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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Manuel Paquiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Firnanda Talha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Talha has chosen Lightning Bolt- Jake Bugg as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 190 cm
34
170 lbs
30 - 23 - 1 |
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170 cm
31
153 lbs
17 - 18 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
30 - 23 - 1, fighting out of London, Manuel Paquiao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
17 - 18 - 0, fighting out of London, Firnanda Talha!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Talha changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Paquiao tries to avoid it but Talha manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Paquiao to the ground. Paquiao escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Talha darts in looking for a takedown but Paquiao gets double underhooks and turns Talha into the cage.
Talha tries for a takedown but Paquiao manages to get underhooks.
Manuel Paquiao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Firnanda Talha.
Paquiao tries a body shot but Talha blocks it.
Paquiao misses with the head strike.
Paquiao lands a body shot in the clinch.
Paquiao scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Paquiao tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Talha's elbow.
Talha is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Paquiao pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Talha has Paquiao pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Talha pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Paquiao tumbling to the mat - Talha dives into Paquiao's guard.
Talha missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Paquiao really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Paquiao controls Talha momentarily but Talha frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Talha working some strikes from top position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Talha throwing strikes but missing.
Paquiao is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Paquiao knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Talha on the ground.
Talha trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Talha won't allow Paquiao to sweep him here.
Paquiao avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Talha postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Talha advances to half guard.
Talha throwing shots but Paquiao is blocking nicely.
Talha is looking to advance position but Paquiao won't allow it.
Paquiao tries to get to full guard but Talha has control of the leg.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talha is trying to work for a kimura but Paquiao is defending well.
Paquiao is trying to maintain the position but Talha is very close to passing his half guard.
Ground and pound from Talha.
Talha is stalling here. Paquiao is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Talha seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Paquiao has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Talha is looking to regain half guard here but Paquiao keeps moving and retains side control.
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!
Talha felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talha is not content to let Paquiao control the position.
Talha tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Talha wants to control but Paquiao is having none of it.
Talha tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Paquiao looking to control but Talha is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Paquiao takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Talha working to try and regain half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paquiao is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Paquiao throws a big shot that misses.
Paquiao goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Talha looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Talha changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Paquiao tries to avoid it but Talha manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Paquiao to the ground. Paquiao escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paquiao keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The crowd cheers as Paquiao lands an impressive looking overhand right. Talha doesn't seem phased though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Firnanda Talha will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Talha.
Paquiao scores with a jab to the head.
Talha goes for a double leg but Paquiao avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Paquiao continues to drive forward.
Talha goes for a takedown attempt but Paquiao pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Manuel Paquiao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Firnanda Talha.
Paquiao connects with a nice looking jab.
Talha shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Talha fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Talha dives in and grabs Paquiao's left leg, looking for a takedown. Paquiao pushes down on Talha's head and hops out.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Talha shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Paquiao as he jumps to the side.
Paquiao looks to throw the jab but Talha is out of range.
Talha walks into a straight right hand from Paquiao.
Paquiao fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Talha on the side of the head.
Paquiao connects with a good right hand that stumbles Talha. Talha circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Talha is rocked!
Talha fails with the takedown.
Talha is still on wobbly legs! Can Paquiao finish him?
Paquiao is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Nice uppercut lands for Paquiao. That snapped Talha's head back.
Paquiao wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Talha seems to have recovered his senses.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talha tries to move into range but Paquiao moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Talha ducks under a wild hook from Paquiao.
Manuel Paquiao is winning the standup battle so far.
Talha misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Paquiao lands with an uppercut that bounces Talha off the cage and back into range.
Paquiao digs a good hook to Talha's body.
Paquiao lands a nice hook to Talha's body. Talha takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Paquiao is looking to land body kicks.
Paquiao misses with the combination.
Talha blocks a jab.
Talha dives in and grabs Paquiao's left leg, looking for a takedown. Paquiao pushes down on Talha's head and hops out.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talha shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Paquiao counters with a shoot takedown. Talha fights it but they end up in guard.
Paquiao trying to stand up but can't free himself from Talha's guard.
Paquiao gets to his feet. Talha looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Talha shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Paquiao pinned against the cage. Paquiao gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Talha bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paquiao tries to bench press Talha off him but Talha keeps the position.
The strikes coming from Talha are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paquiao is looking to reverse the position.
Talha has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Paquiao tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Talha goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Paquiao turns into him and now he's in Talha's guard.
Paquiao will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Talha working for submissions but it's allowed Paquiao to get to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Talha won't allow Paquiao to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Manuel Paquiao dominated that second round.
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!
Jab from Paquiao.
Paquiao misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've been told by Paquiao's head coaches at Supremacy MMA Academy and Gym (12 ELITE Coaches) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Paquiao just misses with a punch to the body.
Paquiao takes a swing at Talha's ribcage but misses.
Talha throws out a loose jab but Paquiao uses good head movement to avoid it.
Horrible takedown by Talha or perhaps it was just good defense by Paquiao which made him look bad.
Talha shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Paquiao seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Paquiao wants to stand but Talha is controlling the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Paquiao controlling the position.
Talha is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Talha throwing strikes from guard but Paquiao blocks nicely.
Talha postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Paquiao keeping full guard, as Talha tries to pass.
Talha stands up over Paquiao, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paquiao looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Paquiao wants to stand and escape but Talha is having none of it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paquiao is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Talha pushing down on Paquiao's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Talha is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Firnanda Talha has got the better of the ground game so far.
Talha throws a big right hand that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Talha pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Paquiao is keeping the position for now.
Paquiao wants to sweep but no luck.
Talha postures up in Paquiao's guard and throws a big left but Paquiao blocks it.
Paquiao looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paquiao manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Talha manages to get himself to full guard.
Talha looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Paquiao tries to stand but Talha is controlling from the bottom.
Talha working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Paquiao doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Paquiao manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Talha has his foot on Paquiao's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Paquiao works his way back into a safe position though.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talha has a closed guard, preventing Paquiao from standing up.
Paquiao has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Talha working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Paquiao doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Paquiao manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Paquiao would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Talha bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Paquiao's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paquiao working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Talha.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Talha won't allow Paquiao to sweep him here.
And that's the end of the fight!
Firnanda Talha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Talha 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Firnanda Talha!
A very excited looking Firnanda Talha made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
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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
71% |
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