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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Higashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Cristo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Higashi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 188 cm
26
184 lbs
4 - 1 - 0 |
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184 cm
20
197 lbs
1 - 2 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful |
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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
4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Higashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Cristo!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Steve Erwin and Winston Howard.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Higashi gets caught flat footed, as Cristo shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Higashi wants to sweep but no luck.
Cristo trying to control the position from guard on top but Higashi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cristo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Higashi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cristo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cristo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Higashi 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.
Cristo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cristo stopping the sweep attempt from Higashi.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Higashi is looking for a triangle but Cristo pushes his legs off easily.
Higashi 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.
Cristo wants to pass the guard but Higashi is keeping the position.
Cristo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cristo sitting in guard here, content to control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cristo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Higashi is keeping the position for now.
Higashi being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Michael Cristo.
Cristo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Higashi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Higashi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Higashi wants to clinch
and Cristo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A head kick by Cristo misses
and Higashi counters by moving into the clinch.
Cristo looking for a takedown.
Cristo looks gassed!
Higashi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Higashi tries to score a body lock takedown but Cristo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Higashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cristo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Joe Higashi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cristo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Higashi takes one on the button.
Higashi tries for a takedown but Cristo circles away easily
and Cristo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Cristo shoots in looking for a takedown but Higashi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cristo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cristo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Higashi tries to pull guard but Cristo holds him up against the cage and eventually Higashi drops back down to his feet.
Cristo is trying to break the clinch but Higashi has him pressed against the cage.
Cristo jumps into guard, dragging Higashi to the mat.
Higashi looking to sit in guard and control but Cristo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cristo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Higashi is keeping the position for now.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higashi is working an open guard so Cristo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A low kick from Cristo misses
and Higashi counters with a head kick.
Higashi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cristo counters by moving into the clinch.
Cristo breaks the clinch.
Higashi closes the distance but Cristo moves to the side
and Cristo counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cristo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cristo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Higashi's half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Michael Cristo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Higashi moves into the clinch successfully.
Higashi gets control of Cristo's arms and successfully pulls guard. Higashi will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Cristo is working Higashi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Higashi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cristo stands up and waves to Higashi to follow him.
Cristo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cristo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cristo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Higashi is looking for a sweep. Cristo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cristo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Higashi defends it well.
Higashi is looking to control Cristo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Higashi avoid being mounted?
Cristo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cristo works his way into side control.
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.
Cristo is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Higashi's shoulder. That is not cool.
Higashi is working to avoid the ground and pound but Cristo connects with a decent elbow.
The referee asks Cristo politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Cristo prefers to stall for the moment though.
Cristo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Higashi keeps working.
Higashi is trying to control Cristo's posture but Cristo avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Cristo stands up and beckons Higashi to his feet.
Higashi throws a sloppy head kick and Cristo moves out of range easily.
Higashi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cristo avoids it really well and circles away.
Cristo has Higashi up against the cage in a clinch.
Cristo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Higashi.
Higashi manages to pull guard.
Cristo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higashi trying to control the position.
Cristo is looking to work some ground and pound but Higashi has wrist control.
Cristo won't allow Higashi to sweep him here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Cristo passes into half guard.
Still in half guard, Cristo seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Michael Cristo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!
Higashi tries to clinch but Cristo moves away
and Cristo counters with a takedown into side control.
Higashi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Cristo tries to advance to mount but Higashi denies him.
Higashi wants to control but Cristo postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A lull in the action here as Cristo stalls from top position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cristo sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Higashi is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Michael Cristo has got the better of the ground game so far.
The ground and pound from Cristo seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Higashi is not content to let Cristo control the position.
The ground and pound from Cristo seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Higashi struggling a bit here.
Cristo advances to mount.
That's two 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.
Higashi working to try and regain half guard.
Cristo content just to control the position here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cristo in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Higashi takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Cristo controlling from mount.
Higashi is squirming around, avoiding Cristo's attempts to control the action.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cristo content just to control the position here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Cristo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Cristo working for a submission but Higashi is keeping him at bay.
Cristo controlling from mount.
And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Cristo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cristo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Cristo!
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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
46% |
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