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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Igor Yakovchenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joeli Babitu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yakovchenko comes to the cage accompanied by Too Much Information. Joeli Babitu will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.
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177 cm
32
172 lbs
28 - 14 - 0 |
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188 cm
33
180 lbs
27 - 9 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world! Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner. With a record of
28 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Igor Yakovchenko! And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner. With a record of
27 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joeli Babitu! The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Jonathan Paton and Russell Pearce.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway! Yakovchenko tries to land a leg kick but Babitu saw it coming and moves away.
Babitu scores with a slapping inside leg kick. Yakovchenko tries to land a front kick but Babitu steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed. Babitu checks the leg kick. Yakovchenko checks the leg kick. Babitu misses with a kick to the body.
Yakovchenko throws a big counter combination but Babitu scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage. Yakovchenko throws a push kick but Babitu slaps the foot to one side. Babitu is looking to take this fight into the clinch. Yakovchenko seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym. Babitu takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Babitu on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those. Yakovchenko throws out a powerful jab. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Babitu scores with a jab to the body. Yakovchenko just misses with a punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Babitu. Yakovchenko does a little dance to reset his feet. Babitu connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Yakovchenko momentarily.
Babitu swings for the body but Yakovchenko moves out of range.
That's one minute gone in the round. Yakovchenko tries to land a leg kick but Babitu saw it coming and moves away.
Yakovchenko smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button. Yakovchenko blocks a low kick nicely. Babitu takes a swing at Yakovchenko's ribcage but misses. Yakovchenko throws out a loose jab but Babitu uses good head movement to avoid it. A chopping leg kick lands by Yakovchenko. Babitu has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Yakovchenko finds it's way round the side to connect with Babitu's head. Babitu closes the distance and lands a one-two. Yakovchenko checks a low kick from Babitu. Yakovchenko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Yakovchenko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Yakovchenko gets a double leg takedown into Babitu's guard. Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show! Babitu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yakovchenko is one step ahead there. Yakovchenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect. The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Babitu controls Yakovchenko momentarily but Yakovchenko frees himself. Babitu keeping moving, preventing Yakovchenko from controlling successfully. Yakovchenko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground. Yakovchenko is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Babitu is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him. Yakovchenko with a flurry of punches that miss. Babitu lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Yakovchenko controls Babitu momentarily but Babitu frees himself.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Babitu trying to control but Yakovchenko is working from the bottom. Yakovchenko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle. My spies in Mello MMA inform me that Babitu has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends! Babitu slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard. Yakovchenko working for a triangle but Babitu defends it easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round. The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena. Yakovchenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Yakovchenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Yakovchenko, not yet. We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace. Yakovchenko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Babitu can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself. Yakovchenko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Igor Yakovchenko dominated that round. The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Yakovchenko thumps Babitu with a low kick. Babitu connects with a single shot there. Yakovchenko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Yakovchenko throws out a loose jab but Babitu uses good head movement to avoid it. Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Babitu. Yakovchenko shrugs it off though. Babitu throws a head kick that misses. Babitu moves out of range of the body kick from Yakovchenko.
Yakovchenko throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Babitu sees it coming and avoids it easily. Yakovchenko blocks a low kick nicely. Yakovchenko avoids the body shot from Babitu.
Babitu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yakovchenko. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Yakovchenko, as that shot connected.
Yakovchenko avoids a lazy jab quite easily. Babitu scores with a head kick.
Babitu bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut. Joeli Babitu seems to be getting the better of the standup. Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show! Yakovchenko throws out a token jab with nothing on it. Babitu is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Yakovchenko rather than just go for the knockout. Nice cross by Yakovchenko.
That's one minute gone in the round. Babitu blocks a jab. Yakovchenko finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Babitu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target. Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Babitu.
Jab, jab by Babitu - just one landing. Yakovchenko tries to land a front kick but Babitu steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed. Yakovchenko with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Babitu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Yakovchenko. Babitu thows a leg kick but Yakovchenko checks it and Yakovchenko counters with a slapping leg kick. Yakovchenko closes the distance and clinches up with Babitu, looking for a takedown. Yakovchenko pushes Babitu against the cage but Babitu circles to the side and manages to break the clinch. Babitu shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down. Joeli Babitu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs. Yakovchenko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target. A looping hook to the body misses from Yakovchenko. Babitu does a little dance to reset his feet. Yakovchenko misses with a straight left. Babitu flicks out a counter leg kick but Yakovchenko steps away. Yakovchenko works Babitu's body with a nice hook. An inside leg kick lands from Babitu.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Babitu takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh. Yakovchenko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face. The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here. Yakovchenko lands a nice leg kick that just misses Babitu's sensitive parts. Babitu throws a hook but Yakovchenko blocks it. Babitu tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Yakovchenko is able to avoid easily. Some bone on bone action there as Babitu checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one. Babitu walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Yakovchenko checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side. Babitu throws a low kick but it's checked well by Yakovchenko. Yakovchenko connects with a solid leg kick. Yakovchenko takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch. Babitu moves out of range of the strikes. Babitu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Babitu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Good leg kick by Yakovchenko there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Babitu throws a leg kick but Yakovchenko checks it. Yakovchenko throws a wild body kick that Babitu sees coming a mile off.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Babitu gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Babitu just misses with a punch to the body.
A head kick misses from Babitu. A big left from Yakovchenko misses. Babitu only half commits to the counter leg kick. Babitu tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target. Babitu tries to land a leg kick but Yakovchenko saw it coming and moves away.
As Babitu looks to move away, Yakovchenko throws a big counter combo bu Babitu just gets out of the way. Babitu has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight. Yakovchenko closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Babitu quickly recovers to half guard. Babitu is looking to escape. Yakovchenko trying to control the action but Babitu is working from the bottom. Yakovchenko is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Yakovchenko is trying to work for a kimura but Babitu is defending well.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Babitu is trying to stand back up but Yakovchenko is controlling him
Babitu trying to control from the bottom.
Yakovchenko is working for a submission of some sort.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity. The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Babitu checks a leg kick. Babitu misses with a low kick.
Yakovchenko comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range. Babitu throws a body kick that misses and Yakovchenko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw. Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd. Babitu lands a head kick. Yakovchenko smiles back at him and beckons him forward. Yakovchenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Babitu moves out of range of the body kick from Yakovchenko.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Igor Yakovchenko dominated that second round. The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Babitu throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Yakovchenko throwing a counter right hand but Babitu manages to avoid it. Babitu takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Yakovchenko throws a lazy uppercut
and Babitu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle. Babitu takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Babitu throws a hook but Yakovchenko blocks it. It looked like Yakovchenko was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit. Babitu fakes a jab and scores with a low kick. Yakovchenko misses with an attempted mid kick.
Babitu checks a leg kick. Babitu throws the kick towards the body but Yakovchenko avoids it. Yakovchenko feinted there with a counter leg kick. Yakovchenko checks a leg kick. Babitu throws the kick towards the body but Yakovchenko avoids it. Yakovchenko swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Yakovchenko has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Yakovchenko there as he acknowledges the shot. That kick from Babitu tenderised Yakovchenko's leg. Yakovchenko is trying to keep his angry face on. Babitu lands with a kick to the ribs.
Yakovchenko fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Babitu has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage. Yakovchenko pushing out the jab but it's not landing. Yakovchenko lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Babitu backs up against the cage.
That's one minute gone in the round. Yakovchenko throws a shot from downtown. Babitu moves away and avoids it. Yakovchenko checks a low kick from Babitu. Babitu tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Yakovchenko manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat. Yakovchenko appears to be looking for a counter takedown. Yakovchenko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it. Yakovchenko throws a shot from downtown. Babitu moves away and avoids it. Babitu feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Yakovchenko's calf. Some bone on bone action there as Yakovchenko checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one. Yakovchenko gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Babitu. Yakovchenko misses with a straight right. Babitu displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Yakovchenko. Yakovchenko moves out of range of the leg kick from Babitu. Yakovchenko throws a leg kick but Babitu moved away. Babitu lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin. Yakovchenko misses with a leg kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Babitu lets loose with a powerful body kick. Yakovchenko will feel that in the morning. Babitu moves out of range of the strikes. Yakovchenko moves into the clinch. Yakovchenko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Babitu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Babitu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show! Babitu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Babitu scores with a shoulder strike. Yakovchenko can't find room to land a body shot as Babitu controls the action.
Yakovchenko misses with the head strike.
Yakovchenko blocks an elbow strike. Yakovchenko ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Yakovchenko no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard. Yakovchenko keeping moving, preventing Babitu from controlling successfully. Igor Yakovchenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far. Babitu sitting in guard here, content to control. Yakovchenko wants to hit a switch here but Babitu passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Yakovchenko there!
That's three minutes gone in the round. Yakovchenko is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Yakovchenko tries to hold on but Babitu pushes him away. Yakovchenko is in all sorts of trouble here.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless. Babitu controlling his opponent. Babitu prevents Yakovchenko from getting the reversal. Babitu looking to control and managing it successfully. Yakovchenko tries to get back to half guard but can't. Yakovchenko tries to lock up and control but Babitu gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away. Yakovchenko is squirming around, avoiding Babitu's attempts to control the action. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Joeli Babitu really dominated that round. OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Babitu checks a leg kick. Babitu throws a good cross that connects.
Yakovchenko shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down. Babitu misses with a low kick.
Babitu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target. As Babitu tries to get set, Yakovchenko tries to push him back and clinch up but Babitu manages to avoid the attempt. Babitu throws a leg kick but Yakovchenko sees it coming and checks it nicely. Babitu throws a front kick aimed at Yakovchenko's knee but Yakovchenko avoids it well. A clash of legs there as Yakovchenko blocks the low kick. Yakovchenko checks the leg kick. Yakovchenko avoids the body shot from Babitu.
Babitu misses with a looping left. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Yakovchenko chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Yakovchenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion. Yakovchenko bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes. Yakovchenko blocks a head kick by Babitu.
Yakovchenko throws a looping overhand right but Babitu ducks down to avoid it.
That's one minute gone in the round. Yakovchenko throws a body kick but he wasn't in range. Babitu feints a counter leg kick. A left lands for Babitu. Yakovchenko bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut. Yakovchenko throws a nice outside leg kick. Babitu's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down. Yakovchenko fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Babitu is out of range. Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Babitu, as that shot connected.
Babitu throws a push kick but Yakovchenko slaps the foot to one side. Yakovchenko tries to counter with a takedown but Babitu is quick to defend against it. Yakovchenko ducks right into an uppercut from Babitu. Babitu scoring well with a low kick there.
Yakovchenko lands a nice shot that snaps Babitu's head back.
Babitu attempts a low kick but it misses it's target. Yakovchenko throws a leg kick that misses. And an attempted straight right on the counter from Babitu! But no joy. Yakovchenko wants to slow Babitu down by chopping away at his legs. Yakovchenko takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Yakovchenko does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show! Babitu fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done. Babitu on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those. Babitu is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range. Yakovchenko defending well as Babitu loads up on a big left hand. Yakovchenko is looking to score with low kicks. Babitu has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Yakovchenko finds it's way round the side to connect with Babitu's head. Babitu scores with a head kick. Yakovchenko tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time. A solid leg kick lands there for Yakovchenko.
Babitu checks the leg kick nicely there.
Yakovchenko has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Babitu. Babitu moves away from the strike by Yakovchenko. Yakovchenko misses with an uppercut. Babitu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes. Babitu misses with a left hand and Yakovchenko counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body. Babitu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yakovchenko. Babitu connects with a leg kick. Yakovchenko looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it. Yakovchenko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three minutes gone in the round. A nice leg kick lands there from Yakovchenko. Yakovchenko doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body. Babitu fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Yakovchenko looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath. Babitu takes a body punch but keeps moving. Babitu tries a low kick but Yakovchenko avoids it. Babitu throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean. Babitu throws a body kick, spinning off balance and Yakovchenko counters with a nice double leg into guard. Babitu controls Yakovchenko momentarily but Yakovchenko frees himself. Yakovchenko throws a strike but Babitu rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top. Yakovchenko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd. Yakovchenko stops Babitu from getting back to his feet.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Yakovchenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Babitu keeps working. Yakovchenko controlling the action here. The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work. Babitu keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount. Yakovchenko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close fourth round but Joeli Babitu will probably get the nod - 10:9. 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Yakovchenko chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Babitu can pounce on him.
Yakovchenko misses with a low kick.
Babitu appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick. Yakovchenko misses with a body kick. Babitu tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Yakovchenko is able to avoid easily. Yakovchenko has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Babitu. Yakovchenko connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe. Babitu tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion. Yakovchenko pivots, looking for a leg kick but Babitu is out of range and Yakovchenko settles back down. Babitu displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Yakovchenko. Yakovchenko misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Yakovchenko bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick. Babitu scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction. Babitu will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Babitu takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Babitu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
That's one minute gone in the round. Yakovchenko takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming. Babitu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Yakovchenko misses with an uppercut. Babitu doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter. Yakovchenko lands an overhand right. Yakovchenko tests Babitu's chin there with a solid looking shot. Babitu staying out of range there. Yakovchenko backing away here, and Babitu unleashes a leg kick that just misses. Yakovchenko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Babitu. Nice defenses there by Yakovchenko. A slapping leg kick lands for Babitu.
Babitu lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt. Yakovchenko throws a leg kick that misses. An inside leg kick lands from Yakovchenko. Yakovchenko throws a lazy right hand but Babitu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily. Yakovchenko has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Babitu.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Nice uppercut there from Yakovchenko. The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here. A nice inside leg kick there by Babitu. That's going to slow Yakovchenko down. A punch lands to the side of Babitu 's head but he takes it in his stride. Yakovchenko misses with a body kick. Babitu displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Yakovchenko. The fight stays on the outside here - Yakovchenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though. Babitu raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick. Babitu turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick. Yakovchenko waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Babitu. Babitu unleashes a big counter combination but Yakovchenko bobs and weaves and avoids any damage. A lazy left from Yakovchenko finds it's target. Yakovchenko throws a wild body kick that Babitu sees coming a mile off. Yakovchenko slips under a jab. Babitu looks for the body kick but Yakovchenko saw that one coming.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Yakovchenko moves in looking to clinch but Babitu pushes him off. Yakovchenko moves away from the strike by Babitu. Yakovchenko looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard. Yakovchenko is looking for a kimura here.
Babitu is refusing to be controlled, as Yakovchenko sits in half guard. Babitu wants to get back to full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Babitu is not content to let Yakovchenko control the position. Yakovchenko stalling away here and it's allowed Babitu to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard. Yakovchenko's corner is telling him to maintain position. Babitu is controlling Yakovchenko's posture.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
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 Igor Yakovchenko. I think Yakovchenko 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision. Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 47:48 Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 48:47 Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 48:47
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Igor Yakovchenko! Igor Yakovchenko retains his welterweight title! Igor Yakovchenko decided to call for a title shot in his post fight interview, which was very strange given the fact this fight was for a title and he's already the champion. I guess that's what getting punched in the head does for 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
54% |
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