bone on bone clash there as Valentine blocks the leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Valentine blocks the low kick.
Katsumoto throws a leg kick
and Valentine counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close third round but Gregg Valentine just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Gregg Valentine's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Valentine does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Valentine takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Katsumoto tries to close the distance and clinch but Valentine swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Katsumoto cracks Valentine with a right hand to the side of the head.
Katsumoto's jab looks to have found its range, popping Valentine under the eye.
Valentine moves forwards but Katsumoto connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Katsumoto throws a low kick but it's checked well by Valentine.
Valentine avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Katsumoto has taken the fight to the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Katsumoto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Katsumoto tried to score with a low kick but Valentine checks it.
Katsumoto checks the leg kick nicely there.
Katsumoto throws a head kick but Valentine moves out of range.
Valentine keeps Katsumoto at a distance using the push kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Katsumoto moves forwards but Valentine connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Valentine lands a nice looking body shot.
Katsumoto blocks a low kick nicely.
Katsumoto looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Valentine connects with a looping right hand.
Valentine connects with a body shot that sends Katsumoto's belly button to the back.
Katsumoto throws a low kick but Valentine avoids it.
Valentine scores with a kick to the body.
Katsumoto attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Valentine thows a body shot but no joy.
Katsumoto throws a sloppy head kick and Valentine moves out of range easily.
Katsumoto pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Katsumoto stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Valentine.
Valentine throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A low kick from Katsumoto misses
and Valentine counters with a left to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Katsumoto.
Valentine checks the leg kick nicely there.
Valentine checks a leg kick.
Katsumoto lands with a thumping leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Valentine avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Katsumoto is looking to slow Valentine down with leg kicks.
Valentine takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Valentine lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Katsumoto has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Katsumoto and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Katsumoto throws a head kick that misses.
Valentine chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Valentine misses with a wild body shot.
Valentine scores with a hook.
Valentine tests Katsumoto's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Valentine.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katsumoto throws a sloppy head kick and Valentine moves out of range easily.
Valentine lands with a nice combination. Katsumoto backs away looking to recover.
Valentine checks a leg kick nicely.
Valentine misses with an uppercut.
Katsumoto lands a jab to the head.
Katsumoto throws a leg kick but Valentine moved away.
Valentine feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Katsumoto's calf.
Katsumoto scores with a nice head shot.
Valentine has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Katsumoto.
Valentine keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Katsumoto throws a sloppy head kick and Valentine moves out of range easily.
Katsumoto missing with a left hand there. Valentine was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Katsumoto clinches up against the cage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Valentine thows a body shot but no joy.
Valentine fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Katsumoto has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Valentine throws a half hearted mid kick.
Valentine is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Valentine misses with a leg kick.
Valentine fails to land the takedown.
Katsumoto moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Katsumoto throws out a leg kick but Valentine moves out of range and Katsumoto only half commits.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Katsumoto misses with a hook. Valentine ducked under it nicely.
Katsumoto clinches.
Katsumoto looking to stall.
Valentine goes for a takedown in the clinch but Katsumoto prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close fourth round but I would say that Takashi Katsumoto will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gregg Valentine's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!
Valentine swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Valentine checks a leg kick.
Valentine connects with a solid leg kick.
Katsumoto throws a leg kick which misses Valentine's front leg but catches the back leg as Valentine tries to avoid it.
Donk. Valentine catches Katsumoto right on the button with a cross.
Katsumoto with a nice cross.
Valentine uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Katsumoto has time to react.
Katsumoto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Katsumoto leaves Valentine with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Valentine lands a nice shot to the body.
Katsumoto lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Valentine lands with a good body shot.
Katsumoto turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine checks a leg kick.
Valentine is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Valentine ducks under a wild hook from Katsumoto.
Katsumoto throws a jab but it's blocked by Valentine.
Katsumoto throws an overhand right that lands on Valentine's shoulder, as Valentine tries to avoid the shot.
Valentine misses with a right hand
and Katsumoto counters with a nice uppercut.
Valentine throws a leg kick
and Katsumoto counters with a nice low kick that buckles Valentine's knee momentarily.
Valentine tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Katsumoto was well out of range. Poor timing from Valentine.
Katsumoto takes a jab right on the kisser.
Valentine uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Katsumoto.
Valentine on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Valentine throws a leg kick that misses.
Valentine throws out a leg kick but Katsumoto moves out of range and Valentine only half commits.
Katsumoto connects with a single shot there.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Valentine misses the target.
Valentine bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Katsumoto connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Katsumoto wants to clinch.
Valentine checks a leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Katsumoto checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Katsumoto is looking to clinch but Valentine is avoiding it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Valentine uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Katsumoto.
Katsumoto throws a head kick that Valentine semi-blocks.
Katsumoto has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Valentine.
Katsumoto finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Katsumoto fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Valentine has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Valentine has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Katsumoto.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Valentine throws a low kick, looking for Katsumoto's leg but Katsumoto calmly moves out of range.
Katsumoto lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Katsumoto moves away from the strike by Valentine.
An inside leg kick lands from Katsumoto.
A head kick misses from Katsumoto.
Katsumoto misses with a kick to the body.
A head kick from Katsumoto lands but Valentine takes it in his stride.
Katsumoto lands with a kick to the ribs.
Valentine checks a low kick from Katsumoto.
Valentine closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Katsumoto quickly recovers to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valentine trying to control the action but Katsumoto is working from the bottom.
Valentine stalling away here and it's allowed Katsumoto to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katsumoto throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Valentine trying to control but Katsumoto is working from the bottom.
Katsumoto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Valentine is one step ahead there.
Valentine slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Katsumoto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valentine trying to control but Katsumoto is working from the bottom.
The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Gregg Valentine wasn't active enough on the ground.
Katsumoto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that's the end of the fight!
Takashi Katsumoto showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Katsumoto 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 48:47
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 48:47
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 48:47
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takashi Katsumoto!
Takashi Katsumoto retains his welterweight title!
In his post fight interview, Takashi Katsumoto started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
100% |
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