PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Ryu Takemura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Spas Spasov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class).

Takemura
vs
Spasov

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 , fighting out of , Ryu Takemura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of , fighting out of , Spas Spasov!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takemura swats away the attempt to clinch by Spasov.
Spasov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A telegraphed right hand from Spasov misses the target.
Takemura seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Spasov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takemura.
Takemura swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Spasov clinches.

Takemura breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Takemura ducks under a wild hook from Spasov.
Takemura swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Spasov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Takemura misses with a looping right.
Spasov has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Spasov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Takemura moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Spasov tries to stall but Takemura uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Spasov struggles to land a body shot inside as Takemura controls his hands.
A bit of stalling here from Spasov.
Spasov stalling against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Takemura blocks a body shot from Spasov.
Takemura tries to break the clinch but Spasov is controlling the position.
Takemura tries to break free but Spasov pushes him back against the ropes.
Takemura is looking to break free of the clinch but Spasov has double underhooks.
Spasov slowing the pace effectively.
Spasov misses with a punch to the body.
Takemura misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Spasov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Spasov slips a jab and a cross from Takemura.
Takemura misses with a wild combination.
Takemura is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Spasov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takemura swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Takemura throwing a counter right hand but Spasov manages to avoid it.
Takemura moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Spas Spasov has been cut.
Spasov swings widly with a right hand
letting Takemura counter with a right hand.
A punch combination from Spasov misses.
Takemura is looking for a counter combo.
Spasov takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Spasov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takemura prevents a body shot from Spasov.

Takemura breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Spasov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Takemura swats away the attempt to clinch by Spasov.
Spasov moves in looking to clinch but Takemura pushes him off.
Spasov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Takemura.
Ryu Takemura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Spasov tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Takemura manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Spasov throws a right and a left that Takemura avoids nicely.
Spasov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Takemura connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Spas Spasov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Spas Spasov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Spasov works over Takemura's head and body with a nice combination.
Spasov misses with a combination
and Takemura counters with a nice uppercut.
Spasov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Takemura.
Spasov throws a right and a left that Takemura avoids nicely.
Spasov throws a series of punches but Takemura moves out of range.
Takemura ducks under a wild hook from Spasov.
Takemura scores with a jab. Spasov acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Spasov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Spasov takes one to the chin there.

Spasov takes the fight into the clinch.
Takemura is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.

Takemura manages to break the clinch.

Spasov has Takemura up against the ropes in a clinch.
Spasov pushes Takemura back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spasov tries to throw a body punch but Takemura avoids it by throwing Spasov back against the ropes.

Spasov breaks the clinch.
Takemura moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Takemura throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Takemura works over Spasov's head and body with a nice combination.
Takemura steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Spasov.
It looked like Takemura wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ryu Takemura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Spasov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Takemura counters with a stiff right hand.
Spasov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Takemura seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Takemura swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Spasov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Takemura swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Spasov moves into the clinch.
Takemura tries to throw a body punch but Spasov avoids it by throwing Takemura back against the ropes.
Takemura can't break the clinch.
Spasov scores with a hook to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takemura tries to circle away but Spasov has him pinned against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Takemura breaks the clinch.
Spasov throws a series of punches but Takemura avoids them all with ease.
Takemura avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Spasov is looking to clinch.
Takemura missing with a left hand there. Spasov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Spasov tries to bum rush Takemura with a series of wild strikes but Takemura uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Takemura showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Spasov.
Takemura shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Spasov eats them both and turns towards Takemura to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takemura jabs at Spasov's body.
Spasov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Takemura circles away quickly and effectively.
Spasov lands with a nice combination. Takemura backs away looking to recover.
Spasov misses with a double jab
and Takemura counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
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 cut man is working on Spas Spasov's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

No joy there for Spasov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Spasov goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Spasov has Takemura up against the ropes in a clinch.
Spasov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Takemura backwards.
Takemura is trying to force a seperation but Spasov has the dominant position.
Takemura tries to work over Spasov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Takemura tries to break free but Spasov pushes him back against the ropes.

Takemura breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Spasov works over Takemura's head and body with a nice combination.
Takemura looks to throw the jab but Spasov is out of range.
Spasov misses with a few strikes there.
Spasov wants to clinch up but Takemura keeps it at a distance.
It looked like Takemura was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Spasov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
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!
Spasov wants to clinch.
Takemura was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
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 tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A counter left hand to the body from Takemura misses its target.
Takemura throws a shot from downtown. Spasov moves away and avoids it.
Ryu Takemura is winning the standup battle so far.
Spasov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
It looked like Takemura wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Spasov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A jab lands there for Takemura.
Takemura misses with a looping right.
Spasov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Takemura swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Spasov drives through and clinches with Takemura against the ropes.
Takemura takes a shot to the head.
Takemura working hard to break the clinch.
Takemura is trying to break the clinch but Spasov has him pressed against the ropes.
Spasov lands a body punch.
Takemura tries to break free but Spasov pushes him back against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spasov struggles to land a body shot inside as Takemura controls his hands.
Spasov scores with a shot to the side of Takemura's head.
Takemura goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Takemura lands a shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takemura tries to break free but Spasov pushes him back against the ropes.

Takemura escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Spasov slips a jab from Takemura.
Spasov is looking for the big counter here.

Spasov has managed to clinch.
Takemura can't break the clinch.
Takemura can't break the clinch.
Spasov lands a shot to the body.
Takemura is looking to break free of the clinch but Spasov has double underhooks.

Spasov breaks from the clinch.
Ryu Takemura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Spasov drives through and clinches with Takemura against the ropes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Spas Spasov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Spasov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Spas Spasov!
A relieved looking Spas Spasov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.