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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Liam James (ranked 2378 p4p, 2602 weight class) and Fanta Coco (ranked 303 p4p, 329 weight class). James comes into the arena with Come To Daddy by Aphex Twin blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 190 cm
33
215
18 - 18 - 1 |
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195 cm
43
217
29 - 31 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Liam James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 31 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fanta Coco!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Coco.
James throws a nice looking combination but Coco bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Coco tries to counter with a clinch but James shakes him off and moves away.
James staying out of range there.
James drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
James throws a body shot but no joy.
James throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Coco's head.
James 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.
Coco misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
James just misses with a punch to the body.
Coco is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Coco's coach down at St Petersburg MMA Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Coco's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
James throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Coco on the side of the head.
It looks like Fanta Coco has been cut.
Coco scoring well with a low kick there.
James just misses with a punch to the body.
Coco dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on James. That did some damage!
Left hook, right uppercut from James.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Coco looks to land a right hand but James moved out of range.
Coco throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Liam James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Coco throws a body shot but no joy.
Coco misses with a double jab.
Coco misses with a hook.
Coco tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
It looked like James wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
James scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Coco throws a leg kick
and James cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
James uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Coco has time to react.
Coco looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Coco misses with a low kick as James jumps back.
Coco checks a leg kick.
James misses with a wild body shot.
Coco misses with the body kick
and James connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
James throws a right hand that Coco ducks under and follows up with a left that Coco also avoids with ease.
Coco tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and James is able to avoid easily.
James throws a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Coco tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
The fighters circling - Coco throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
James moves into the clinch.
Coco looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.
Coco misses with a punch to the body.
James taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
James lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Coco misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from James.
Coco is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A short uppercut from James.
Coco lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Coco breaks from the clinch.
James throws a head kick but Coco moves out of range.
James lands an overhand right.
A telegraphed right hand from James misses the target.
James misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
James throws a head kick but Coco moves out of range.
Coco walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. James checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
James appears to be looking for a big counter.
Nice defenses there by Coco.
Coco tries to work over James's front leg with a kick but James checks it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coco staying out of range there.
James moves out of range of the body kick from Coco.
James moves out of range as Coco strikes.
James's jab looks to have found its range, popping Coco under the eye.
Coco tries to clinch there but James circles away.
James throws a hook but Coco blocks it.
Coco does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Both fighters circling a little - James finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
James moves out of range as Coco throws a body kick.
James fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Coco tries to keep at a distance but James has taken the fight into the clinch.
James breaks the clinch.
James throws a wild body kick that Coco sees coming a mile off.
James scores with a three punch combo!
This has been an exciting period of action!
James takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Coco tries to bum rush James with a series of wild strikes but James uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
An attempted straight right counter from James misses the target.
Coco slips under a jab from James.
Coco throws a chopping leg kick but James manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
James tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Coco manages to circle out of the way.
Fanta Coco is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice straight punches there by James. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of James.
James connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Coco connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
James throws a head kick that misses.
Coco is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
James throws a body punch but Coco moves out of range.
Coco pivots, looking for a leg kick but James is out of range and Coco settles back down.
Coco looks to land a combination but James avoids it well.
James wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Coco clinches up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Coco tries to throw a body punch but James avoids it by throwing Coco back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Coco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Coco fails to land.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Liam James dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Fanta Coco's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
James ducks under a wild hook from Coco.
James swings and misses with a hook to the body.
James lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
James throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Coco misses with a jab, cross combination.
A slapping leg kick lands for James.
Coco uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from James.
James cracks Coco with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Coco has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Coco there as he acknowledges the shot.
Coco looking to land some kicks to the body here.
James has taken the fight to the clinch.
James looking to slow down the pace here.
James is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
James escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Coco is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
James takes a knee right on the jaw!
James looking to stall.
James on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Coco tries to throw a body punch but James avoids it by throwing Coco back against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from James.
James blocks a body shot from Coco.
Coco swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Liam James has scored more points in the clinch so far.
James misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Coco lands a right hand that snaps the head of James backwards.
James takes a knee to the side of the body.
Coco can't find room to land a body shot as James controls the action.
James has Coco pushed against the cage.
Coco stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coco is looking to control James's arms but James gets an underhook and turns him. Now Coco has his back to the cage.
James on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
James trying to land knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from James.
A right hook to the body lands for Coco.
Coco unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Coco.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Coco landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Coco lands with a light punch inside.
James blocks a body shot from Coco.
Coco misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from James.
Coco tries to throw a body punch but James avoids it by throwing Coco back against the cage.
Coco connects with a nasty looking knee right to James's face.
Coco taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Coco.
Coco tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
James is pushing Coco up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Coco on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
James prevents a body shot from Coco.
James throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Coco blocks it with crossed arms.
Coco is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. James is defending well for now.
Coco pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
James misses with a body shot.
Coco throws a nice outside leg kick.
Liam James is winning the standup battle so far.
Coco with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Coco tries to clinch
and James cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Coco buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
James cracks Coco with an open hand slap.
Coco 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.
Coco with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A jab from James does it's job there.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice jab there from James.
James uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Coco.
Coco goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
James throws a half hearted mid kick.
A swing and a miss from Coco.
James lands a really nice looking cross but Coco seems unphased.
Good work by James as he checks the leg kick.
Coco fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but James is out of range.
Coco throws a head kick that misses
and James counters with a left to the body.
Coco throws a leg kick
and James counters by clinching up.
Coco being controlled against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Coco's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from James.
James breaks from the clinch.
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 Liam James will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Fanta Coco's cut.
That's time! 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.
James throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Coco.
Coco fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James, pushing him back against the cage.
James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Coco fakes the leg kick and cracks James in the body.
A big left from Coco misses.
Coco pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A telegraphed right hand from Coco misses the target.
Coco cracks James with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Coco throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
James tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Coco was well out of range. Poor timing from James.
James punishes Coco's body with a nice straight punch.
James tries a low kick but Coco avoids it.
James swats away the attempt to clinch by Coco.
A solid leg kick lands there for Coco.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick from James, right into the meat of the thigh.
James misses with a low kick.
Coco misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Coco walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. James checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Coco.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Coco.
Coco throws a jab but it's blocked by James.
James gets a clinch.
Coco has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
James lands with a light punch inside.
James lands with a short punch from the clinch.
James on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
James is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Coco with a knee to the head.
Coco lands a knee to the body.
James tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Coco lands a good knee to the midsection. James won't want to take too many of those.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Coco landing some nice looking knees to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Coco trying to stall but James improves his position.
Coco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Coco missing with knees to the body.
Coco has a couple of punches blocked by James.
Coco goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Coco tries to land knees in the clinch but James avoids the damage to the body.
Coco tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, James creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Coco misses with some punches.
James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Coco is looking to score with low kicks.
Coco instigates a clinch.
A short body shot lands from James as the two fighters clinch.
Coco trying to land knees to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from James.
A nice right hand lands inside from James.
James dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Coco takes an elbow to the forehead.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
James lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Coco or not.
James working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
That has opened up Fanta Coco's cut even more.
James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
James fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
James cracks Coco with an open hand slap.
James dips to his left and cracks Coco with an uppercut!
James shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Coco eats them both and turns towards James to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
James moves into the clinch.
Coco blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
James prevents a body shot from Coco.
Coco trying to land knees to the body.
James digs a right hand underneath Coco's ribcage. Coco let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A bit of stalling here from James.
James blocks a punch to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from James finds it's way through Coco's defenses.
James connects with a leg kick.
James takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
James takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Coco cracks James with an open hand slap.
James throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Coco on the side of the head.
James lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
James fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
James thows a left - swing and a miss!
Coco misses with a double jab
and James counters with a straight right hand.
James gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James prevents a body shot from Coco.
Coco tries to work over James's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Fanta Coco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Liam James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
James lands a damaging elbow.
And that's the end of the fight!
Liam James showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for James, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Liam James!
An out of breath Liam James thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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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
76% |
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