|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cheik Imbula (ranked 325 p4p, 50 weight class) and Pablo Mara�on (ranked 201 p4p, 30 weight class). Imbula comes to the cage accompanied by The Bongo Massive. Mara�on 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.
 |
|
 |
| 185 cm
34
185 lbs
30 - 17 - 2 |
|
186 cm
38
185 lbs
39 - 13 - 2 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
|
Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
|
| |
|
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 Mara�on!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and Richard Clark.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mara�on connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Imbula lands a lovely overhand right.
Mara�on scores with a nice right hand.
Mara�on swings widly with a right hand
and Imbula counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mara�on misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Imbula.
Mara�on 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.
Mara�on 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.
Mara�on lets loose with a powerful body kick. Imbula will feel that in the morning.
Mara�on takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mara�on digs a good body shot into Imbula's ribs.
Mara�on blocks a head kick by Imbula.
Mara�on pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mara�on 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 Mara�on's head but Mara�on sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mara�on misses with an uppercut
and Imbula counters with an outside leg kick.
Imbula lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Mara�on at a distance.
Mara�on 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 Mara�on manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Mara�on looks to land a body kick but Imbula moved away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mara�on. Imbula does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mara�on slips a straight right by Imbula.
A nice side step and Mara�on 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. Mara�on should have avoided that one.
Mara�on 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.
Mara�on trying to control but Imbula postures up.
Mara�on wants to improve his position but Imbula is controlling well.
Mara�on is doing well to control the position and prevent Imbula from advancing to side control.
Imbula is keen to just control but Mara�on is a slippery customer.
Imbula is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Imbula prevents Mara�on from improving his position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mara�on keeping hold of Imbula's head, controlling as best he can.
Imbula wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mara�on 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 Mara�on.
Mara�on looks to throw a body kick
and Imbula counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mara�on 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. Mara�on tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Imbula is in Mara�on's guard.
Mara�on 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.
Mara�on tries to work over Imbula's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Imbula swings wildly with an uppercut but Mara�on 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 Mara�on.
Mara�on doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mara�on 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 Mara�on.
Mara�on lands a hook that snaps the head of Imbula backwards.
Mara�on throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A short right from Mara�on on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Imbula.
Mara�on tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mara�on tries to work over Imbula's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short body shot lands from Mara�on as the two fighters clinch.
Mara�on scores with a hook to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mara�on.
Imbula can't find room to land a body shot as Mara�on controls the action.
A left hand lands to the body for Mara�on.
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 Mara�on.
Imbula throws a leg kick but Mara�on sees it coming and moves out of range.
Pablo Mara�on 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 Mara�on is out of range.
Mara�on 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.
Mara�on 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 Mara�on on the side of the head.
Imbula fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Mara�on 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.
Mara�on looks to land a left hand but Imbula moved out of range nicely.
Mara�on keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Mara�on does it's job there.
Mara�on sizes up Imbula with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Mara�on swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Mara�on, right into the meat.
Imbula throws a body punch but Mara�on moves out of range.
A slow jab from Imbula misses its intended target.
Imbula looks to land a left hand but Mara�on moved out of range nicely.
Mara�on swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Imbula misses with a straight left.
It seemed like Mara�on was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Mara�on blocks a head kick by Imbula.
Some bone on bone action there as Mara�on checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Imbula looks to throw the jab but Mara�on is out of range.
Mara�on slips a straight right by Imbula.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Mara�on.
Nice body kick there by Mara�on.
Mara�on throws a front kick aimed at Imbula's knee but Imbula avoids it well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mara�on looks to score with a jab to the body but Imbula is just out of range.
Mara�on lunges at Imbula with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Imbula's hand.
Imbula avoids a kick to the body.
Mara�on throws a lazy uppercut
and Imbula counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Imbula.
Mara�on 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 Mara�on's head.
Mara�on tries to land knees in the clinch but Imbula avoids the damage to the body.
Mara�on lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Imbula.
Imbula can't find room to land a body shot as Mara�on controls the action.
Mara�on tries to throw a body punch but Imbula avoids it by throwing Mara�on back against the cage.
Mara�on tries a body shot but Imbula blocks it.
Mara�on 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.
Mara�on pushes Imbula back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Mara�on.
A nice left hand lands by Imbula.
Imbula takes an elbow to the temple.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mara�on scores with a shot to the side of Imbula's head.
Mara�on throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Imbulas head.
Mara�on blocking some punches.
Mara�on misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mara�on misses with the head strike.
Imbula tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mara�on 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 Mara�on back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Mara�on 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!
Mara�on lands with a right to the head.
Imbula lands a hook that snaps the head of Mara�on backwards.
Mara�on 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 Mara�on.
Mara�on misses with a punch on the inside.
Imbula tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mara�on's elbow.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imbula lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mara�on backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mara�on.
Mara�on throws a punch but it's blocked by Imbula.
Imbula prevents a body shot from Mara�on.
Mara�on swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mara�on takes a shot to the head.
Imbula gets through Mara�on's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Imbula blocks an elbow strike from Mara�on.
Mara�on blocks a body shot from Imbula.
Mara�on goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Imbula lands a hook that snaps the head of Mara�on backwards.
Pablo Mara�on seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Mara�on misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Imbula tries to work over Mara�on'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 Mara�on.
A right hook to the body lands for Mara�on.
Mara�on misses with a hook to the ribs.
Mara�on 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!
Mara�on scores with a nice body kick.
Mara�on moves out of range of the body kick from Imbula.
Mara�on lands an overhand right.
Nice jab there from Mara�on.
Imbula lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A telegraphed right hand from Mara�on misses the target.
As Mara�on looks to move away, Imbula throws a big counter combo but Mara�on just gets out of the way.
Imbula on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Imbula looks to throw a body kick
and Mara�on counters with a body kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Mara�on.
Mara�on tests Imbula's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mara�on 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!
Mara�on 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 Mara�on. Imbula does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mara�on throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A bone on bone clash there as Mara�on blocks the leg kick.
Imbula keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mara�on.
Imbula checks the leg kick nicely there.
Mara�on jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mara�on misses with a low kick.
Mara�on feints and then cracks Imbula's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Imbula down.
Mara�on 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 Mara�on.
Pablo Mara�on is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Imbula shoots in but Mara�on avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pablo Mara�on seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mara�on moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Imbula misses with a straight right.
Mara�on looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Imbula is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mara�on.
Mara�on is trying to counter with his kicks.
Mara�on just misses with a punch to the body.
Mara�on 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.
Mara�on jabs Imbula right on the nose. Imbula blinks but takes it well.
Mara�on getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Imbula moves away from the strike by Mara�on.
Mara�on with a hook.
Mara�on throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Imbula sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mara�on changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Pablo Mara�on has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Imbula blocks a leg kick.
Mara�on 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 Mara�on.
Mara�on 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.
Mara�on has closed the distance and engaged Imbula in a clinch.
Mara�on 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.
Mara�on 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.
Mara�on in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Mara�on 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
65% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
