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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Highfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marat Gafurov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Gafurov's choice of entrance music: Queen – I Want To Break Free. The key to victory for James Highfield has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.
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| 173 cm
26
155 lbs
5 - 1 - 0 |
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175 cm
24
154 lbs
4 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin |
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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
5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Highfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marat Gafurov!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Highfield walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Gafurov checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Gafurov throws a leg kick but Highfield checks it.
Highfield thuds his right hand into Gafurov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Highfield fails to land with a series of punches.
Highfield takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gafurov's coach down at Bad Pluto! (18 Elite Coach) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Gafurov's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Highfield stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Highfield tries to move into range but Gafurov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gafurov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Highfield throws a leg kick that misses.
Gafurov avoids the body shot from Highfield.
Gafurov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Sloppy strikes from Highfield. Those never looked like landing.
Gafurov moves away from the strike by Highfield.
A swing and a miss from Highfield.
Highfield throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
An inside leg kick from Gafurov misses.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gafurov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Highfield.
Gafurov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Highfield uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gafurov.
Gafurov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Highfield.
Highfield swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Highfield swinging wildly here.
Gafurov throws an overhand right that lands on Highfield's shoulder, as Highfield tries to avoid the shot.
Highfield was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Highfield looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Gafurov moves out of range of the strikes.
Highfield punishes Gafurov's body with a nice straight punch.
Gafurov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Highfield throws a right and a left that both miss.
A big right from Gafurov misses.
Highfield throwing a counter right hand but Gafurov manages to avoid it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Highfield fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gafurov.
A punch combination from Highfield misses.
Gafurov looks to throw the jab but Highfield is out of range.
Highfield throws a series of punches but Gafurov moves out of range.
James Highfield is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Highfield throws a shot from downtown. Gafurov moves away and avoids it.
Gafurov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Highfield throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Highfield throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Gafurov counters with a shoot takedown. Highfield fights it but they end up in guard.
Gafurov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Highfield is keeping the position for now.
Highfield is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gafurov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Highfield's guard.
Highfield knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gafurov on the ground.
Gafurov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Highfield does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gafurov 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.
Highfield is defending against the submission attempts here by Gafurov.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Highfield pushes Gafurov off looking to stand but Gafurov dives back in and keeps control.
Gafurov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Highfield is trying to stand up here but Gafurov is controlling him well.
Highfield has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Gafurov is on him like a limpet, forcing Highfield back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Highfield.
Highfield blocks an uppercut.
Gafurov prevents Highfield from breaking the clinch.
Gafurov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Highfield gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gafurov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Highfield.
Gafurov's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Highfield breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
James Highfield seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Highfield throws a right and a left that Gafurov avoids nicely.
Gafurov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Highfield jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And Gafurov tries to counter it with a takedown but Highfield pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Highfield missing with a left hand there. Gafurov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Highfield throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And Gafurov tries to counter it with a takedown but Highfield pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Highfield uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gafurov.
Highfield throws a nice looking combination but Gafurov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Highfield keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gafurov.
The fighters circling - Gafurov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gafurov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Highfield.
A big right from Highfield misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gafurov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Highfield throws a looping overhand right but Gafurov ducks down to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
James Highfield 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.
Highfield throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gafurov on the side of the head.
Gafurov shoots in but no luck this time.
Gafurov throws a low kick but Highfield moves out of range easily.
Highfield tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gafurov was well out of range. Poor timing from Highfield.
Gafurov drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Highfield defends it well.
Highfield throws a low kick but Gafurov avoids it.
Gafurov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Highfield misses with a straight right.
Gafurov feints the counter takedown.
Highfield looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Highfield connects with a body shot.
Gafurov misses with a wild body shot.
A counter left hand to the body from Highfield misses its target.
Highfield throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Highfield misses with a few strikes there.
Gafurov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Highfield. Gafurov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gafurov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Gafurov moves out of range of the strikes.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Highfield misses with a hook.
Gafurov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Highfield throws out a loose jab but Gafurov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gafurov blocks a jab.
Highfield throws the left hand but Gafurov avoids the punch easily.
Highfield cracks Gafurov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Gafurov moves away from the strike by Highfield.
Gafurov avoids the body shot from Highfield.
Gafurov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Highfield throws a low kick but it's checked well by Gafurov.
Gafurov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Gafurov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Highfield has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gafurov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Highfield misses with a looping left.
Gafurov feints the counter takedown.
Gafurov misses with an uppercut. Highfield saw that one coming.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Highfield gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gafurov.
Gafurov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Highfield.
Gafurov slips under a jab from Highfield.
Highfield jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Highfield looks to land a right hand but Gafurov moved out of range.
Gafurov with the counter takedown but Highfield avoids it easily.
Highfield misses with a wild combination.
Gafurov drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Highfield defends it well.
A swing and a miss from Gafurov.
It looked like Highfield was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Gafurov.
Highfield throws the left hand but Gafurov avoids the punch easily.
Gafurov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Gafurov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
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!
Gafurov staying out of range there.
Highfield falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gafurov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Highfield is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gafurov can do to turn this around?
Gafurov pushes down on Highfield's leg and manages to get into half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gafurov wants to pass to mount but Highfield is defending the position.
Highfield is trying to stand up here but Gafurov is controlling him well.
Gafurov trying to mount his opponent but Highfield defends it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Gafurov connects with a nice short shot to Highfield's temple.
Gafurov is looking for a kimura here.
Highfield wants to get back to his feet.
Highfield is not content to let Gafurov control the position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Gafurov connects with a nice short shot to Highfield's temple.
Gafurov in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Highfield tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Gafurov!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Marat Gafurov!
Marat Gafurov very nearly forgot to thank GREEN!160 amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.
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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
51% |
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