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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vaai Finau (ranked 1781 p4p, 1631 weight class) and Aleksandar Volkanovski (ranked 237 p4p, 218 weight class). Volkanovski has chosen 2pac - Hail Mary 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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| 196 cm
32
220
11 - 8 - 0 |
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193 cm
29
217
9 - 11 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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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 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Vaai Finau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aleksandar Volkanovski!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Donatello Bradman and Skip Squint.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volkanovski throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Finau counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A jab from Finau finds it's way through Volkanovski's defenses.
Volkanovski slips under a jab from Finau.
Nice body kick there by Finau.
Volkanovski misses with a low kick.
Finau catches Volkanovski with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Finau looks to land a left hand but Volkanovski moved out of range nicely.
Finau uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Volkanovski.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Volkanovski takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Volkanovski closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Volkanovski dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Aleksandar Volkanovski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Finau looks to throw the jab but Volkanovski is out of range.
Finau looks to land a left hand but Volkanovski moved out of range nicely.
Volkanovski with a poor takedown
and Finau counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Finau slips under a jab.
A leg kick checked by Volkanovski.
Volkanovski looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Finau tries to get to full guard but Volkanovski has control of the leg.
Volkanovski wants to pass the guard but Finau is defending well.
Volkanovski looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Finau is trying to stand up here but Volkanovski is controlling him well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volkanovski is thwarting Finau's attempts to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Volkanovski trying to control the action but Finau is working from the bottom.
Well, if Volkanovski is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Finau is controlling Volkanovski's trapped leg to prevent Volkanovski from advancing to side control.
Finau pushes Volkanovski off looking to stand but Volkanovski dives back in and keeps control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finau gets back to full guard.
Finau wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Finau looking to hit a scissor sweep but Volkanovski is one step ahead there.
Finau pulls Volkanovski in close to prevent any damage.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Volkanovski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Finau swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Finau scores with a nice body kick.
Vaai Finau is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Finau takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Finau lands a really nice looking cross but Volkanovski seems unphased.
Finau throws a series of punches but Volkanovski avoids them all with ease.
Volkanovski shoots in and drives through. Finau sprawls well.
Volkanovski misses with the combination.
Nice defenses there by Volkanovski.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Volkanovski keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Finau.
As Finau backs off Volkanovski throws a huge counter combo but Finau manages to avoid it all.
Finau avoids a punch combination nicely.
Finau is looking to counter punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Vaai Finau dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Volkanovski uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Finau.
Finau swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Finau blocks a head kick by Volkanovski.
It looked like Finau wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Volkanovski's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Volkanovski duly obliges.
It looks like Vaai Finau has been cut.
Volkanovski falls off balance throwing a combination
and Finau connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Volkanovski shoots in and bounces Finau off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Volkanovski stands and steps away. Finau gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Finau throws a front kick aimed at Volkanovski's knee but Volkanovski avoids it well.
Volkanovski connects with a right hand. Finau shakes it off.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Volkanovski drops Finau with a beautiful combination! Finau stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Volkanovski is looking for the KO!
Finau is rocked!
Finau misses with a straight right.
Oh Finau is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A combination from Volkanovski does no damage.
Finau throws a big counter combination but Volkanovski scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Volkanovski lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Finau jabs Volkanovski to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Finau misses with a hook.
Volkanovski closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Finau to the mat! Finau manages to get full guard.
Aleksandar Volkanovski has got the better of the ground game so far.
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!
Finau working a defensive guard here.
Volkanovski wants to control from the top but Finau keeps moving.
Volkanovski stands and steps away. Finau gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Volkanovski lands a huge takedown. Finau is out but the ref is slow to react and Volkanovski lands 3 more undefended punches before the fight is stopped. Brutal finish. Finau lies on the canvas for a good minute before the doctors bring him round. Good to see he's OK.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aleksandar Volkanovski!
An out of breath Aleksandar Volkanovski 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
45% |
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