PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Alex Stefanovic (ranked 3529 p4p, 394 weight class) and Ron Velderman (ranked 19913 p4p, 565 weight class). Ron Velderman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stefanovic
vs
Velderman

180 cm
30
184 lbs
13 - 8 - 4

190 cm
31
181 lbs
13 - 5 - 1

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Stefanovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ron Velderman!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Velderman cracks Stefanovic with an open hand slap.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Stefanovic moves into range and connects with a jab.

Stefanovic gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Velderman.
Stefanovic scores with a shoulder strike.

Velderman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A solid leg kick lands there for Velderman.
Velderman throws a lazy right hand but Stefanovic sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stefanovic has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Da Dojo in the buildup to the fight.
Stefanovic throws a good cross that connects.
Velderman lands a slapping body shot.
Velderman misses with an uppercut.
Stefanovic was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A nice inside leg kick there by Stefanovic. That's going to slow Velderman down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Velderman blocks the body kick.
Stefanovic blocks a jab.
Stefanovic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Velderman appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Velderman lands with an uppercut that bounces Stefanovic off the ropes and back into range.
Velderman looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Velderman.
Velderman moves away from the strike by Stefanovic.
Velderman moves away from the strike by Stefanovic.
We've been informed that Velderman has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Velderman looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Velderman lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Stefanovic pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velderman moves away from the strike by Stefanovic.
Stefanovic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Velderman's jab looks to have found its range, popping Stefanovic under the eye.
Velderman attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Velderman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stefanovic wants to clinch.
Ron Velderman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Velderman takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice shot lands for Stefanovic.
Velderman scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Stefanovic throws a combination. Velderman tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Velderman scores with a leg kick.
Velderman with a hook.
Stefanovic scores with a three punch combo!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Velderman misses with a wild combination.

Stefanovic has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stefanovic lands a damaging elbow.
Velderman tries to circle away but Stefanovic has him pinned against the ropes.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Stefanovic just misses with a elbow thrown towards Velderman's brow.
Stefanovic lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Stefanovic throws an elbow but it misses.
Stefanovic works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Stefanovic swings wildly with an uppercut but Velderman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice elbow from Stefanovic.
Velderman swings wildly with an uppercut but Stefanovic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Velderman lands a hook to the side of the head.
Stefanovic blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stefanovic.
Velderman misses with the head strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Stefanovic.
Stefanovic blocks a body shot from Velderman.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stefanovic throws an elbow but it misses.
Velderman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Velderman has a couple of punches blocked by Stefanovic.
Velderman lands with a light punch inside.
Stefanovic lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Velderman backwards.
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 Alex Stefanovic will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Velderman staying out of range there.
Velderman tests Stefanovic's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Velderman moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Velderman uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stefanovic.
Velderman throws a half hearted mid kick.
Stefanovic tried to counter with a leg kick but Velderman avoided it.
Velderman has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Stefanovic checks a leg kick.
Stefanovic looks to land a left hand but Velderman moved out of range nicely.
Velderman avoids the body shot from Stefanovic.
Velderman looks to land a body kick but Stefanovic moved away.
Stefanovic doesn't manage to clinch there - Velderman circles away.
Stefanovic lands a nice shot to the body.
Velderman checks a leg kick nicely.
Stefanovic scores with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velderman scoring well with a low kick there.
Stefanovic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Velderman.
Stefanovic throws a hook to the side of Velderman's head but Velderman sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Velderman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stefanovic manages to avoid it.
Stefanovic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stefanovic takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stefanovic keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Ron Velderman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stefanovic slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Velderman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stefanovic.
Stefanovic scores with a nice body kick.
Velderman slips under a jab.
Velderman flicks out a counter leg kick but Stefanovic steps away.
Stefanovic misses with a straight right.
Velderman throws a shot from downtown. Stefanovic moves away and avoids it.
Velderman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Velderman misses with a body shot
and Stefanovic counters with a thumping low kick.
Nice body kick there by Velderman.
Velderman throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Velderman throws a jab but it's blocked by Stefanovic.
Stefanovic takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Velderman fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Velderman cracks the inside of Stefanovic's front leg.
Stefanovic's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Stefanovic duly obliges.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stefanovic stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Velderman.
Stefanovic throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Velderman stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Stefanovic pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Velderman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Velderman loads up on a big right hand but Stefanovic slips the punch.
Velderman misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Velderman.
Stefanovic tries to land a front kick but Velderman steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Velderman takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Velderman moves away from the strike by Stefanovic.
Velderman lands a front kick.
Velderman looks to score with a jab to the body but Stefanovic is just out of range.
Jab by Velderman.
Stefanovic on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Stefanovic attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Velderman lands a high kick!
Stefanovic is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Velderman.
Velderman dodges the punch combination from Stefanovic.
Velderman lunges at Stefanovic with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Stefanovic's hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stefanovic takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A good leg kick by Stefanovic.
Stefanovic is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Stefanovic misses the jab.
Velderman is trying to counter with his kicks.
Stefanovic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Velderman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ron Velderman will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Velderman darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Stefanovic scores with a nice head shot.
Velderman looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ron Velderman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A leg kick checked by Stefanovic.
Stefanovic moves out of range as Velderman strikes.
Stefanovic throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Velderman with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Stefanovic to score with a decent uppercut.
Velderman throws a hook but Stefanovic avoids it easily.
Stefanovic appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Stefanovic on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Stefanovic tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Velderman is able to avoid easily.
Stefanovic blocks a low kick nicely.
Stefanovic throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Stefanovic throws a low kick but it's checked well by Velderman.
Velderman appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Stefanovic blocks a head kick by Velderman.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Velderman lands with a cross.
Stefanovic lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Velderman uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stefanovic.
Good standup being displayed there by Velderman as he connects with a hook.
Stefanovic takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Velderman misses with a leg kick.
Velderman throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velderman throws an overhand right that lands on Stefanovic's shoulder, as Stefanovic tries to avoid the shot.
Good leg kick by Velderman there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Stefanovic lands the left hand.
Velderman misses with an attempted mid kick.
Stefanovic is looking to chop away at Velderman's legs.
Stefanovic throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Stefanovic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Velderman moves out of range of the body kick.
Stefanovic turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Velderman with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Velderman misses with a two punch combination.
Stefanovic tried to counter with a leg kick but Velderman avoided it.
Stefanovic chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Velderman closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Velderman lands a jab to the nose.
Velderman thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Stefanovic if he has to take too many more of those.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stefanovic fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Velderman.
Stefanovic is looking to land body kicks.
Velderman scoring well with a low kick there.
Stefanovic connects with a good right hand that stumbles Velderman. Velderman circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stefanovic throws a shot from downtown. Velderman moves away and avoids it.
A left lands for Velderman.

Stefanovic pushes Velderman up against the ropes in a clinch.
Velderman misses with a hook from the clinch.
Stefanovic pushes Velderman back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Stefanovic misses with a hook from the clinch.
Stefanovic misses with an elbow over the top.
Stefanovic lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Stefanovic lands a shoulder strike.
Stefanovic lands a left hand.
Stefanovic scores with a hook to the body.

Velderman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Stefanovic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Velderman lands a body punch.
Velderman lands a hook that snaps the head of Stefanovic backwards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stefanovic pushes Velderman back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Velderman lands a nice uppercut.
Stefanovic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stefanovic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Velderman's elbow.
Velderman misses with the head strike.

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 Alex Stefanovic.
I think Stefanovic 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Stefanovic!