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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michel Colucci (ranked 1372 p4p, 177 weight class) and Russell Westbrook (ranked 1714 p4p, 225 weight class). Colucci's entrance music is Le temps des cerises. A fine choice. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!
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| 176 cm
22
193 lbs
9 - 1 - 0 |
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183 cm
21
194 lbs
7 - 3 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
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
9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michel Colucci!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Russell Westbrook!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Ben Hemmingworth and Darius Henderson.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Colucci dives in and grabs Westbrook's left leg, looking for a takedown. Westbrook pushes down on Colucci's head and hops out.
Westbrook misses the jab.
Westbrook gets caught napping as Colucci dives in and scores a takedown. Westbrook manages to retain guard.
Colucci missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Westbrook is pulling down on Colucci's head. It's preventing any offense from Colucci, at least for the moment.
Colucci wants to pass the guard but Westbrook is keeping the position.
We've been hearing good reports from Colucci's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Colucci stands up from Westbrook's guard - Colucci perhaps looking for a knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Colucci shoots and misses
and Westbrook counters with a right hand to the body.
Westbrook throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Westbrook connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Colucci shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Westbrook is trying to defend but Colucci finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Westbrook wants to improve his position but Colucci is controlling well.
Colucci passes the guard and advances to mount!
Colucci is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Westbrook can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Colucci is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Westbrook has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Westbrook!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Colucci working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Westbrook doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Westbrook manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Colucci is on top in guard.
Westbrook is trying to keep Colucci in close.
Colucci decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Colucci misses with a takedown attempt - Westbrook sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michel Colucci. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Colucci is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Westbrook's half guard.
Colucci is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Westbrook tries to get to full guard but Colucci has control of the leg.
Colucci is looking for a kimura but Westbrook is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Colucci to get the leverage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Colucci throwing shots but Westbrook is blocking nicely.
Westbrook really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Colucci. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Colucci lands a nice short elbow.
Colucci is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Colucci prevents Westbrook from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Colucci thows a huge punch but Westbrook dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Michel Colucci dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Westbrook punishes Colucci's body with a nice straight punch.
Westbrook swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Colucci closes the distance and clinches up with Westbrook, looking for a takedown. Colucci pushes Westbrook against the cage but Westbrook circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Westbrook throws out a counter right but Colucci avoids it with no problem.
The fight stays on the outside here - Colucci looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Westbrook let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Colucci tries to score a power double leg takedown but Westbrook sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Colucci somewhat.
Westbrook throws out a counter right but Colucci avoids it with no problem.
Westbrook misses with a straight left.
Colucci gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Westbrook counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
It looks like Michel Colucci has been cut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michel Colucci. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Westbrook throws a right and a left that Colucci avoids nicely.
Colucci on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Russell Westbrook seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Westbrook, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Colucci instigates a clinch.
Westbrook content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Westbrook gets underhooks to prevent Colucci's takedown attempt.
Westbrook pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Westbrook throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Colucci on the side of the head.
Westbrook fails to land with a series of punches.
Colucci appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Westbrook misses with a looping right.
Westbrook throws a body shot but no joy.
Colucci uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Westbrook.
Westbrook lands the left hand.
Westbrook fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Westbrook throws a body shot but no joy.
Westbrook with a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Colucci looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Colucci shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Westbrook sprawls well. Westbrook wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Colucci gets slowly back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Colucci avoids the body shot from Westbrook.
Colucci shoots in looking for a takedown but Westbrook manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Colucci's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Colucci closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Colucci tries to pass to full mount but Westbrook defends it.
Colucci seems to be working for a kimura but Westbrook defends the submission attempt.
Westbrook has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Colucci is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Westbrook sees it coming and defends easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook is refusing to be controlled, as Colucci sits in half guard.
Westbrook moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Westbrook manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Colucci manages to get himself to full guard.
Colucci has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Westbrook can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Colucci keeping moving, preventing Westbrook from controlling successfully.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Westbrook trying to control the position from guard on top but Colucci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Colucci is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Colucci is looking for a triangle here but Westbrook uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Russell Westbrook showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Michel Colucci's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Westbrook tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Colucci was well out of range. Poor timing from Westbrook.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Colucci.
Nice uppercut there from Westbrook.
Westbrook throws a shot from downtown. Colucci moves away and avoids it.
Colucci was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Colucci shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Westbrook defends it nicely.
Westbrook has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Westbrook tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Colucci was well out of range. Poor timing from Westbrook.
Westbrook tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Colucci was well out of range. Poor timing from Westbrook.
Colucci has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michel Colucci. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A punch combination from Westbrook misses.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Westbrook slaps away a takedown attempt from Colucci, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Westbrook works the jab nicely.
Michel Colucci is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Colucci has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Westbrook finds it's way round the side to connect with Colucci's head.
Colucci moves away from the strike by Westbrook.
Westbrook swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Colucci gets the takedown into side control.
Westbrook manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Colucci looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Westbrook seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Colucci does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Westbrook might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Colucci haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Colucci slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Colucci is looking for a triangle but Westbrook pushes his legs off easily.
Colucci is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Colucci not landing any meaningful shots this time.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Colucci wants to free his trapped foot but Westbrook is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Colucci passes to full mount!
Colucci avoids the attempt from Westbrook to control.
Colucci wants to control the pace but Westbrook is squirming around nicely.
Westbrook has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Colucci's lack of action.
Michel Colucci overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Colucci is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Westbrook reverses the position - he's now on top in Colucci's guard.
Colucci throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Colucci is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Westbrook wants to pass the guard but Colucci is keeping the position.
And that's the end of the fight!
Russell Westbrook comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Westbrook has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Topper Green scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russell Westbrook!
Russell Westbrook seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
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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
39% |
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