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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between William Gray (ranked 5035 p4p, 5516 weight class) and Eden Taih (ranked 527 p4p, 543 weight class). Eden Taih acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.
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| 178 cm
24
187
0 - 0 - 0 |
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185 cm
25
190
0 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident |
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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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, William Gray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eden Taih!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taih shoots in looking for a takedown but Gray manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Taih's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gray breaks the clinch.
Taih takes one to the side of the head.
Taih takes one on the button.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Taih pulls guard successfully.
Taih looks winded!
Gray working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Taih is trying to keep Gray in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gray sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Taih's guard.
Gray keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Taih tries to roll over but Gray keeps him under control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Taih looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gray sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Taih defending well though.
Gray is keen to just control but Taih is a slippery customer.
Gray thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Taih's head.
Gray sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gray seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Taih does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gray lands strikes from half guard.
Gray sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Taih defending well though.
Gray is pressing down on Taih's thigh, looking to free his foot. Taih is holding on for now.
Gray 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.
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.
Taih avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gray.
Gray thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gray controlling the action here.
Taih misses with some strikes from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Gray seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gray with the inside leg kick.
Gray swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Taih defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gray.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Gray.
Gray lands a head kick!
Gray buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gray throws a head kick but Taih moves out of range.
Gray takes the fight into the clinch.
Gray pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taih avoids the head kick by Gray.
As Gray backs off Taih throws a huge counter combo but Gray manages to avoid it all.
Taih swats away the attempt to clinch by Gray.
Gray moves into the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gray dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Gray breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taih blocks a head kick by Gray.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Taih crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Gray - the referee stops the clock and Taih gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Gray. Taih manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Taih goes for a double leg but Gray avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gray continues to drive forward.
Gray lands a nice looking body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A solid body kick from Gray.
Gray moves into range and clinches up with Taih.
Gray holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Gray manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
William Gray dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Gray lands a head kick!
Gray lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Gray throws a head kick that misses.
Gray forces Taih back against the cage and clinches.
Taih works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Gray scrambles and gets back to his feet.
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!
Gray rushes Taih and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gray breaks from the clinch.
Gray lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The fight stays on the outside here - Taih looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray throws a head kick that misses.
Taih is breathing heavily.
Gray misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gray misses with a double jab.
Taih unleashes a big counter combination but Gray bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Gray changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Taih tries to avoid it but Gray manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Taih to the ground. Taih escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
William Gray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gray fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Taih avoids it really well and circles away.
Gray throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gray pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Taih lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Gray looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Taih wants to counter with a clinch but Gray pushes him away.
Taih shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gray as he jumps to the side.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Gray has closed the distance and engaged Taih in a clinch.
Gray lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Taih.
Gray breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taih keeps the fight on the outside.
Gray moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromTaih.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gray. Taih does a little dance to reset his feet.
Both fighters circling a little - Gray finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Gray is trying hard to land a takedown here. Taih sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for William Gray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gray goes for a double leg but Taih avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Taih continues to drive forward.
Gray is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taih can do to turn this around?
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray throws a sloppy head kick
and Taih counters with a one-two to the body.
Gray swings for the body but Taih moves out of range.
Gray fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Taih looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
William Gray is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gray lands with a kick to the temple. Taih shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Gray fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gray looks for a takedown but Taih sprawls well.
No luck for Gray with that takedown attempt.
Taih let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Taih changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gray tries to avoid it but Taih manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gray to the ground. Gray escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gray moves into the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gray lands an elbow inside.
Gray on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Taih has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Gray seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Taih can turn it around.
Gray breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gray scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Taih doesn't seem bothered though.
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!
Gray manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Taih on his heels. He'll look to pass Taih's guard now, I'm sure.
Taih has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Gray has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Gray breaks the clinch.
Taih tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gray defends well and Taih ends up having to push Gray into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gray throws a nice head kick!
Gray tries to land a front kick but Taih steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Taih is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Nice sprawl there from Gray as Taih shoots in.
Gray lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Taih at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
William Gray dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!
Gray tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gray is looking to wear down Taih with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gray scores with a head kick. Taih tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Gray lands a jab to the nose.
Gray connects with a high kick.
Taih throws a right hand that Gray ducks under and follows up with a left that Gray also avoids with ease.
Gray lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Taih stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taih wants it to stay on the feet.
Taih throws a counter combo.
Gray stalks Taih and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Taih's face. Taih staggers backwards, shaken.
Gray tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taih lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gray backs up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taih lands a jab-cross combination.
Gray lands a head kick. Taih smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray tries a head kick but it misses.
Gray throws a head kick that misses
and Taih moves into the clinch.
Gray is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Taih is keeping busy.
Taih fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Gray lands a knee to the body.
Gray unloads a knee to the mid-section. Taih lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gray landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Taih scores a nice knee to the body.
Gray escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gray looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray tries to score a power double leg takedown but Taih sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gray somewhat.
Gray is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gray cracks Taih with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Gray pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Taih scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Taih clinches up with Gray and pushes him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gray escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray misses with a head kick.
Taih shoots in but Gray avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gray appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Gray forces Taih back against the cage and clinches.
Gray pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gray.
Gray throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Gray moves away from the strike by Taih.
Taih takes a kick to the side of the head.
Taih scores with a head kick. Gray tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taih walks forward, straight into a front kick from Gray.
Taih stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Taih wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for William Gray. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gray throws a head kick that misses
and Taih counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Taih controlling the action here for a moment.
Taih breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gray throws a head kick that Taih semi-blocks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Taih shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Taih showed some decent athleticism there.
Gray tries to get to full guard but Taih has control of the leg.
And that's the end of the fight!
William Gray showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gray has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:26
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William Gray!
As William Gray got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: Yeah that's right, I won. I told you all in the press conference. You predicted for Eden to win? Nah, I got other plans. '.
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| S |
C
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G |
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C
B |
G |
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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
55% |
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