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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Francis Gold (ranked 2296 p4p, 4196 weight class) and Matza Popovic (ranked 230 p4p, 356 weight class). Matza Popovic will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.
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| 151 cm
26
153
2 - 0 - 0 |
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185 cm
25
155
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin |
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Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Francis Gold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matza Popovic!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Fujiwara.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gold connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Popovic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gold.
Gold misses with a looping right.
Gold misses with an uppercut.
Gold waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Popovic.
The fighters circling - Gold throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Popovic lands a jab to the nose.
It looks like Francis Gold has been cut.
Francis Gold seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gold takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gold throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Popovic throws out a powerful jab.
Gold on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Gold ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Popovic moves away.
Gold swings for the body but Popovic moves out of range.
Gold definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Gold misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Popovic.
Popovic slips under a jab from Gold.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Popovic scores with a nice right hand.
Popovic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Gold blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gold misses with some punches.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Popovic lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Gold tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Popovic is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gold swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gold has a couple of punches blocked by Popovic.
Popovic misses with some punches.
Popovic tries to work over Gold's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gold lands a shoulder strike.
Popovic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Popovic misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Popovic as the two fighters clinch.
Popovic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Popovic misses with a hook from the clinch.
Popovic tries a body shot but Gold blocks it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popovic throws a head punch that misses.
Gold is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Popovic's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Gold blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Popovic swings wildly with an uppercut but Gold uses good head movement to avoid it.
Popovic misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from Popovic.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gold.
Popovic has a couple of punches blocked by Gold.
Popovic swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Popovic swings wildly with an uppercut but Gold uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gold blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Popovic struggles to land a body shot inside as Gold controls his hands.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popovic prevents a body shot from Gold.
Popovic misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gold doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Popovic throws a punch but it's blocked by Gold.
Popovic scores with a shot to the side of Gold's head.
Popovic struggles to land a body shot inside as Gold controls his hands.
Popovic doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Popovic blocks an uppercut.
Popovic misses with the head strike.
Gold blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Popovic misses with the head strike.
Gold's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Popovic tries a body shot but Gold blocks it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gold lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Popovic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gold's elbow.
Gold working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Popovic tries to work over Gold's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Popovic tries to work over Gold's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gold tries to work over Popovic's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Popovic tries to throw a body punch but Gold avoids it by throwing Popovic back against the ropes.
Gold prevents a body shot from Popovic.
Popovic throws a punch but it's blocked by Gold.
Popovic misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Popovic.
Gold tries to throw a body punch but Popovic avoids it by throwing Gold back against the ropes.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gold.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Gold blocking some punches.
Popovic blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Popovic misses with a punch on the inside.
Gold misses with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Popovic.
Gold blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Popovic tries a body shot but Gold blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gold.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Popovic throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Gold misses with a punch to the body.
Popovic can't find room to land a body shot as Gold controls the action.
Popovic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gold's elbow.
Popovic is leaning against Gold and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Popovic misses with a punch on the inside.
Popovic has a couple of punches blocked by Gold.
Gold lands a right hand.
Popovic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Popovic misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gold swings wildly with an uppercut but Popovic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Popovic swings wildly with an uppercut but Gold uses good head movement to avoid it.
Popovic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gold's elbow.
Popovic working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Popovic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gold's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Popovic.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Popovic can't find room to land a body shot as Gold controls the action.
Popovic tries a body shot but Gold blocks it.
Popovic throws a punch but it's blocked by Gold.
Gold misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Popovic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Popovic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Popovic working aggressively here.
Gold can't find room to land a body shot as Popovic controls the action.
Popovic blocks a body shot from Gold.
Popovic misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Popovic.
Popovic working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gold.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Popovic throws a punch but it's blocked by Gold.
Gold swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Popovic misses with the head strike.
Popovic tries to throw a body punch but Gold avoids it by throwing Popovic back against the ropes.
Popovic misses with a body punch.
Popovic prevents a body shot from Gold.
Popovic misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Popovic can't find room to land a body shot as Gold controls the action.
Gold lands with a short shot to the head.
Popovic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Popovic tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Popovic lands a left hand.
Gold misses with a hook from the clinch.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Popovic misses with a punch to the body.
Popovic swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Popovic misses with some punches.
Popovic misses with the head strike.
Popovic digs a right hand underneath Gold's ribcage. Gold let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Gold swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Popovic tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Popovic can't find room to land a body shot as Gold controls the action.
Gold blocks an uppercut.
Popovic throws a head punch that misses.
Popovic struggles to land a body shot inside as Gold controls his hands.
Gold blocks a body shot from Popovic.
Gold prevents a body shot from Popovic.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Matza Popovic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Francis Gold's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!
Gold is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Popovic.
Popovic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gold.
Popovic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gold throws out the jab.
Gold misses with a hook.
Popovic steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gold.
Popovic looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Popovic keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gold.
Popovic wants to counter with a clinch but Gold pushes him away.
Popovic avoids the body shot from Gold.
Popovic takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Gold slips under a jab from Popovic.
Popovic moves out of range of the strikes.
Gold throws a right hand that misses
and Popovic counters with a nice uppercut.
A slow jab from Gold misses its intended target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gold pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gold throws a body shot but no joy.
Gold looks to score with a jab to the body but Popovic is just out of range.
A slow jab from Gold misses its intended target.
Gold ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Popovic moves away.
Gold listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Popovic gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A short left from Popovic.
Popovic lands with a short shot to the head.
Popovic blocking some punches.
Gold misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gold tries to work over Popovic's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Popovic misses with a body punch.
Popovic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gold misses with a punch on the inside.
Popovic lands with a light punch inside.
Popovic tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Popovic pushes Gold back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gold tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gold prevents a body shot from Popovic.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gold misses with a punch on the inside.
Gold misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gold blocks an uppercut.
Popovic swings wildly with an uppercut but Gold uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gold tries to work over Popovic's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gold doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Popovic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gold's elbow.
Popovic struggles to land a body shot inside as Gold controls his hands.
Popovic lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gold or not.
Gold blocks an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gold.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gold blocking some punches.
Popovic can't find room to land a body shot as Gold controls the action.
Popovic scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gold.
Gold prevents a body shot from Popovic.
Gold tries to throw a body punch but Popovic avoids it by throwing Gold back against the ropes.
Popovic has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Gold prevents a body shot from Popovic.
Popovic lands a shoulder strike.
Gold blocks an uppercut.
Popovic working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Gold blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Popovic lands a body punch.
Popovic can't find room to land a body shot as Gold controls the action.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gold blocks a body shot from Popovic.
Gold struggles to land a body shot inside as Popovic controls his hands.
Popovic misses with a punch to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Popovic.
Popovic misses with a punch on the inside.
Popovic misses with a body punch.
Popovic can't find room to land a body shot as Gold controls the action.
Popovic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gold struggles to land a body shot inside as Popovic controls his hands.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Popovic.
Popovic can't find room to land a body shot as Gold controls the action.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Popovic lands with a short head shot on the inside.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Popovic lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Popovic misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Popovic.
Gold misses with the head strike.
Popovic misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gold.
Matza Popovic seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Popovic scores with a hook to the body.
Gold misses with a punch to the body.
Popovic lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Popovic lands a hook that snaps the head of Gold backwards.
Popovic swings wildly with an uppercut but Gold uses good head movement to avoid it.
Popovic lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Popovic fails to land.
Popovic can't find room to land a body shot as Gold controls the action.
Gold tries a body shot but Popovic blocks it.
Popovic lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Popovic scores with a shot to the side of Gold's head.
A short right from Popovic on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A left hand lands to the body for Popovic.
Gold blocking some punches.
Popovic tries to work over Gold's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Popovic misses with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Popovic creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Popovic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Popovic scores with a nice hook to the head.
Popovic lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Popovic has a couple of punches blocked by Gold.
Popovic swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Popovic misses with a punch to the body.
Gold goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gold.
Popovic struggles to land a body shot inside as Gold controls his hands.
Popovic tries a body shot but Gold blocks it.
Popovic tries to throw a body punch but Gold avoids it by throwing Popovic back against the ropes.
Popovic lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gold backwards.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Popovic misses with a hook from the clinch.
Popovic struggles to land a body shot inside as Gold controls his hands.
Popovic can't find room to land a body shot as Gold controls the action.
Popovic digs a right hand underneath Gold's ribcage. Gold let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Popovic misses with the head strike.
Gold goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Popovic lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gold backwards.
Popovic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gold tries to work over Popovic's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A right hand to the body from Popovic.
Gold working aggressively here.
Gold swings away with an uppercut that misses.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Popovic misses with a punch on the inside.
Popovic misses with a punch to the body.
Popovic can't find room to land a body shot as Gold controls the action.
Popovic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gold's elbow.
Gold blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Popovic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gold blocking some punches.
Popovic working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Popovic misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Popovic.
Popovic misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Francis Gold has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matza Popovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A short body shot lands from Gold as the two fighters clinch.
And that's the end of the fight!
Matza Popovic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Popovic has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Matza Popovic!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Matza Popovic!
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Matza Popovic!
Matza Popovic wins by unanimous decision!
Matza Popovic looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Diamonds shine.'.
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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
45% |
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