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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Damato (ranked 2294 p4p, 2358 weight class) and Tapani Kangas (ranked 192 p4p, 198 weight class). Damato kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Thunderstruck. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 170 cm
36
150
20 - 43 - 0 |
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178 cm
31
155
17 - 20 - 1 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite 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 featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 43 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rocco Damato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tapani Kangas!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Reed Andrews and Russell Pearce.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kangas lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Damato is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kangas.
Kangas misses the shot to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Damato.
Damato throws a leg kick but Kangas sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Kangas - that will leave a mark!
Kangas lands with a straight right. Damato didn't see that one coming.
Kangas loads up on a big right hand but Damato slips the punch.
Damato sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Kangas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Damato.
Damato jabs at Kangas's body.
Damato's corner calls for a 1-2. Damato obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
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!
Kangas defending well as Damato loads up on a big left hand.
Kangas walks into a jab.
Damato throws a jab but it's blocked by Kangas.
Damato misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Damato throws a hook to the side of Kangas's head but Kangas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kangas moves away from the strike by Damato.
Kangas lands with a nice body punch.
Kangas blocks a jab.
Kangas feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Damatos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kangas with a hook.
Damato gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kangas 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.
Kangas bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Tapani Kangas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Damato throws a right hand that Kangas ducks under and follows up with a left that Kangas also avoids with ease.
Kangas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Damato moves away.
Nice jab there from Kangas.
We've been hearing reports that Damato has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Kangas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Damato.
Damato is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Kangas scores with a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kangas slips a jab from Damato.
A lazy left from Kangas finds it's target.
Kangas has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kangas takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Damato throws a chopping leg kick but Kangas manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Damato swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Damato throws a poor cross that misses
and Kangas counters with a left to the body.
Kangas throws a shot from downtown. Damato moves away and avoids it.
Kangas misses the shot to the body.
Damato has a takedown stuffed.
A nice side step and Kangas releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kangas fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Damato tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kangas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kangas swings for the body but Damato moves out of range.
Damato on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Damato displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kangas throws out the jab.
Damato throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Damato.
A slow jab from Damato misses its intended target.
Kangas throws a jab but it's blocked by Damato.
Kangas scores with a jab. Damato acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kangas connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Damato looks to land a right hand but Kangas moved out of range.
It seemed like Kangas was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
An inside leg kick lands from Kangas.
Damato on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kangas fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kangas missing with a left hand there. Damato was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Damato throwing a counter right hand but Kangas manages to avoid it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Damato darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kangas throws a jab but it's blocked by Damato.
Damato closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kangas circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocco Damato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice jab there from Kangas.
A nice combination there by Damato.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Damato has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kangas finds it's way round the side to connect with Damato's head.
Kangas lands a nice looking body shot.
Damato tries to clinch but Kangas moves out of range.
Good exchange - Damato coming out on top.
Kangas lands a right hook to the body.
Damato shoots for a double leg takedown but Kangas sprawls well. He's pushed Damato's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kangas keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Damato.
Damato throws a combination that misses
and Kangas counters with a thumping low kick.
A punch combination from Damato misses.
Damato gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kangas.
Damato throws a right hand that misses
and Kangas counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Damato tries for a takedown but Kangas circles away easily
and Kangas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kangas scores with a nice strike.
Kangas scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Damato doesn't seem bothered though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Tapani Kangas dominated 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.
Damato stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kangas.
Kangas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kangas misses with a straight left.
Nice shot lands for Kangas.
Tapani Kangas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kangas.
Kangas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Damato misses with a low kick.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Damato might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Kangas checks a low kick from Damato.
Damato tries to land a leg kick but Kangas saw it coming and moves away.
Damato with a poor takedown
and Kangas counters with a straight right hand.
Kangas scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kangas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Damato was well out of range. Poor timing from Kangas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Damato throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kangas sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kangas lands a slapping body shot.
A jab lands there for Damato.
Damato swinging wildly here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kangas connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Damato takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Damato drops his hands momentarily and Kangas takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kangas misses with a hook to the body
and Damato counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Damato tries to clinch up but Kangas circles away and keeps his distance.
Kangas works Damato's body with a nice hook.
Kangas misses with a body shot.
Horrible takedown attempt by Damato or perhaps it was just good defense by Kangas, which made it look bad.
Kangas throws a leg kick which misses Damato's front leg but catches the back leg as Damato tries to avoid it.
Kangas throws a nice inside leg kick.
Damato misses with a straight left.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kangas defending well as Damato loads up on a big left hand.
Kangas punishes Damato's body with a nice straight punch.
Kangas ducks under a wild hook from Damato.
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!
Damato takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Damato waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kangas.
Kangas keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Damato looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Damato throws out a powerful jab.
Kangas ducks under a wild hook from Damato.
Damato throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kangas tests Damato's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kangas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Damato tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kangas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Damato somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocco Damato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kangas connects with a looping right hand.
Damato throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kangas counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Damato thinking.
Damato misses with the combination.
Damato shoots for a takedown but Kangas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kangas swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Damato takes one on the button.
A jab from Kangas finds it's way through Damato's defenses.
Damato closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kangas to the mat! Kangas manages to get full guard.
Kangas pulls Damato in to control the position.
Damato sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kangas's guard.
Damato is keen to just control but Kangas is a slippery customer.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Damato is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kangas is just riding it out for now. Damato eventually gives up the hold.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kangas wants to improve his position but Damato is controlling well.
Damato thows a huge punch but Kangas dodges it nicely.
Damato is keen to just control but Kangas is a slippery customer.
Kangas preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Damato is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kangas sees it coming and defends easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Tapani Kangas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!
Damato misses with a takedown
and Kangas counters with a solid body kick.
Kangas lands with a straight right. Damato didn't see that one coming.
Damato scores with a punch to the head.
Damato throws a jab but it's blocked by Kangas.
Kangas connects with a solid leg kick.
A jab from Kangas does it's job there.
Damato shoots for a double leg takedown but Kangas sprawls well. He's pushed Damato's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A head kick misses from Kangas.
Nice sprawl there from Kangas as Damato shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocco Damato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kangas scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kangas connects with a good right hand that stumbles Damato. Damato circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kangas smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
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!
Damato closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kangas circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Damato takes one on the chin but seems OK.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Damato doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kangas counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Damato thinking.
Damato takes a jab right on the kisser.
Damato shoots in and drives through. Kangas sprawls well.
Damato on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Damato misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kangas lands a slapping body shot.
Kangas lands a jab to the nose.
Damato fails to land the takedown.
Damato drops his hands momentarily and Kangas takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kangas works Damato's body with a nice hook.
Damato takes one to the chin there.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kangas keeps Damato at a distance using the push kick.
Damato misses with an uppercut.
Kangas shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
That kick from Kangas tenderised Damato's leg. Damato is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kangas tests Damato's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kangas misses with the combination.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kangas.
Kangas keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Kangas lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Damato shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Damato showed some decent athleticism there.
Damato wants to take a breather but Kangas is having none of it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Damato is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kangas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Damato.
Kangas is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Kangas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Damato. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kangas wants to control but Damato is keeping busy.
Kangas has his hands clasped together around Damato's back. He's all about the action.
Tapani Kangas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Damato trying to control the action but Kangas is working from the bottom.
Damato is working for a kimura but Kangas is defending it quite comfortably.
Damato is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kangas defends it well.
Rocco Damato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Damato sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kangas defending well though.
And that's the end of the fight!
Tapani Kangas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kangas winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tapani Kangas!
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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
65% |
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