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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cheik Imbula (ranked 325 p4p, 50 weight class) and Pablo Maraçon (ranked 201 p4p, 30 weight class). Imbula comes to the cage accompanied by The Bongo Massive. Maraçon has chosen Pistolero as his entrance music. 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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| 185 cm
34
185 lbs
30 - 17 - 2 |
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186 cm
38
185 lbs
39 - 13 - 2 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
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
30 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cheik Imbula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
39 - 13 - 2, fighting out of London, Pablo Maraçon!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and Richard Clark.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maraçon connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Imbula lands a lovely overhand right.
Maraçon scores with a nice right hand.
Maraçon swings widly with a right hand
and Imbula counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Maraçon misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Imbula.
Maraçon just misses with a punch to the body.
Imbula wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Maraçon just misses with a punch to the body.
Imbula avoids a kick to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Imbula.
Maraçon lets loose with a powerful body kick. Imbula will feel that in the morning.
Maraçon takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maraçon digs a good body shot into Imbula's ribs.
Maraçon blocks a head kick by Imbula.
Maraçon pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maraçon throws a lazy right hand but Imbula sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Imbula is looking to counter punch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Imbula misses with a leg kick.
Imbula throws a hook to the side of Maraçon's head but Maraçon sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maraçon misses with an uppercut
and Imbula counters with an outside leg kick.
Imbula lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Maraçon at a distance.
Maraçon has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Imbula throws a chopping leg kick but Maraçon manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Maraçon looks to land a body kick but Imbula moved away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maraçon. Imbula does a little dance to reset his feet.
Maraçon slips a straight right by Imbula.
A nice side step and Maraçon releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Imbula jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Imbula takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Imbula scores with a sloppy right hand. Maraçon should have avoided that one.
Maraçon thows a leg kick but Imbula checks it
and Imbula counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Imbula performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maraçon trying to control but Imbula postures up.
Maraçon wants to improve his position but Imbula is controlling well.
Maraçon is doing well to control the position and prevent Imbula from advancing to side control.
Imbula is keen to just control but Maraçon is a slippery customer.
Imbula is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Imbula prevents Maraçon from improving his position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maraçon keeping hold of Imbula's head, controlling as best he can.
Imbula wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maraçon keeps working.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Imbula avoids the body shot from Maraçon.
Maraçon looks to throw a body kick
and Imbula counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Maraçon swings widly with a right hand
and Imbula counters with a right hand to the body.
Imbula throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Maraçon tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Imbula is in Maraçon's guard.
Maraçon has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Imbula is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maraçon tries to work over Imbula's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Imbula swings wildly with an uppercut but Maraçon uses good head movement to avoid it.
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!
Imbula throws a punch but it's blocked by Maraçon.
Maraçon doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Maraçon misses with a punch on the inside.
I was talking to Imbula's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Imbula prevents a body shot from Maraçon.
Maraçon lands a hook that snaps the head of Imbula backwards.
Maraçon throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A short right from Maraçon on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Imbula.
Maraçon tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Maraçon tries to work over Imbula's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short body shot lands from Maraçon as the two fighters clinch.
Maraçon scores with a hook to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Maraçon.
Imbula can't find room to land a body shot as Maraçon controls the action.
A left hand lands to the body for Maraçon.
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 Cheik Imbula will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
A leg kick checked by Maraçon.
Imbula throws a leg kick but Maraçon sees it coming and moves out of range.
Pablo Maraçon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Imbula scores with a kick to the body.
Imbula looks to throw the jab but Maraçon is out of range.
Maraçon swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Imbula swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Maraçon misses with a left hand
and Imbula makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Imbula fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Maraçon on the side of the head.
Imbula fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Maraçon looks to land a left hand but Imbula moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maraçon looks to land a left hand but Imbula moved out of range nicely.
Maraçon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Maraçon does it's job there.
Maraçon sizes up Imbula with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Maraçon swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Maraçon, right into the meat.
Imbula throws a body punch but Maraçon moves out of range.
A slow jab from Imbula misses its intended target.
Imbula looks to land a left hand but Maraçon moved out of range nicely.
Maraçon swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Imbula misses with a straight left.
It seemed like Maraçon was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Maraçon blocks a head kick by Imbula.
Some bone on bone action there as Maraçon checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Imbula looks to throw the jab but Maraçon is out of range.
Maraçon slips a straight right by Imbula.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Maraçon.
Nice body kick there by Maraçon.
Maraçon throws a front kick aimed at Imbula's knee but Imbula avoids it well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maraçon looks to score with a jab to the body but Imbula is just out of range.
Maraçon lunges at Imbula with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Imbula's hand.
Imbula avoids a kick to the body.
Maraçon throws a lazy uppercut
and Imbula counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Imbula.
Maraçon has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Imbula is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Imbula scores with a shot to the side of Maraçon's head.
Maraçon tries to land knees in the clinch but Imbula avoids the damage to the body.
Maraçon lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Imbula.
Imbula can't find room to land a body shot as Maraçon controls the action.
Maraçon tries to throw a body punch but Imbula avoids it by throwing Maraçon back against the cage.
Maraçon tries a body shot but Imbula blocks it.
Maraçon tries to work over Imbula's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Imbula doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Maraçon pushes Imbula back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Maraçon.
A nice left hand lands by Imbula.
Imbula takes an elbow to the temple.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maraçon scores with a shot to the side of Imbula's head.
Maraçon throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Imbulas head.
Maraçon blocking some punches.
Maraçon misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Maraçon misses with the head strike.
Imbula tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Maraçon just stands there and leans against the cage.
Imbula softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Imbula scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Imbula scores with a nice hook to the head.
Imbula pushes Maraçon back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Maraçon on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Imbula.
Imbula lands a left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maraçon lands with a right to the head.
Imbula lands a hook that snaps the head of Maraçon backwards.
Maraçon pushes Imbula back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Imbula swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Maraçon.
Maraçon misses with a punch on the inside.
Imbula tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Maraçon's elbow.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imbula lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Maraçon backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Maraçon.
Maraçon throws a punch but it's blocked by Imbula.
Imbula prevents a body shot from Maraçon.
Maraçon swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Maraçon takes a shot to the head.
Imbula gets through Maraçon's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Imbula blocks an elbow strike from Maraçon.
Maraçon blocks a body shot from Imbula.
Maraçon goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Imbula lands a hook that snaps the head of Maraçon backwards.
Pablo Maraçon seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Maraçon misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Imbula tries to work over Maraçon's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Imbula tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Imbula.
A left hand lands to the body for Maraçon.
A right hook to the body lands for Maraçon.
Maraçon misses with a hook to the ribs.
Maraçon pushes Imbula back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
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 Cheik Imbula will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Maraçon scores with a nice body kick.
Maraçon moves out of range of the body kick from Imbula.
Maraçon lands an overhand right.
Nice jab there from Maraçon.
Imbula lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A telegraphed right hand from Maraçon misses the target.
As Maraçon looks to move away, Imbula throws a big counter combo but Maraçon just gets out of the way.
Imbula on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Imbula looks to throw a body kick
and Maraçon counters with a body kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Maraçon.
Maraçon tests Imbula's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Maraçon throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Imbula stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
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!
Maraçon misses with a lunging right hand
and Imbula counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maraçon. Imbula does a little dance to reset his feet.
Maraçon throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A bone on bone clash there as Maraçon blocks the leg kick.
Imbula keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maraçon.
Imbula checks the leg kick nicely there.
Maraçon jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Maraçon misses with a low kick.
Maraçon feints and then cracks Imbula's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Imbula down.
Maraçon throws a half hearted mid kick.
It looked like Imbula wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Imbula jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Imbula on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Imbula takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Maraçon.
Pablo Maraçon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Imbula shoots in but Maraçon avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pablo Maraçon seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maraçon moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Imbula misses with a straight right.
Maraçon looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Imbula is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Maraçon.
Maraçon is trying to counter with his kicks.
Maraçon just misses with a punch to the body.
Maraçon keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Imbula goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Imbula on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maraçon jabs Imbula right on the nose. Imbula blinks but takes it well.
Maraçon getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Imbula moves away from the strike by Maraçon.
Maraçon with a hook.
Maraçon throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Imbula sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Maraçon changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Pablo Maraçon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Imbula blocks a leg kick.
Maraçon thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Imbula if he has to take too many more of those.
Imbula slips a jab from Maraçon.
Maraçon throws a big shot that misses.
Imbula is looking to counter punch.
Imbula ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Imbula.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cheik Imbula. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maraçon has closed the distance and engaged Imbula in a clinch.
Maraçon misses with a body punch.
Imbula drags the fight down to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Imbula looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Imbula working a defensive guard here.
Maraçon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cheik Imbula is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maraçon in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Maraçon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Imbula has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Cheik Imbula!
After winning the bout, Cheik Imbula thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
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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
65% |
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