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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Akira Kaburagi (ranked 1923 p4p, 2493 weight class) and Nick Mullen (ranked 253 p4p, 322 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.
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| 172 cm
21
165
5 - 2 - 0 |
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184 cm
22
165
5 - 5 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong |
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Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Akira Kaburagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Mullen!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Sergei Dronov.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mullen shoots in but Kaburagi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mullen rushes Kaburagi and presses him up against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mullen.
Kaburagi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mullen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mullen blocking some punches.
Kaburagi trying to land knees to the body.
Mullen misses with some punches.
Kaburagi prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kaburagi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mullen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kaburagi backwards.
Kaburagi scores with a hook to the body.
Kaburagi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mullen's elbow.
Mullen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Akira Kaburagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Mullen.
Mullen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Mullen.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaburagi is pressed up against the cage. Mullen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kaburagi down to the mat. Kaburagi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mullen pushes Kaburagi up against the cage in a clinch.
Kaburagi landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kaburagi is stalling here.
Kaburagi looking for a takedown.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kaburagi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kaburagi tries to land knees in the clinch but Mullen avoids the damage to the body.
Kaburagi is pressed up against the cage. Mullen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kaburagi down to the mat. Kaburagi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kaburagi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kaburagi wants it to stay on the feet.
As Mullen tries to get set, Kaburagi tries to push him back and clinch up but Mullen manages to avoid the attempt.
Kaburagi looks to throw the jab but Mullen is out of range.
Kaburagi closes the distance and clinches.
Kaburagi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mullen tries to throw a body punch but Kaburagi avoids it by throwing Mullen back against the cage.
Kaburagi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaburagi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mullen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mullen pulls guard.
Our spies down at at Rollins Fitness inform us that Mullen has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Kaburagi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kaburagi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Mullen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mullen looking for a sweep. Not yet Mullen, not yet.
Mullen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mullen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kaburagi is aware though and is defending well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mullen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kaburagi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kaburagi scoring with some ground and pound.
Kaburagi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaburagi trying to control the position from guard on top but Mullen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaburagi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mullen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kaburagi is one step ahead there.
Kaburagi trying to control the position from guard on top but Mullen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaburagi 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.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kaburagi with a nice head shot there.
Mullen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kaburagi is not content to let Mullen control the position.
Kaburagi flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mullen trying to pass the guard but Kaburagi defending well.
Kaburagi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kaburagi wants to control but Mullen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kaburagi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kaburagi tries to roll over but Mullen keeps him under control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mullen is figuring out what he wants to do next.
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 Akira Kaburagi will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mullen.
Mullen shoots in but no luck this time.
Kaburagi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kaburagi can't get the takedown.
Kaburagi turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Kaburagi manages to end up in side control.
Mullen is trying to get back to half guard.
Akira Kaburagi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've been hearing that Kaburagi has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Kaburagi scores with a couple of short elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mullen wants to control but Kaburagi postures up.
Kaburagi connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Mullen some visible discomfort.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaburagi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mullen keeps working.
Mullen is letting Kaburagi control him for a moment.
Mullen wants to control but Kaburagi postures up.
Kaburagi scores with punches from side control.
Kaburagi tries to move into full mount but can't pass Mullen's legs.
Kaburagi connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Mullen some visible discomfort.
Kaburagi controls the position from side control.
Kaburagi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Mullen is trying to get back to half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaburagi has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Mullen!
Mullen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mullen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kaburagi landing shots from mount.
Kaburagi landing strikes from the mount.
Kaburagi looking to control but Mullen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kaburagi working for a guillotine from mount but Mullen is in no mood to give up.
Kaburagi landing punches.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mullen tries to lock up and control but Kaburagi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kaburagi scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Mullen?
Kaburagi landing shots from mount.
Mullen taking shots to the head.
Mullen is desperately trying to improve his position but Kaburagi has a good base and remains in mount.
Kaburagi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mullen can do to turn this around?
Kaburagi scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kaburagi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Mullen working to try and regain half guard.
Kaburagi looking to finish Mullen with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mullen!
Mullen working to try and regain half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaburagi lands a nice shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mullen is working to get back to half guard.
Kaburagi landing punches.
Kaburagi raining down hammerfists from mount.
Kaburagi wants to control the pace but Mullen is squirming around nicely.
Kaburagi raining down hammerfists from mount.
Mullen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kaburagi wants to control but instead Mullen manages to regain half guard.
Mullen moves into full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Akira Kaburagi dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, 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.
Kaburagi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kaburagi lands an elbow.
Kaburagi creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Mullen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Kaburagi landing a few strikes.
Kaburagi working the head and body with strikes.
Mullen is rocked!
Kaburagi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mullen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Mullen is still in real trouble! Can Kaburagi finish him?
Kaburagi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mullen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Mullen seems to have recovered his senses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mullen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kaburagi off and has taken his back!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Mullen punches the canvas rather than the man.
Kaburagi can't escape the position.
Kaburagi tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Kaburagi is trying to escape the mount.
Mullen avoids the attempt from Kaburagi to control.
Mullen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kaburagi throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Mullen lands a couple of good shots and Kaburagi has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Mullen tries to get the hooks in deep but Kaburagi pushed the leg off.
Kaburagi is covering up but some of the strikes from Mullen are getting through and doing damage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mullen is hanging on to Kaburagi's back as he tries to escape.
Mullen working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Kaburagi tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Kaburagi sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Mullen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kaburagi is not content to let Mullen control the position.
Kaburagi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kaburagi is looking to improve his position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mullen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Nick Mullen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mullen lands a nice short elbow.
Kaburagi wants to get back to full guard.
Kaburagi manages to get to full guard.
Mullen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kaburagi keeping moving, preventing Mullen from controlling successfully.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kaburagi can't keep his opponent in guard - Mullen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mullen is looking for a kimura here.
Kaburagi tries to get to full guard but Mullen has control of the leg.
Akira Kaburagi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kaburagi works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Akira Kaburagi.
Well Kaburagi 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Kaburagi!
Akira Kaburagi was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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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
43% |
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