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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Thor White (ranked 534 p4p, 596 weight class) and Alexander Kuznetsov (ranked 70 p4p, 80 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
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| 189 cm
34
195
26 - 17 - 1 |
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180 cm
31
195
20 - 12 - 2 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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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 26 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thor White!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Kuznetsov!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Sano.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuznetsov throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and White connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kuznetsov.
White throws out a loose jab but Kuznetsov uses good head movement to avoid it.
White swings for the body but Kuznetsov moves out of range.
It seemed like Kuznetsov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
White jabbing away but nothing is landing.
White swings for the body but Kuznetsov moves out of range.
Kuznetsov is looking to clinch.
Kuznetsov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kuznetsov moves into range and clinches up with White.
Kuznetsov connects with a nasty looking knee right to White's face.
It looks like Thor White has been cut.
Kuznetsov manages to break the clinch.
Kuznetsov connects with a crisp jab.
Kuznetsov clinches up against the cage.
Kuznetsov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
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!
White jumps guard and drags Kuznetsov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kuznetsov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuznetsov with a flurry of punches that miss.
That's one minute gone in the round.
White has his hands on Kuznetsov's head, controlling the position.
Kuznetsov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kuznetsov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
White manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kuznetsov manages to get himself to full guard.
White is fighting to break Kuznetsov's control of his arms but Kuznetsov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
White pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kuznetsov is keeping the position for now.
Kuznetsov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but White puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
White is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kuznetsov sees it coming and defends easily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov is trying to escape back to his feet but White uses the scramble to pass into side control.
White controlling the position from side mount.
White has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Kuznetsov!
Kuznetsov is looking to improve his position but White isn't that keen on the idea.
White can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kuznetsov is looking to escape.
Kuznetsov wants to hold on but White pushes him away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
White wants to control the pace but Kuznetsov is squirming around nicely.
White looking for a guillotine from mount but Kuznetsov is having none of it.
White trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
White can't control as he wanted to and Kuznetsov manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
White passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Kuznetsov!
White swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Kuznetsov is now in White's guard. A big mistake from White there, giving up the dominant position!
White working a defensive guard here.
Kuznetsov trying to control the position from guard on top but White is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
White looking to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kuznetsov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kuznetsov throwing strikes but missing.
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 Thor White will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Thor White's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
White misses with a straight left.
Kuznetsov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kuznetsov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by White.
Kuznetsov is looking to clinch but White is avoiding it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kuznetsov moves away from the strike by White.
Kuznetsov scores with a punch to the head.
White shoots in looking for a takedown. Kuznetsov tries to sprawl out of it but White keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kuznetsov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuznetsov clinches up with White and pushes him back against the cage.
Kuznetsov tries to land a knee to the head but White blocks with his arms.
Kuznetsov manages to break the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznetsov misses the jab.
Kuznetsov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and White has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
White swings for the body but Kuznetsov moves out of range.
Kuznetsov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
White is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kuznetsov.
Alexander Kuznetsov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kuznetsov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kuznetsov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
White connects with a crisp jab.
Kuznetsov tries to clinch but White moves out of range.
Kuznetsov swings for the body but White moves out of range.
White ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
White is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kuznetsov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kuznetsov misses with a double jab
and White counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kuznetsov lands a front kick.
White throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kuznetsov appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuznetsov tries to close the distance and clinch up but White swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kuznetsov lands a body shot.
The fighters circling - Kuznetsov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kuznetsov throws a one two combo.
Kuznetsov has taken the fight to the clinch.
White pulls guard effortlessly.
Kuznetsov wants to stand but White has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
White is looking for a triangle but Kuznetsov pushes his legs off easily.
Kuznetsov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of White is proving hard to escape from.
Kuznetsov throws a big right hand that misses.
White has his hands on Kuznetsov's head, controlling the position.
Kuznetsov won't allow White to sweep him here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kuznetsov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on White, up you get!
White changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
White misses with a looping left.
Kuznetsov takes the fight into the clinch.
Kuznetsov is looking to break free of the clinch but White has double underhooks.
White throws a punch but it's blocked by Kuznetsov.
White jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kuznetsov walks away with a smile on his face. White gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kuznetsov tries to clinch up but White circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice shot by White.
Kuznetsov avoids the body shot from White.
White avoids the head kick by Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov connects with an inside leg kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kuznetsov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kuznetsov has White up against the cage in a clinch.
White jumps guard but Kuznetsov stands there with White around his waist. White gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
I was talking to White's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thor White. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuznetsov takes a shot to the head.
White blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kuznetsov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuznetsov looking to throw knees to the head but White is blocking nicely.
Kuznetsov lands with a left to the head.
White tries to stall but Kuznetsov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kuznetsov can't find room to land a body shot as White controls the action.
Kuznetsov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kuznetsov taking a breather.
Kuznetsov looking to throw knees to the head but White is blocking nicely.
Kuznetsov lands a damaging elbow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Alexander Kuznetsov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thor White's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
White just misses with a punch to the body.
A slow jab from White misses its intended target.
Kuznetsov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kuznetsov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
White misses with an uppercut
and Kuznetsov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kuznetsov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
White makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
White jumps guard but Kuznetsov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A quick uppercut on the inside from White.
White jumps guard.
White utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
White working for a triangle but Kuznetsov defends it easily.
White wants to sweep here but Kuznetsov controlling him for the moment.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuznetsov trying to control the position from guard on top but White is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuznetsov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on White, up you get!
Kuznetsov throws a nice outside leg kick.
White closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kuznetsov did well to prevent White getting side control.
Kuznetsov wants to get back to full guard.
White seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kuznetsov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
White trying to control from Kuznetsov's half guard. Kuznetsov has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
White pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kuznetsov is keeping the position for now.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in White's guard.
White looking to control.
Kuznetsov sitting in guard here, content to control.
White looking to control.
White keeping moving, preventing Kuznetsov from controlling successfully.
Kuznetsov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
White manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kuznetsov manages to get himself to full guard.
White looking to pass the guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
White wants to pass the guard but Kuznetsov is keeping the position.
White trying to control but Kuznetsov is working from the bottom.
Kuznetsov trying to control the position.
White works a leg free and moves into half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
White wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuznetsov keeps working.
White tries to pass to full mount but Kuznetsov defends it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kuznetsov is refusing to be controlled, as White sits in half guard.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A looping hook to the body misses from White. Kuznetsov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kuznetsov lands a head kick!
White dives in and scores a takedown into Kuznetsov's guard.
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 Thor White.
I think White 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thor White!
Thor White decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
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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
43% |
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