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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sanford Fanning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ludko Struja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Struja is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: HIJACK - THE BADMAN IS ROBBIN. 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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| 182 cm
29
216 lbs
15 - 8 - 0 |
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182 cm
35
211 lbs
26 - 12 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Sanford Fanning!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
26 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Ludko Struja!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Jorge Garcia and Chad Campbell.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Struja will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Fanning fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Struja sprawls well initially but Fanning persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Struja manages to get to full guard.
Fanning controlling from the top position.
Fanning missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fanning trying to control the position from guard on top but Struja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Struja is controlling Fanning's posture.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Struja trying to control the position.
Fanning landing some decent shots from guard.
Fanning forces his way into half guard.
Struja tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Fanning has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Struja keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fanning avoids the attempt from Struja to control.
Fanning landing strikes from the mount and Struja is in trouble!
Fanning lands a big elbow.
Struja is looking to improve his position but Fanning isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fanning has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Fanning get's back to his feet.
Struja has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Fanning is landing a low percentage of strikes.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fanning digs a good hook to Struja's body.
Fanning on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Fanning slips a jab and a cross from Struja.
Fanning throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters circling - Fanning throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Struja is looking for the big counter here.
Struja throws an overhand right that lands on Fanning's shoulder, as Fanning tries to avoid the shot.
Fanning connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Fanning takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Struja throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fanning.
Struja misses with a wild combination.
Struja takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Struja blocks a head kick by Fanning.
Struja looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A slow jab from Fanning misses its intended target.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Struja throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Fanning on the side of the head.
Struja dips to his left and cracks Fanning with an uppercut!
Fanning looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Fanning just misses with a punch to the body.
The fighters circling - Struja throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fanning looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Struja scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Struja ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fanning moves away.
Fanning dips to his left and cracks Struja with an uppercut!
It looks like Ludko Struja has been cut.
Struja throws a series of punches but Fanning moves out of range.
Struja swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Fanning throws a leg kick which misses Struja's front leg but catches the back leg as Struja tries to avoid it.
Fanning slips under a jab.
Struja misses with a hook. Fanning ducked under it nicely.
Struja just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromFanning.
Fanning throws a head kick that misses.
A big right from Struja misses.
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 Sanford Fanning will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ludko Struja's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Fanning takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Fanning throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Struja counter with a right hand.
Struja throws a hook but Fanning avoids it easily.
Struja takes one to the side of the head.
Struja takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A low kick from Fanning misses
and Struja counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Struja misses with a looping right.
Fanning takes one to the side of the head.
Struja takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The fighters circling - Fanning throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Struja throws a counter combo.
Struja looks to throw the jab but Fanning is out of range.
Fanning looks to land a combination but Struja avoids it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Struja tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Fanning takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Struja misses with a looping left.
Nice jab there from Struja.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Struja jabs Fanning right on the nose. Fanning blinks but takes it well.
The fighters circling - Fanning throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fanning moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Struja throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fanning.
Fanning was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
A punch combination from Struja misses.
Struja ducks under a wild hook from Fanning.
Fanning cracks a nice hook into Struja's ribs.
A jab from Struja misses.
Struja misses with an uppercut. Fanning saw that one coming.
Fanning is looking to counter the offense by Struja and move into the clinch.
Struja ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fanning moves away.
Struja moves out of range of the leg kick from Fanning.
Struja throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Struja misses with a straight left.
As Struja backs away, Fanning returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Fanning throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Fanning keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fanning stuns Struja with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fanning ducks under a wild hook from Struja.
A punch combination from Fanning misses.
Fanning throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fanning scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Fanning lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Struja misses with a hook.
Struja throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Fanning counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fanning fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Struja checks it well.
Fanning sets himself, and Struja steps forward looking for the clinch! Fanning avoids it this time.
Fanning jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Struja with a nice cross.
Fanning ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A left and a right from Fanning both land. Nice combination.
Fanning closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Struja! Fanning dives in looking to finish! Struja is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sanford Fanning!
Sanford Fanning retains his light heavyweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Sanford Fanning thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
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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
50% |
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