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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Reijo Halli (ranked 185 p4p, 720 weight class) and Kaiji Inoue (ranked 24 p4p, 87 weight class). Inoue has chosen Ladies and Gentlemen (Saliva) as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 177 cm
25
150
10 - 3 - 1 |
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175 cm
25
149
11 - 3 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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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 10 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Reijo Halli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kaiji Inoue!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Cecil Peabody.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halli ducks right into an uppercut from Inoue.
No joy there for Inoue, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Inoue throws a lazy uppercut
and Halli connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Inoue displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Halli throws out the jab.
Inoue misses with a double jab.
Halli lands a jab to Inoue's midsection.
Halli walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Inoue throws a leg kick but Halli checks it.
Halli 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.
Halli throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Inoue makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
We've been informed that Inoue has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Inoue scores with a nice right hand.
Halli motions for Inoue to come forward. Halli throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Inoue throws a lazy uppercut
and Halli counters with a straight right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Inoue scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Inoue throws a solid leg kick but Halli takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Inoue.
Halli shoots in but no luck this time.
Halli gets tackled into the cage by Inoue. Inoue maintains the clinch.
Inoue lands with a light punch inside.
Halli blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Halli pushes Inoue back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Inoue swings wildly with an uppercut but Halli uses good head movement to avoid it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Halli tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Inoue misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Inoue breaks the clinch.
Inoue throws a hook to the side of Halli's head but Halli sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Some wild striking there from Inoue.
Kaiji Inoue seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Halli bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Inoue's head.
Inoue misses with a low kick.
Inoue lands a right hook to the body.
Inoue throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Halli sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Inoue is looking to clinch but Halli is avoiding it.
Halli on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Inoue. Inoue obviously looking to wear him down.
Inoue finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Halli takes one on the button.
Inoue jabs Halli to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Inoue misses with a left hand
and Halli counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halli tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Inoue throws a leg kick which misses Halli's front leg but catches the back leg as Halli tries to avoid it.
Halli misses with a hook.
Inoue throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Halli is looking to counter punch.
Halli displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Inoue throws out the jab.
As Inoue backs away, Halli returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Halli throws a hook but Inoue avoids it easily.
Inoue tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Halli throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Inoue sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Halli lands a nice hook to Inoue's body. Inoue takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Inoue is looking to clinch.
A low kick lands for Inoue.
Halli looks to land a right hand but Inoue moved out of range.
Good shot there by Halli.
Halli slips under a jab from Inoue.
A head kick misses from Halli.
Inoue misses with a body shot.
Inoue ducks under a wild hook from Halli.
A little jabbing left from Inoue on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halli scores with a nice strike.
Halli looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Inoue!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Inoue avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Halli.
Inoue is looking to reverse the position.
Halli is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Inoue is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Inoue is looking for a sweep.
Inoue is trying to buck Halli off.
You can see the frustration on Inoue's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Inoue is trying to improve his position.
Inoue is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The strikes coming from Halli are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Halli is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Inoue is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Halli throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Halli creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Halli is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Inoue has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sloppy strikes there by Halli.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Kaiji Inoue will probably get the nod.
That's time! Halli's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Inoue connects with an inside leg kick.
Halli throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Inoue's waist but Inoue gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Halli off to one side.
Halli takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Inoue tests Halli's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Halli looks to score with a jab to the body but Inoue is just out of range.
A low kick lands for Inoue.
Inoue ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Halli comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kaiji Inoue seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Halli shoots in but no luck this time.
Inoue wants to counter with a clinch but Halli pushes him away.
Inoue throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Inoue throws the left hand but Halli avoids the punch easily.
Inoue lands a nice shot to the body.
Halli takes a swing at Inoue's ribcage but misses.
Inoue swats away the attempt to clinch by Halli.
Inoue has managed to clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Halli misses with a hook from the clinch.
Inoue working aggressively here.
Halli lands a right hand that snaps the head of Inoue backwards.
Halli avoids a wild elbow strike from Inoue.
Inoue missing with knees to the body.
Inoue throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Halli lands with a left to the head.
Halli tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Inoue lands with a right to the head.
A short uppercut from Inoue.
Inoue lands a shoulder strike.
Inoue fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Halli misses with a hook from the clinch.
Inoue swings wildly with an uppercut but Halli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Halli working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Halli blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Halli misses with a punch to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Halli tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Inoue digs a right hand into Halli's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Halli's gas tank.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halli can't find room to land a body shot as Inoue controls the action.
A body shot lands from Halli.
Halli's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Inoue pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Inoue breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Inoue turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Halli just misses with a punch to the body.
Inoue throws a body shot but no joy.
Halli throwing a counter right hand but Inoue manages to avoid it.
Inoue clobbers Halli with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Inoue misses with a wild body shot.
Inoue scores with a punch to the head.
Halli misses with a looping left.
Halli chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Inoue can pounce on him.
Halli 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.
Halli wants to clinch up but Inoue keeps it at a distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Inoue misses the target.
Halli throws a lazy right hand but Inoue sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Inoue keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halli tries to clinch but Inoue is having none of it.
Inoue defending well as Halli loads up on a big left hand.
Inoue swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Halli tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Inoue scores with a nice head shot.
Inoue stuns Halli with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Inoue stuns Halli with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Inoue fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Halli throws a hook but Inoue avoids it easily.
Halli gets tackled into the cage by Inoue. Inoue maintains the clinch.
Halli is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Inoue blocks a body shot from Halli.
Inoue throws a punch but it's blocked by Halli.
Halli tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Inoue misses with a short punch on the inside.
Inoue misses with a knee to the head.
Inoue breaks from the clinch.
Halli blocks a jab.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halli ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Inoue moves away.
Inoue swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Inoue throws a hook but Halli blocks it.
Inoue walks into a stiff left hand from Halli.
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!
Inoue misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Halli makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Inoue throws a lazy right hand but Halli sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Inoue keeps Halli at a distance using the push kick.
Inoue forces Halli back against the cage and clinches.
Halli stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kaiji Inoue seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Inoue breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A low kick from Inoue misses
and Halli counters with a nice uppercut.
Inoue scores with a body shot.
Inoue misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Halli appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Inoue lands with an overhand left.
Inoue with the inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Inoue staying out of range there.
Halli stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Inoue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Kaiji Inoue 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Halli throws a body shot but no joy.
Inoue scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Halli on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Inoue. Inoue obviously looking to wear him down.
Halli attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Inoue throws an overhand right that lands on Halli's shoulder, as Halli tries to avoid the shot.
Inoue has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Inoue fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Halli manages to avoid it.
It looked like Halli wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Halli misses with a looping left.
Inoue is looking to score with low kicks.
Inoue avoids the body shot from Halli.
It seemed like Inoue was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Inoue scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Halli defending well as Inoue loads up on a big left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halli misses with a low kick.
Halli motions for Inoue to come forward. Halli throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Inoue blocks a jab.
Halli keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Inoue.
Halli throws a jab but it's blocked by Inoue.
Inoue lands a nice leg kick that just misses Halli's sensitive parts.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Halli slips under a jab.
Halli takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Inoue throws a leg kick which misses Halli's front leg but catches the back leg as Halli tries to avoid it.
Inoue throws a lazy head kick
and Halli counters with a nice body shot.
Inoue throws a lazy uppercut
and Halli counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Halli lands with a right hand.
Inoue keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Inoue moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Inoue misses with a hook
and Halli makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Halli closes the distance and clinches.
Inoue's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Inoue lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Halli blocking some punches.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Inoue just misses with a elbow thrown towards Halli's brow.
Reijo Halli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halli has hold of one of Inoue's legs. Inoue is fighting the takedown attempt but Halli gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Inoue utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Reijo Halli overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Inoue keeping full guard, as Halli tries to pass.
Halli has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Inoue is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Halli slips nicely into half guard.
Inoue trying to control here.
Halli wants to pass the guard but Inoue is defending well.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halli sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Inoue defending well though.
Halli prevents Inoue from improving his position.
Halli throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Halli looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Halli missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Inoue is trying to control but can't.
Halli prevents Inoue from improving his position.
Halli looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Halli lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Inoue is looking to improve his position.
Halli is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Inoue!
Inoue wants to control but Halli is having none of it.
Halli goes for an armbar but Inoue turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Inoue.
Halli manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Inoue manages to get himself to full guard.
Halli throws a big right hand that misses.
And that's the end of the fight!
Reijo Halli showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Inoue 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kaiji Inoue!
Our winner, Kaiji Inoue, 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
65% |
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