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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Japa Koniu (ranked 776 p4p, 105 weight class) and Thiago Araujo (ranked 661 p4p, 83 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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| 198 cm
33
235 lbs
16 - 12 - 0 |
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193 cm
25
285 lbs
14 - 10 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine |
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Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Japa Koniu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Araujo!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koniu stuffs the takedown attempt from Araujo. Araujo gets slowly back to his feet.
Koniu pushes Araujo up against the cage in a clinch.
A short left from Koniu.
Araujo stalling in the clinch.
Araujo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Koniu has him pressed against the cage.
Koniu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Araujo's elbow.
Araujo tries to pull guard but Koniu forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Koniu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Araujo backwards.
A short left from Koniu.
Koniu lands a body punch.
Koniu can't find room to land a body shot as Araujo controls the action.
Araujo misses with a hook to the ribs.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Araujo has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Koniu obliges.
Araujo is trying to pull guard but Koniu has him pressed against the cage.
Japa Koniu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Araujo.
Araujo successfully pulls guard.
Koniu gets to his feet - Araujo follows without any prompting.
Araujo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Koniu counters with a body kick.
Araujo looks winded!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Koniu cracks Araujo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Koniu lands a nice looking body kick.
Koniu forces Araujo back against the cage and clinches.
Koniu lands a hook to the side of the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Araujo is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Koniu to keep the fight standing.
Koniu landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Koniu lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Koniu.
A knee to the head by Koniu.
Koniu throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Araujos head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Koniu.
Koniu with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Koniu lands a nice knee to the body.
Koniu unloads a knee to the mid-section. Araujo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Koniu displaying some good clinch control by pressing Araujo up against the cage.
Koniu with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Koniu scores with a hook to the body.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koniu crunches a lovely knee into Araujo's ribcage.
Koniu landing knees to the body.
Koniu lands a shot to the body.
Koniu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Koniu crunches a lovely knee into Araujo's ribcage.
Araujo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Koniu using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Koniu digs a right hand into Araujo's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Araujo's gas tank.
Koniu lands a body punch in the clinch.
Koniu tries to throw a body punch but Araujo avoids it by throwing Koniu back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Koniu - that landed with a thud.
Koniu slows down the pace here.
A short uppercut from Koniu.
Stalling in the clinch from Koniu.
Koniu lands with a short shot to the head.
Araujo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Koniu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koniu landing knees to the body.
Araujo prevents a body shot from Koniu.
Koniu leaning against his opponent.
Araujo swings wildly with an uppercut but Koniu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koniu tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Araujo.
Koniu lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Araujo fails to pull guard.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Koniu.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Araujo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Koniu walks away with a smile on his face. Araujo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've been told by Koniu's head coaches at St Petersburg MMA Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Araujo looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Araujo is rocked!
Japa Koniu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Koniu scores with a nice body kick.
Araujo is still on wobbly legs! Can Koniu finish him?
Koniu lands a leg kick that knocks Araujo off balance momentarily.
Araujo seems to have recovered his senses.
Koniu swinging wildly here.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A right hand to the body from Koniu.
Koniu unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Koniu unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A body shot lands from Koniu.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Koniu.
Koniu taking a breather.
Koniu utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Koniu utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A shot in the inside from Koniu.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Koniu lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Koniu scores a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Japa Koniu dominated that round.
That's time! Koniu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Koniu comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Araujo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Koniu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Koniu is looking to counter punch.
Araujo wants to stay close but Koniu steps back to make room for something. Araujo seems frozen to the spot and bam! huge swing of the leg from Koniu and Araujo drops like he has been shot! A huge head kick and it's all over!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:13 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Japa Koniu!
An out of breath Japa Koniu thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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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
63% |
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