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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Fitzsimmons (ranked 849 p4p, 123 weight class) and Victor Sharp (ranked 827 p4p, 120 weight class). Sharp is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Immortal Technique-Cause Of Death. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
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| 188 cm
37
203 lbs
36 - 20 - 1 |
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225 cm
32
224 lbs
21 - 7 - 2 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
36 - 20 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jim Fitzsimmons!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
21 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Victor Sharp!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitzsimmons tests Sharp's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sharp is looking to slow Fitzsimmons down with leg kicks.
Sharp paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
It looks like Jim Fitzsimmons has been cut.
Sharp connects with a solid leg kick.
Sharp digs a good hook to Fitzsimmons's body.
Fitzsimmons looks for the body kick but Sharp saw that one coming.
Sharp takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Fitzsimmons ducks under a wild hook from Sharp.
Fitzsimmons lands a jab to Sharp's midsection.
Fitzsimmons throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fitzsimmons tries to land a body kick
and Sharp counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Sharp is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sharp moves out of range of the body kick from Fitzsimmons.
Jim Fitzsimmons seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sharp.
Fitzsimmons has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Kevin Spacey's House of Squats & Grabs in the buildup to the fight.
Fitzsimmons throws a predictable looking body shot
and Sharp counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fitzsimmons fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Fitzsimmons lands an overhand right.
Fitzsimmons rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sharp connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sharp moves away from the strike by Fitzsimmons.
Sharp keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fitzsimmons just misses with a punch to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sharp's jab looks to have found its range, popping Fitzsimmons under the eye.
A decent looking cross lands there for Sharp.
Sharp waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sharp.
Sharp swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Fitzsimmons counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sharp has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Fitzsimmons misses with a wild body shot.
Fitzsimmons scores with the left hand. Sharp knows he should have avoided that one.
Sharp feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Fitzsimmons's calf.
Fitzsimmons throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Sharp connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sharp lands a nice looking body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fitzsimmons ducks under a wild hook from Sharp.
Fitzsimmons quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Fitzsimmons gets off balance looking for a body kick
letting Sharp counter with a right hand.
Fitzsimmons throws a body punch but Sharp moves out of range.
Fitzsimmons looks to score with a jab to the body but Sharp is just out of range.
Sharp bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sharp thumps Fitzsimmons with a low kick.
Sharp scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharp slips under a jab from Fitzsimmons.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sharp! But no joy.
Sharp is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Fitzsimmons just misses with a punch to the body.
A swing and a miss from Fitzsimmons.
Sharp throws a counter combo.
Fitzsimmons tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sharp was well out of range. Poor timing from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sharp connects with a leg kick. Fitzsimmons looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Fitzsimmons throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fitzsimmons just misses with a punch to the body.
Sharp ducks under a wild hook from Fitzsimmons.
A jab from Fitzsimmons does it's job there.
Fitzsimmons moves forwards but Sharp connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Fitzsimmons pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Fitzsimmons checks a leg kick.
Sharp avoids a kick to the body.
Fitzsimmons tries to move into range but Sharp moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Jim Fitzsimmons's cut is getting worse.
Sharp throws a quick inside leg kick.
Fitzsimmons throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sharp on the side of the head.
Sharp moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp connects with an inside leg kick.
The fighters circling - Sharp throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sharp is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Fitzsimmons had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Sharp uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fitzsimmons.
Sharp misses with a low kick as Fitzsimmons jumps back.
Fitzsimmons moves out of range of the body kick from Sharp.
Sharp misses with a low kick.
Fitzsimmons swings widly with a right hand
and Sharp counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fitzsimmons looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Fitzsimmons misses with an uppercut
and Sharp makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sharp swings for the body but Fitzsimmons moves out of range.
Fitzsimmons swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Fitzsimmons takes a swing at Sharp's ribcage but misses.
Fitzsimmons digs a good body shot into Sharp's ribs.
Sharp lands an overhand right.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body kick.
Fitzsimmons throws an overhand right that lands on Sharp's shoulder, as Sharp tries to avoid the shot.
Sharp let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Fitzsimmons avoids the body shot from Sharp.
Sharp swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
It looked like Fitzsimmons was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sharp.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons misses with a left hand
and Sharp counters with a nice low kick that buckles Fitzsimmons's knee momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sharp keeps Fitzsimmons at a distance using the push kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Sharp.
Fitzsimmons takes a swing at Sharp's ribcage but misses.
Fitzsimmons fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sharp looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Sharp ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sharp with a nice cross.
Sharp misses with a looping left.
Fitzsimmons throws a wild body kick that Sharp sees coming a mile off.
Sharp shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sharp connects with a right hand. Fitzsimmons shakes it off.
Fitzsimmons throws a body shot but no joy.
Sharp staying out of range there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fitzsimmons throws a lazy uppercut
and Sharp counters with a nice uppercut.
Fitzsimmons tries to land a leg kick but Sharp saw it coming and moves away.
Sharp let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Fitzsimmons lunges at Sharp with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sharp's hand.
Fitzsimmons checks a leg kick.
Fitzsimmons seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Victor Sharp dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jim Fitzsimmons's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!
Fitzsimmons throws a jab but it's blocked by Sharp.
A jab from Fitzsimmons finds it's way through Sharp's defenses.
Fitzsimmons misses with a hook to the body
and Fitzsimmons takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sharp misses with a two punch combination.
Fitzsimmons is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Fitzsimmons misses with a wild body shot.
Fitzsimmons steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sharp.
It looked like Fitzsimmons wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Fitzsimmons looks to score with a jab to the body but Sharp is just out of range.
Fitzsimmons throws a hook but Sharp avoids it easily.
A punch lands to the side of Fitzsimmons 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Fitzsimmons misses with a wild body shot.
Sharp throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Sharp in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Sharp lands a nice hook to Fitzsimmons's body. Fitzsimmons takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sharp pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Fitzsimmons back to the cage. Sharp follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sharp throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Fitzsimmons misses the target.
Sharp is looking to slow Fitzsimmons down with leg kicks.
Sharp looks to score with a jab to the body but Fitzsimmons is just out of range.
Sharp with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons throws a body shot but no joy.
Fitzsimmons takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Fitzsimmons waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sharp.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body kick.
Fitzsimmons throws a predictable looking body shot
and Sharp counters with a straight right hand.
Fitzsimmons misses the shot to the body.
Fitzsimmons backing away here, and Sharp unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Fitzsimmons as he connects with a hook.
Fitzsimmons lunges at Sharp with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sharp's hand.
Fitzsimmons works the jab nicely.
Fitzsimmons swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sharp swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sharp scoring well with a low kick there.
Fitzsimmons takes a swing at Sharp's ribcage but misses.
Fitzsimmons throws an off balance right hand
and Sharp cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A swing and a miss from Sharp.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sharp lands a nice looking body shot.
Sharp scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Jim Fitzsimmons's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharp throws a solid leg kick but Fitzsimmons takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Sharp.
Fitzsimmons is looking to counter the offense by Sharp and move into the clinch.
Fitzsimmons gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Fitzsimmons tries to move into range but Sharp moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Fitzsimmons is rocked!
Sharp stuns Fitzsimmons with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Oh Fitzsimmons is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sharp tries to land a leg kick but Fitzsimmons saw it coming and moves away.
Fitzsimmons throws an overhand right that lands on Sharp's shoulder, as Sharp tries to avoid the shot.
Fitzsimmons seems to have got his legs back now.
Fitzsimmons throws a hook but Sharp blocks it.
Victor Sharp seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sharp keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sharp connects with a body shot.
Fitzsimmons works Sharp's body with a nice hook.
Fitzsimmons connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sharp. Sharp circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A good leg kick by Sharp.
Fitzsimmons looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Fitzsimmons thuds a left hand into Sharp's body.
Sharp has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fitzsimmons looks to score with a jab to the body but Sharp is just out of range.
Sharp throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sharp moves out of range of the body kick.
Sharp throws a hook to the side of Fitzsimmons's head but Fitzsimmons sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sharp manages to avoid it.
As Fitzsimmons backs off Sharp throws a huge counter combo but Fitzsimmons manages to avoid it all.
Fitzsimmons fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sharp has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Sharp lands the left hand.
Fitzsimmons throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Fitzsimmons might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Sharp fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Fitzsimmons has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Sharp throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sharp throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Sharp throws a body punch but Fitzsimmons moves out of range.
Both fighters circling a little - Sharp finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Fitzsimmons takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fitzsimmons scores with a jab to the head.
Sharp throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Fitzsimmons sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sharp cracks Fitzsimmons with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A slow jab from Sharp misses its intended target.
Sharp lands the left hand.
Fitzsimmons misses with a shot to the body
and Sharp counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jeez, Jim Fitzsimmons's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Fitzsimmons missing with a left hand there. Sharp was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharp lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sharp turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Fitzsimmons throws a body kick that misses.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sharp.
A slow jab from Sharp misses its intended target.
Fitzsimmons moves forwards but Sharp connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sharp lands with a kick to the ribs.
Sharp tests Fitzsimmons's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sharp tries a head kick but it misses.
Fitzsimmons scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sharp doesn't seem bothered though.
Fitzsimmons takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Fitzsimmons clobbers Sharp with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body shot
and Sharp counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fitzsimmons keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sharp.
Sharp bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Fitzsimmons's head backwards.
Fitzsimmons throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Victor Sharp showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jim Fitzsimmons's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Fitzsimmons buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Fitzsimmons. Sharp shrugs it off though.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sharp.
Fitzsimmons lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sharp at a distance.
Sharp misses with a head kick.
Sharp lands with a thumping leg kick.
Fitzsimmons fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sharp finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Fitzsimmons ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sharp moves away.
Sharp misses with a few strikes there.
Fitzsimmons fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sharp manages to avoid it.
Sharp throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzsimmons cracks a nice hook into Sharp's ribs.
Fitzsimmons's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
A swing and a miss from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons throws a poor cross that misses
and Sharp makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Fitzsimmons swings for the body but Sharp moves out of range.
Fitzsimmons throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Sharps jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Fitzsimmons 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.
Sharp moves out of range of the body kick.
Fitzsimmons has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Fitzsimmons there as he acknowledges the shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sharp.
Sharp takes a swing at Fitzsimmons's ribcage but misses.
Fitzsimmons uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sharp.
Fitzsimmons jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Fitzsimmons misses with a wild body shot.
Fitzsimmons throws a sloppy body shot
and Sharp counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fitzsimmons takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fitzsimmons slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Fitzsimmons slips under a jab.
Sharp throws a lazy right hand but Fitzsimmons sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sharp looks to land a right hand but Fitzsimmons moved out of range.
Fitzsimmons lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
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!
Fitzsimmons misses with a body shot.
Jim Fitzsimmons has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons scores with a punch to the head.
Sharp lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sharp scores with a nice strike.
Sharp tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Fitzsimmons is able to avoid easily.
Fitzsimmons misses with a looping left.
Fitzsimmons throws a body shot but no joy.
Fitzsimmons throws a body punch but Sharp moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Sharp on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Sharp jabs Fitzsimmons to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Fitzsimmons throws the left hand but Sharp avoids the punch easily.
Sharp avoids a kick to the body.
Fitzsimmons swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fitzsimmons gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Sharp.
Fitzsimmons throws a right hand that misses
and Sharp counters with a straight right hand.
Fitzsimmons throws a big shot that misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Sharp.
Fitzsimmons throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sharp keeps Fitzsimmons at a distance using the push kick.
Fitzsimmons stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sharp.
Sharp on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Sharp ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Sharp. Fitzsimmons shrugs it off though.
A lazy left from Sharp finds it's target.
Fitzsimmons misses with a leg kick
and Sharp counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sharp scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Fitzsimmons thuds a left hand into Sharp's body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fitzsimmons swings widly with a right hand
and Sharp counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fitzsimmons throws a body punch but Sharp moves out of range.
Fitzsimmons uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sharp.
Fitzsimmons takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sharp with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fitzsimmons scores with a spinning back kick!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sharp's sensitive parts.
Fitzsimmons takes a swing at Sharp's ribcage but misses.
Fitzsimmons sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Sharp with a hook.
Sharp lands a nice shot to the body.
Sharp lands with a hook. Fitzsimmons tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Fitzsimmons throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
enabling Sharp to counter with a crisp jab.
Fitzsimmons throws the left hand but Sharp avoids the punch easily.
Fitzsimmons swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Sharp counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sharp stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Fitzsimmons tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sharp was well out of range. Poor timing from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sharp.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sharp dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fitzsimmons throws an off balance right hand
letting Sharp counter with a right hand.
Victor Sharp is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Fitzsimmons throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Sharp cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Sharp comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sharp has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Victor Sharp!
After winning the bout, Victor Sharp thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Jim Fitzsimmons spoke after the fight, saying 'A jolly good scrap, old chum! I say, will you join me for a spot of gin and tonic?'.
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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
94% |
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