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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Naoko Marui (ranked 1666 p4p, 1328 weight class) and Paulo Maldini (ranked 176 p4p, 142 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 167 cm
29
158
13 - 11 - 0 |
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181 cm
28
154
7 - 0 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin |
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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 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Naoko Marui!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paulo Maldini!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maldini uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Marui.
A slow jab from Marui misses its intended target.
It seemed like Maldini was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Marui swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Maldini to counter with a crisp jab.
Maldini misses with a few strikes there.
Marui misses with a jab, cross combination.
Maldini has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Marui throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Marui misses the jab.
Maldini displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Marui throws out the jab.
Marui swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marui will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marui bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Marui throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Maldini cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maldini throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
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!
Maldini avoids the body shot from Marui.
We've been told by Marui's head coaches at JAG Battle Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Marui throws a hook to the side of Maldini's head but Maldini sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Marui bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Marui throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maldini let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Marui throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Marui lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Marui throws a combination. Maldini tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A left lands for Maldini.
Naoko Marui seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marui tries to bum rush Maldini with a series of wild strikes but Maldini uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maldini avoids the body shot from Marui.
Marui throws a left and a right that both miss
and Marui takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Left hook, right uppercut from Marui.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marui will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Marui uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Maldini has time to react.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marui misses with a jab to the body
and Maldini counters with a straight right hand.
Maldini misses with a looping left.
Marui throws the left hand but Maldini avoids the punch easily.
Maldini throws out a counter right but Marui avoids it with no problem.
The fighters circling - Maldini throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Marui throws a hook to the side of Maldini's head but Maldini sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maldini looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Maldini moves out of range as Marui strikes.
Marui throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Marui fails to land with a series of punches.
A little jabbing left from Maldini on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Marui scores with a jab. Maldini acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A telegraphed right hand from Maldini misses the target.
A slow jab from Marui misses its intended target.
A big left from Maldini misses.
Marui went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Marui misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maldini.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldini misses with a looping right.
Marui throws a left and a right that both miss
and Marui takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Marui misses with a body shot.
Maldini misses with an uppercut.
Marui darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Marui uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Maldini.
Marui uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maldini.
Marui swinging wildly here.
Marui throws a body punch but Maldini moves out of range.
Marui misses with a combination
and Maldini counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Marui misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Maldini throws the left hand but Marui avoids the punch easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marui throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Marui is looking to clinch.
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!
Maldini rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Marui counter with a right hand.
Maldini tests Marui's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Maldini misses with a wild body shot.
Marui misses with a wild combination.
Marui has managed to clinch.
Marui misses with a punch on the inside.
Marui throws a punch but it's blocked by Maldini.
Nice body punch from Marui.
Maldini is looking to break free of the clinch but Marui has double underhooks.
Marui struggles to land a body shot inside as Maldini controls his hands.
Marui prevents Maldini from breaking the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Naoko Marui dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Marui throws a body punch but Maldini moves out of range.
Maldini swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Marui ducks under a wild hook from Maldini.
Marui loads up on a big right hand but Maldini slips the punch.
Marui misses with a combination
and Maldini connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Maldini with a hook.
Maldini throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Maldini clobbers Marui with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Maldini throws a looping overhand right but Marui ducks down to avoid it.
Marui tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maldini was well out of range. Poor timing from Marui.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maldini looks to land a combination but Marui avoids it well.
Maldini throws a body shot but no joy.
It looked like Marui was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Naoko Marui is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marui misses with a wild combination.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldini throws a shot from downtown. Marui moves away and avoids it.
Maldini slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Maldini jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Marui misses with an uppercut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marui looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Marui throws a predictable looking body shot
and Maldini connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Marui cracks a nice hook into Maldini's ribs.
Marui takes a swing at Maldini's ribcage but misses.
It seemed like Maldini was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Marui moves away from the strike by Maldini.
Marui swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Maldini keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maldini might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Maldini ducks under a wild hook from Marui.
Maldini looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Maldini misses the shot to the body.
Marui is looking for a counter combo.
Marui works Maldini's body with a nice hook.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marui lands a head shot.
A right-left combo lands from Marui.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marui rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Maldini counter with a right hand.
Marui scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Maldini doesn't seem bothered though.
Maldini keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Marui.
Marui throws a hook to the side of Maldini's head but Maldini sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maldini looks to land a left hand but Marui moved out of range nicely.
Maldini throws an overhand right that lands on Marui's shoulder, as Marui tries to avoid the shot.
Maldini slips a jab and a cross from Marui.
Marui slips a straight right by Maldini.
Maldini cracks Marui with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Maldini bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Marui's head.
A telegraphed right hand from Marui misses the target.
Naoko Marui is winning the standup battle so far.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marui throws a body punch but Maldini moves out of range.
Marui swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Maldini counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Marui misses with a body shot
and Marui takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Maldini misses with a wild combination.
Maldini has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Marui finds it's way round the side to connect with Maldini's head.
Maldini dodges the punch combination from Marui.
Marui scores with a three punch combo!
Marui will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marui misses with the combination.
A little jabbing left from Maldini on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Maldini thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maldini takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marui is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Maldini.
Marui misses with a right hand
and Maldini connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Marui throws a hook to the side of Maldini's head but Maldini sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Marui ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Maldini misses with a wild body shot.
Marui cracks a nice hook into Maldini's ribs.
Maldini slips under a jab.
Maldini misses with a looping left.
Marui appears to be looking for a big counter.
Marui tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maldini was well out of range. Poor timing from Marui.
Marui throws a right hand that misses
and Maldini counters with a series of strikes. Marui will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Naoko Marui will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
Marui tests Maldini's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Maldini swings for the body but Marui moves out of range.
Maldini keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Marui fails to land with a series of punches.
Marui misses with a body shot
and Maldini counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Marui misses with an uppercut
and Maldini counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Marui looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Marui fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Marui throws a series of punches but Maldini moves out of range.
Marui thuds a left hand into Maldini's body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maldini throws a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maldini. Marui does a little dance to reset his feet.
Marui swings for the body but Maldini moves out of range.
Maldini appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Marui falls off balance throwing a combination
and Maldini counters with a series of strikes. Marui will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Marui throws a right and a left that Maldini avoids nicely.
Marui works the jab nicely.
Marui falls off balance throwing a combination
and Maldini counters with a right hand to the body.
Marui takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Marui swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Maldini counters with a stiff right hand.
Maldini is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Maldini!
Marui tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maldini was well out of range. Poor timing from Marui.
Marui fails to land with a series of punches.
Marui uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maldini.
Marui misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maldini.
No joy there for Maldini, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Marui throws a combination that misses
and Maldini connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maldini uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Marui has time to react.
Marui lands with a nice combination. Maldini backs away looking to recover.
Marui throws a combination that misses
and Maldini counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marui rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Maldini counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Maldini connects with a single shot there.
Maldini slips a straight right by Marui.
Maldini throws a shot from downtown. Marui moves away and avoids it.
Marui tries to counter by clinching up but Maldini breaks away and moves out of range.
Marui throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Maldini to counter with a crisp jab.
Maldini stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Maldini scores with a hook.
Marui misses the shot to the body.
Maldini ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Marui tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldini tries to bum rush Marui with a series of wild strikes but Marui uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maldini avoids the body shot from Marui.
Marui swings for the body but Maldini moves out of range.
Maldini looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Marui throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Maldini cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Marui throws a body punch but Maldini moves out of range.
Maldini lands a right hook to the body.
Marui moves to clinch but Maldini breaks away
and Maldini counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Maldini has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A telegraphed right hand from Maldini misses the target.
Marui missing with a left hand there. Maldini was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Marui throws a combination that misses
letting Maldini counter with a right hand.
Marui throws a right hand that Maldini ducks under and follows up with a left that Maldini also avoids with ease.
Marui throws a left and a right that both miss
and Marui takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldini uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Marui.
Maldini is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Marui.
Maldini throws a lazy right hand but Marui sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A left and a right from Maldini both land. Nice combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marui misses with a jab to the body
and Marui takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Marui rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maldini moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Paulo Maldini has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maldini fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Marui rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Maldini counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Marui with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Maldini with a hook.
Marui avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marui misses with a wild combination.
And that's the end of the fight!
Paulo Maldini comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Marui has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulo Maldini!
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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
70% |
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