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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Heung Min Choi (ranked 1332 p4p, 617 weight class) and Kirill Berkut (ranked 117 p4p, 48 weight class). Choi's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Black Eyed Bruiser. The key to victory for Heung Min Choi has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.
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| 175 cm
24
148
13 - 5 - 0 |
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160 cm
24
156
10 - 3 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank |
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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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Heung Min Choi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kirill Berkut!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and Robert Douchet.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Choi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Choi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It seemed like Berkut was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Berkut shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Choi's guard.
Berkut preventing the sweep.
Berkut is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Berkut wants to control from the top but Choi keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Choi is looking to stand up but Berkut isn't so interested in that idea.
Berkut postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Choi working a defensive guard but Berkut passes into half guard.
Berkut stops Choi from getting back to his feet.
Choi trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Choi is trying to control but can't.
Berkut throws a strike but Choi avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Choi is wriggling around but Berkut manages to pass to half guard.
Berkut working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Berkut is trying to control the action in half guard but Choi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Choi trying to hold on to Berkut's head to control him but Berkut postures up.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Choi is trying to stand up here but Berkut is controlling him well.
Berkut lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Berkut thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Berkut working over Choi with some ground and pound. Choi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Berkut looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Choi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Berkut working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Choi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Berkut.
Berkut throwing shots but Choi is blocking nicely.
Berkut is controlling the pace.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Choi wants to get back to full guard.
Berkut prevents Choi from standing back up.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Berkut keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Berkut fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Choi throws a left and a right that both miss
and Berkut counters with a nice uppercut.
Berkut shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Choi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've been told by Choi's head coaches at Far-Q Fight Club that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Berkut tries to clinch there but Choi circles away.
Berkut darts in and clinches Choi up against the cage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Choi breaks from the clinch.
Berkut walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Choi misses with a double jab
and Berkut cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
It looks like Heung Min Choi has been cut.
Berkut shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Berkut showed some decent athleticism there.
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!
Berkut not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Berkut seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Choi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Berkut prevents Choi from standing back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Choi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Berkut not doing much here.
Berkut wants to lay and pray for a moment but Choi keeps working.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Kirill Berkut dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Heung Min Choi's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Choi digs a good hook to Berkut's body.
Choi misses the jab.
Berkut fails with the takedown.
Choi throws a hook but Berkut avoids it easily.
Berkut misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Choi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Berkut tries to clinch up
and Choi counters with a flying knee. Nice.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Choi misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Berkut counters with a nice uppercut.
Choi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Berkut manages to avoid it.
Choi misses with a double jab.
Choi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Choi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Choi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Heung Min Choi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Berkut misses with an uppercut.
Berkut dodges the punch combination from Choi.
Choi lands a nice shot that snaps Berkut's head back.
Berkut ducks under a wild hook from Choi.
Choi tries to sprawl but Berkut drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Choi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Berkut scores with a couple of nice shots.
Berkut stalling away here and it's allowed Choi to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Berkut postures up.
Berkut postures up in Choi's guard and throws a big left but Choi blocks it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berkut keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Choi's head.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Berkut working his ground and pound in the gym.
Choi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Berkut in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Berkut landing some decent shots from guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Berkut postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Choi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Berkut is one step ahead there.
Choi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Berkut.
Berkut slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berkut stopping the sweep attempt from Choi.
Berkut sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No joy there for Choi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A big left from Berkut misses.
Berkut shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Choi defends it nicely.
Heung Min Choi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kirill Berkut.
Choi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Berkut let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Heung Min Choi is winning the standup battle so far.
Berkut takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Berkut swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Heung Min Choi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Choi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Choi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berkut shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Choi defends it nicely.
Berkut cracks Choi with a right hand to the side of the head.
Choi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Berkut.
Choi misses the shot to the body.
Berkut ducks under a wild hook from Choi.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Choi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Choi takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Berkut shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Choi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Choi 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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Heung Min Choi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Heung Min Choi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Choi's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Choi duly obliges.
Choi connects with a single shot there.
Nice sprawl there from Choi as Berkut shoots in.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Berkut.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Berkut is defended easily by Choi.
Heung Min Choi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kirill Berkut.
Berkut takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Choi as Berkut shoots in.
Choi lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Berkut is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Choi's half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Choi pushes Berkut off but Berkut dives into side control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Choi throws Berkut to one side and escapes!
Berkut misses with an uppercut.
Choi scores with a jab.
Berkut drops his hands momentarily and Choi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Berkut gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Choi is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Choi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Berkut can do to turn this around?
Berkut tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Choi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Berkut throws the left hand but Choi avoids the punch easily.
Berkut throws the left hand but Choi avoids the punch easily.
Berkut uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Choi.
Berkut with the counter takedown but Choi avoids it easily.
Choi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Berkut.
Choi throws a jab but it's blocked by Berkut.
Choi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Berkut drives through with a takedown into guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Choi looking for a sweep. Not yet Choi, not yet.
Berkut wants to control from the top but Choi keeps moving.
Choi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Berkut wants to control from the top but Choi keeps moving.
Berkut stopping the sweep attempt from Choi.
Berkut missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Choi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Berkut lands a couple of elbows.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berkut wants to control from the top but Choi keeps moving.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Choi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Berkut walks into a left hand.
Choi throws a hook but Berkut blocks it.
Choi misses with a body shot.
Berkut walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Choi slaps away a takedown attempt from Berkut, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Choi lands a jab.
Choi scores with a decent looking hook.
Choi swings away with a body shot that misses
and Berkut counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Choi trying to control the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berkut makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Choi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Choi keeping moving, preventing Berkut from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Berkut passes Choi's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Choi trying to control here.
And that's the end of the fight!
Heung Min Choi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Choi 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Heung Min Choi!
Our winner, Heung Min Choi, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
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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
46% |
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