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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Papa Legba (ranked 692 p4p, 1159 weight class) and Paul Muhapuro (ranked 93 p4p, 145 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.
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| 178 cm
22
185
7 - 2 - 0 |
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177 cm
22
198
7 - 3 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Papa Legba!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Muhapuro!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Andrew Berry and Colin Fotheringham.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Legba wants to clinch
and Muhapuro counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Legba shoots in but Muhapuro avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Legba tries to close the distance and clinch but Muhapuro swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Muhapuro throws out a counter right but Legba avoids it with no problem.
Muhapuro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Legba moves into the clinch.
Muhapuro lands a nice uppercut.
Muhapuro tries to circle away but Legba has him pinned against the cage.
Legba has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Muhapuro regains guard immediately.
Muhapuro wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Legba has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Legba wants to pass the guard but Muhapuro is keeping the position.
Legba wants to control from the top but Muhapuro keeps moving.
Muhapuro wants to sweep but no luck.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Muhapuro is still trying to improve position.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Paul Muhapuro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Legba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Muhapuro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A little jabbing left from Muhapuro on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Muhapuro keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Muhapuro looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Legba fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Muhapuro avoids it really well and circles away.
A little jabbing left from Muhapuro on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Papa Legba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Legba fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Muhapuro.
Legba slips under a jab from Muhapuro.
Muhapuro throws a leg kick but Legba moved away.
Papa Legba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Legba tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Muhapuro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It seemed like Muhapuro was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Muhapuro has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Muhapuro throws a right hand that misses
and Legba decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Muhapuro's guard.
Legba not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muhapuro keeping moving, preventing Legba from controlling successfully.
Muhapuro pulls Legba in close to prevent any damage.
Muhapuro keeping moving, preventing Legba from controlling successfully.
Legba slips nicely into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Legba is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Muhapuro defends it well.
Muhapuro tries to roll over but Legba keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Paul Muhapuro will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Legba fails with a takedown attempt.
Legba tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Muhapuro paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Muhapuro is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Legba with a body shot.
Legba doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Muhapuro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Legba misses with a takedown attempt
and Muhapuro counters with a lovely shot to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Papa Legba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Legba misses with a takedown
and Muhapuro counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Legba goes for a double leg but Muhapuro avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Muhapuro continues to drive forward.
Muhapuro takes a swing at Legba's ribcage but misses.
Legba tries to clinch there but Muhapuro circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Muhapuro! But no joy.
Legba shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Muhapuro defends it nicely.
Legba 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.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muhapuro looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Muhapuro has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Legba is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Legba changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Muhapuro fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Legba takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legba closes the distance and pushes Muhapuro back into the cage.
Legba tries for a takedown but Muhapuro manages to get underhooks.
Muhapuro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Legba drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Legba's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Muhapuro managing to control the position.
Legba wants to control from the top but Muhapuro keeps moving.
Muhapuro managing to control the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Legba trying to control but Muhapuro is working from the bottom.
Legba is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Muhapuro is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Muhapuro is trying to keep Legba in close.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Muhapuro gets tackled into the cage by Legba. Legba maintains the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Paul Muhapuro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Muhapuro circles away from the clinch attempt
and Muhapuro counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Legba tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Muhapuro swivels and escapes.
Legba shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Muhapuro thinks about the counter body kick.
Legba looking to score a takedown here. Muhapuro is defending well but Legba drives through and ends up in Muhapuro's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Legba trying to control the position from guard on top but Muhapuro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Muhapuro looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Muhapuro keeping moving, preventing Legba from controlling successfully.
Legba is fighting to break Muhapuro's control of his arms but Muhapuro is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Legba is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Muhapuro has control of Legba's left arm, preventing Legba from doing any damage.
Muhapuro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Legba is one step ahead there.
Legba looking to sit in guard and control but Muhapuro gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Muhapuro not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Legba keeping moving, preventing Muhapuro from controlling successfully.
Legba escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Muhapuro gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Muhapuro tries to free his leg and advance position but Legba is retaining full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Muhapuro is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Legba looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Muhapuro passes into side control.
Legba tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Muhapuro wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
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.
Papa Legba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
You can see the frustration on Legba's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Legba is trying to improve his position.
Muhapuro controlling the position.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Legba closes the distance looking to clinch
and Muhapuro counters with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Paul Muhapuro really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Muhapuro throws a nice outside leg kick.
Legba takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Legba takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A head kick misses from Muhapuro.
Legba looks to clinch
and Muhapuro counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muhapuro throws a leg kick but Legba checks it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Legba or perhaps it was just good defense by Muhapuro, which made it look bad.
Muhapuro looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Legba tries for a takedown but Muhapuro circles away easily
and Muhapuro counters with a nice leg kick.
Legba tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Muhapuro defends well and Legba ends up having to push Muhapuro into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Papa Legba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Muhapuro swats away the attempt to clinch by Legba.
A looping hook to the body misses from Muhapuro. Legba does a little dance to reset his feet.
Muhapuro stuffs the takedown.
A countering left hand to the body from Muhapuro misses.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Muhapuro throws a quick inside leg kick.
Legba wants to clinch
and Muhapuro counters with a nice uppercut.
Legba avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Legba tries to clinch but Muhapuro moves out of range.
Muhapuro stuffs the takedown attempt from Legba. Legba gets slowly back to his feet.
Muhapuro doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muhapuro defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Legba.
Legba fails with an attempt to clinch.
Muhapuro feints a counter leg kick.
Legba fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Muhapuro.
Legba drops down looking for a counter takedown but Muhapuro sprawls and moves away.
Muhapuro misses with a looping right.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Legba is defended easily by Muhapuro.
Muhapuro throws out a counter right but Legba avoids it with no problem.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muhapuro circles away from the clinch attempt.
Legba has closed the distance and engaged Muhapuro in a clinch.
Muhapuro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A right handed body shot lands from Muhapuro.
Muhapuro stalling in the clinch.
Legba is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Muhapuro is defending well.
Muhapuro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Muhapuro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Legba is looking to counter the offense by Muhapuro and move into the clinch.
Legba fails to land the takedown.
Muhapuro appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Legba closes the distance but Muhapuro moves to the side
and Muhapuro counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Paul Muhapuro dominated that fourth 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Legba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Muhapuro swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Muhapuro throws a nice inside leg kick.
Muhapuro defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Legba.
Muhapuro looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Muhapuro. Legba does a little dance to reset his feet.
Legba tries to counter with a takedown but Muhapuro is quick to defend against it.
Legba wants to clinch up but Muhapuro keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muhapuro defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Legba.
Legba has his takedown stuffed
and Muhapuro counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Papa Legba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Legba shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Muhapuro but Muhapuro pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Legba shoots for a double leg takedown but Muhapuro sprawls well. He's pushed Legba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Muhapuro steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Legba wants to clinch up but Muhapuro keeps it at a distance.
Legba wants to clinch
and Muhapuro counters with a slapping leg kick.
Legba wants to clinch.
Muhapuro swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nice takedown defense from Muhapuro. No joy for Legba on that attempt.
Legba shoots and misses
and Muhapuro counters with an inside leg kick.
Legba gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Legba can't get the takedown.
Muhapuro stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Muhapuro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Paul Muhapuro seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Legba looks to clinch
letting Muhapuro counter with a right hand.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legba gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Muhapuro counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Legba fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Muhapuro flicks out a counter leg kick but Legba steps away.
Legba wants to clinch up but Muhapuro keeps it at a distance.
Muhapuro looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Legba tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Muhapuro defends well and Legba ends up having to push Muhapuro into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Muhapuro punishes Legba's body with a nice straight punch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muhapuro smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Legba is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Legba with a poor takedown
and Muhapuro counters with a three punch combo that has Legba backing up. Legba nods at Muhapuro to acknowledge the strikes.
Legba tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Muhapuro swivels and escapes.
Legba closes the distance and pushes Muhapuro back into the cage.
Muhapuro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Muhapuro fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Legba checks it well.
Legba appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Legba fails in his attempt to clinch.
Papa Legba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Legba misses with a lunging right hand
and Muhapuro counters with an inside leg kick.
And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Muhapuro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Muhapuro winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 44:50
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 44:50
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 44:50
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Muhapuro!
Paul Muhapuro is the new middleweight champion!
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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
28% |
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