PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sanouk Fairtex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Papa Legba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fairtex comes to the cage accompanied by Illusion-DJ Tiesto. Legba has chosen Cruel Summer by Bananarama as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fairtex
vs
Legba

170 cm
27
150 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

166 cm
28
155 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

ProNutes London
ProNutes London

Balco Boys - Hilo
Balco Boys - Hilo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sanouk Fairtex!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Papa Legba!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Legba waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fairtex.
Sanouk Fairtex seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fairtex tries to clinch up.
Fairtex tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Fairtex takes a swing at Legba's ribcage but misses.
Legba blocks a head kick by Fairtex.
Fairtex waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Legba.
Horrible takedown by Legba or perhaps it was just good defense by Fairtex which made him look bad.
Legba blocks a leg kick.
Legba misses with a few strikes there.
Fairtex throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Legba sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Legba throws a series of punches but Fairtex moves out of range.
Fairtex throws a leg kick but Legba checks it.
Fairtex 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.
Fairtex misses with a looping left.
A big left from Legba misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legba keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fairtex avoids the body shot from Legba.
Fairtex lands the left hand.
Fairtex takes a swing at Legba's ribcage but misses.
Sanouk Fairtex is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fairtex pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Fairtex misses with a head kick.
Legba takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Fairtex tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Legba is able to avoid easily.
Legba misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Legba lands with a good body shot.
A head kick misses from Fairtex.
Sloppy strikes from Legba. Those never looked like landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Legba shoots in and gets a takedown into Fairtex's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Legba trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Legba trying to control the position from guard on top but Fairtex is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fairtex is looking to stand up but Legba isn't so interested in that idea.
Legba looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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!
Legba won't allow Fairtex to get back to his feet.
Legba wants to control from the top but Fairtex keeps moving.
Legba stopping the sweep attempt from Fairtex.
Legba wants to control from the top but Fairtex keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Legba accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fairtex looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Legba scores with a jab.
Legba throws a jab when Fairtex was well out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Fairtex.
Legba smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Fairtex keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fairtex lands with a good body shot.
Nice jab there from Legba.
Fairtex misses with a looping left.
Fairtex moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Fairtex blocks the leg kick.
Fairtex loads up on a big right hand but Legba slips the punch.
Legba looks for a takedown but Fairtex sprawls well.
Sanouk Fairtex has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Papa Legba.
Fairtex throws a head kick but Legba moves out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Fairtex. That's going to slow Legba down.
Fairtex throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fairtex tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Legba paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Legba keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Legba misses with a straight right.
Legba takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Fairtex misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sanouk Fairtex will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Legba throws the left hand but Fairtex avoids the punch easily.

Fairtex moves into the clinch.
Legba stalling in the clinch.
Fairtex lands an elbow inside that Legba shrugs off.
Fairtex looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Fairtex misses with a punch to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Legba's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Legba as the two fighters clinch.
Fairtex tries to land a knee to the head but Legba blocks with his arms.
Fairtex misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from Fairtex.
Legba lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Sanouk Fairtex has been cut.
Legba using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Legba connects with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Fairtex creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Legba is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fairtex is defending well for now.
Fairtex lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Fairtex misses with an elbow over the top.
Legba lands a shot to the body.
Fairtex misses with a knee to the head.
Legba blocking some punches.
Legba misses with a body punch.
Fairtex tries to land knees in the clinch but Legba avoids the damage to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Legba.
Fairtex tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Legba avoids it.
A shot in the inside from Fairtex.
Fairtex using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Legba has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Legba manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legba plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Fairtex walks into a stiff left hand from Legba.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Fairtex gets caught napping as Legba dives in and scores a takedown. Fairtex manages to retain guard.
Legba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fairtex wants to get back to his feet but Legba is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Legba being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fairtex is looking to stand up but Legba isn't so interested in that idea.
Legba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legba prevents Fairtex from getting back to his feet.
Fairtex preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Legba throws a big right hand that misses.
Legba trying to control the position from guard on top but Fairtex is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fairtex working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Legba.
Legba wants to control from the top but Fairtex keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Legba stalks Fairtex and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Fairtex's face. Fairtex staggers backwards, shaken.
Papa Legba seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Legba just misses with a punch to the body.
Fairtex turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Fairtex misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex throws a leg kick which misses Legba's front leg but catches the back leg as Legba tries to avoid it.
Legba bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Fairtex tries to score with a low kick but Legba moves his leg out of the way.
Legba avoids the head kick by Fairtex.
Legba lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Legba is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Fairtex.
Fairtex walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fairtex turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Fairtex lands a nice shot to the body.
Fairtex throws a looping overhand right but Legba ducks down to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Legba moves out of range of the body kick.
Fairtex tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Legba was well out of range. Poor timing from Fairtex.
Legba scores with a nice strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Papa Legba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sanouk Fairtex's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Legba scores with a hook to the body. Fairtex takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Legba rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fairtex moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Fairtex throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Legba's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Fairtex connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Legba scrambles back to his feet.
Fairtex scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Legba scores with a sloppy right hand. Fairtex should have avoided that one.
Fairtex avoids the body shot from Legba.
Fairtex tries to land a leg kick but Legba saw it coming and moves away.

Legba has taken the fight to the clinch.
Legba can't find room to land a body shot as Fairtex controls the action.
Legba misses with a hook to the ribs.
Legba blocks a body shot from Fairtex.
Legba lands a shot to the body.
Fairtex misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fairtex landing knees to the head.
Legba is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Legba throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Fairtex looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Papa Legba seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Fairtex fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fairtex tries to work over Legba's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Fairtex working aggressively here.
Legba lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Legba blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Legba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Legba avoids a kick to the body.
Fairtex throws a push kick but Legba slaps the foot to one side.
Legba throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legba tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fairtex sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Legba somewhat.
Fairtex takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Legba looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Fairtex!
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!
Fairtex working to try and regain half guard.
Legba looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Fairtex taking shots to the head.
Legba won't let Fairtex get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Legba thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legba looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Legba can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fairtex is looking to escape.
Fairtex slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Legba with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Legba is trying to control the action in half guard but Fairtex is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Papa Legba wasn't active enough on the ground.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fairtex looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex misses with a kick to the body.
Fairtex throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Fairtex misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Legba checks a low kick from Fairtex.
Legba works the jab nicely.
Fairtex misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fairtex. Legba does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Legba throws a jab when Fairtex was well out of range.
Papa Legba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fairtex showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Legba.
Legba keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Papa Legba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Legba 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Papa Legba!
Papa Legba made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying '(holding a blunt) It's medicinal...but not for aids!!'.