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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fotos Hasapis (ranked 187 p4p, 199 weight class) and James Spencer (ranked 25 p4p, 29 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!
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| 185 cm
30
185
16 - 7 - 0 |
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190 cm
30
190
17 - 8 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed |
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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 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Fotos Hasapis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Spencer!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Edson Gomes.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hasapis shoots for a double leg takedown but Spencer sprawls well. He's pushed Hasapis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hasapis scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Spencer felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Hasapis looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Spencer is avoiding damage well.
Hasapis lands a few punches from side control.
Spencer taking a bit of punishment here - Hasapis scoring with strikes.
Hasapis has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Spencer!
Hasapis unloads with some shots from mount but Spencer bucks and avoids them well.
Hasapis wants to control the pace but Spencer is squirming around nicely.
Hasapis looking to ground and pound but Spencer is blocking nicely.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Spencer can't escape the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Spencer can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hasapis wants to control the pace but Spencer is squirming around nicely.
Spencer holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Hasapis tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Hasapis landing strikes from the mount.
Hasapis throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Spencer because Hasapis loaded up on that one.
Spencer really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hasapis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hasapis tries to control but Spencer wriggling away.
Hasapis content just to control the position here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hasapis misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Hasapis scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Spencer?
Hasapis thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Hasapis with a couple of short strikes.
Hasapis thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Hasapis looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hasapis controlling from mount.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hasapis throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Spencer is squirming around, avoiding Hasapis's attempts to control the action.
Hasapis lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hasapis throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Hasapis landing strikes from the mount.
Spencer takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Hasapis connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Hasapis punching from mount but Spencer doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Hasapis looking to secure an arm triangle but Spencer defends it well.
Hasapis 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.
Hasapis working away from the top, dropping strikes.
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!
Hasapis unloads with some shots from mount but Spencer bucks and avoids them well.
Hasapis lands a nice shot to the head.
Hasapis sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Fotos Hasapis dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Hasapis wants to clinch.
Spencer throws out a counter right but Hasapis avoids it with no problem.
Hasapis with the inside leg kick.
Hasapis throws a head kick that misses
and Spencer counters with a big head kick but Hasapis shrugs it off.
Hasapis turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hasapis smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Spencer takes one on the button.
Hasapis tries to clinch but Spencer moves away
and Spencer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hasapis tries to clinch up but Spencer circles away and keeps his distance.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hasapis darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hasapis throws a head kick that misses.
Spencer is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hasapis with a body shot.
Hasapis throws a hook but Spencer blocks it.
Spencer is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hasapis with a body shot.
Jab, jab by Hasapis - just one landing.
Hasapis swings widly with a right hand
and Hasapis takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
It looks like Fotos Hasapis has been cut.
Spencer blocks a jab.
Hasapis gets the takedown into side control.
Spencer avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hasapis.
Spencer wants to control but Hasapis postures up.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spencer manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hasapis wants to get back to full guard.
Hasapis is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Spencer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Spencer's back!
Hasapis misses with punches from the back.
Hasapis throwing strikes and Spencer squirms under the pressure, ending up mounted.
A nice elbow there by Hasapis.
Hasapis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Spencer can do to turn this around?
Spencer wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Hasapis.
Hasapis has control of Spencer's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Spencer regains control of the situation pretty easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spencer is looking to improve his position but Hasapis isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hasapis moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Spencer has worked his arm free - good work by Spencer!
Hasapis throws an elbow but Spencer slips to the side and avoids it well.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hasapis scoring with punches from side control.
Hasapis lands a nice forearm strike.
The ground and pound from Hasapis seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Fotos Hasapis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hasapis trying to control the action but Spencer is working from the bottom.
Spencer is trying to control Hasapis's posture but Hasapis avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hasapis wants to control but Spencer is keeping him busy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Fotos Hasapis dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Fotos Hasapis's cut.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!
Hasapis scores with a leg kick.
Fotos Hasapis is winning the standup battle so far.
Hasapis misses with a body shot
and Spencer cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hasapis misses with a takedown attempt
and Spencer counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Hasapis moves away from the strike by Spencer.
Spencer just misses with a punch to the body.
Hasapis fires out a quick counter leg kick but Spencer just manages to avoid it.
A shot to the liver by Hasapis. Beautiful body shot.
Hasapis is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Spencer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spencer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hasapis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Spencer avoids it really well and circles away.
It seemed like Spencer was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hasapis misses with a series of wild punches.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hasapis is defended easily by Spencer.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fotos Hasapis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hasapis fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Spencer to the ground. Hasapis is now in Spencer's guard.
Hasapis is looking to work some ground and pound but Spencer has wrist control.
Hasapis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hasapis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Spencer is controlling Hasapis's posture.
Hasapis trying to control but Spencer is working from the bottom.
Hasapis landing with the ground and pound.
Hasapis is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
James Spencer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hasapis working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Spencer's head.
Hasapis has gone for a leg lock! Spencer slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hasapis's guard.
Hasapis working a defensive guard but Spencer manages to pass into side control anyway.
Hasapis manages to work his way to half guard, despite Spencer's best efforts.
Hasapis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Spencer pulls his head out easily.
Spencer is looking to take a break and control but Hasapis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hasapis is trying to get back to full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hasapis is working hard here to advance position.
Hasapis actively working from the bottom here.
Spencer prevents Hasapis from improving his position.
Spencer trying to control from half guard but Hasapis is working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hasapis is looking to control Spencer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hasapis avoid being mounted?
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 Fotos Hasapis.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hasapis, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:26
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fotos Hasapis!
During a confident post fight interview, Fotos Hasapis thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
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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
39% |
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