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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Saurabh Pandeya (ranked 49 p4p, 260 weight class) and Taromaru Momoji (ranked 7 p4p, 36 weight class). Pandeya comes into the arena with Clan In Da Front blaring out of the sound system. This should be fireworks!
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| 170 cm
28
160
19 - 9 - 2 |
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178 cm
32
165
12 - 3 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Saurabh Pandeya!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Taromaru Momoji!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, David Schapiro and Franklyn Lucas.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Momoji jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Pandeya is looking to counter the offense by Momoji and move into the clinch.
Pandeya missing with a left hand there. Momoji was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A momentary lapse in concentration from Momoji enables Pandeya to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Momoji manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Momoji pulls Pandeya in close to prevent any damage.
Pandeya passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Pandeya goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Momoji has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Pandeya but great work by Momoji.
Momoji working away.
Momoji is chipping away with strikes.
Pandeya tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Momoji lands a few punches from side control.
Momoji trying to control the position but Pandeya is working away.
Momoji working the body and head with strikes.
Momoji has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pandeya is not content to let Momoji control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Momoji scoring with punches and elbows.
Check out the look on Momoji's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Pandeya tries to buck Momoji off but Momoji is having none of it.
Momoji grinds an elbow into Pandeya's temple.
Momoji trying to control the position but Pandeya is working away.
Pandeya tries to bench press Momoji off him but Momoji keeps the position.
Pandeya sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Momoji wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pandeya keeps working.
Pandeya looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pandeya is not content to let Momoji control the position.
Pandeya is trying to get back to full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pandeya works his way to full guard. Good work.
Momoji sitting in guard here, content to control.
Pandeya looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Momoji trying to control but Pandeya is working from the bottom.
Momoji slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Pandeya is looking for a sweep.
Pandeya is working hard here to advance position.
Momoji scoring with punches and elbows.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pandeya is trying to improve his position.
Pandeya sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Momoji trying to mount his opponent but Pandeya defends it.
Pandeya is trying to get back to full guard.
Pandeya is refusing to be controlled, as Momoji sits in half guard.
Pandeya is trying to get back to full guard.
Momoji 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.
Momoji lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Momoji wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pandeya keeps working.
Pandeya manages to get to full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pandeya working for submissions but it's allowed Momoji to get to half guard.
Pandeya moves into full guard.
Momoji landing with the ground and pound.
Momoji passes into half guard.
Momoji seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Momoji in particular looking to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Momoji landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Momoji is trying to control. Pandeya wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Momoji is pressing down on Pandeya's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pandeya is holding on for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Taromaru Momoji dominated that round.
That's time! Pandeya's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Momoji lands a right hook to the body.
Pandeya looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Momoji throws a looping overhand right but Pandeya ducks down to avoid it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Momoji throws a head kick but Pandeya moves out of range.
Pandeya half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Pandeya throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pandeya misses with a low kick.
Momoji keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Momoji slips a jab from Pandeya.
Momoji scores with a takedown into Pandeya's guard.
Momoji pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pandeya is keeping the position for now.
Momoji works over Pandeya with some ground and pound from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pandeya looking for a guillotine here but Momoji defends easily.
Pandeya looking to hit a scissor sweep but Momoji is one step ahead there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Momoji accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Momoji slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Pandeya is not content to let Momoji control the position.
Pandeya tries to improve position but can't.
Momoji wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pandeya keeps working.
Pandeya tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Momoji wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Momoji looks up at the clock and then as Pandeya takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Momoji smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Pandeya tries to buck Momoji off but Momoji is having none of it.
Momoji trying to control the position but Pandeya is working away.
Pandeya gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pandeya regains half guard.
Momoji seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pandeya does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Pandeya regains full guard. Nicely done.
Momoji scoring with punches to the head and body.
Momoji trying to control but Pandeya is working from the bottom.
Pandeya looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Momoji trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pandeya looking to control.
Momoji stopping the sweep attempt from Pandeya.
Pandeya looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Momoji controlling from the top position.
Momoji trying to control the position from guard on top but Pandeya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pandeya looking to hit a scissor sweep but Momoji is one step ahead there.
Momoji is working Pandeya over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Taromaru Momoji has got the better of the ground game so far.
Momoji pushing down on Pandeya's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Pandeya is refusing to be controlled, as Momoji sits in half guard.
Pandeya is looking for a sweep. Momoji is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pandeya is pressing down on Momoji's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Momoji has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pandeya is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Momoji works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Pandeya tries to roll over but Momoji keeps him under control.
Momoji controlling the action here.
Pandeya looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Momoji looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ground and pound from Momoji.
Momoji landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Pandeya is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Momoji scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Taromaru Momoji 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.
Momoji throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Pandeya on the side of the head.
Momoji lands a nice looking body shot.
Momoji has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Pandeya is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Pandeya shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Momoji napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Pandeya trying to control the position but Momoji is working away.
Momoji is looking for a sweep.
Pandeya is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Momoji has escaped the position, nice work there.
Pandeya controlling from side mount.
Pandeya passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Momoji!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pandeya can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Momoji is looking to escape.
Pandeya avoids the attempt from Momoji to control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Momoji stops Pandeya from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Momoji is in all sorts of trouble here.
Momoji is still trying to improve position.
Momoji wants to hold on but Pandeya pushes him away.
Pandeya wants to control the pace but Momoji is squirming around nicely.
Pandeya working for a submission but Momoji is keeping him at bay.
Pandeya trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Momoji really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pandeya wants to take his opponent's back but Momoji doesn't allow it.
Pandeya is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Momoji to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Momoji shrugs it off.
Momoji tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Momoji is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Pandeya has taken his back.
Pandeya goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Momoji escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Pandeya wants to control but Momoji is keeping busy.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pandeya tries to get to full guard but Momoji has control of the leg.
Momoji trying to pass the guard but Pandeya defending well.
Momoji seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Momoji lands a nice short elbow.
Momoji is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Pandeya is looking for a sweep. Momoji is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Momoji controlling the action here.
Pandeya is looking for a sweep. Momoji is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
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.
Nice strikes from Momoji there.
Momoji is looking to take a break and control but Pandeya is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pandeya looking for submissions off his back.
Pandeya is trying to maintain the position but Momoji is very close to passing his half guard.
Momoji working the head and body with strikes.
Momoji seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Momoji frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Pandeya is desperately trying to improve his position but Momoji has a good base and remains in mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but Saurabh Pandeya did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Nice takedown defense from Momoji. No joy for Pandeya on that attempt.
Momoji avoids the body shot from Pandeya.
Pandeya looks to score with a jab to the body but Momoji is just out of range.
Pandeya keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
As Momoji backs away, Pandeya returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Momoji fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Pandeya lands with a thumping leg kick.
A jab from Momoji misses.
Momoji fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Pandeya checks it well.
Pandeya moves forwards but Momoji connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Momoji shoots in for a takedown but Pandeya shows good takedown defense.
Pandeya fails with an attempt to clinch.
Momoji avoids the body shot from Pandeya.
Momoji takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Momoji takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Momoji throws a jab but it's blocked by Pandeya.
Pandeya scores with a leg kick.
Momoji throws a body shot but no joy.
Momoji walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Pandeya checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A big right from Momoji misses.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Momoji takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Momoji scores with the left hand. Pandeya knows he should have avoided that one.
A big right from Momoji misses.
Momoji misses with a hook.
Pandeya throws a shot to the body.
Pandeya blocks a head kick by Momoji.
Good exchange - Pandeya coming out on top.
Pandeya checks the leg kick nicely there.
Momoji throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Pandeya loads up on a big right hand but Momoji slips the punch.
Momoji pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pandeya misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Momoji.
Momoji fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Momoji moves out of range of the leg kick from Pandeya.
Pandeya connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Momoji misses with a hook.
Pandeya is looking to wear down Momoji with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Pandeya bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Momoji checks the leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pandeya shoots in and gets a takedown into Momoji's guard.
Pandeya trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pandeya wants to control from the top but Momoji keeps moving.
Momoji is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Pandeya content to stall in guard here.
Pandeya advances to half guard.
Momoji won't allow Pandeya to pass to mount.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Momoji manages to get to full guard.
Momoji has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Pandeya has passed into side control.
Momoji is trying to control Pandeya's posture but Pandeya avoids it.
Pandeya tries for a kimura but Momoji is defending well.
Pandeya looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Pandeya trying to control the position but Momoji is working away.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Momoji is looking for a sweep.
Momoji is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Momoji wants to get back to full guard.
Pandeya is keen to just control but Momoji is a slippery customer.
Momoji has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pandeya is working away from the top position though.
Momoji is trying to get back to full guard.
Momoji is looking to control Pandeya's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Momoji avoid being mounted?
Momoji tries to get to full guard but Pandeya has control of the leg.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Saurabh Pandeya had his way with Taromaru Momoji in that round.
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!
Pandeya pushes Momoji up against the cage in a clinch.
Pandeya is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Momoji is defending well.
A shot in the inside from Pandeya.
Momoji wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pandeya misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pandeya misses with a hook from the clinch.
Momoji lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Pandeya tries to throw a body punch but Momoji avoids it by throwing Pandeya back against the cage.
Pandeya cracks Momoji with a nice body shot.
Momoji struggles to land a body shot inside as Pandeya controls his hands.
A shot in the inside from Pandeya.
Momoji manages to break the clinch.
Momoji keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pandeya swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Momoji connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A clash of legs there as Momoji blocks the low kick.
Momoji connects with a looping right hand.
Pandeya throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Momoji sees it coming and avoids it easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Pandeya swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Momoji slips a jab from Pandeya.
Pandeya scores with a crisp jab that stopped Momoji in his tracks.
Pandeya tries to move into range but Momoji moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Momoji thuds his right hand into Pandeya's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Momoji checks a leg kick nicely.
Momoji throws a body punch but Pandeya moves out of range.
Pandeya uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Momoji.
Nice jab there from Momoji.
Pandeya closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Momoji is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Momoji is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Pandeya trying to control the action but Momoji is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pandeya is trying to get an arm triangle but Momoji is defending well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Momoji can't do much from the bottom here.
Momoji is not content to let Pandeya control the position.
Momoji tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pandeya wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Momoji sneaks back into half guard.
Pandeya is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Momoji reverses the position - he's now on top in Pandeya's guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pandeya wants to sweep here but Momoji controlling him for the moment.
Pandeya is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Momoji is trying is best to control the position here.
Pandeya is working for a kimura but Momoji is defending it quite comfortably.
Pandeya tries to pass to full mount but Momoji defends it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Momoji is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pandeya's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pandeya's back!
You can see the frustration on Pandeya's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Pandeya looking very determined here, making life difficult for Momoji.
Pandeya tries to break free.
Momoji is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Pandeya. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Momoji is landing with strikes from the back.
Pandeya turns into Momoji and is now in his guard.
Momoji tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pandeya trying to control but Momoji is working from the bottom.
Momoji wants to sweep but no luck.
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 Saurabh Pandeya.
I think Pandeya 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 48:49
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 48:47
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 48:47
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Saurabh Pandeya!
Saurabh Pandeya retains his lightweight title!
Saurabh Pandeya seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
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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
41% |
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