PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Ryu Takemura (ranked 22464 p4p, 489 weight class) and Spas Spasov (ranked 2364 p4p, 259 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Takemura
vs
Spasov

170 cm
29
150 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

180 cm
29
159 lbs
13 - 15 - 1

World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Dr Zoidberg Office

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryu Takemura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Spas Spasov!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Spasov has closed the distance and engaged Takemura in a clinch.
Takemura can't break the clinch.
Takemura blocks a body shot from Spasov.
Spasov has Takemura pressed against the ropes, preventing Takemura from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Spasov looking to slow down the pace here.
Takemura misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Takemura wants to break the clinch but can't.
Still in the clinch, Spasov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Takemura wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Takemura working hard to break the clinch.
Spasov tries a body shot but Takemura blocks it.
Spasov leaning against his opponent.
Takemura definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Takemura can't break the clinch.
Spasov has Takemura pressed against the ropes, preventing Takemura from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Takemura looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spasov holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Spasov stalling in the clinch.

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

Spasov drives through and clinches with Takemura against the ropes.
Takemura prevents a body shot from Spasov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spasov struggles to land a body shot inside as Takemura controls his hands.
Spasov trying to control the position but instead, Takemura has worked for underhooks and has pushed Spasov into the ropes.
Spasov keeps control of Takemura as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A short left from Spasov.
Spasov presses Takemura against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Spasov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Takemura pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ryu Takemura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Spasov throws a right and a left that both miss.

Takemura gets tackled into the ropes by Spasov. Spasov maintains the clinch.
Spasov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Spasov has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Takemura seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Spasov can turn it around.
Spasov throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Takemura lands a nice shot to the body.

Spasov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Takemura ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Spasov moves away.
Spasov scores with a hook.
Takemura misses with an uppercut
and Spasov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takemura misses with a hook.
Spasov throws a series of punches but Takemura moves out of range.

Spasov has managed to clinch.
Takemura blocks a body shot from Spasov.
A right handed body shot lands from Spasov.

Spasov breaks from the clinch.
Takemura throws a nice looking combination but Spasov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Takemura throws a jab but it's blocked by Spasov.
Takemura showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Spasov.
Takemura tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Spasov was well out of range. Poor timing from Takemura.
Spasov is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Spasov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Takemura backs up against the ropes.
Spasov misses with a series of wild punches.
Takemura swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Spasov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Takemura.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Spas Spasov dominated that round.
That's time! Takemura's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Takemura takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Spasov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Takemura lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Spasov circles away quickly and effectively.
Spasov misses with a few strikes there.
Spasov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Takemura counters with a one-two to the body.
Spasov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takemura swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Spasov throws a right hand that Takemura ducks under and follows up with a left that Takemura also avoids with ease.
Spasov throws a nice looking combination but Takemura bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Spasov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Takemura eats them both and turns towards Spasov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Takemura lands with a nice combination. Spasov backs away looking to recover.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Spasov doesn't manage to clinch there - Takemura circles away.
Spasov misses with a double jab.
Spasov throws an overhand right that lands on Takemura's shoulder, as Takemura tries to avoid the shot.
Takemura closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Spasov ducks under a wild hook from Takemura.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spasov pushes Takemura up against the ropes in a clinch.
Spasov can't find room to land a body shot as Takemura controls the action.
Spasov is working Takemura over against the ropes.
Takemura prevents a body shot from Spasov.

Takemura pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Spasov misses with a hook.
Spasov wants to clinch.
It looked like Takemura was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Spasov looks to land a combination but Takemura avoids it well.
Spas Spasov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takemura slips a jab and a cross from Spasov.
Spasov wants to clinch up but Takemura keeps it at a distance.
Ryu Takemura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Spasov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Spasov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takemura.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spasov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Takemura circles away quickly and effectively.
Takemura was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Spasov falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Takemura counter with a right hand.
Spasov throws a right hand that Takemura ducks under and follows up with a left that Takemura also avoids with ease.
Takemura seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Some wild striking there from Spasov.
Takemura was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Takemura misses with a hook.
Takemura works Spasov's body with a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spasov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Spasov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Spasov looks to clinch
and Takemura counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Takemura keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spasov misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Spas Spasov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Spasov looks to land a combination but Takemura avoids it well.
Spasov takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Takemura misses with a wild combination.
Spasov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Takemura counters with a stiff right hand.
Spasov avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spasov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Spasov is looking to clinch.
As Spasov looks to move away, Takemura throws a big counter combo but Spasov just gets out of the way.
Spasov takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Spasov tries to clinch but Takemura is having none of it.
Spas Spasov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spasov misses with a double jab
and Takemura counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Spasov misses with an uppercut.
Takemura was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Spasov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takemura.
Spasov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Takemura wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Spasov throws a right hand that Takemura ducks under and follows up with a left that Takemura also avoids with ease.
Takemura was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Spasov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Takemura.
Spasov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ryu Takemura is winning the standup battle so far.
Spasov closes the distance looking to clinch
and Takemura counters with a stiff right hand.
Spasov throws a right and a left that Takemura avoids nicely.
Takemura throwing a counter right hand but Spasov manages to avoid it.

Spasov has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Spasov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Spasov gets a clinch.

Takemura breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No joy there for Spasov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Spasov throws a right hand that Takemura ducks under and follows up with a left that Takemura also avoids with ease.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takemura fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Takemura avoids a punch combination nicely.
A little feinted left hand from Takemura on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Spasov rushes Takemura and presses him up against the ropes.

Takemura breaks the clinch.
A punch combination from Spasov misses.
Ryu Takemura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Spasov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryu Takemura showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Spasov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!