PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between denali fili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Boris Valnokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Boris Valnokov has the eye of the tiger tonight.

fili
vs
Valnokov

200 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
273 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, denali fili!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Boris Valnokov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Fedor Mirinova and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
fili doesn't manage to clinch there - Valnokov circles away.
denali fili seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Valnokov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Valnokov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but fili does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Valnokov wants to pass the guard but fili is defending well.
fili makes his way to full guard. A much better position for fili.
fili is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Valnokov is controlling him.
Valnokov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as fili works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Valnokov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Valnokov gets to his feet. fili looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
fili tries to clinch there but Valnokov circles away.
fili wants to clinch.
fili blocks a head kick by Valnokov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valnokov closes this distance looking for a takedown but fili circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Valnokov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. fili gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
fili wants to break the clinch but can't.

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

Valnokov gets the takedown into side control.

Valnokov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. fili knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Valnokov wants to control but fili is keeping him busy.
fili is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
fili is being controlled here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
fili is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Valnokov is controlling him well.

Valnokov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
fili can't do much from the bottom here.
Valnokov trying to control the position but fili is working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
fili shoots for a takedown but Valnokov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Valnokov doesn't manage to clinch there - fili circles away.
Valnokov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
denali fili has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Boris Valnokov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
fili swats away the attempt to clinch by Valnokov.
fili gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Valnokov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in fili's guard.
Valnokov looks gassed!
fili manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
fili tries to control but Valnokov wriggling away.
Valnokov working to try and regain half guard.
fili can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Valnokov is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
fili content just to control the position here.
Valnokov gets back to half guard.

Valnokov kicks off fili and gets to his feet.
Valnokov shoots in and drives through. fili sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Valnokov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

fili darts in trying to clinch

and Valnokov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Valnokov.
Valnokov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. fili swivels though and keeps the full guard.
fili will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
fili wants to stand up but Valnokov is controlling him.
Valnokov is standing up over fili. fili looks to escape but Valnokov dives into side control.
fili is looking to regain half guard here but Valnokov keeps moving and retains side control.

Valnokov decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valnokov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts fili as he jumps to the side.

Valnokov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
fili keeping moving, preventing Valnokov from controlling successfully.
Boris Valnokov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Valnokov is breathing heavily.
Valnokov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Valnokov wants to control but fili is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on fili's face as Valnokov controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
fili is trying to get back to half guard.
fili is trying to control Valnokov's posture but Valnokov avoids it.

Valnokov decides to take the fight back to the feet.
fili throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Valnokov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in fili's guard now.
fili wants to stand but Valnokov is controlling the position.
Valnokov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Valnokov stands and steps away. fili gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valnokov closes the distance and clinches up with fili, looking for a takedown. Valnokov pushes fili against the cage but fili circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
fili looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Valnokov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
denali fili has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Boris Valnokov.
Valnokov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. fili tries to avoid it but Valnokov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag fili to the ground. fili escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Valnokov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Valnokov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from fili.
fili closes the distance looking to clinch
and Valnokov counters with a nice low kick that buckles fili's knee momentarily.

Valnokov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. fili sprawls well initially but Valnokov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
fili is looking to escape.

fili pushes Valnokov off and gets back to his feet.
Valnokov looks to land a combination but fili avoids it well.
Valnokov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Valnokov circles away from the clinch attempt

and Valnokov counters by clinching up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
fili gets underhooks to prevent Valnokov's takedown attempt.
Valnokov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but fili pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Still in the clinch, fili scores with a nice short uppercut.
fili lands a hook to the side of the head.
fili wants to break the clinch but can't.
fili takes a knee right on the jaw!
fili can't break the clinch.
fili wants to break free but Valnokov has control.
fili tries to stall but Valnokov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
fili wants to get back to striking at distance but Valnokov won't allow it.
Valnokov pushes off an throws an elbow but fili leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Valnokov tries to pull guard but fili holds him up against the cage and eventually Valnokov drops back down to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
fili pushes Valnokov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from fili.

Valnokov is rocked!
A short right hand to the side of the head by fili.
Valnokov is still on wobbly legs! Can fili finish him?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
fili wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Valnokov has him pressed against the cage.

Valnokov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Valnokov slips a jab and a cross from fili.
fili misses with a double jab.
Valnokov seems to have recovered his senses.
Valnokov looks to land a combination. fili sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Valnokov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

fili shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Valnokov pinned against the cage. Valnokov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Valnokov has managed to clinch.
Valnokov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Valnokov has had enough of the clinch but fili keeps him there for the moment.
Valnokov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Valnokov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A head punch on the inside from Valnokov fails to land.
fili gets underhooks to prevent Valnokov's takedown attempt.
denali fili has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Boris Valnokov.
fili trying to stall but Valnokov improves his position.
Valnokov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

fili jumps guard and drags Valnokov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Valnokov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. fili is keeping the position for now.

fili had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Valnokov is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. fili Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Valnokov's back instead.
fili gets his hands free as Valnokov looks to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valnokov tries to break free.

fili tightening his grip on Valnokov, looking for the choke.
Valnokov trying to control the action but fili just sinks the hooks in.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - fili's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's two 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.
Valnokov trying to control the position but fili manages to sink in the hooks.
fili is controlling the position but Valnokov somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Valnokov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Valnokov keeps control of fili as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Valnokov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

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

Valnokov darts in and clinches fili up against the cage.
fili blocks an uppercut.
fili throws a knee to the head but misses.
fili wants to break the clinch but can't.
fili wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Valnokov prevents fili from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
fili misses with a hook from the clinch.
fili wants to break free but Valnokov has control.
fili gets underhooks to prevent Valnokov's takedown attempt.
Knees to the body from Valnokov.
fili is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Valnokov wants a takedown but no success here.
Valnokov keeps control of fili as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Valnokov has fili pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. fili manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Valnokov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Valnokov ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Valnokov no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Valnokov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
fili would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

fili stands and steps away. Valnokov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
fili gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Valnokov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Valnokov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. fili avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

fili breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Valnokov slips a jab and a cross from fili.

fili gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
fili wants to break free but Valnokov has control.

fili breaks from the clinch.
fili throws a series of punches but Valnokov avoids them all with ease.
fili wants to clinch

and Valnokov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Valnokov is trying to control the action in half guard but fili is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Valnokov stops fili from getting back to his feet.
Valnokov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boris Valnokov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Valnokov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Boris Valnokov!