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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matt Rugg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sarah Northcote (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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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| 174 cm
22
155 lbs
7 - 4 - 1 |
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165 cm
26
138 lbs
10 - 9 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong |
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Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
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
7 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Rugg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sarah Northcote!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Matheus Silva and Felipe Paraventi.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rugg throws a lazy right hand but Northcote sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Northcote shoots for a takedown but Rugg saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rugg throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rugg is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rugg rushes Northcote and presses him up against the cage.
Rugg throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rugg gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Northcote.
Rugg with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Northcote turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Northcote manages to end up in side control.
Rugg tries to escape but Northcote is in control.
Northcote stands up.
Northcote is looking to clinch.
Rugg instigates a clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Northcote lands a takedown into guard.
Rugg is looking to stand up but Northcote isn't so interested in that idea.
Northcote stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rugg swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rugg is working an open guard so Northcote takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Matt Rugg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rugg clinches but Northcote breaks the clinch
and Northcote decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rugg's guard.
Northcote has gone for a leg lock! Rugg slips out almost immediately though and dives into Northcote's guard.
Rugg trying to control but Northcote is working from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Northcote had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rugg defends it easily.
Rugg trying to control the position from guard on top but Northcote is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Northcote throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Northcote looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rugg decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Northcote closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rugg circles away.
Matt Rugg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sarah Northcote.
Northcote looks gassed!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rugg checks a leg kick.
Rugg tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Northcote counters with a takedown into side control.
Northcote decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rugg to his feet.
Northcote shoots in for a takedown but Rugg shows good takedown defense.
Rugg fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Northcote keeps the fight on the outside.
Northcote keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rugg connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Northcote is looking to clinch.
Matt Rugg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Northcote tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rugg counters by moving into the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Northcote scores with a nice short uppercut.
Northcote takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rugg with a knee to the head.
Rugg tries a knee to the head but Northcote blocks it.
Northcote works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Northcote seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rugg has his feet on Northcote's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Northcote darts in trying to clinch
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Rugg counters with a left and a right that stings Northcote.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rugg lands a nice looking kick to the body. Northcote takes a step back to recover.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Sarah Northcote dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Rugg tries to clinch but Northcote moves away
and Northcote counters with a two punch combo.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Northcote. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Rugg lands a head kick!
Northcote shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rugg sprawls well. Rugg wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Northcote gets slowly back to his feet.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rugg connects with a knee to the head.
It looks like Sarah Northcote has been cut.
Rugg lands an elbow just above Northcote 's eye.
Northcote gets control of Rugg's arms and successfully pulls guard. Northcote will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rugg tries to stand but Northcote is controlling from the bottom.
Northcote is looking for a triangle but Rugg pushes his legs off easily.
Northcote is breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rugg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Northcote has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rugg can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Northcote working a defensive guard but Rugg passes into half guard.
Rugg stands up and beckons Northcote to join him on the feet.
Rugg leaves Northcote with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rugg tries to close the distance and clinch up but Northcote swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rugg tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Northcote counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Northcote slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rugg uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Rugg closes the distance looking to clinch
and Northcote counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rugg wants to stand but Northcote is controlling the position.
Northcote cracks Rugg with a solid left hand.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rugg uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Northcote takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Rugg looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Northcote shoots in but Rugg avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Matt Rugg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sarah Northcote.
Rugg clinches with his opponent.
Rugg is pressed up against the cage. Northcote has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rugg down to the mat. Rugg avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rugg avoids the body shot from Northcote.
Rugg tries to clinch but Northcote moves out of range.
Northcote doesn't manage to clinch there - Rugg circles away.
Rugg closes the distance but Northcote moves to the side
and Northcote counters by clinching up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Northcote looking for a takedown.
Northcote tries to score a body lock takedown but Rugg shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rugg lands an elbow inside.
Rugg landing knees to the head.
Rugg using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rugg lands an uppercut.
Northcote drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rugg connects with a nasty looking knee right to Northcote's face.
Rugg landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Rugg scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Northcote fails to pull guard.
Rugg with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rugg landing knees to the head.
Rugg gets underhooks to prevent Northcote's takedown attempt.
Rugg scores with a knee to the head.
Northcote is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rugg gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Matt Rugg will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sarah Northcote's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Rugg wants to clinch up but Northcote keeps it at a distance.
Rugg throws the kick towards the body but Northcote avoids it.
Northcote shoots in looking for a takedown but Rugg manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Northcote's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Northcote with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rugg makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Rugg tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Northcote manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Northcote shoots in and bounces Rugg off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rugg wants to stand up but Northcote is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Northcote has gone for a leg lock! Rugg slips out almost immediately though and dives into Northcote's guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Northcote is working an open guard so Rugg takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Matt Rugg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rugg tries to clinch up but Northcote circles away and keeps his distance.
Rugg closes the distance looking to clinch
and Northcote decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rugg's guard.
Rugg wants to stand and escape but Northcote is having none of it.
Northcote decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rugg, up you get!
Rugg wants to clinch but Northcote slips to the side
and Northcote counters with a shoot takedown. Rugg fights it but they end up in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Northcote prevents Rugg from getting back to his feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Northcote sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rugg's guard.
Northcote thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rugg's head.
Northcote is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rugg defends it well.
Northcote is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rugg is looking to escape.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Northcote not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Northcote seems to be looking for submissions.
Rugg is refusing to be controlled, as Northcote sits in half guard.
Northcote moves into full mount! Rugg won't be happy about that!
Rugg wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Northcote.
Northcote goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Rugg turns into him and now he's in Northcote's guard.
Sarah Northcote has got the better of the ground game so far.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rugg not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Northcote looking for a guillotine here but Rugg defends easily.
Rugg has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Northcote is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Northcote working for submissions but it's allowed Rugg to get to half guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Sarah Northcote comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Northcote 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sarah Northcote!
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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
76% |
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