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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Gagarin (ranked 4840 p4p, 5137 weight class) and Apollo Balboa (ranked 472 p4p, 487 weight class). Balboa has chosen Eye of the Tiger as his entrance music. The key to victory for Yuri Gagarin has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.
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| 185 cm
18
165
1 - 0 - 0 |
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176 cm
18
168
1 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident |
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BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yuri Gagarin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Apollo Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balboa slips a straight right by Gagarin.
Gagarin thuds a left hand into Balboa's body.
Balboa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gagarin.
Gagarin swinging wildly here.
Balboa shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gagarin manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gagarin wants to stand up but Balboa is controlling him.
Gagarin keeping moving, preventing Balboa from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balboa is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Gagarin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gagarin, up you get!
Balboa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Gagarin tries to get to full guard but Balboa has control of the leg.
Gagarin is refusing to be controlled, as Balboa sits in half guard.
Balboa stands up from half guard.
Gagarin throws out a loose jab but Balboa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Balboa throws a fast counter high kick but Gagarin manages to duck under it in time.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gagarin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Balboa on the ground.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa trying to control the position from guard on top but Gagarin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balboa throws a big right hand that misses.
Balboa forces his way into half guard.
Gagarin is trying to maintain the position but Balboa is very close to passing his half guard.
Gagarin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Balboa is pressing down on Gagarin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gagarin is holding on for now.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa decides to stand up.
Balboa goes for a double leg but Gagarin avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gagarin continues to drive forward.
Gagarin misses with a hook.
Gagarin throws an overhand right that lands on Balboa's shoulder, as Balboa tries to avoid the shot.
Gagarin throws a jab but it's blocked by Balboa.
Gagarin looks to land a right hand but Balboa moved out of range.
Balboa moves into the clinch.
Balboa swings wildly with an uppercut but Gagarin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gagarin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gagarin is trying to maintain a safe position but Balboa gets an underhook and turns Gagarin into the cage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin is fighting off a takedown attempt but Balboa is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Gagarin to the mat. Gagarin regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Balboa gets to his feet - Gagarin follows without any prompting.
Balboa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Balboa lands in his opponent's guard.
Gagarin trying to keep a closed guard but Balboa is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balboa trying to control the position from guard on top but Gagarin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Apollo Balboa dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Gagarin lands a nice hook to Balboa's body. Balboa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
No joy there for Gagarin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Balboa has taken the fight to the clinch.
Balboa just leaning against Gagarin, taking a breather.
Balboa struggles to land a body shot inside as Gagarin controls his hands.
Gagarin is trying to break the clinch but Balboa is controlling him.
Balboa has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gagarin uses from the top position.
Balboa is looking to stand up but Gagarin isn't so interested in that idea.
Gagarin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balboa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gagarin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gagarin looking to pass the guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa wants to control but Gagarin passes easily into half guard.
Balboa wants to improve his position but Gagarin is controlling well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Balboa pushes Gagarin off looking to stand but Gagarin dives back in and keeps control.
Gagarin is keen to just control but Balboa is a slippery customer.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Balboa closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Balboa lands in his opponent's guard.
Balboa decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Balboa darts in and clinches Gagarin up against the cage.
Gagarin misses with a short punch on the inside.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gagarin's efforts to push away.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Balboa.
Balboa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Balboa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gagarin is looking to break free of the clinch but Balboa has double underhooks.
Balboa fails to pull guard.
Balboa is trying to drag Gagarin to the mat but Gagarin just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gagarin is looking to control Balboa's arms but Balboa gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gagarin has his back to the cage.
Balboa tries a body shot but Gagarin blocks it.
Gagarin avoiding damage as Balboa throws knees to the body.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa keeps control of Gagarin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Balboa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Gagarin has had enough of the clinch but Balboa keeps him there for the moment.
Balboa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gagarin prevents it.
Yuri Gagarin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Apollo Balboa.
Balboa can't find room to land a body shot as Gagarin controls the action.
Balboa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Balboa misses with an elbow over the top.
Balboa wants a takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balboa is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Balboa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Apollo Balboa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!
Balboa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gagarin, pushing him back against the cage.
Balboa blocks an uppercut.
Good body shot from Balboa.
Gagarin tries to break the clinch but Balboa is controlling the position.
Gagarin wants to get back to striking at distance but Balboa won't allow it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Balboa takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Balboa looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Balboa misses with an elbow over the top.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balboa breaks the clinch.
Balboa swinging wildly here.
Balboa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gagarin is fending him off so far but Balboa persists. Nope, Gagarin circles away and we're back to standing.
A swing and a miss from Gagarin.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa is struggling to control the position.
A frustrated look appears on Gagarin's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Balboa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Balboa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Balboa tries to score a body lock takedown but Gagarin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Balboa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gagarin smiles and moves away.
Yuri Gagarin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Apollo Balboa.
Gagarin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Balboa circles away quickly and effectively.
Balboa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Balboa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gagarin.
Balboa tries a quick counter leg kick but Gagarin is wise to it.
Donk. Gagarin catches Balboa right on the button with a cross.
Gagarin swinging wildly here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gagarin throws a nice looking combination but Balboa bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Balboa drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gagarin as he jumps to the side.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gagarin, as that shot connected.
Balboa takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Yuri Gagarin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gagarin lands a nice shot that snaps Balboa's head back.
Gagarin tries to keep at a distance but Balboa has taken the fight into the clinch.
Balboa tries to land knees in the clinch but Gagarin avoids the damage to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Gagarin's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Balboa has Gagarin pressed against the cage, preventing Gagarin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Balboa gets to his feet. Gagarin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Yuri Gagarin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balboa shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Balboa showed some decent athleticism there.
Balboa wants to control but Gagarin is keeping him busy.
Balboa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gagarin trying to control from the bottom.
Gagarin is refusing to be controlled, as Balboa sits in half guard.
Gagarin tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gagarin is trying to control but can't.
Balboa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gagarin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Balboa stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Yuri Gagarin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Balboa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gagarin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gagarin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Balboa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Balboa tries for a takedown but Gagarin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Balboa moves into the clinch successfully.
Gagarin misses with the head strike.
Apollo Balboa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gagarin is looking to break free of the clinch but Balboa has double underhooks.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Yuri Gagarin.
I think Balboa 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Apollo Balboa!
Our winner, Apollo Balboa, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
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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
35% |
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