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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mickey O Neil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 187 cm
47
177 lbs
42 - 34 - 1 |
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178 cm
39
195 lbs
25 - 19 - 1 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Big right hand |
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Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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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
42 - 34 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mickey O Neil!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
25 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matt Freeman!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Seu Braga.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - O Neil throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
O Neil fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Freeman drops down looking to force a counter takedown but O Neil defends it well.
O Neil cracks Freeman with a good jab.
O Neil misses the jab.
O Neil has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
O Neil throws a series of strikes that have Freeman backpedaling.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Freeman is defended easily by O Neil.
Freeman has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Freeman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and O Neil counters with a lovely straight right hand!
O Neil looks to land a right hand but Freeman moved out of range.
A punch combination from O Neil misses.
A punch combination from O Neil misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Freeman! But no joy.
O Neil misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
O Neil fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Freeman avoids a punch combination nicely.
That's one minute gone in the round.
O Neil cracks Freeman with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nice uppercut lands for O Neil. That snapped Freeman's head back.
O Neil throws a hook but Freeman avoids it easily.
Freeman changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Freeman scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
O Neil is looking for a sweep. Freeman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
O Neil is looking to control Freeman's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can O Neil avoid being mounted?
Freeman not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Freeman is sneakily working for an arm triangle but O Neil sees it coming and defends easily.
Freeman controlling the action here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman seems to be working for a kimura but O Neil defends the submission attempt.
Freeman has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
O Neil is squirming around, avoiding Freeman's attempts to control the action.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman avoids the attempt from O Neil to control.
Freeman can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as O Neil is looking to escape.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Freeman cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Freeman goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now O Neil is on top in guard.
O Neil trying to control but Freeman is working from the bottom.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Neil won't allow Freeman to sweep him here.
O Neil gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Freeman throws a combination. O Neil tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
It looks like Mickey O Neil has been cut.
Freeman slips a jab and a cross from O Neil.
Freeman takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Freeman clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch on the inside from O Neil fails to land.
O Neil is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Freeman manages to pull guard.
Freeman managing to control the position.
O Neil would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
O Neil avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Mickey O Neil dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mickey O Neil's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Freeman displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as O Neil throws out the jab.
O Neil throws a sloppy head kick and Freeman moves out of range easily.
O Neil fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
O Neil misses with a hook.
Freeman closes the distance and clinches.
Freeman keeps control of O Neil as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
O Neil gets underhooks to prevent Freeman's takedown attempt.
Stalling in the clinch from Freeman.
O Neil misses with a punch to the body.
O Neil throws a head punch that misses.
O Neil tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Neil throws a punch but it's blocked by Freeman.
O Neil misses with a punch on the inside.
O Neil goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Freeman has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed O Neil clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Freeman is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. O Neil is defending well though. Freeman let's go of the attempt for now.
Matt Freeman has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Freeman's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Freeman struggling to land strikes to the head as O Neil covers up.
Freeman keeps control of the position easily here as O Neil tries to buck him off.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Freeman is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Freeman gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Freeman gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Freeman apologises and we restart here on the feet.
O Neil slips a jab and a cross from Freeman.
Freeman clinches with his opponent.
Freeman has O Neil pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. O Neil manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
O Neil misses with the head strike.
Freeman pulls guard successfully.
Freeman 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.
O Neil decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Freeman takes the fight into the clinch.
Freeman is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. O Neil is defending well for now.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Neil misses with a short punch on the inside.
O Neil wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Freeman has him pressed against the cage.
Freeman has hold of one of O Neil's legs. O Neil is fighting the takedown attempt but Freeman gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
O Neil is controlling Freeman's posture.
O Neil utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Freeman wants to control from the top but O Neil keeps moving.
O Neil 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.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman trying to control but O Neil is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
O Neil working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Freeman.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
O Neil displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Freeman.
O Neil was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Mickey O Neil has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Freeman.
Freeman has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Freeman there as he acknowledges the shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Freeman fails with a takedown attempt.
O Neil keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Matt Freeman will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Mickey O Neil's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
O Neil throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Freeman.
Freeman motions for O Neil to come forward. Freeman throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
O Neil throws out a loose jab but Freeman uses good head movement to avoid it.
A punch combination from O Neil misses.
Freeman moves into the clinch successfully.
O Neil lands a hook to the side of the head.
Freeman tries to land a knee to the head but O Neil blocks with his arms.
O Neil swings wildly with an uppercut but Freeman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Freeman breaks from the clinch.
Freeman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Neil lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Mickey O Neil is winning the standup battle so far.
O Neil misses with an uppercut.
Matt Freeman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
O Neil looks to land a combination but Freeman avoids it well.
O Neil throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Freeman counters with a lovely shot to the body.
O Neil misses with a lunging right hand
and Freeman counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
O Neil is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Freeman presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman is trying to pull guard but O Neil turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
O Neil trying to stall but Freeman improves his position.
O Neil trying to control the position but instead, Freeman has worked for underhooks and has pushed O Neil into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from O Neil fails to land.
O Neil fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
O Neil misses with a hook from the clinch.
O Neil working aggressively here.
Freeman drags the fight down to the ground.
Freeman wants to stand and escape but O Neil is having none of it.
Freeman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Freeman looking to hit a scissor sweep but O Neil is one step ahead there.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman controls O Neil momentarily but O Neil frees himself.
O Neil stands and steps away. Freeman gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
O Neil is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
O Neil takes a swing at Freeman's ribcage but misses.
Freeman moves into the clinch.
O Neil tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Freeman's elbow.
Freeman is trying to pull guard but O Neil turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
O Neil swings away with an uppercut that misses.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting O Neil here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Freeman manages to break the clinch.
Freeman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mickey O Neil has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Freeman.
O Neil tries to bum rush Freeman with a series of wild strikes but Freeman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman slips under a jab.
O Neil throws a big shot that misses.
Freeman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Freeman tries a head kick but it misses.
O Neil fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Freeman manages to avoid it.
O Neil swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Freeman dives in and grabs O Neil's left leg, looking for a takedown. O Neil pushes down on Freeman's head and hops out.
O Neil lands a nice hook to Freeman's body. Freeman takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Good standup being displayed there by O Neil as he connects with a hook.
Freeman shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. O Neil defends it nicely.
O Neil lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman clinches.
O Neil has had enough of the clinch but Freeman keeps him there for the moment.
O Neil tries to stall but Freeman uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Freeman decides to pull guard.
O Neil postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
O Neil would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
O Neil decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Freeman fails with a takedown attempt.
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!
O Neil looks to throw the jab but Freeman is out of range.
Freeman slips under a jab from O Neil.
O Neil swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Despite the aggression on Freeman's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
And that's the end of the fight!
Mickey O Neil showed his dominance in that final round.
I think O Neil 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mickey O Neil!
Mickey O Neil thanked the fans post fight for their support.
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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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