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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Riku Momomoto (ranked 192 p4p, 537 weight class) and Franco Fajardo (ranked 26 p4p, 71 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 187 cm
26
188
11 - 1 - 0 |
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185 cm
28
190
13 - 4 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Riku Momomoto!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Franco Fajardo!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Jorge Garcia and John Roberts.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Momomoto looks to throw the jab but Fajardo is out of range.
Fajardo is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Momomoto with a body shot.
Fajardo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Momomoto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Momomoto breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Momomoto lands with an overhand left.
Fajardo loads up on a big right hand but Momomoto slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Momomoto fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
It looks like Franco Fajardo has been cut.
Fajardo feints and as Momomoto raises his hands in defense, Fajardo changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Fajardo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Fajardo wants to control from the top but Momomoto keeps moving.
Momomoto definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Fajardo throws a strike but Momomoto rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Fajardo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Momomoto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fajardo working a defensive guard but Momomoto manages to pass into side control anyway.
You can see the frustration on Fajardo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Momomoto just content to control the position.
Fajardo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Momomoto controls the position from side control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fajardo is trying to control Momomoto's posture but Momomoto avoids it.
Fajardo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Fajardo regains half guard.
Fajardo manages to get to full guard.
Momomoto got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fajardo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Momomoto has managed to get both his arms back between Fajardo's legs - danger averted.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Fajardo looking to control but Momomoto passes into half guard.
Momomoto is controlling the pace.
Fajardo trying to control here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Momomoto trying to control the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Riku Momomoto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Franco Fajardo's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Fajardo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fajardo tries to clinch there but Momomoto circles away.
As Fajardo looks to move away, Momomoto throws a big counter combo but Fajardo just gets out of the way.
Momomoto looks to throw the jab but Fajardo is out of range.
And Fajardo tries to counter it with a takedown but Momomoto pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Fajardo gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Fajardo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Fajardo throws an overhand right that lands on Momomoto's shoulder, as Momomoto tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab, jab by Momomoto - just one landing.
Momomoto throws a lazy right hand but Fajardo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Fajardo lands with a hook. Momomoto tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Momomoto bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Fajardo's head backwards.
Fajardo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Momomoto.
Fajardo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fajardo lands a really nice looking cross but Momomoto seems unphased.
Momomoto gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fajardo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Momomoto is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fajardo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fajardo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Fajardo trying to control but Momomoto is working from the bottom.
Franco Fajardo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fajardo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fajardo stands up over Momomoto, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fajardo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Momomoto's guard.
Momomoto knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fajardo on the ground.
Momomoto blocking the ground and pound attempt from Fajardo.
Fajardo is trying to control the action in half guard but Momomoto is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Fajardo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Fajardo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Momomoto is not content to let Fajardo control the position.
Fajardo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Fajardo controlling the action here.
Momomoto gets back to full guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Fajardo working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fajardo trying to control but Momomoto is working from the bottom.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Franco Fajardo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Franco Fajardo's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Momomoto throws out a loose jab but Fajardo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Riku Momomoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Momomoto pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Riku Momomoto is winning the standup battle so far.
Momomoto looks to land a right hand but Fajardo moved out of range.
Fajardo with the counter takedown but Momomoto avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Momomoto misses its intended target.
Fajardo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Fajardo wants to clinch
and Momomoto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fajardo lands a nice hook to Momomoto's body. Momomoto takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Fajardo moves into the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Momomoto pushes Fajardo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Momomoto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fajardo throws a body punch but Momomoto moves out of range.
Momomoto blocks a jab.
Momomoto throws a hook to the side of Fajardo's head but Fajardo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fajardo with the counter takedown but Momomoto avoids it easily.
Fajardo throws an off balance right hand
and Momomoto counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Fajardo thinking.
Fajardo throws a hook but Momomoto avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Momomoto misses the target.
Fajardo misses with a takedown
and Momomoto counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fajardo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Momomoto.
Momomoto is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Momomoto slips a straight right by Fajardo.
Fajardo dodges the punch combination from Momomoto.
Fajardo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Momomoto takes one to the chin there.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fajardo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Momomoto.
Momomoto swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Fajardo.
Momomoto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Momomoto is looking to counter punch.
Fajardo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fajardo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Momomoto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Momomoto misses with a hook
and Fajardo counters with a single leg into guard. Momomoto didn't expect that.
Fajardo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Momomoto seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Fajardo is looking to work some ground and pound but Momomoto has wrist control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fajardo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fajardo wants to control from the top but Momomoto keeps moving.
Fajardo postures up in Momomoto's guard and throws a big left but Momomoto blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Riku Momomoto clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Franco Fajardo's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
Momomoto missing with a left hand there. Fajardo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A telegraphed right hand from Momomoto misses the target.
Momomoto misses with a straight right.
Fajardo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Fajardo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Momomoto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fajardo slips a straight right by Momomoto.
Fajardo is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Fajardo misses with a body punch
and Momomoto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fajardo swings away with a body shot that misses
and Momomoto counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That has opened up Franco Fajardo's cut even more.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Momomoto misses the jab.
Fajardo tries to counter with a clinch but Momomoto shakes him off and moves away.
Momomoto throws a shot from downtown. Fajardo moves away and avoids it.
Momomoto misses with a straight right.
Fajardo throws a lazy right hand but Momomoto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Fajardo tries to clinch there but Momomoto circles away.
Fajardo misses the jab.
A little feinted left hand from Momomoto on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Fajardo misses with an uppercut
letting Momomoto counter with a right hand.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Momomoto misses its intended target.
Fajardo with the counter takedown but Momomoto avoids it easily.
Momomoto misses with an uppercut
and Fajardo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Momomoto punishes Fajardo's body with a nice straight punch.
Momomoto walks into a left hand.
Nice takedown defense from Momomoto. No joy for Fajardo on that attempt.
Fajardo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Fajardo misses with a jab to the body
and Fajardo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Momomoto throws an overhand right that lands on Fajardo's shoulder, as Fajardo tries to avoid the shot.
Fajardo ducks under a wild hook from Momomoto.
Fajardo throws a looping overhand right but Momomoto ducks down to avoid it.
An attempted straight right counter from Momomoto misses the target.
Fajardo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fajardo lands a jab to Momomoto's midsection.
Fajardo moves out of range of the strikes.
Fajardo wants to counter with a clinch but Momomoto pushes him away.
Momomoto missing with a left hand there. Fajardo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Momomoto.
Momomoto sets himself, and Fajardo steps forward looking for the clinch! Momomoto avoids it this time.
Momomoto digs a good body shot into Fajardo's ribs.
Momomoto throws a hook but Fajardo avoids it easily.
Momomoto missing with a left hand there. Fajardo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fajardo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Fajardo misses with a straight right.
It looked like Momomoto was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Fajardo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Momomoto was well out of range. Poor timing from Fajardo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A telegraphed right hand from Fajardo misses the target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Riku Momomoto had his way with Franco Fajardo in that round.
The cut man is working on Franco Fajardo's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!
Momomoto throws a hook but Fajardo avoids it easily.
Fajardo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Momomoto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Momomoto was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Fajardo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Momomoto manages to avoid it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fajardo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fajardo is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Momomoto.
Momomoto misses with a looping left.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Fajardo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Fajardo misses with a right hand
and Momomoto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fajardo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Momomoto ducks under a wild hook from Fajardo.
Fajardo throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Fajardo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fajardo's corner calls for a 1-2. Fajardo obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Fajardo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Momomoto was well out of range. Poor timing from Fajardo.
Franco Fajardo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fajardo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fajardo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Fajardo misses with a lunging right hand
and Momomoto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The cut above Franco Fajardo's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Momomoto circles away from the clinch attempt
letting Momomoto counter with a right hand.
Fajardo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Momomoto counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Franco Fajardo's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Momomoto tries to bum rush Fajardo with a series of wild strikes but Fajardo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fajardo misses with a jab to the body
enabling Momomoto to counter with a crisp jab.
Momomoto lands a nice hook to Fajardo's body. Fajardo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Riku Momomoto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Momomoto throws a hook but Fajardo blocks it.
Fajardo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Momomoto swings for the body but Fajardo moves out of range.
Fajardo misses with a right hand
and Fajardo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fajardo moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Momomoto scores with a crisp jab that stopped Fajardo in his tracks.
Fajardo has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Fajardo misses with a looping left.
Momomoto throwing a counter right hand but Fajardo manages to avoid it.
Momomoto cracks a nice hook into Fajardo's ribs.
Momomoto misses with a hook.
Fajardo misses with a body shot
and Momomoto cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A decent looking cross lands there for Momomoto.
And that's the end of the fight!
Riku Momomoto showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Momomoto 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 49:46
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 49:46
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 49:46
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riku Momomoto!
Riku Momomoto retains his middleweight title!
Our winner, Riku Momomoto, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
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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
34% |
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