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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hjalmar Raak (ranked 1723 p4p, 2100 weight class) and Abdo Farah (ranked 200 p4p, 240 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!
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| 191 cm
31
197
12 - 10 - 0 |
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185 cm
34
191
19 - 14 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Good chin |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
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 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Hjalmar Raak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdo Farah!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raak connects with a solid leg kick.
Farah throws a shot to the body.
Raak avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Farah has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Farah throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Farah tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Raak was well out of range. Poor timing from Farah.
Raak throws an overhand right that lands on Farah's shoulder, as Farah tries to avoid the shot.
Raak darts in and clinches Farah up against the cage.
Raak throws a punch but it's blocked by Farah.
Raak blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Raak blocking some punches.
Still in the clinch, Farah scores with a nice short uppercut.
Raak lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Farah backwards.
A body shot lands from Farah.
Farah taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Raak blocks a body shot from Farah.
Raak tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Farah smiles and moves away.
Farah thumps Raak with a low kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Raak tries to clinch there but Farah circles away.
Farah feints a counter leg kick.
Raak shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Farah but Farah pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Raak has taken the fight to the clinch.
Farah working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Raak pushes Farah back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Farah letting Raak take a breather here.
Raak effectively controlling the action here.
Raak seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Raak prevents a body shot from Farah.
Farah lands a shot to the body.
Raak misses with a punch on the inside.
Raak misses with a short punch on the inside.
Raak taking a breather.
Farah breaks from the clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raak lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Farah wants to slow Raak down by chopping away at his legs.
Raak takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Raak checks a leg kick nicely.
Farah avoids the body shot from Raak.
Farah looks to throw the jab but Raak is out of range.
Raak thinks about countering with a body kick.
Nice shot lands for Farah.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raak misses with a looping left.
Raak misses with a body shot.
Farah bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Farah avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Farah scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Farah throws a big shot that misses.
Farah throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farah throws an overhand right that lands on Raak's shoulder, as Raak tries to avoid the shot.
Farah fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Raak missing with a left hand there. Farah was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hjalmar Raak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Farah misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Raak.
Raak misses with a left hand
and Farah counters with a straight right hand.
Farah wants to land a leg kick but Raak is out of range.
Raak displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Farah throws out the jab.
Raak moves away from the strike by Farah.
Farah swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Raak takes a swing at Farah's ribcage but misses.
Farah throws out a counter right but Raak avoids it with no problem.
Raak steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Farah.
Farah doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Raak throws out a loose jab but Farah uses good head movement to avoid it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Farah catches Raak with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Raak throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Farah appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Raak swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Raak throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raak moves out of range as Farah throws a body kick.
Farah moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Farah is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Raak.
Some wild striking there from Farah.
A little feinted left hand from Raak on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Farah avoids a kick to the body.
Farah throws a nice inside leg kick.
Farah uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Raak.
Farah throws a chopping leg kick but Raak manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Abdo Farah dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Raak throws the kick towards the body but Farah avoids it.
Farah pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A quick step to the side and Raak tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Farah slips a jab from Raak.
Farah throws a right and a left that both miss.
Farah moves out of range of the body kick from Raak.
Raak tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Raak changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Raak pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Farah let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Farah shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Raak eats them both and turns towards Farah to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
It looks like Hjalmar Raak has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raak scores with a hook to the body. Farah takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Farah takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Raak jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Raak throws a leg kick but Farah moved away.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Farah throws a body punch but Raak moves out of range.
Raak tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sloppy strikes from Raak. Those never looked like landing.
Farah swings widly with a right hand
and Raak counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Raak fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Farah has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Farah throws a lazy right hand but Raak sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Farah has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Raak tries to land a front kick but Farah steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Farah misses with a straight left.
Farah keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A little jabbing left from Farah on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Farah buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Farah misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Raak counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Farah scores with a crisp jab that stopped Raak in his tracks.
Farah tries to work over Raak's front leg with a kick but Raak checks it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Farah throws a body kick that misses
and Raak counters with a nice uppercut.
Raak comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Farah with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Raak to score with a decent uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raak. Farah does a little dance to reset his feet.
Farah takes a kick to the side of the head.
Raak shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Farah sprawls well. Farah wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Raak gets slowly back to his feet.
Farah keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Raak.
Farah swings for the body but Raak moves out of range.
Raak was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Raak is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Farah.
Farah appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Raak uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Farah.
Raak tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Farah paws at him with a jab and circles away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farah takes one on the button.
Raak swings for the body but Farah moves out of range.
Raak looks to clinch
and Farah connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Raak uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Farah.
Raak was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Farah scores with a leg kick.
Raak connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Raak blocks a leg kick.
Farah gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Raak.
Raak checks a leg kick nicely.
A quick step to the side and Raak tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A swing and a miss from Farah.
Farah keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Farah lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raak lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Farah chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Raak can pounce on him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raak loads up on a big right hand but Farah slips the punch.
Raak swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Farah appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Abdo Farah seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Farah with the inside leg kick.
Raak on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Farah fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Raak is out of range.
A cross from Farah lands.
Raak scores with a hook.
Farah lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Farah misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Farah chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Raak can pounce on him.
Good exchange - Raak coming out on top.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Hjalmar Raak dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hjalmar Raak's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. 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.
Raak tries to land a front kick but Farah steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Farah wants to counter the offense by Raak and move into the clinch position.
Raak showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Farah.
Farah thumps Raak with a low kick.
Farah throws a solid leg kick but Raak takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Farah.
Raak ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Farah moves away.
Raak is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Farah throws a body shot but no joy.
Farah has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Farah there as he acknowledges the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Farah stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Farah stuns Raak with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Raak tries to clinch up but Farah circles away and keeps his distance.
Raak connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Raak walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Raak throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Farah misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Raak throws a body shot but no joy.
Farah misses with a body kick.
Good leg kick by Farah.
Raak checks a low kick from Farah.
Raak fails with an attempt to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Farah on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A big left from Farah misses.
Farah looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Farah throws an overhand right that lands on Raak's shoulder, as Raak tries to avoid the shot.
Raak tries to clinch but Farah moves away
and Raak takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Farah misses with an uppercut
enabling Raak to counter with a crisp jab.
Raak uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Farah.
Raak is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Farah throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Farah uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Raak.
Raak closes the distance and clinches.
Farah blocks an uppercut.
Farah misses with a punch to the body.
Farah misses with a punch to the body.
Farah goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
I was talking to Raak's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Farah lands with a left to the head.
Raak is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Farah breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Raak looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raak moves out of range of the strikes.
Farah just misses with a punch to the body.
Raak tries to land a front kick but Farah steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Farah swings widly with a right hand
and Raak counters with a right hand to the body.
Raak dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Farah moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Farah with a hook.
Raak lands a jab to the head.
Raak lands the left hand.
Raak ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Raak moves into the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Farah tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Farah working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Raak can't find room to land a body shot as Farah controls the action.
Raak is trying to maintain a safe position but Farah gets an underhook and turns Raak into the cage.
Raak tries to work over Farah's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Raak misses with some punches.
Farah breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Raak walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Farah checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Farah lands an overhand right.
Farah avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Farah wants to clinch up but Raak keeps it at a distance.
Farah takes one to the chin there.
Raak wants to clinch up but Farah keeps it at a distance.
Raak fails to land with a series of punches.
Farah scores with a jab to the jaw.
And that's the end of the fight!
Abdo Farah comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Farah has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdo Farah!
Our winner, Abdo Farah, 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
61% |
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