PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kirk Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Snow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Valentine
vs
Snow

180 cm
22
177 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

188 cm
18
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kirk Valentine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jon Snow!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Viktor Lagutenko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentine shoots in but no luck this time.
Snow tries to bum rush Valentine with a series of wild strikes but Valentine uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jon Snow seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Snow closes the distance and clinches.
Valentine tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Snow smiles and moves away.

Snow has Valentine up against the cage in a clinch.

Snow breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Snow falls off balance throwing a combination

and Valentine counters by clinching up.

Snow breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice sprawl there from Snow as Valentine shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kirk Valentine. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Snow moves into the clinch.
Valentine has Snow pressed against the cage, preventing Snow from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Snow breaks the clinch.
Snow fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Snow looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Snow misses with a double jab

and Valentine counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Valentine.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentine tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Snow just stands there and leans against the cage.
Valentine tries to pull guard but Snow won't allow it.
Snow wants to break the clinch but can't.

Valentine escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Snow misses with the combination.
Snow throws a right hand that Valentine ducks under and follows up with a left that Valentine also avoids with ease.

Snow clinches.
Valentine fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Snow escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Valentine dives in for a single leg takedown but Snow sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Snow wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Snow wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

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

Snow forces Valentine back against the cage and clinches.
Valentine throws an elbow but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Snow wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Valentine jumps guard and drags Snow to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Valentine wants to get back to his feet but Snow is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Snow postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Snow missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Valentine preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Snow loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Snow with a flurry of punches that miss.
Valentine wants to sweep but no luck.
Valentine avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Valentine utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Snow throws a big right hand that misses.
Snow looks winded!
Valentine looking to control.
Snow postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Snow postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Valentine has his foot on Snow's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Snow works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Snow in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Valentine looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Snow working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Valentine is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Valentine working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Snow.
Snow throws a strike but Valentine rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Valentine throws an elbow that misses. Snow uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Valentine's guard. Nice move by Snow!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Snow avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Snow postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Valentine avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Snow throws a big right hand that misses.
Valentine avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valentine utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Snow trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Snow in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
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!
Snow throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Snow dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Snow closes the distance and pushes Valentine back into the cage.
Snow is trying to push Valentine away but Valentine has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Snow tries to break free but Valentine pushes him back against the cage.
Valentine is trying to pull guard but Snow turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Valentine jumps into guard, dragging Snow to the mat.
Snow throws an elbow that misses. Valentine uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Snow's guard. Nice move by Valentine!
Valentine is in close to Snow's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Valentine with a flurry of punches that miss.
Valentine trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Snow is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Valentine is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Snow preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Valentine stands and steps away. Snow gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Valentine tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Snow defends well and Valentine ends up having to push Snow into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Snow wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Valentine tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Snow smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kirk Valentine. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valentine is trying hard to land a takedown here. Snow sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Snow throws a nice looking combination but Valentine bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Snow drives through and clinches with Valentine against the cage.
Snow is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Snow wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentine fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Snow wants to get back to striking at distance but Valentine won't allow it.

Snow breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Valentine shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Valentine showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valentine slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Snow pushes Valentine off looking to stand but Valentine dives back in and keeps control.

We're going to have a standup here because Kirk Valentine wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Snow swinging wildly here.

Snow closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Snow is trying to push Valentine away but Valentine has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Valentine is trying to pull guard but Snow has him pressed against the cage.
Snow has had enough of the clinch but Valentine keeps him there for the moment.
Snow wants to break free but Valentine has control.
Valentine lands a shoulder strike.
Valentine lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Snow is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Snow breaks from the clinch.
Snow stuffs the takedown.
Snow displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Valentine.

Valentine looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Valentine working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Snow's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valentine loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valentine stays in close to Snow's body and controls the position.
Snow wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Valentine manages to pass to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk Valentine dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Valentine misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Valentine gets tackled into the cage by Snow. Snow maintains the clinch.

Snow breaks from the clinch.

Snow moves into the clinch.
Snow prevents Valentine from breaking the clinch.
Snow tries to break free but Valentine pushes him back against the cage.
Valentine has Snow pressed against the cage, preventing Snow from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Snow wants to get back to striking at distance but Valentine won't allow it.

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

Snow clinches up against the cage.
Valentine taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Valentine looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Snow tries to circle away but Valentine has him pinned against the cage.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Snow misses with a jab, cross combination.
Snow falls off balance throwing a combination

and Valentine decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Snow's guard.
Snow takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Valentine showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Valentine trying to control the position from guard on top but Snow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kirk Valentine has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Snow gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valentine manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Valentine wants to get back to his feet but Snow is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Valentine avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Valentine looking to control.
Valentine is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Snow with a flurry of punches that miss.
Snow working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Snow with a flurry of punches that miss.
Snow missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Snow in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Snow throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kirk Valentine overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Valentine working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Snow.
Snow throws a big elbow that misses.
Snow is looking to work some ground and pound but Valentine has wrist control.
Snow throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Valentine works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Valentine wants to stand but Snow is controlling the position.
Snow throwing strikes from guard but Valentine blocks nicely.
Valentine utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Snow missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Valentine working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Snow.
Snow throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Snow throws a big right hand that misses.
Snow is looking to work some ground and pound but Valentine has wrist control.
Snow throws a big right hand that misses.
Snow missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Snow postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Valentine not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Snow throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Snow postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Snow trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Valentine is trying to control the position but Snow postures up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Snow with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Snow comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Snow 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Snow!