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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Karokaro (ranked 743 p4p, 701 weight class) and Thufir Hawat (ranked 92 p4p, 88 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 173 cm
36
170
19 - 15 - 2 |
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185 cm
35
178
28 - 29 - 1 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Roberto Karokaro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 29 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thufir Hawat!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hawat lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Karokaro takes one to the chin there.
Hawat lands a body shot.
Karokaro takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hawat misses with a wild body shot.
Hawat misses with a low kick.
Karokaro ducks right into an uppercut from Hawat.
Hawat turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hawat connects with a single shot there.
Hawat motions for Karokaro to come forward. Hawat throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Karokaro takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hawat is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Hawat cracks Karokaro with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Karokaro throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hawat.
Hawat lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Karokaro pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Karokaro tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hawat was well out of range. Poor timing from Karokaro.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawat scores with a body shot.
Karokaro fails to land with a series of punches.
Karokaro showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hawat.
Hawat with a jab.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hawat.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hawat.
Karokaro connects with a single shot there.
Karokaro misses with the combination.
A low kick from Karokaro is predictable there
and Hawat counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hawat misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hawat lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hawat ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Karokaro moves away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hawat throws out a leg kick but Karokaro moves out of range and Hawat only half commits.
Hawat throws a hook but Karokaro blocks it.
Karokaro swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hawat listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hawat looks for the body kick but Karokaro saw that one coming.
Karokaro connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hawat uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Hawat tries to land a body kick
and Karokaro counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hawat misses with the body kick
and Karokaro counters with a lovely straight right hand!
It looks like Thufir Hawat has been cut.
Hawat looks to land a right hand but Karokaro moved out of range.
Hawat throws a sloppy head kick
letting Karokaro counter with a right hand.
A big left from Hawat misses.
Karokaro went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Hawat throws a nice outside leg kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Hawat.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karokaro throws a right hand that Hawat ducks under and follows up with a left that Hawat also avoids with ease.
Hawat scores with a jab. Karokaro acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hawat tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Karokaro was well out of range. Poor timing from Hawat.
Karokaro throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hawat.
Karokaro slips under a jab from Hawat.
Hawat has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hawat gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hawat throws a sloppy head kick and Karokaro moves out of range easily.
Hawat connects with the punch.
Karokaro avoids the head kick by Hawat.
Nice body kick there by Hawat.
Karokaro is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hawat.
Karokaro looks to score with a jab to the body but Hawat is just out of range.
Hawat shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
It looked like Karokaro was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Thufir Hawat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karokaro swinging wildly here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karokaro chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hawat can pounce on him.
Hawat lands with a good body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hawat swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Karokaro counters with a three punch combo that has Hawat backing up. Hawat nods at Karokaro to acknowledge the strikes.
Hawat is looking to score with low kicks.
Karokaro waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hawat.
Hawat misses with a kick to the body.
Karokaro throws a big shot that misses.
Hawat lands a nice leg kick that just misses Karokaro's sensitive parts.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hawat with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Karokaro is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Hawat connects with a single shot there.
Hawat lands a jab to the nose.
Hawat throws a low kick but Karokaro avoids it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Thufir Hawat dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thufir Hawat's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!
Hawat misses the shot to the body.
Karokaro keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hawat.
Karokaro chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hawat has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Karokaro looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Karokaro misses with a right hand
and Hawat counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A bone on bone clash there as Hawat blocks the leg kick.
Hawat throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hawat throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
It looked like Karokaro was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Hawat thuds a left hand into Karokaro's body.
Karokaro checks the leg kick nicely there.
Karokaro swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawat avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
No joy there for Karokaro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hawat! But no joy.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Karokaro might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Hawat lands a body shot.
Karokaro checks the leg kick nicely there.
Karokaro half committed to a counter leg kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawat catches Karokaro with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
An inside leg kick lands from Hawat.
Hawat dodges the punch combination from Karokaro.
Karokaro on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hawat avoids the head kick by Karokaro.
Hawat fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Karokaro manages to avoid it.
Karokaro throwing a counter right hand but Hawat manages to avoid it.
Karokaro takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Karokaro uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hawat.
Hawat bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hawat ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Roberto Karokaro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hawat connects with a solid leg kick.
Hawat thumps Karokaro with a low kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karokaro moves out of range of the strikes.
A leg kick checked by Karokaro.
Hawat bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Karokaro's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karokaro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hawat misses with a body kick.
Karokaro appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Karokaro connects with an inside leg kick.
Hawat misses with a series of wild punches.
Karokaro is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hawat dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hawat fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Karokaro is out of range.
Karokaro ducks under a wild hook from Hawat.
Hawat delivers a nice body kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawat moves out of range of the body kick from Karokaro.
Karokaro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hawat feints a counter leg kick.
Hawat stuns Karokaro with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hawat takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Karokaro looks to land a right hand but Hawat moved out of range.
No joy there for Karokaro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Karokaro looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hawat misses with a hook. Karokaro ducked under it nicely.
Hawat moves out of range of the body kick from Karokaro.
Karokaro checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Hawat throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Karokaro misses with an uppercut
and Hawat counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Karokaro uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hawat.
Hawat misses with a body punch
and Karokaro counters with a nice uppercut.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawat throws a lazy right hand but Karokaro sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Karokaro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Karokaro ducks right into an uppercut from Hawat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Karokaro blocks a jab.
Karokaro swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A lazy left from Hawat finds it's target.
Karokaro misses with a lunging right hand
and Hawat counters with a low kick, right behind Karokaro 's knee.
Hawat throws a leg kick
and Karokaro counters with a one-two to the body.
Hawat throws a leg kick that misses.
Thufir Hawat seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hawat jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Karokaro misses with a two punch combination.
Hawat scores with the left hand. Karokaro knows he should have avoided that one.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Hawat.
Hawat looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Thufir Hawat showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thufir Hawat's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!
Hawat tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Karokaro was well out of range. Poor timing from Hawat.
Hawat takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hawat tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Karokaro was well out of range. Poor timing from Hawat.
Hawat lands with a hook. Karokaro tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hawat connects with a good right hand that stumbles Karokaro. Karokaro circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hawat.
Karokaro moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hawat misses with a low kick.
Karokaro appears to be looking for a big counter.
Good shot there by Hawat.
Hawat looks to land a right hand but Karokaro moved out of range.
Hawat is looking to chop away at Karokaro's legs.
Karokaro throws a series of punches but Hawat moves out of range.
Hawat lands with a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karokaro misses with a double jab.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawat lands a head shot.
Hawat pivots, looking for a leg kick but Karokaro is out of range and Hawat settles back down.
An attempted straight right counter from Karokaro misses the target.
Hawat lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hawat lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Karokaro keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hawat swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Karokaro uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hawat.
Hawat throws a leg kick but Karokaro sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Hawat turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hawat with a nice calf kick.
Hawat takes a jab right on the kisser.
An inside leg kick lands from Karokaro.
Jab, jab by Hawat - just one landing.
Thufir Hawat is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Hawat throws a body shot but no joy.
Karokaro throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Karokaro moves away from the strike by Hawat.
Hawat throws a lazy uppercut
letting Karokaro counter with a right hand.
Karokaro jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
That kick from Hawat tenderised Karokaro's leg. Karokaro is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hawat throws an overhand right that lands on Karokaro's shoulder, as Karokaro tries to avoid the shot.
Hawat swings for the body but Karokaro moves out of range.
A shot to the body from Hawat misses
and Karokaro counters with a series of strikes. Hawat will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hawat takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hawat on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Karokaro. Karokaro obviously looking to wear him down.
Hawat misses the shot to the body.
Karokaro seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Hawat wants to land a leg kick but Karokaro is out of range.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karokaro throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hawat on the side of the head.
Hawat dips to his left and cracks Karokaro with an uppercut!
Hawat listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hawat blocks a head kick by Karokaro.
Karokaro avoids a kick to the body.
Hawat takes one to the side of the head.
Karokaro looks for the body kick but Hawat saw that one coming.
A big left from Hawat misses.
Karokaro was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Karokaro keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Hawat lands with a hook. Karokaro tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A left lands for Hawat.
Hawat throws a good cross that connects.
Karokaro misses with a two punch combination.
Roberto Karokaro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawat lands a head shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hawat moves forwards but Karokaro connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Karokaro lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Karokaro tries to bum rush Hawat with a series of wild strikes but Hawat uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hawat swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hawat.
Hawat lands a two punch combo.
Good exchange - Hawat coming out on top.
Hawat scores with a jab to the jaw.
Karokaro looks to score with a jab to the body but Hawat is just out of range.
Hawat fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Karokaro on the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hawat chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hawat scores with a spinning back kick!
Karokaro tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
And that's the end of the fight!
Thufir Hawat comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hawat has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thufir Hawat!
Our winner, Thufir Hawat, 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
76% |
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