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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Robbie Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phillip Merki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Balboa's entrance music is Burning Heart. A fine choice. The key to victory for Robbie Balboa has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.
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| 186 cm
24
192 lbs
7 - 2 - 0 |
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174 cm
20
202 lbs
5 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand |
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Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
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
7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Robbie Balboa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Phillip Merki!
The judges for this bout are , and .
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Balboa wants to stand up but Merki is controlling him.
Balboa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Merki wants to pass the guard but Balboa is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balboa is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Merki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balboa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Balboa just misses with a punch to the body.
Merki is trying hard to land a takedown here. Balboa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Balboa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Phillip Merki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merki slips a straight right by Balboa.
Merki gets a takedown into half guard.
Merki is trying to work for a kimura but Balboa is defending well.
Balboa is defending against the submission attempts here by Merki.
Balboa keeping hold of Merki's head, controlling as best he can.
Merki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Merki looks gassed!
Balboa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Balboa pushes Merki off looking to stand but Merki dives back in and keeps control.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Balboa tries to clinch up but Merki circles away and keeps his distance.
Balboa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Merki.
Merki shoots in for a takedown but Balboa shows good takedown defense.
Balboa fails to land with a series of punches.
Balboa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Merki.
Robbie Balboa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phillip Merki.
Balboa fails in his attempt to clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Balboa.
Merki shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Balboa manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Merki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Balboa is keeping the position for now.
Balboa will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Balboa wants to stand up but Merki is controlling him.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Balboa holds on and takes a little breather.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balboa wants to stand and escape but Merki is having none of it.
Merki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa pulls Merki in to control the position.
Merki wants to pass the guard but Balboa is keeping the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Merki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Balboa throws an overhand right that lands on Merki's shoulder, as Merki tries to avoid the shot.
Balboa just misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balboa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Merki looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Phillip Merki will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Merki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
It looks like Phillip Merki has been cut.
Robbie Balboa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Merki is defended easily by Balboa.
Merki dives in and grabs Balboa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Balboa pushes down on Merki's head and hops out.
A punch combination from Balboa misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Balboa misses the target.
A telegraphed right hand from Balboa misses the target.
Merki shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa moves into full guard.
Balboa is trying to control the position but Merki postures up.
Merki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Merki is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Merki is breathing heavily.
Balboa wants to stand and escape but Merki is having none of it.
Merki tries to free his leg and advance position but Balboa is retaining full guard.
Merki being controlled here momentarily.
Merki stopping the sweep attempt from Balboa.
Merki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's two 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.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Balboa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Merki manages to avoid it.
Merki shoots in for a takedown but Balboa shows good takedown defense.
Robbie Balboa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phillip Merki.
The fighters circling - Balboa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Balboa scores with a three punch combo!
Merki slips under a jab.
Merki drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Merki tries to free his leg and advance position but Balboa is retaining full guard.
Merki stops Balboa from standing up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Merki stops Balboa from standing up.
Balboa looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Merki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Balboa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Merki is controlling him.
Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Balboa stalks Merki and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Merki's face. Merki staggers backwards, shaken.
Balboa fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Merki looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Balboa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Merki circles away quickly and effectively.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa lands with a shot to the body.
Balboa jabs Merki right on the nose. Merki blinks but takes it well.
That has opened up Phillip Merki's cut even more.
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!
A combination from Balboa does no damage.
Balboa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Merki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Merki slips a straight right by Balboa.
Merki fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balboa takes a swing at Merki's ribcage but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Robbie Balboa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Phillip Merki's cut.
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!
Merki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Balboa tries to bum rush Merki with a series of wild strikes but Merki uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Merki shoots in for a takedown but Balboa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Balboa swings for the body but Merki moves out of range.
Balboa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Merki.
Balboa throws an overhand right that lands on Merki's shoulder, as Merki tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merki decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Balboa is looking to escape.
Balboa moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Merki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa pulls Merki in close to his closed guard and prevents Merki from doing any damage or advancing position.
Balboa controls Merki momentarily but Merki frees himself.
Merki is looking to advance position but Balboa has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Balboa lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Balboa throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Merki because Balboa loaded up on that one.
Balboa landing shots from mount.
Merki is wriggling around trying to escape.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Balboa goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Merki is on top in guard.
Merki looking to pass the guard.
Merki postures up.
Merki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balboa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Balboa has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa wants to stand but Merki is controlling the position.
Merki trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Balboa manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Balboa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Balboa misses with a straight right.
Balboa misses with a series of wild punches.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Balboa throws out a loose jab but Merki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Merki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Balboa throws a looping overhand right but Merki ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Merki looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Merki uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Balboa.
And that's the end of the fight!
Robbie Balboa showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Balboa 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robbie Balboa!
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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
35% |
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