UNITED CENTER
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
AUGUST 3, 2019
FAN POLL: 62% Ian Clemens
REFEREE: Dusty Whittaker
=========================================
ROUND ONE
=========================================
The bell announces the first round! Cal McCluskey tries to take the fight to the ground with a single leg takedown. Clemens is unable to remain on his feet and falls to the ground. McCluskey breathes deeply while on the ground and already tooks gassed! McCluskey positions himself for a round of ground and pound and tries to finish the fight with some precise elbows! One, two, three! Clemens's being punished here! Clemens’ head starts bouncing off the mat as his lights go out!This is over! That impact from Cal McCluskey has left Clemens laying flat on the mat!
Winner: Cal McCluskey by KO (Elbows) at 0:48 Round 1
Statistics: Ian Clemens
Punches 0/0 (0%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 0/0 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 22 s
Statistics: Cal McCluskey
Punches 0/0 (0%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 1/1 (100%)
GnP strikes 8/8 (100%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 22 s
FAN POLL: 67% Lea Sun
REFEREE: Herschel Warden
=========================================
ROUND ONE
=========================================
August Pope and Lea Sun touch gloves in the center to get this fight started! August Pope leans forwards and tries to grapple with Sun. Pope shows his clinching skills. Both fighters are clinching now. Sun doesn't want to clinch as she ducks under Pope and tries to move away… Nice move from Sun who put some distance between them. Both fighters circle around the center of the cage now. Lea looks for a straight right hand but Pope ducks. Lea Sun and Pope engage in a wild exchange of punches! Both fighters are connecting and this could be ending soon if either lands a lucky punch. Pope has a small cut on his right cheek.
A punch from Lea Sun grazes Pope's left cheek. Pope leans forwards and tries to grapple with Sun. Pope shows his clinching skills. Both fighters are clinching now. Sun doesn't want to clinch as she ducks under Pope and tries to move away… Pope pushes Sun forward and doesn't allow her to break the clinch. Pope pushes Sun against the fence and launches a few sick punches. Sun blocks and pushes away her opponent, creating some space between them. Both fighters circle around the center of the cage. Lea Sun on the attack and letting go with a combo of punches that gets the crowd out of their seat. Pope may be in trouble and his corner is screaming at him!
Sun launches a furious low kick and Pope receives a hard blow on his right leg! Pope is swinging for the fences and one of his swings almost breaks Sun's jaw as her knees buckle.The two begin to exchange wildly and Sun is connecting with a few punches. Sun decides to launch some tentative punches. Pope launches a couple of jabs that are answered by Sun with a stiff cross! Solid exchange here! Sun fires low kicks, punishing Pope's legs repeatedly. Lea Sun moves forward looking for a hole in her opponent's defense. Lea Sun goes with a looping right hand while August Pope jumps back and jabs. Sun only hits air and the subsequent exchange is fruitless.
Pope and Sun circle around the center of the cage. August Pope tries a nice one-two combination that gets blocked. Solid shot from Pope to the body. Sun didn't like that. Hard blow to Sun's mid-section, she seems hurt. Inside leg kick from Sun that lands on August Pope's leg and she follows that up with high kick that falls short of the mark. Pope throws a hook that doesn't hit its mark. Pope pushes Lea Sun and moves away from her. Both fighters trying to find the distance again. Jab strikes from Sun! Pope blocks with confidence. A right hand from Lea Sun misses its target. Sun fails here and a right hand from August Pope makes Sun stumble back!
August Pope goes with a looping right hand while Lea Sun jumps back and jabs. Sun seems staggered and August Pope runs to capitalize with a bunch of jabs and crosses. Pope seems hesitant as if he would give the initiative to his opponent. August Pope spins around suddenly… and his backfist connects flush with Sun's chin but before he could inflict anymore damage, Herschel Warden tells the fighters to go to their corners as the round is over.
Lea Sun's Corner Notes
Keep your distance!
Look for Takedowns!
You lost the round!
August Pope's Corner Notes
Keep striking!
She’s still dazed!
Become more precise!
=========================================
ROUND TWO
=========================================
Middle kick from Sun starts the round off. Pope receives a solid kick right below his ribs. She follows with a solid low kick that August isn't able to check. Both fighters circle around the center of the cage before August shoots in and gets Lea by the waist and tries to take the fight to the ground. He does with a single leg sweep. August Pope is in open guard over Sun. Deep breaths from Lea Sun who tries a hammer punch to Pope's ribs. Pope blocks those punches. Pope moves on the ground… and gets to half guard. Lea Sun attempts to move to full guard. August Pope keeps good control and remains in half guard.
August Pope is still in half guard over Sun. Pope is taking this opportunity to rest. Pope launches a few fake punches and tries to escape! Sun is covering herself! Pope tries to force the situation and Sun gives her back. Pope is in rear mount over Sun. Sun has given her back to August Pope who is trying to get one hook in! August Pope has one hook in! From the rear mount August positions himself for a round of ground and pound and tries to finish the fight with some precise elbows! One, two, three! Sun's being punished here and the crowd ooh’s and ahh’s with every elbow.
Sun is trying to escape from the rear mount. She holds Pope's arm over her shoulder and then rolls on the ground. Incredible move to get a half mount! Sun gets to the side mount over August Pope, but after displaying nothing the fight stalled on the ground and Herschel Warden has seen enough passivity on the ground and stands up the fighters. Both fighters continue the fight on their feet. You can hear how people in the Smoothie King Center agree with that decision.
August Pope has found an opening in the defense of Sun, launching a big uppercut! Sun is wobbling! August Pope goes with a looping right hand while Lea Sun jumps back and jabs. That one hits but Sun seems unaffected, countering with a few punches of her own. Great exchange here. Sun fires low kicks, punishing Pope's legs repeatedly. August Pope and Sun engage in a wild exchange of punches! Both fighters are missing terribly. Middle kick from Sun. The kick just misses. Sun launches a furious low kick! August Pope blocks it before a bone shattering straight right hand from August Pope connects. Sun is going to have a big headache after that blow!
These two fighters are showing each other a ton of respect. Sun launches a furious low kick! August Pope blocks. Lea Sun gets sloppy and August Pope tries to take advantage...Pope goes to the body… He punishes Sun's ribs with a couple of hooks. Sun launches a hook to the body. August Pope moves aside looking for a counter… Pope wants to close the range and tries to grapple… Nice move. He shoves himself over Lea and secures a single collar tie. Lea Sun pushes away Pope trying to keep the fight at striking range. Pope doesn't want to break the clinch as he still is grappling with Lea Sun but Herschel Warden tells the fighters to go to their corners as the round is over.
Lea Sun's Corner Notes
Avoid his strikes!
Must end the fight to win!
Go all out!
August Pope's Corner Notes
Don’t get sloppy you're up!
Keep striking!
Keep your distance!
=========================================
ROUND THREE
=========================================
The final round and the fighters touch gloves. Several good body shots land on Sun before both fighters circle around the center of the cage. Sun spins around and tries a spinning back kick! Pope ducks under and hesitates for a moment… Lea Sun moves forward looking for a hole in August’s defense. Lea Sun tries a middle kick. August Pope blocks and steps away. Lea Sun launches a body shot, Pope dodges and catches her with a hard cross. Pope showing excellent timing and blasts Lea Sun with a right hand! Bang! Great hook by August Pope! Lea Sun is caught off balance and slips to the ground! Sun's Forehead is bruised after the punishment she’s received!
Pope is standing while Sun is on the ground on her back. Sun tries to stand up! Pope doesn't allow her! Sun tries to stand up once more and this time gets back to her feet. Nice punches from August Pope. Sun staggers backwards. Pope wants to finish this and continues launching bombs! Bone shattering straight left hand from Lea Sun! Pope ducks under, fakes a punch and shoots a takedown! Lea Sun didn't see it coming and has been put on the ground!
August Pope is in open guard over Sun. Pope is taking this opportunity to rest. Sun launches a few weak punches. Pope blocks them effective. August Pope aggressively and repeatedly punches Sun. She needs to do something soon or Herschel will stop the fight! Sun tries to close her guard around Pope but is not able to do it. Pope tries to move to full mount and he succeeds. Lea Sun tries to roll to her side and get to half guard, but Pope rolls Sun to her stomach and takes her back!
Pope is in rear mount over Sun. Sun tries to move on the ground and shows Pope a crack in her guard which he uses for a big elbow! Bang! Sun's forehead receives a strong elbow that rocks his head against the mat! Herschel Warden knows he may be calling off the fight soon! Sun is gassing out... She tries to roll and find an escape but fails to improve here. Good looking punches from August Pope on the ground. They could take their toll on Sun. There is a small cut on Sun's left eye.
Pope is in rear mount over Sun. Sun tries to stand up! Pope doesn't allow her! Sun tries to move on the ground and shows Pope a crack in her guard which he uses for a big elbow! Bang! Another One! August Pope isolates an arm looking for an armbar from the back… Sun locks her hands and forces her weight on top of August Pope until she can pull her arm free! Pope lost his dominant position. Lea Sun is in closed guard over Pope now. Pope tries to roll on the ground! Nice reversal! He is now in full mount over Lea Sun!
August Pope tries to finish the fight with an armbar from the top but Sun is smart enough to avoid the submission attempt. Pope aggressively and repeatedly punches Sun. She needs to do something soon or the referee will stop the fight. Sun tries to escape from the full mount… August Pope is not caught off guard and moves to side mount to keep his superior position. Pope is taking this opportunity to rest. Sun tries to stand up! Pope doesn't allow him! And boom the bell sounds signaling the end of the fight.
JUDGE MIRANDA FRANCO
August Pope 10 10 10: 30
Lea Sun 9 9 8: 26
JUDGE MAX CARVER
August Pope 9 10 10: 29
Lea Sun 10 9 8: 27
JUDGE OZZIE SEBASTIAN
August Pope 10 10 10: 30
Lea Sun 9 9 8: 26
Winner: August Pope by Unanimous Decision
Statistics: August Pope
Punches 33/46 (72%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/3 (0%)
Takedowns 2/2 (100%)
GnP strikes 16/18 (89%)
Submissions 2/2 (100%)
Clinch Attempts 2/2 (100%)
Time on the ground 280 s
Statistics: Lea Sun
Punches 17/33 (52%)
Kicks 10/17 (59%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 0/0 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/5 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 301 s
The long-running sci-fi series, Hexx: Chronicles of Empire City,
starring Union Grand Prix Lightweight competitor and
Unified Global Wrestling Coalition Cooperative Champion
Kenzi Grey
will air the final episode of season 3 this weekend.
Questions have swirled concerning which favorites would be returning
and which meet their ultimate demise before season 4 airs in August.
With that in mind, please enjoy the final stinger for Hexx...
FAN POLL: 61% Kenzi Grey
REFEREE: Jordan Ripley
=========================================
ROUND ONE
=========================================
The bell rings and the fighters touch gloves in the center. Lexi Sheckler shoots for a takedown right out of the gate. She gets it and is open guard over Grey. Sheckler tries to jump to side mount but Kenzi Grey closes her guard. Sheckler works to the side mount over Kenzi but Kenzi traps Lexi in a half guard. Kenzi tries working her way to her feet and while doing so Lexi times a thunderous Elbow to the jaw that Damn near looked like it knocked Kenzi out. Ripley sees that she’s good and steps away. Lexi looks to deliver some more elbows but Kenzi blocks them showing brilliant hip movement and locking in a Triangle Choke but Lexi slips out it.
Grey quickly turns her hips over and switches to the armbar! She’s got it locked and the pain on Lexi’s face clearly shows that. Punishing hold! Sheckler's arm is getting wrenched!
Lexi Sheckler slips out and backs away to avoid anymore danger. Jordan Ripley halts the fight to stand up Kenzi Grey. The fight resumes with both fighters standing. You can hear how people agree with that decision.. Lexi times a nice High Kick that leaves a small cut on her forehead. Grey bounces back, swaying and looking for a Jab Jab combo but Lexi weaves it and catches Kenzi with a jab hook combo of her own. Kenzi walks right through those punches and gets a double leg takedown into Lexi’s guard.
Kenzi Grey is in closed guard over Sheckler... Sheckler tries to reverse and she does getting to full mount. Nice reversal. Lexi rolls Kenzi to her stomach and takes her back! Sheckler positions herself for a round of ground and pound and tries to finish the fight with some precise elbows! One, two, three! Grey's being punished here!
Sheckler is in rear mount over Grey and Sheckler tries to get a hook in! Things could get worse for Grey and her corner knows that. Sheckler has one hook in and keeps working. Kenzi Grey launches a few punches to Sheckler's cheek from the guard. Lexi Sheckler uses her head to cover the punches and presses her skull forward. Sheckler’s trying to get the second hook in. Nicely done! Sheckler now has two hooks in! She throws her leg over Kenzi Grey's arm, leaving her with only one arm to defend herself from Lexi Sheckler's rear naked choke attempt! Kenzi Grey cannot defend with only one arm and taps to the choke!
Winner: Lexi Sheckler by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:10 Round 1
Statistics: Kenzi Grey
Punches 0/1 (0%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 1/1 (100%)
GnP strikes 0/3 (0%)
Submissions 1/1 (100%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 140 s
Statistics: Lexi Sheckler
Punches 3/4 (75%)
Kicks 1/1 (100%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 1/1 (100%)
GnP strikes 4/7 (57%)
Submissions 1/1 (100%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 140 s
[The camera cuts to an interview done earlier in the day, Bodie Sullivan standing by.]
BODIE SULLIVAN
Ladies and gentlemen, my guest at this time is one of the newest members to the lightweight division, “Bullrush” Gracyn Knight.
[Gracyn gives a small smile.]
GRACYN KNIGHT
Bout ye?
[Bodie doesn’t really know how to respond to her greeting so just politely smiles at her and moves things along.]
BODIE SULLIVAN
Now Gracyn, I think its safe to say that you timed coming into Union Grand Prix quite well, considering that your first match is in a tournament to decide the Undisputed Lightweight Champion. How do you feel about the whole situation, and your chances?
GRACYN KNIGHT
I mean how do you think I feel about it Bodie? Its fucking great! I mean none of that newbie bashing bullshit, no being looked down upon until you get a shot. We’ve all got a shot right fucking now and no one has any excuse because we are all on an equal playing field. Its cracker and I for one can’t wait to get in there!
As for my chances? I mean I know what I can do in there, so I’d say pretty fucking good. I gotta get past Xabier first though before I get too ahead of myself.
BODIE SULLIVAN
How do you feel about your matchup with Xabier? He’s got quite a few fights under his belt, and he’s had a couple of losses as of late that you have got to think he’s going to be determined to come back from.
[Gracyn smirks.]
GRACYN KNIGHT
Good, that’s exactly what I want to hear. I want to fight someone with a clear head, who’s determined, who is looking to end me. If I got any less I’d be disappointed, and I am not a woman who enjoys being disappointed. In terms of the matchup, strength and striking power are mine, I think even Stevie Wonder could see that. That said, the dude is slippery, and can work from pretty much everywhere. I’m just gonna do what I do, not overthink it, and hopefully not get caught. The X man has a history of being put in nap time, and I fully intend to make it repeat itself. Its gonna be one hell of a date, that’s for sure.
[Gracyn gives a wink.]
BODIE SULLIVAN
We briefly spoke about the championship tournament before, but the obvious difference between your weight division and the others is that because of the amount of fighters, your tournament contains 16 people instead of 8. Do you feel it's unfair? Do you have any other thoughts?
[Gracyn looks almost offended, raising an eyebrow.]
GRACYN KNIGHT
Unfair?! “Oh no, I’m a contracted fighter and if I keep winning I’m guaranteed more contracted fights! The world is against me!” Slide on with that shit. Anyone that does think its unfair needs to wind their necks in and get a god damn reality check because fighting is what we are here to do, so if you don’t want to fight; then feel free to sprout wings and get the flying fuck out of this sport because we don’t want you here.
[Gracyn takes a deep breath.]
GRACYN KNIGHT
As for my other thoughts? All the extra numbers do is make the person that leaves this tournament as Lightweight Champion shine brighter than all the others. We have to grind through every last fighter until there is only one left, and in my opinion that person is not only going to be Undisputed Lightweight Champion, they will be the Undisputed Champion period. And you better believe I intend for that shining mother fucker to be me.
[Bodie gives a smile.]
BODIE SULLIVAN
Well that’s all the questions I had for today. Thank you for your… insightful opinion there, Ms. Knight.
[She smiles and gives him a hard pat on the back.]
GRACYN KNIGHT
Any time mate.
[The camera then cuts away.]
FAN POLL: 63% Gracyn Knight
REFEREE: Willie Green
=========================================
ROUND ONE
=========================================
Xabier Belazco and Gracyn Knight touch gloves in the center of the cage and the fight quickly gets underway with Gracyn looking for an early takedown which she scores on. Immediately on the ground Knight scores with a brutal shot to the body but Belazco responds by closing his guard. The two continue to work on the ground as the early moments of the round progress. Belazco then sees an opening and threads the needle on a reversal, rolling and putting Knight on her back, positioning himself in full mount! Wow!
Even though Belazco finds himself in the advantageous position it’s Gracyn Knight who continues to be the aggressor, chipping away at Xabier’s ribs with big punches, though he does a nice job defending and deflecting most of them. Smartly, Knight adjusts her gameplan and fires off a few quick jabs to the face, forcing Belazco to respond and keep him from posturing up. Good ground technique from both fighters in the early going, and Knight looks to improve her position, rolling to her side but Belazco is game to it and keeps her from completing the move, instead taking her back!
Sensing that the end of the fight could be near the crowd begins to buzz as Belazco sees an opening and manages to get one hook in from rear mount. Struggling, Knight twists and manages to connect on a few weak punches but it allows Belazco to get a second hook in and things are rapidly getting worse for Gracyn Knight. With Belazco completely in control he begins looking for a means of bringing the fight to its conclusion but Knight, somehow, manages to stifle him and when the action dies down referee Willie Green decides to instead stand the two fighters up, a decision that Allstate Arena crowd is not all that pleased with.
With both fighters standing again, Knight once more is the aggressor, pressing Belazco back against the fence where the two tie up in a clinch. Gracyn looks to take him down with a trip and nearly has it but Belazco somehow manages to maintain his balance, perhaps with the aid of the fence. Continuing to work in the clinch, Belazco gets double underhooks, blocks Knights right knee and executes a perfect knee tap, taking Knight down with superb skill! Yet once more it’s Knight who is the aggressor, testing Belazco’s ribs as he works with big punches, though Xabier continues to deflect the majority of them. And while her aggression can be applauded, it also continues to allow Xabier openings in her guard to improve his position. Smoothly, after a deflected blow, Belazco breaks Knights closed guard and shifts briefly to half guard and then to side mount. She continues to try to land strikes both to the body and to the head, but Xabier deftly avoids them and once more seamlessly transitions, this time into mount. Yet in spite of all of the great work on the ground, and all of the tremendous positioning, Belazco is unable to do anything with it once he’s there and the fight stalls leaving the referee with no option but to stand the two fighters up once more.
Back on their feet, Knight looks to clinch with her opponent once more but Xabier decides better of engaging and sidesteps the attempt at a clinch. Spotting an opening, Belazco tests Knight with a few jabs that she blocks easily but never sees a big hook from Belazco coming that connects flush, causing her to stumble and fall to the mat.
With Knight on her back, she aims a kick to Belazco’s knee to try and keep him at bay. He avoids it and the up-kick that was intended for his head that came a moment later. When she aims another kick at his legs, Belazco deftly avoids those. It seems that Knight is starting to get tired and is breathing heavily, but still Xabier is unable to find a way to get close without taking any damage in return from his opponent. Another kick is aimed for his knee, which he dodges, and then seizes an opportunity, jumping inside Knights guard and blocking the few punches she responds with effectively.
In open guard, Belazco spots the fatigue in his opponents eyes and quickly looks to bring the fight to its conclusion with a leg lock. Oh he’s got it in too! Xabier Belazco tries to finish with a leg lock! You can see the pain reflected in Gracyn Knights eyes but she continues to fight and try to free her leg from it. It sure looks tight though and finally Belazco secures it fully. Willie Green looks for the tap from Gracyn Knight but she refuses, a groan of pain echoing from her lips. Finally, the referee jumps in and breaks the lock in order to protect the fighter, bringing the fight to its conclusion with a submission victory for Xabier Belazco!
Winner: Xabier Belazco by Submission (Leglock) at 4:21 Round 1
Statistics: Xabier Belazco
Punches 1/1 (100%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 1/1 (100%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 1/1 (100%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 184 s
Statistics: Gracyn Knight
Punches 0/0 (0%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/1 (0%)
Takedowns 1/2 (50%)
GnP strikes 4/44 (9%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/1 (0%)
Time on the ground 221 s