ESPN2 FNF: Elvir Muriqi vs. Blake Caparello & Luis Rosa Jr. vs. Jorge Diaz RBR

Round 5

Caparello is leading Muriqi around the ring, throwing right jabs and moving in to heave down on Muriqi and smother him when he runs out of room. Muriqi is reaching out with straight punches up top but not getting there as Caparello moves and keeps his right arm out, inert, using it like flypaper. Muriqi is roughing Caparello a bit in the clinches, throwing neck shots. Caparello answers with a left hook on the chin on the break, which Muriqi complains about.

10-9 Caparello but closer

50-45 Caparello

 

Stats through five:

Caparello 78 of 391, 20%

Muriqi 37 of 173, 21%

 

Round 6

Caparello is moving backward, shoulders up by his ears, coiled up very tense, snapping out left hand leads and right jabs before hitting the corners to freeze Muriqi so he can switch direction unopposed. Muriqi is trying to swat down the right jab with his left and find a spot for the right hand on the long body of Caparello but not closing the gap.

10-9 Caparello

60-54 Caparello

 

Caparello's backne is grossing me out. :barf

 

Atlas has it 59-55 to Caparello, giving Muriqi the fifth.

 

Round 7

Caparello is backing up and letting Muriqi walk onto clean left uppercuts. Muriqi is moving forward, ducking and swinging his head to either side, looking to flurry on the body. Caparello is shimmying up to the ropes and then ricocheting off them, not staying still long enough for Muriqi to put any offense together. Earmuffs by Muriqi walking to Caparello in straight lines, getting caught by counter left uppercuts from outside. Caparello is backed into the ropes, twisting and rolling punches with his arms folded up at his sides.

10-9 Caparello

70-63 Caparello

 

Round 8

Caparello flicks his right jab out into Muriqi's left palm. Muriqi starts to throw his own jab and Caparello stifles the effort by jabbing Muriqi in the hand lightly, enough to keep it from leaving the station. Time out called by Esteves. Loose tape on Caparello's glove. His corner is instructed to fix it so it won't get in Muriqi's eye. It takes a fair amount of time. Caparello is looking to catch Muriqi walking in with that big left uppercut from outside, hidden behind his back until he throws it with a quick stop on a dime. Muriqi is walking through Caparello's left uppercut and right jab, head buried and earmuffs on, looking to hack at the body once inside. Forceful 1-2 by Muriqi trying to push Caparello into a corner, but blocked. Right hook and hard left cross by Caparello spinning Muriqi into the ropes.

10-9 Caparello

80-72 Caparello

 

Seriously.