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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fiore Azul (ranked 1453 p4p, 2068 weight class) and Zalt Gaanja (ranked 216 p4p, 288 weight class). Gaanja has chosen Nathan Evans - Wellerman 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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| 182 cm
24
199
7 - 2 - 0 |
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195 cm
25
190
4 - 1 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Fiore Azul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zalt Gaanja!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Richard Clark and James Ackerman.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot lands for Gaanja.
Azul misses the shot to the body.
Azul shoots in and bounces Gaanja off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Azul trying to control but Gaanja is working from the bottom.
Gaanja seems keen to control Azul's posture.
Azul definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Azul postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azul wants to control from the top but Gaanja keeps moving.
Gaanja 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.
Gaanja throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Azul trying to control the position from guard on top but Gaanja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gaanja holds on and takes a little breather.
Gaanja trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Azul postures up and lands a big shot to Gaanja's brow.
Azul chips away with some ground and pound.
Azul postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Azul cracks Gaanja with a solid left hand.
Azul postures up and lands a big shot to Gaanja's brow.
Azul throws a strike but Gaanja rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gaanja won't allow Azul to sweep him here.
Azul 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.
Gaanja is fighting to break Azul's control of his arms but Azul is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Gaanja loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gaanja throws a big right hand that misses.
Gaanja trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gaanja is fighting to break Azul's control of his arms but Azul is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Gaanja with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gaanja throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Azul works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Azul might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Azul avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gaanja must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gaanja postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gaanja throwing strikes from guard but Azul blocks nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaanja throwing strikes but missing.
Gaanja lands a couple of elbows.
Azul is trying to control the position but Gaanja postures up.
Gaanja postures up and lands a big shot to Azul's brow.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gaanja accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Azul wants to sweep but no luck.
Azul is working hard here to advance position.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Azul dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gaanja 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.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaanja on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Azul throws a leg kick
letting Gaanja counter with a right hand.
Azul misses with a left hand
and Gaanja counters with a stiff right hand.
Azul lands a slapping body shot.
Azul throws an off balance right hand
and Gaanja connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Azul ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gaanja moves away.
Gaanja throws out a counter right but Azul avoids it with no problem.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gaanja checks a low kick from Azul.
It seemed like Gaanja was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Gaanja checks the leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Fiore Azul will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!
Gaanja lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
It looks like Fiore Azul has been cut.
Azul misses with a combination
and Gaanja counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Azul throws a hook to the side of Gaanja's head but Gaanja sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Azul throws a sloppy head kick
and Azul takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Azul closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azul lands a hook that snaps the head of Gaanja backwards.
Gaanja softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gaanja lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Azul has a couple of punches blocked by Gaanja.
Gaanja blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gaanja manages to break the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Azul misses the shot to the body.
Azul misses with a left hand
and Gaanja counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Azul misses with a left hand
and Gaanja counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gaanja lands a big right hand that sends Azul crashing to the mat! Gaanja stays standing though and waves Azul back to his feet!
Azul is rocked!
Gaanja uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Azul.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azul rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gaanja cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gaanja with a jab.
Oh Azul is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Azul ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gaanja moves away.
Gaanja looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Azul seems to have got his legs back now.
Gaanja has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Azul - just one landing.
Azul pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gaanja appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Azul thumps Gaanja with a low kick.
Azul rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gaanja counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Azul jabs Gaanja right on the nose. Gaanja blinks but takes it well.
Zalt Gaanja seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Azul throws a low kick, looking for Gaanja's leg but Gaanja calmly moves out of range.
Azul misses with a leg kick
and Gaanja counters with a crisp right hand that drops Azul! Gaanja lets Azul back up to his feet, looking for a finish!
Gaanja has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Azul shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gaanja counters with a big right hand! Oh Azul is in trouble here! Gaanja follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zalt Gaanja!
Zalt Gaanja decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
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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
51% |
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