PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Toktogulovich Bakiyev (ranked 2680 p4p, 263 weight class) and Shane Murphy (ranked 2895 p4p, 278 weight class). Shane Murphy has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Toktogulovich Bakiyev's chin.

Bakiyev
vs
Murphy

171 cm
44
163 lbs
34 - 42 - 1

185 cm
33
190 lbs
10 - 13 - 0

Excellent boxer
Experienced

Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Dr Zoidberg Office

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 42 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Toktogulovich Bakiyev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Shane Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shigeki Sano and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bakiyev's jab looks to have found its range, popping Murphy under the eye.
Murphy tries to clinch but Bakiyev moves out of range.
Bakiyev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Murphy manages to avoid it.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch but Bakiyev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bakiyev throwing a counter right hand but Murphy manages to avoid it.
Murphy closes the distance but Bakiyev moves to the side
and Bakiyev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Murphy is looking to clinch.
Murphy wants to clinch up but Bakiyev keeps it at a distance.
Bakiyev lands a nice hook to Murphy's body. Murphy takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bakiyev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bakiyev lands a right hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Murphy clinches.

Murphy manages to break the clinch.
Murphy tries to clinch up
and Bakiyev counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakiyev lands a jab to the nose.
Murphy throws a head kick that misses
and Bakiyev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Murphy takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Shane Murphy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bakiyev cracks Murphy with a good jab.
Murphy moves in looking to clinch but Bakiyev pushes him off.
Bakiyev swats away the attempt to clinch by Murphy.

Murphy rushes Bakiyev and presses him up against the ropes.
Murphy tries to land a knee to the head but Bakiyev blocks with his arms.
Murphy tries to land a knee to the head but Bakiyev blocks with his arms.
Murphy throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy keeps control of Bakiyev as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bakiyev looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Murphy tries to circle away but Bakiyev has him pinned against the ropes.
Murphy tries to land a knee to the head but Bakiyev blocks with his arms.
Murphy with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Bakiyev breaks from the clinch.
Murphy doesn't manage to clinch there - Bakiyev circles away.
Bakiyev ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bakiyev. Murphy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bakiyev scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Murphy doesn't seem bothered though.
Murphy wants to clinch
and Bakiyev counters with a straight right hand.

Murphy clinches up against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toktogulovich Bakiyev dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A shot to the liver by Bakiyev. Beautiful body shot.
Murphy wants to clinch but Bakiyev slips to the side
enabling Bakiyev to counter with a crisp jab.
Bakiyev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Murphy moves away.
As Bakiyev backs off Murphy throws a huge counter combo but Bakiyev manages to avoid it all.
Murphy tries to clinch up
and Bakiyev counters with a nice uppercut.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch but Bakiyev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A counter left hand to the body from Bakiyev misses its target.
Murphy tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Bakiyev counters with a stiff right hand.
Murphy ducks right into an uppercut from Bakiyev.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakiyev changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A jab from Bakiyev misses.
Murphy closes the distance but Bakiyev moves to the side
and Bakiyev counters with a right hand to the body.
Murphy darts in trying to clinch
and Bakiyev counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bakiyev misses with a body shot.
Murphy looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Murphy misses with a head kick.
Bakiyev throwing a counter right hand but Murphy manages to avoid it.
Murphy wants to clinch
and Bakiyev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Murphy is looking to clinch but Bakiyev is avoiding it.
Bakiyev throws a body punch but Murphy moves out of range.
Murphy moves to clinch but Bakiyev breaks away
and Bakiyev counters with a left to the body.
Murphy tries to clinch
and Bakiyev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to clinch but Bakiyev moves away
and Bakiyev makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Murphy tries to clinch but Bakiyev is having none of it.
A punch lands to the side of Murphy 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Murphy tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Murphy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Murphy gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Murphy obliges.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murphy throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bakiyev blocks it with crossed arms.

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

Murphy closes the distance and clinches.
Bakiyev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Murphy can do to turn this around?
Bakiyev avoiding damage as Murphy throws knees to the body.
Murphy with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toktogulovich Bakiyev dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Murphy closes the distance but Bakiyev moves to the side
and Bakiyev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Murphy throws a head kick that misses
and Bakiyev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Murphy wants to clinch
and Bakiyev counters with a straight right hand.
Bakiyev misses with a wild body shot.

Murphy closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Murphy throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bakiyev blocks it with crossed arms.
Bakiyev keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Murphy's efforts to push away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murphy tries to land a knee to the head but Bakiyev blocks with his arms.

Murphy escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Murphy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bakiyev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
It looked like Bakiyev wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Murphy clinches up against the ropes.
Murphy with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Bakiyev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Murphy tries to clinch but Bakiyev moves out of range.
Murphy closes the distance but Bakiyev moves to the side
and Bakiyev counters with a stiff right hand.
Toktogulovich Bakiyev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Murphy scores with a head kick.
Murphy darts in trying to clinch
and Bakiyev counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Murphy thinking.
Murphy tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Bakiyev counters with a straight right hand.
Bakiyev lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Murphy at a distance.
Bakiyev with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Bakiyev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
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!
Murphy doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Murphy tries to clinch but Bakiyev is having none of it.
Jab by Bakiyev.
Bakiyev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Murphy takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Murphy darts in and clinches Bakiyev up against the ropes.
Shane Murphy seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Bakiyev has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Shane Murphy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Murphy tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Murphy tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Murphy is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bakiyev is defending well for now.
Murphy tries to land a knee to the head but Bakiyev blocks with his arms.
Toktogulovich Bakiyev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Murphy breaks from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Toktogulovich Bakiyev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bakiyev, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toktogulovich Bakiyev!
After winning the bout, Toktogulovich Bakiyev thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.