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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mitchell Menchaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruslan Hagush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 168 cm
22
143 lbs
10 - 4 - 1 |
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150 cm
24
145 lbs
5 - 2 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
10 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Mitchell Menchaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ruslan Hagush!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Josh West and Micheangelo Fripello.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hagush avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Menchaka misses with a low kick.
Menchaka throws a body shot but no joy.
Hagush with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Menchaka to score with a decent uppercut.
Menchaka keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hagush closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Menchaka to the mat! Menchaka manages to get full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Menchaka wants to sweep but no luck.
Hagush postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hagush throwing strikes from guard but Menchaka blocks nicely.
Menchaka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Menchaka will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hagush wants to control from the top but Menchaka keeps moving.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagush throwing strikes but missing.
Menchaka wants to sweep but no luck.
Hagush looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Menchaka manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hagush wants to hold on but Menchaka pushes him away.
Hagush holds of for dear life.
Menchaka wants to control the pace but Hagush is squirming around nicely.
Menchaka avoids the attempt from Hagush to control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menchaka trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Menchaka misses with a head shot.
Hagush is looking to get to half guard.
Menchaka looking to control but Hagush is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Menchaka sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Menchaka controlling from mount.
Hagush tries to hold on but Menchaka pushes him away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menchaka controlling from mount.
Menchaka trying to control but Hagush is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hagush keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hagush wants to hold on but Menchaka pushes him away.
Menchaka looking to control but Hagush is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hagush keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hagush wants to get back to his feet.
Hagush is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hagush is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hagush regains half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Menchaka controlling the pace.
Hagush is staying active underneath Menchaka, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Mitchell Menchaka will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Hagush takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Menchaka misses with a low kick.
Hagush changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Menchaka tries to avoid it but Hagush manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Menchaka to the ground. Menchaka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hagush forces Menchaka back against the cage and clinches.
Still in the clinch, Menchaka scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hagush drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Menchaka is pressed up against the cage. Hagush has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Menchaka down to the mat. Menchaka avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mitchell Menchaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Hagush.
Menchaka connects with a body shot that sends Hagush's belly button to the back.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hagush.
Hagush misses with a wild body shot.
Hagush tries to clinch up but Menchaka circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice uppercut there from Menchaka.
Menchaka throws a body punch but Hagush moves out of range.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hagush throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Menchaka's waist but Menchaka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hagush off to one side.
Hagush tries to score a power double leg takedown but Menchaka sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hagush somewhat.
Menchaka looks to land a combination but Hagush avoids it well.
Hagush rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Menchaka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hagush uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Menchaka.
Menchaka is looking to wear down Hagush with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Menchaka just misses with a punch to the body.
Hagush shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Menchaka as he jumps to the side.
Menchaka misses with a body shot.
Menchaka tries to land a front kick but Hagush steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hagush shoots in but Menchaka avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hagush tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Menchaka was well out of range. Poor timing from Hagush.
Hagush shoots in for a double leg but Menchaka sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menchaka takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Menchaka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hagush.
Nice shot lands for Menchaka.
Menchaka lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hagush gets a double leg takedown into Menchaka's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Menchaka controlling the position.
Hagush throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hagush accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hagush throws a big elbow that misses.
Menchaka trying to keep a closed guard but Hagush is proving a slippery customer.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Menchaka keeping moving, preventing Hagush from controlling successfully.
Hagush stopping the sweep attempt from Menchaka.
Menchaka is working hard here to advance position.
Hagush keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Menchaka's head.
Ruslan Hagush has got the better of the ground game so far.
Menchaka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Menchaka seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hagush throws a big elbow that misses.
Hagush working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Menchaka not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hagush working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hagush throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Menchaka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hagush throws a big right hand that misses.
Menchaka trying to control the position.
Menchaka is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hagush is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hagush pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Menchaka is keeping the position for now.
Menchaka has control of Hagush's left arm, preventing Hagush from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Mitchell Menchaka will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!
Nice uppercut there from Menchaka.
Hagush throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Menchaka's waist but Menchaka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hagush off to one side.
Hagush sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Hagush closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Menchaka keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Menchaka controlling the position for now.
Menchaka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hagush.
Hagush not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hagush not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Menchaka trying to control here.
Hagush missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Menchaka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hagush.
Hagush sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Menchaka defending well though.
Hagush thows a huge punch but Menchaka dodges it nicely.
Menchaka is trying to maintain the position but Hagush is very close to passing his half guard.
Hagush seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hagush lands with a punch from half guard.
Hagush prevents Menchaka from improving his position.
Hagush is stalling here. Menchaka is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Hagush seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Menchaka has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Hagush struggling a bit here.
Ruslan Hagush has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hagush tries to improve position but can't.
Menchaka moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Hagush is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hagush manages to get back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hagush is looking for a sweep. Menchaka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hagush is controlling Menchaka's trapped leg to prevent Menchaka from advancing to side control.
Hagush is staying active underneath Menchaka, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Menchaka is thwarting Hagush's attempts to control the position.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hagush shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Menchaka pinned against the cage. Menchaka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Menchaka lands a jab to Hagush's midsection.
Menchaka catches Hagush with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Mitchell Menchaka is winning the standup battle so far.
Hagush throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Menchaka's waist but Menchaka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hagush off to one side.
Mitchell Menchaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Hagush.
Hagush shoots for a double leg takedown but Menchaka sprawls well. He's pushed Hagush's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Menchaka connects with a body shot that sends Hagush's belly button to the back.
Hagush tries to clinch but Menchaka moves out of range.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Menchaka.
Menchaka with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Menchaka tries to score with a low kick but Hagush moves his leg out of the way.
Menchaka scores with a leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hagush looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hagush takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hagush.
Hagush throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hagush misses with the combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Menchaka lands a head shot.
Menchaka stalks Hagush and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hagush's face. Hagush staggers backwards, shaken.
Hagush shoots in for a takedown but Menchaka shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one 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 Mitchell Menchaka.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Menchaka, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 30:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mitchell Menchaka!
In his post fight interview, Mitchell Menchaka started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
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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
57% |
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