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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Francesco Baja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhenya Morozov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morozov has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Francesco Baja looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.
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| 210 cm
19
189 lbs
3 - 3 - 0 |
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187 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers standup |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Francesco Baja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zhenya Morozov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Igor Prikhodko and Sergei Dronov.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morozov tries to close the distance and clinch but Baja swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zhenya Morozov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baja looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Morozov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Baja is trying to defend but Morozov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morozov wants to control but Baja is keeping him busy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Morozov wants to advance to full mount but Baja doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Morozov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Morozov wants to control but Baja is keeping him busy.
Baja wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morozov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Baja has escaped the position, nice work there.
Morozov laying and praying for a moment but Baja takes advantage and regains half guard.
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.
Morozov is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Baja reverses the position - he's now on top in Morozov's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Zhenya Morozov 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.
Morozov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Baja pinned against the cage. Baja gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Morozov gets the takedown into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Morozov working the head and body with strikes.
Morozov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Baja knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Baja is pushing Morozov's head away, looking to escape. Morozov manages to hold on to the position though.
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.
Morozov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Baja knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baja regains half guard there - taking advantage of Morozov's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
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.
Morozov is just content to waste time from the top position. Baja takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Morozov gets to his feet - Baja follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Zhenya Morozov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!
Morozov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Baja manages to avoid it.
Baja stuffs the takedown attempt from Morozov. Morozov gets slowly back to his feet.
Baja throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morozov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Baja defends it nicely.
Morozov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Baja avoids it really well and circles away.
Francesco Baja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zhenya Morozov.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Morozov fails in his attempt to clinch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Morozov gets the takedown into side control.
Morozov trying to control the position but Baja is working away.
Morozov stands up and we're back to a striking position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baja circles away from the clinch attempt.
A combination from Baja does no damage.
Some bone on bone action there as Baja checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Baja uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Morozov.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Morozov slips a jab and a cross from Baja.
Baja misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice takedown defense from Baja. No joy for Morozov on that attempt.
Zhenya Morozov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Morozov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Francesco Baja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Francesco Baja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morozov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Baja sprawls well. Baja wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Morozov gets slowly back to his feet.
And that's the end of the fight!
Zhenya Morozov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Morozov 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zhenya Morozov!
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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
13% |
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