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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tua Hohepa (ranked 2536 p4p, 2616 weight class) and Puna Soriano (ranked 268 p4p, 279 weight class). Soriano has chosen Highwayman- The Highwaymen as his entrance music. Puna Soriano is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.
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| 178 cm
22
190
3 - 0 - 0 |
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185 cm
22
190
2 - 4 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Excellent 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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tua Hohepa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Puna Soriano!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Dmitry Maklakov and Ivan Kurochkin.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soriano tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hohepa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Soriano cracks Hohepa with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Soriano slips under a jab.
Hohepa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hohepa definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Hohepa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Soriano.
Hohepa keeping moving, preventing Soriano from controlling successfully.
Hohepa is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soriano pushes down on Hohepa's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Soriano thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Soriano looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Soriano has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hohepa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Soriano.
Soriano working over Hohepa with some ground and pound. Hohepa looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Soriano performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hohepa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Soriano looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Soriano seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hohepa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hohepa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hohepa is trying to stand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soriano is trying to control. Hohepa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Soriano missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Soriano trying to control the pace.
Soriano is trying to control the action in half guard but Hohepa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hohepa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Soriano.
Soriano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hohepa keeps working.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Soriano comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Soriano digs a good hook to Hohepa's body.
Soriano on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hohepa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Soriano moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hohepa lands a jab to the head.
Hohepa throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Soriano cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hohepa tries to sprawl but Soriano drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Hohepa slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Soriano looking to sit in guard and control but Hohepa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hohepa stopping the sweep attempt from Soriano.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soriano keeps trying to improve his position.
Soriano is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Soriano has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hohepa has passed into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Soriano tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hohepa wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Soriano manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hohepa's best efforts.
Hohepa prevents Soriano from improving his position.
Soriano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hohepa is working away from the top position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Puna Soriano dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Soriano sizes up Hohepa with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Soriano has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Soriano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hohepa tries to land a front kick but Soriano steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Soriano misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hohepa with a body punch. A glancing blow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hohepa misses with a right hand
and Soriano counters with a nice uppercut.
Hohepa misses with the combination.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hohepa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Soriano tries to clinch but Hohepa moves away
and Hohepa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Soriano misses with a body kick.
Hohepa slips a jab and a cross from Soriano.
Soriano throws a right hand that Hohepa ducks under and follows up with a left that Hohepa also avoids with ease.
Hohepa swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Hohepa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Soriano.
Tua Hohepa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Soriano moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Soriano takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Soriano falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hohepa counters with a straight right hand.
Hohepa throws a jab when Soriano was well out of range.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soriano fails with the takedown.
Soriano lands a nice looking body kick.
Soriano slips a straight right by Hohepa.
Soriano has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soriano tries to clinch but Hohepa is having none of it.
Tua Hohepa is winning the standup battle so far.
Hohepa will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Soriano swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hohepa gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Soriano catches Hohepa with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hohepa throws a leg kick which misses Soriano's front leg but catches the back leg as Soriano tries to avoid it.
Soriano drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Soriano trying to control the position from guard on top but Hohepa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hohepa has momentary wrist control but Soriano slips an elbow through the middle.
Soriano controlling from the top position.
Soriano is looking to work some ground and pound but Hohepa has wrist control.
Hohepa looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Soriano tries to free his leg and advance position but Hohepa is retaining full guard.
Soriano throws a big elbow that misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hohepa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hohepa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Soriano.
Soriano works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Soriano stalling.
Soriano wants to free his trapped foot but Hohepa is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Puna Soriano has got the better of the ground game so far.
Soriano thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Soriano sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hohepa defending well though.
Soriano wants to control but Hohepa is keeping him busy.
Soriano passes to side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Puna Soriano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!
Hohepa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Soriano moves away.
Hohepa slips under a jab.
Hohepa is looking to counter punch.
A left lands for Soriano.
Hohepa walks into a jab.
Hohepa throws a lazy right hand but Soriano sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hohepa throws a body punch but Soriano moves out of range.
Hohepa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Soriano moves away.
A jab lands there for Hohepa.
It looks like Puna Soriano has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hohepa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Soriano.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Soriano! But no joy.
Soriano scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Soriano misses with a wild combination.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Soriano closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Soriano lands in his opponent's guard.
Soriano wants to pass the guard but Hohepa is keeping the position.
Soriano throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Soriano wants to control from the top but Hohepa keeps moving.
Soriano lands a couple of elbows.
Tua Hohepa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Soriano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hohepa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Soriano wants to control from the top but Hohepa keeps moving.
Soriano passes Hohepa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Soriano connects with a nice short shot to Hohepa's temple.
Soriano not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Soriano wants to pass the guard but Hohepa is defending well.
Hohepa is trying to control but can't.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hohepa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Soriano.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soriano is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hohepa is refusing to be controlled, as Soriano sits in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Soriano lands a nice short elbow.
Puna Soriano is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Soriano content to control rather than advance.
Soriano is continuing to stall.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hohepa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Soriano feints and as Hohepa raises his hands in defense, Soriano changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Soriano is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Soriano trying to control but Hohepa is working from the bottom.
Soriano is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Soriano tries to free his leg and advance position but Hohepa is retaining full guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Puna Soriano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Soriano has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Puna Soriano!
After winning the bout, Puna Soriano thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
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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
36% |
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