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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abou Ba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nelson Country (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 202 cm
23
240 lbs
6 - 3 - 0 |
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183 cm
20
270 lbs
3 - 1 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abou Ba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Nelson Country!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Daniel Blasius and Nard Betker.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Country changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ba tries to avoid it but Country manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ba to the ground. Ba escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ba slaps away a takedown attempt from Country, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ba wants to clinch up but Country keeps it at a distance.
Ba doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Country cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Country throws a head kick that misses.
Nelson Country seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Country gets tackled into the cage by Ba. Ba maintains the clinch.
Country manages to break the clinch.
Country shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ba but Ba pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Abou Ba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nelson Country.
Horrible takedown by Country or perhaps it was just good defense by Ba which made him look bad.
Country shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ba defends it nicely.
Ba shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Country is trying to defend but Ba finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
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!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Ba is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Country defends it well.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Country tries to roll over but Ba keeps him under control.
Ba with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Country is trying to control but can't.
Ba controlling the action here.
Country tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Ba slows the pace down in half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abou Ba has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Country gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ba decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Country's guard.
Country is trying to control the position but Ba postures up.
Country is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ba is aware though and is defending well.
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!
Country bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ba's guard.
Ba trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Ba is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Country is looking to improve his position.
Ba wants to control but Country is keeping him busy.
Ba looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Country kicks Ba off and gets back to his feet.
Country tries to clinch but Ba moves out of range.
Country bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ba explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Ba has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Country takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Country leaves Ba with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ba closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Country quickly recovers to half guard.
Ba seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Country gets full guard.
Ba pushes down on Country's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ba looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Country is trying to stand up here but Ba is controlling him well.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Country tries to roll over but Ba keeps him under control.
Country kicks Ba off and gets back to his feet.
Ba shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Country counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Country thows a huge punch but Ba dodges it nicely.
Country is trying to work for a kimura but Ba is defending well.
Ba moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Abou Ba will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Country shoots in for a takedown but Ba shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Country shoots in looking for a takedown. Ba tries to sprawl out of it but Country keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ba manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Country fails with the takedown
and Ba counters with an inside leg kick.
Abou Ba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nelson Country.
Ba shoots for a double leg takedown but Country sprawls well. He's pushed Ba's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ba shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Country pinned against the cage. Country gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Country fails with an attempt to clinch.
Country shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ba as he avoids it easily.
Ba shoots in but no luck this time.
Ba uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Country.
A slow jab from Country misses its intended target.
Ba moves into the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Country fails to pull guard.
Country gets underhooks to prevent Ba's takedown attempt.
Ba looking to slow down the pace here.
Ba has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Country uses from the top position.
Country postures up.
Country missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Country working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Ba here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Country trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ba wants to sweep but no luck.
Country wants to pass the guard but Ba is keeping the position.
Country throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ba works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ba 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.
Ba will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Country is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ba controls Country momentarily but Country frees himself.
Country working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ba's head.
Country throwing strikes from guard but Ba blocks nicely.
Ba is trying to control the position but Country postures up.
Country loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ba is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Country gets to his feet - Ba follows without any prompting.
Country shoots in and drives through. Ba sprawls well.
Ba slaps away a takedown attempt from Country, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Country gets a takedown into half guard.
Ba works his way to full guard. Good work.
Country postures up.
Ba is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Country has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ba keeping full guard, as Country tries to pass.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ba looking for a sweep. Not yet Ba, not yet.
Nelson Country has got the better of the ground game so far.
Country wants to control from the top but Ba keeps moving.
Country postures up in Ba's guard and throws a big left but Ba blocks it.
Ba is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Country is controlling him.
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!
Country loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Country looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Country trying to control the position from guard on top but Ba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Nelson Country showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!
Ba closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Country did well to prevent Ba getting side control.
Country preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Country is staying active underneath Ba, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ba stops Country from getting back to his feet.
Country is looking to improve his position.
Country is looking to escape.
Ba trying to control from half guard but Country is working away.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Abou Ba.
Ba leaves Country with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ba tries to score a power double leg takedown but Country sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ba somewhat.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Country fails with the takedown.
Country gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ba to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Country not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ba won't allow Country to get back to his feet.
Country working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ba has passed into half guard!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ba is trying to control the action in half guard but Country is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ba wants to free his trapped foot but Country is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Country controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Ba prevents Country from improving his position.
Ba working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ba thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Country's head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ba prevents Country from improving his position.
Country trying to control here.
Ba trying to mount his opponent but Country defends it.
Country is not content to let Ba control the position.
The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Country closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ba's guard.
Ba is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ba is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Country defends well.
Ba keeping full guard, as Country tries to pass.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ba is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Country wants to control from the top but Ba keeps moving.
Country is looking to work some ground and pound but Ba has wrist control.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Country working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ba preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Country cracks Ba with a solid left hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Country throws a strike but Ba rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Abou Ba.
I think Ba 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Abou Ba!
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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
85% |
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