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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leon Opstad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Merle Highchurch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Opstad comes to the cage accompanied by Moby - Natural Blues. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 188 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0 |
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150 cm
27
200 lbs
4 - 3 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leon Opstad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Merle Highchurch!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Opstad fails with a takedown attempt.
Highchurch takes the fight into the clinch.
Highchurch will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Opstad up against the cage.
Highchurch misses with a hook to the ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Highchurch slows down the pace here.
Opstad changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Highchurch fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Opstad connects with a crisp jab.
It looks like Merle Highchurch has been cut.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Opstad is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Highchurch.
Highchurch takes the fight into the clinch.
Opstad blocks a body shot from Highchurch.
Opstad wants to break the clinch but can't.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Highchurch has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Opstad pulls Highchurch into guard.
Highchurch working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Highchurch won't allow Opstad to sweep him here.
Opstad is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Highchurch working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Highchurch postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Opstad working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Highchurch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Highchurch throws an elbow that misses. Opstad uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Highchurch's guard. Nice move by Opstad!
Opstad has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Highchurch is proving hard to escape from.
Highchurch has his feet on Opstad's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Horrible takedown attempt by Opstad or perhaps it was just good defense by Highchurch, which made it look bad.
Highchurch throws out a counter right but Opstad avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon Opstad. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Opstad throws a head kick but Highchurch moves out of range.
Highchurch is looking to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Opstad will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Highchurch looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Leon Opstad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Opstad swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Highchurch closes the distance and clinches.
Highchurch doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Opstad is trying to drag Highchurch to the mat but Highchurch just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Highchurch taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Highchurch has Opstad pushed against the cage.
I was talking to Opstad's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Opstad's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Highchurch moves into range and clinches up with Opstad.
Opstad is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Highchurch pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Opstad tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Highchurch smiles and moves away.
Opstad throws an overhand right that lands on Highchurch's shoulder, as Highchurch tries to avoid the shot.
Highchurch has closed the distance and engaged Opstad in a clinch.
Highchurch taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Highchurch stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Highchurch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Highchurch has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Opstad clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Highchurch somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Opstad avoids the strikes from Highchurch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Highchurch missing with punches from the back.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Opstad is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Even with his hooks in, Highchurch manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Opstad has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Highchurch.
Highchurch avoiding Opstad 's attempts to control his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Merle Highchurch dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Merle Highchurch's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
Opstad throws a jab but it's blocked by Highchurch.
Highchurch is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Highchurch clinches with his opponent.
Highchurch has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Opstad is trying to keep an underhook but Highchurch manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Highchurch throwing shots but Opstad is blocking nicely.
Highchurch throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Opstad missing with punches from the bottom.
Opstad is looking to control Highchurch's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Opstad avoid being mounted?
Highchurch really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Opstad. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Opstad manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Opstad is trying to keep Highchurch in close.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Highchurch in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Highchurch postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Highchurch throws a big elbow that misses.
Highchurch throws a big right hand that misses.
Highchurch with a flurry of punches that miss.
Highchurch is looking to work some ground and pound but Opstad has wrist control.
Highchurch throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Highchurch slips a straight right by Opstad.
Opstad fails with the takedown
and Highchurch counters with a big uppercut that knocks Opstad off his feet! Highchurch dives into side control looking to finish!
Opstad is rocked!
It looks like Leon Opstad has been cut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Highchurch in side control, throwing shots but Opstad defends.
Oh Opstad is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
You can see the frustration on Opstad's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Highchurch tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Highchurch works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Highchurch has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Highchurch lands a big left to the face of Opstad, bouncing his head like a basketball. Another shot from Highchurch and another - Opstad is out! Highchurch stands up and salutes his fans, who are going crazy in the stands.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Merle Highchurch!
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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
45% |
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