PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lorenzo Valenta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anatoliy Lapikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lapikov has chosen AC/DC - Hells Bells as his entrance music. 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.

Valenta
vs
Lapikov

179 cm
32
169 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

186 cm
28
220 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

GREEN!160
Reaper Combatwear

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lorenzo Valenta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Anatoliy Lapikov!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Ryoma Takatsuka and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lapikov tries for a takedown but Valenta sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Lapikov takes the fight into the clinch.
Lapikov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Lapikov takes a knee to the side of the body.
Lapikov landing knees to the head.
Valenta misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lapikov can't get the takedown.
Valenta is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Lorenzo Valenta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anatoliy Lapikov.
Valenta using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Valenta is leaning against Lapikov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valenta tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lapikov tries to land knees in the clinch but Valenta avoids the damage to the body.
Lapikov has a couple of punches blocked by Valenta.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lapikov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Valenta's brow.
Lapikov looking to slow down the pace here.
Lapikov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Valentas head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapikov wants a takedown but no success here.
Lapikov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Valenta fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Lapikov moves into range and clinches up with Valenta.
Valenta lands an uppercut.

Valenta has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Lapikov clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Valenta has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Lapikov turns into Valenta and is now in his guard.

Valenta has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lapikov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lapikov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapikov wants to control from the top but Valenta keeps moving.
Valenta working a defensive guard here.

Valenta had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lapikov defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lapikov works over Valenta with some ground and pound from guard.
Lapikov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Valenta managing to control the position.
Lapikov controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Valenta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lapikov landing with the ground and pound.
Lapikov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lapikov tries to free his leg and advance position but Valenta is retaining full guard.

Valenta throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lapikov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Valenta's head.
Lapikov postures up.

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.
Lapikov wants to control from the top but Valenta keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lapikov cracks the inside of Valenta's front leg.
Lapikov fails with the takedown.

Lapikov has Valenta up against the cage in a clinch.
Valenta lands a knee to the head.
Lapikov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lapikov trying to land knees to the body.
Lapikov throws a head punch that misses.
Lapikov wants a takedown but no success here.
Lapikov lands a right hand.
Lapikov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Valenta digs a right hand underneath Lapikov's ribcage. Lapikov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anatoliy Lapikov will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Valenta throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lapikov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lapikov moves out of range of the body kick from Valenta.
Valenta throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Lapikov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Lapikov throws a leg kick

and Valenta counters by moving into the clinch.
Valenta connects with a knee to the head.
Lapikov trying to land knees to the body.
Lapikov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lapikov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Lapikov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Valenta pulls his leg out and moves away.
Valenta bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lapikov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Valenta manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Valenta connects with a single shot there.
Lapikov darts in looking for a takedown but Valenta gets double underhooks and turns Lapikov into the cage.
Lapikov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Valenta sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lorenzo Valenta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anatoliy Lapikov.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lapikov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Valenta pinned against the cage. Valenta gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lapikov is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valenta keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Lapikov gets caught napping as Valenta dives in and scores a takedown. Lapikov manages to retain guard.
Valenta trying to control the position from guard on top but Lapikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valenta trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Our spies down at at Blitzkrieg Fighting Systems: Ground inform us that Lapikov has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Valenta with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapikov is pulling down on Valenta's head to control his posture.
Valenta in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Valenta is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Valenta throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lapikov looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A jab lands there for Valenta.
Lapikov misses with a straight right.
Valenta moves out of range of the strikes.
Valenta keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lapikov is looking to clinch but Valenta is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapikov tries to clinch up but Valenta circles away and keeps his distance.
Valenta getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Lapikov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Lapikov is looking to clinch.
Lapikov shoots in looking for a takedown. Valenta tries to sprawl out of it but Lapikov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Valenta manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lapikov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Valenta finds it's way round the side to connect with Lapikov's head.
Valenta circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lorenzo Valenta is winning the standup battle so far.
Lapikov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Valenta circles away.
Valenta scoring well with a low kick there.
Lapikov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Lapikov is looking to clinch but Valenta is avoiding it.
Lapikov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lapikov takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Lapikov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Anatoliy Lapikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lapikov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Valenta stuns Lapikov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
No luck for Lapikov with that takedown attempt.
Valenta misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lapikov has a takedown stuffed.
Valenta is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lapikov can do to turn this around?
Valenta staying out of range there.
Lapikov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Valenta's waist but Valenta gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lapikov off to one side.
Lapikov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Valenta scores with a one two! Lapikov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Lapikov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Valenta but Valenta pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenzo Valenta dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A shot to the liver by Valenta. Beautiful body shot.

Valenta shoots in and gets a takedown into Lapikov's guard.
Lapikov keeping moving, preventing Valenta from controlling successfully.
Valenta controlling from the top position.
Valenta trying to control the position from guard on top but Lapikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Valenta postures up in Lapikov's guard and throws a big left but Lapikov blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valenta showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Valenta throws a big right hand that misses.
Valenta throws a strike but Lapikov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Valenta keeping moving, preventing Lapikov from controlling successfully.
Valenta controls Lapikov momentarily but Lapikov frees himself.

Valenta looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapikov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lapikov throws a big right hand that misses.
Lapikov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Valenta wants to control but Lapikov passes easily into half guard.
Valenta is looking to control Lapikov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Valenta avoid being mounted?

Valenta actively working from the bottom here.
Valenta wants to get back to full guard.
Valenta trying to control here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapikov tries to clinch there but Valenta circles away.
As Lapikov looks to move away, Valenta throws a big counter combo bu Lapikov just gets out of the way.
Lapikov throws the kick towards the body but Valenta avoids it.
Valenta tries to counter with a takedown but Lapikov is quick to defend against it.

Valenta instigates a clinch.

Lapikov is fighting off a takedown attempt but Valenta is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Lapikov to the mat. Lapikov regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Lapikov is pulling down on Valenta's head to control his posture.
Lapikov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Valenta manages to get himself to full guard.

Lapikov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lapikov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Lapikov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valenta has momentary wrist control but Lapikov slips an elbow through the middle.
Lorenzo Valenta overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lapikov throwing strikes from guard but Valenta blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lapikov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lapikov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lapikov connects with a couple of short punches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Valenta looking to control.
Lapikov throws an elbow that misses. Valenta uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lapikov's guard. Nice move by Valenta!

Valenta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lapikov swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lorenzo Valenta showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Valenta 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lorenzo Valenta!
Lorenzo Valenta spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.