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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Ballamer (ranked 3205 p4p, 2319 weight class) and Matthew Griffin (ranked 330 p4p, 257 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 195 cm 30 215 7 - 3 - 0 |
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189 cm 32 212 13 - 10 - 0 |
BJJ White Belt Excellent MT Very quick |
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BJJ Purple Belt Good kicks Powerful |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division. Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner. With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Ballamer! And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner. With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matthew Griffin! The judges for this bout are William Peck, Gregory Folan and Elvis Blanc.
 The bell rings for round one and we are underway! A big right from Griffin misses. Ballamer clobbers Griffin with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
 It looks like Matthew Griffin has been cut. Griffin jabbing away but nothing is landing. Griffin looks to land a combination but Ballamer avoids it well.
Ballamer rushes Griffin and presses him up against the cage. Ballamer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage. Ballamer lands a left hand that snaps the head of Griffin backwards. Griffin is looking to break free of the clinch but Ballamer has double underhooks. A head punch on the inside from Ballamer fails to land. A short right from Ballamer. Griffin throws a head punch that misses. Ballamer swings wildly with an uppercut but Griffin uses good head movement to avoid it. Griffin tries a knee to the head but Ballamer blocks it.
Ballamer doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ballamer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Griffin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate. Griffin throws a punch but it's blocked by Ballamer.
 That's one minute gone in the round. Griffin misses with a short punch on the inside. Ballamer misses with a punch on the inside.
Ballamer has a couple of punches blocked by Griffin.
Ballamer tries a body shot but Griffin blocks it.
Griffin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Griffin takes a shot to the head. An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ballamer. Griffin prevents a body shot from Ballamer. Ballamer scores with a hook to the body. A head punch on the inside from Griffin fails to land. Griffin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Griffin blocks a body shot from Ballamer. Ballamer misses with some punches.
Ballamer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A left hand lands to the body for Ballamer.
Ballamer avoids the elbow strike from Griffin, against the cage.
 That's two minutes gone in the round. Griffin tries to circle away but Ballamer has him pinned against the cage. Ballamer lands with a light punch inside. A body shot lands from Ballamer.
Ballamer lands a hook that snaps the head of Griffin backwards. A head punch blocked on the inside by Griffin. Ballamer leaning his opponent against the cage. Griffin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
 It looks like Steve Ballamer has been cut. This has been an exciting period of action! A head punch blocked on the inside by Griffin. Ballamer managing to block the knees to the body from Griffin.
Ballamer lands with a good tight uppercut to the head. A short right hand to the side of the head by Ballamer. A right hook to the body lands for Ballamer.
Griffin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ballamer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
 That's three minutes gone in the round. Ballamer tries a body shot but Griffin blocks it.
Ballamer is trying to stall.
Ballamer softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage. Ballamer pushes Griffin back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head. A nice right hand lands inside from Ballamer. Ballamer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ballamer lands with a right to the head. Ballamer lands a left hand.
Griffin takes a shot to the head. Ballamer tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Griffin avoids it. Griffin blocks a body shot from Ballamer. Griffin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ballamer's elbow. Ballamer misses with a hook from the clinch. Ballamer managing to block the knees to the body from Griffin.
Griffin throws a head punch that misses.
 That's four minutes gone in the round. Ballamer lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards. Griffin scores with a nice hook to the head. Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Griffin breaks from the clinch.
Ballamer takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it. The fight stays on the outside here - Ballamer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ballamer fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Griffin, pushing him back against the cage.
Griffin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does. Griffin avoids the body shot from Ballamer.
Ballamer moves in looking to clinch but Griffin pushes him off. Griffin fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done. Ballamer ducks under a wild hook from Griffin. Ballamer walks into a stiff left hand from Griffin. Griffin scores with a hook. Griffin throws a big shot that misses. Matthew Griffin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ballamer moves into the clinch.
 That's five minutes gone in the round. Ballamer blocks an elbow strike from Griffin.
Ballamer gets through Griffin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head. Ballamer throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Griffins head. Griffin wants to get back to striking at distance but Ballamer won't allow it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky. Ballamer can't find room to land a body shot as Griffin controls the action.
Griffin is trying to break the clinch but Ballamer is controlling him. Ballamer lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage. Ballamer softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage. Griffin blocks an uppercut.
Ballamer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage. A head punch on the inside from Griffin fails to land.
Griffin manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ballamer looks like he's thinking about clinching though. Ballamer darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
 That's six minutes gone in the round. Griffin misses with a looping right. Ballamer lands a lovely overhand right.
Griffin gets the takedown into side control. 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. 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! Griffin cracks Ballamer with a big elbow. Griffin is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position. Ballamer misses with an elbow from the bottom. Ballamer tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Griffin presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount! Ballamer is looking to get to half guard. Griffin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
 That's seven minutes gone in the round. Let's hope that Griffin has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight. Ballamer is in a horrible position here. Griffin smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work. Griffin scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ballamer?
Griffin controlling his opponent.
 That's eight minutes gone in the round. Ballamer squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Griffin controlling the pace for now. We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Griffin. Ballamer is desperately trying to improve his position but Griffin has a good base and remains in mount. Ballamer is working hard here to advance position. The referee warns Ballamer that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
 That's nine minutes gone in the round. Griffin controlling from mount. Ballamer is trying desperately to improve position. Griffin controlling the position easily from mount. Griffin lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ballamer hang on? Griffin controlling from mount. And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Steve Ballamer dominated that round. Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval. OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Griffin lands a two punch combo.
Ballamer doesn't manage to clinch there - Griffin circles away.
Ballamer moves into the clinch successfully.
Ballamer working aggressively here.
Ballamer swings wildly with an uppercut but Griffin uses good head movement to avoid it. Ballamer misses with a punch to the body.
Griffin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ballamer lands a body shot. Ballamer misses with a short punch on the inside. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Ballamer blocks an uppercut.
Griffin can't break the clinch.
Ballamer throws a punch but it's blocked by Griffin. Ballamer tries to throw a body punch but Griffin avoids it by throwing Ballamer back against the cage. Ballamer avoids the elbow strike from Griffin, against the cage.
 That's one minute gone in the round. Ballamer throws a head punch that misses. Ballamer struggles to land a body shot inside as Griffin controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Griffin. Ballamer has a couple of punches blocked by Griffin.
A short body shot lands from Ballamer as the two fighters clinch.
Ballamer swings wildly with an uppercut but Griffin uses good head movement to avoid it. A head punch on the inside from Ballamer fails to land. Griffin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage. Griffin misses with a short punch on the inside. A short uppercut from Ballamer. A head punch on the inside from Ballamer fails to land. Griffin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage. Griffin lands with a short shot to the head. Steve Ballamer has scored more points in the clinch so far. Griffin blocks a body shot from Ballamer.
 That's two minutes gone in the round. Ballamer misses with the head strike.
Griffin lands a hook to the side of the head. Ballamer working aggressively here.
Griffin blocks a body shot from Ballamer. Ballamer misses with a hook from the clinch.
Griffin manages to break the clinch.
Ballamer wants to clinch. Griffin connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ballamer. Ballamer circles away out of range and recomposes himself. 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! Griffin lands with a nice body punch.
Ballamer closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage. Griffin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely. Griffin blocks an uppercut.
 That's three minutes gone in the round. Ballamer lands a left hand.
Griffin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button! Ballamer is working Griffin over against the cage. Griffin working aggressively here.
Griffin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ballamer is leaning against Griffin and scores with a nice uppercut to the body. Griffin is breathing heavily. A nice right hand lands inside from Ballamer. Ballamer throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges. Ballamer lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Griffin backwards. Ballamer softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage. Ballamer scores with a nice hook to the head. Ballamer digs a right hand into Griffin's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Griffin's gas tank. A head punch on the inside from Ballamer fails to land. Ballamer works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ballamer lands an uppercut.
 That's four minutes gone in the round. The crowd are loving this. Great action here. Ballamer makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut. Ballamer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ballamer tries a body shot but Griffin blocks it.
Ballamer tries a body shot but Griffin blocks it.
Ballamer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage. Ballamer misses with a punch to the body.
Ballamer misses with a short punch on the inside. Griffin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Griffin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Griffin fails with the takedown. It looked like Ballamer was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Griffin. Ballamer is looking to clinch but Griffin is avoiding it.
Ballamer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Griffin swats him away and circles back towards the center. Griffin tests Ballamer's chin there with a solid looking shot. Griffin lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
 That's five minutes gone in the round. Griffin throws a hook but Ballamer avoids it easily.
Ballamer instigates a clinch. A nice left hand lands by Ballamer.
Griffin blocks a body shot from Ballamer. Ballamer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Griffin can do to turn this around? Ballamer lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Griffin backwards. Ballamer misses with a short punch on the inside. Ballamer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ballamer throws a head punch that misses. Griffin is trying to break the clinch but Ballamer is controlling him. Ballamer lands a hook to the side of the head. Griffin is trying to break free. A head punch blocked on the inside by Griffin. Ballamer throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Griffins head. Ballamer lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
 That's six minutes gone in the round. Griffin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Griffin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now. Griffin misses with the head strike.
Ballamer misses with a hook from the clinch. Ballamer lands a shoulder strike. Ballamer lands on the inside with an uppercut. The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here. Ballamer digs a right hand into Griffin's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Griffin's gas tank. Ballamer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Griffin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button! Griffin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Good body shot from Ballamer.
A short left from Ballamer. Ballamer throws a punch but it's blocked by Griffin. Griffin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
 That's seven minutes gone in the round. Ballamer lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage. Ballamer is working Griffin over against the cage. Ballamer lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Griffin backwards. A shot in the inside from Ballamer. Ballamer throws a head punch that misses. A shot in the inside from Ballamer.
 Griffin is rocked! Ballamer throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Griffins head. Griffin is still on wobbly legs! Can Ballamer finish him? Griffin is trying to push Ballamer away but Ballamer has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere. Ballamer lands an uppercut. Ballamer tries a body shot but Griffin blocks it.
Griffin seems to have recovered his senses. Ballamer lands a right hand that snaps the head of Griffin backwards. Ballamer misses with some punches.
Ballamer swings wildly with an uppercut but Griffin uses good head movement to avoid it. Griffin blocking some punches.
 That's eight minutes gone in the round. Ballamer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage. Griffin is trying to force a seperation but Ballamer has the dominant position. Ballamer tries to throw a body punch but Griffin avoids it by throwing Ballamer back against the cage. Ballamer misses with the head strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Griffin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does. Griffin walks into a left hand.
 That has opened up Matthew Griffin's cut even more. Griffin shoots for a takedown but Ballamer saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ballamer moves into the clinch. Griffin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ballamer avoiding damage.
Ballamer scores with an uppercut up the middle. Ballamer tries to throw a body punch but Griffin avoids it by throwing Ballamer back against the cage. A head punch blocked on the inside by Ballamer.
 That's nine minutes gone in the round. Ballamer lands a hook that snaps the head of Griffin backwards. Ballamer scores with an uppercut up the middle. Ballamer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Griffin blocking some punches.
Ballamer stalling.
Griffin manages to break the clinch.
Ballamer moves in looking to clinch but Griffin pushes him off. Griffin might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable. Ballamer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Griffin misses with a straight right. Ballamer swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect. Ballamer wants to clinch up but Griffin keeps it at a distance.
Ballamer fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Griffin, pushing him back against the cage. Griffin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage. Ballamer works on Griffin's body with a couple of short punches. Ballamer misses with a punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Steve Ballamer dominated that second round. Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval. Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ballamer closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage. Ballamer misses with the head strike.
Griffin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ballamer lands an uppercut. An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ballamer. An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ballamer. A short right from Ballamer. Ballamer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage. Ballamer misses with a punch to the body.
Ballamer lands with a left to the head. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Griffin blocks a body shot from Ballamer. Ballamer throws a head punch that misses. Ballamer misses with a hook from the clinch. Ballamer lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Griffin breaks from the clinch.
 That's one minute gone in the round. Ballamer wants to clinch. Ballamer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Griffin. Griffin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown and Ballamer makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range. Griffin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired. Ballamer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Griffin swats him away and circles back towards the center. A nice side step and Griffin releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home. Griffin misses with a hook
and Ballamer counters with a quick right hand to the jaw. Griffin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ballamer is looking to clinch but Griffin is avoiding it.
Griffin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Griffin darts in and out, connecting with a jab. Ballamer tries to clinch but Griffin moves out of range. Griffin lands with an uppercut that bounces Ballamer off the cage and back into range. Griffin throws the left hand but Ballamer avoids the punch easily. An attempted straight right counter from Ballamer misses the target. Ballamer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Griffin.
 That's two minutes gone in the round. Griffin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Good work by Ballamer as he checks the leg kick. Ballamer ducks under a wild hook from Griffin. Ballamer takes a jab right on the kisser.
Griffin fails with the takedown. Griffin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ballamer.
Griffin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target. Ballamer is looking to counter with a shot to the body. The fight stays on the outside here - Ballamer looks like he's thinking about clinching though. This has been an exciting period of action! Ballamer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Griffin.
Ballamer is looking to clinch. Griffin unleashes a big counter combination but Ballamer bobs and weaves and avoids any damage. Ballamer walks into a jab. Steve Ballamer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs. Jab by Ballamer. The fight stays on the outside here - Ballamer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
 That's three minutes gone in the round. Ballamer tries to clinch but Griffin moves out of range. Griffin on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot. Ballamer is looking to take this fight into the clinch. Griffin throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ballamer stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly. Griffin lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Ballamer pushes Griffin up against the cage in a clinch. Ballamer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ballamer misses with a hook from the clinch. Ballamer working some nice short punches in the clinch. Ballamer lands with a short shot to the head.
 The cut above Matthew Griffin's eye is starting to cause him problems now. Griffin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Griffin breaks from the clinch.
Griffin misses with a double jab.
 That's four minutes gone in the round. Ballamer moves in looking to clinch but Griffin pushes him off. Griffin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it. Griffin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ballamer circles away quickly and effectively. This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff! Griffin getting the better of the striking in that exchange. Ballamer changes levels and scores with a jab to the body. Griffin fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ballamer is out of range. Griffin throws an overhand right that lands on Ballamer's shoulder, as Ballamer tries to avoid the shot. Ballamer lands with a shot to the body. Ballamer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Griffin swats him away and circles back towards the center. Griffin swats away the attempt to clinch by Ballamer. Griffin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Griffin throws out a token jab with nothing on it. Matthew Griffin seems to be getting the better of the standup. Ballamer is looking to clinch but Griffin is avoiding it.
Griffin let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land. Griffin falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ballamer counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
 That's five minutes gone in the round. Griffin throws a body punch but Ballamer moves out of range. Nice shot by Griffin.
Ballamer lands a big uppercut and Griffin crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Griffin looks OK. Ballamer waves Griffin back to his feet! Ballamer tries to clinch there but Griffin circles away.
Griffin flicks out a counter leg kick but Ballamer steps away. Ballamer is looking to clinch but Griffin is avoiding it.
Ballamer drops Griffin with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Griffin looks back up at him and smiles so Ballamer waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here. Griffin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land. Ballamer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Griffin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat. Ballamer is looking to take this fight into the clinch. Ballamer tries to clinch there but Griffin circles away.
Griffin ducks down and throws a hook to the body. Ballamer darts in trying to clinch
and Griffin counters with a takedown into side control. Griffin controls the position.
 That's six minutes gone in the round. Griffin grinds an elbow into Ballamer's temple. Griffin remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while. Ballamer on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ballamer tries to get out of the position.
Griffin tries for a kimura but Ballamer is defending well. Ballamer seems a little lost for a moment, as Griffin dominates the positioning. Ballamer is looking to regain half guard here but Griffin keeps moving and retains side control.
 That's seven minutes gone in the round. Ballamer wants to control but Griffin postures up. Griffin content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though. Matthew Griffin has got the better of the ground game so far. Griffin is continuing to stall. Griffin advances to mount.
 That's eight minutes gone in the round. The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight. Ballamer wants to hold on but Griffin pushes him away. Griffin controlling the pace for now. Steve Ballamer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach. Yet more stalling tactics from Griffin.
 That's nine minutes gone in the round. Griffin misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Griffin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position. Matthew Griffin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here! Ballamer is writhing around trying to get back to his 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 Steve Ballamer. Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ballamer, 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:28 Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27 Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Ballamer! Steve Ballamer decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
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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
56% |
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