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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Agansing Rai (ranked 650 p4p, 1948 weight class) and Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos (ranked 89 p4p, 262 weight class). Rai comes to the cage accompanied by Break Stuff. The key to victory for Agansing Rai has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.
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| 180 cm
27
169
15 - 6 - 1 |
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183 cm
27
180
10 - 9 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank |
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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 15 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Agansing Rai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Colin Fotheringham and Chris Edwards.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xanthopoulos shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rai is trying to defend but Xanthopoulos finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Rai is refusing to be controlled, as Xanthopoulos sits in half guard.
Rai avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Xanthopoulos.
Xanthopoulos is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rai defends it well.
Rai is staying active underneath Xanthopoulos, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Xanthopoulos is nestled in close to Rai, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rai wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xanthopoulos is trying to work for a kimura but Rai is defending well.
Xanthopoulos is pressing down on Rai's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rai is holding on for now.
Rai keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rai's head.
Rai trying to control but Xanthopoulos postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rai makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Rai misses with a body shot.
Excellent takedown into side control there by Xanthopoulos.
Rai tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Rai is desperately trying to improve his position but Xanthopoulos has a good base and remains in mount.
Xanthopoulos is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rai is surviving well by controlling Xanthopoulos's body position as best he can.
Xanthopoulos has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rai can't escape the position.
Xanthopoulos working for a guillotine from mount but Rai is in no mood to give up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Xanthopoulos is working for a guillotine from mount but Rai frees his head quite easily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Rai that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rai tries to hold on but Xanthopoulos pushes him away.
Xanthopoulos is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Xanthopoulos landing strikes from the mount and Rai is in trouble!
Xanthopoulos is landing with some decent strikes but Rai is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Xanthopoulos lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Xanthopoulos working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Xanthopoulos is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rai can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Xanthopoulos lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Xanthopoulos can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rai is looking to escape.
Rai is trying desperately to improve position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rai is trying to escape the mount.
Xanthopoulos lands with some strikes.
Xanthopoulos has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rai's face.
Xanthopoulos unloading with bombs!
Rai taking shots to the head.
Rai is rocked!
Rai is working to get back to half guard.
Oh Rai is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rai wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Xanthopoulos.
Rai seems to have got his legs back now.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rai defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Xanthopoulos.
Rai stops Xanthopoulos from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Xanthopoulos trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Xanthopoulos lands a heavy elbow.
Xanthopoulos has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rai's face.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rai wants to hold on but Xanthopoulos pushes him away.
Xanthopoulos with a couple of short strikes.
Xanthopoulos tries to control but Rai wriggling away.
Rai takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.
Rai with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Xanthopoulos throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rai's waist but Rai gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Xanthopoulos off to one side.
Xanthopoulos tries for a takedown but Rai circles away easily
and Rai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Xanthopoulos checks a leg kick.
Xanthopoulos manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rai on his heels. He'll look to pass Rai's guard now, I'm sure.
Xanthopoulos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rai is keeping the position for now.
Xanthopoulos is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xanthopoulos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Xanthopoulos stopping the sweep attempt from Rai.
Xanthopoulos looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rai is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Rai gets underhooks to prevent Xanthopoulos's takedown attempt.
Agansing Rai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos.
Rai makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Xanthopoulos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rai throws a punch but it's blocked by Xanthopoulos.
Xanthopoulos wants to take the fight to the mat but Rai manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rai lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rai lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Xanthopoulos backwards.
Rai breaks from the clinch.
Rai tests Xanthopoulos's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Xanthopoulos is defended easily by Rai.
Excellent takedown into side control there by Xanthopoulos.
Xanthopoulos lands a few punches from side control.
Rai wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Rai manages to work his way to half guard, despite Xanthopoulos's best efforts.
Xanthopoulos is working for a kimura but Rai is defending it quite comfortably.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Xanthopoulos trying to control from Rai's half guard. Rai has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rai holds on and takes a little breather.
Xanthopoulos works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Xanthopoulos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Xanthopoulos is looking to take a break and control but Rai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Xanthopoulos lands with a punch from half guard.
Xanthopoulos tries to pass to full mount but Rai defends it.
Rai is not content to let Xanthopoulos control the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rai wants to control but Xanthopoulos is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Xanthopoulos uses his free foot to push down on Rai's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rai.
Xanthopoulos throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Xanthopoulos tries to control but Rai wriggling away.
Xanthopoulos lands with some strikes.
Xanthopoulos jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Rai is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Rai and Xanthopoulos has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Xanthopoulos landing a few strikes.
Xanthopoulos throws an elbow but Rai slips to the side and avoids it well.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rai holding on.
Rai is not content to let Xanthopoulos control the position.
Xanthopoulos lands a decent elbow from side control.
Rai takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Xanthopoulos wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rai keeps working.
Rai is looking for a sweep.
Xanthopoulos is looking to take a break and control but Rai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The strikes coming from Xanthopoulos are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Agansing Rai will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Xanthopoulos manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rai on his heels. He'll look to pass Rai's guard now, I'm sure.
Xanthopoulos with a nice head shot there.
Rai tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rai can't keep his opponent in guard - Xanthopoulos advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Xanthopoulos looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Xanthopoulos trying to mount his opponent but Rai defends it.
Xanthopoulos prevents Rai from standing back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xanthopoulos is looking to stall here but Rai recovers full guard.
Xanthopoulos wants to pass the guard but Rai is keeping the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos preventing the sweep.
Xanthopoulos advances position into side control!
Rai can't do much from the bottom here.
Xanthopoulos lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Rai down.
Xanthopoulos throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Rai bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Xanthopoulos 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.
Rai displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Xanthopoulos.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rai misses the shot to the body.
Xanthopoulos shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Rai has one foot on Xanthopoulos's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Xanthopoulos looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rai manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Xanthopoulos keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Rai prevents a takedown attempt there.
Xanthopoulos lands a takedown into guard.
Rai pushes Xanthopoulos off and gets back to his feet.
Xanthopoulos fails to land the takedown.
Rai fires out a quick counter leg kick but Xanthopoulos just manages to avoid it.
Agansing Rai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos.
Rai clinches up with Xanthopoulos and pushes him back against the cage.
Xanthopoulos has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rai after a bit of a struggle.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Rai on the inside.
Xanthopoulos takes a shot to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rai creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Xanthopoulos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Xanthopoulos tries to score a body lock takedown but Rai shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rai working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rai lands a nice uppercut.
Rai lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Xanthopoulos is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rai breaks the clinch.
Xanthopoulos feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rai manages to escape and get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A low kick lands for Rai.
Jab by Rai.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rai.
Rai tries to bum rush Xanthopoulos with a series of wild strikes but Xanthopoulos uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Xanthopoulos fails with a takedown attempt.
Rai looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Rai lands with an uppercut that bounces Xanthopoulos off the cage and back into range.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Xanthopoulos closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rai did well to prevent Xanthopoulos getting side control.
Rai looks like he's trying to stand up.
Xanthopoulos is working for a kimura but Rai is defending it quite comfortably.
Xanthopoulos wants to pass to mount but Rai is defending the position.
Rai tries to get to full guard but Xanthopoulos has control of the leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Xanthopoulos works his way into full mount!
Rai is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that's the end of the fight!
Agansing Rai showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rai 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Agansing Rai!
Agansing Rai decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
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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
62% |
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