PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Ao Kuang (ranked 20267 p4p, 4169 weight class) and Alex Alexandrov (ranked 711 p4p, 502 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Kuang
vs
Alexandrov

197 cm
36
190
9 - 7 - 0

188 cm
29
205
21 - 18 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ao Kuang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Alexandrov!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Shimada and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alexandrov tries to clinch but Kuang is having none of it.
A counter left hand to the body from Kuang misses its target.
Alexandrov throws a combination. Kuang tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Ao Kuang has been cut.
Kuang's corner calls for a 1-2. Kuang obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Alexandrov tries to clinch there but Kuang circles away.
Kuang slips a jab and a cross from Alexandrov.
Alexandrov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kuang really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alexandrov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Alexandrov has managed to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexandrov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kuang up against the ropes.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kuang swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kuang lands a left hand that snaps the head of Alexandrov backwards.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kuang as Alexandrov tries to tie him up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Kuang.

Kuang's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kuang looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Alexandrov misses with a head kick.
Alexandrov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuang swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alexandrov throws a sloppy head kick and Kuang moves out of range easily.
Alexandrov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alex Alexandrov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alexandrov closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kuang makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Alexandrov really felt that one!
Alexandrov jabs at Kuang's body.
Kuang attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Alexandrov let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kuang feints and then cracks Alexandrov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Alexandrov down.
Kuang circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Kuang to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Alexandrov moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alexandrov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Alexandrov blocks a body shot from Kuang.
Kuang misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kuang working aggressively here.
Kuang lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Alexandrov or not.
Kuang working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Alexandrov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alexandrov wants to clinch but Kuang slips to the side
and Kuang counters with a nice leg kick.
Kuang with a hook.
Kuang lands a nice hook to Alexandrov's body. Alexandrov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Alexandrov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Alexandrov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuang lands a right hand that snaps the head of Alexandrov backwards.
Alexandrov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kuang backwards.
Alexandrov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kuang lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kuang lands a nice uppercut.
A short uppercut from Kuang.
A shot in the inside from Alexandrov.
Alexandrov looking to slow down the pace here.
Alexandrov presses Kuang against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Alexandrov working aggressively here.
Alexandrov stalling.
Kuang misses with a punch on the inside.
Kuang misses with a hook from the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kuang.
Nice body punch from Kuang.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuang lands a body shot.
Alexandrov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Alexandrov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kuang lands a hook that snaps the head of Alexandrov backwards.
Kuang misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuang swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Kuang escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alexandrov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alexandrov fails in his attempt to clinch.

Alexandrov has managed to clinch.

Kuang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Alexandrov takes the fight into the clinch.
Kuang misses with a short punch on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Alexandrov.
Kuang tries to throw a body punch but Alexandrov avoids it by throwing Kuang back against the ropes.
Alexandrov blocking some punches.
Nice body punch from Alexandrov - that landed with a thud.
Kuang lands a hook that snaps the head of Alexandrov backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alexandrov.
Kuang has a couple of punches blocked by Alexandrov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ao Kuang dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ao Kuang's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Alexandrov keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Despite the aggression on Alexandrov's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Alexandrov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Alexandrov darts in trying to clinch
and Kuang counters with a stiff right hand.
Alexandrov moves in looking to clinch but Kuang pushes him off.
Kuang feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Kuang misses with a low kick.
Alexandrov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Kuang paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexandrov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Alexandrov tries to clinch but Kuang is having none of it.
Kuang is looking to counter punch.

Alexandrov has taken the fight to the clinch.

Kuang breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ao Kuang is winning the standup battle so far.
Alexandrov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alexandrov just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromKuang.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuang checks the leg kick.
Alexandrov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kuang.
Kuang circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kuang scores with a leg kick.
Alexandrov tries to clinch but Kuang is having none of it.
Alexandrov tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Kuang manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Alexandrov moves to clinch but Kuang breaks away
and Kuang counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alexandrov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kuang swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Kuang showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alexandrov.
Kuang scores with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov tries to clinch up but Kuang circles away and keeps his distance.
It appears Kuang was looking to counter with a kick there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alexandrov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A combination from Alexandrov does no damage.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kuang.
Alexandrov tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuang swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Kuang clips Alexandrov with a right and a left that makes him do the chicken dance for a couple of seconds. He touched his left hand down on the canvas so the referee steps between the fighters to give Alexandrov a standing 8 count before we can continue the bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alexandrov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kuang counters with a nice low kick that buckles Alexandrov's knee momentarily.
Alexandrov tries to clinch up.
A head kick misses from Alexandrov.
A telegraphed right hand from Alexandrov misses the target.
Alexandrov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kuang is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov tries to clinch up.
Kuang was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kuang circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kuang lands an overhand right.
Alexandrov takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Alex Alexandrov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alexandrov is breathing heavily.
Nice straight punches there by Kuang. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kuang.
Alexandrov checks the leg kick.
Despite the aggression on Alexandrov's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Alexandrov tries to clinch up but Kuang circles away and keeps his distance.
Alexandrov throws a leg kick but Kuang sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Alexandrov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuang swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alexandrov tries to clinch
and Kuang counters with a leg kick.
Alexandrov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kuang.
Kuang throws a quick inside leg kick.
Alexandrov closes the distance but Kuang moves to the side
and Kuang counters with a nice uppercut.

Alexandrov is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuang swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alexandrov wants to clinch up but Kuang keeps it at a distance.
As Alexandrov backs away, Kuang returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Kuang uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Alexandrov.
Kuang keeps the fight on the outside.
The fighters circling - Kuang throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kuang circles away from the clinch attempt.

Alexandrov rushes Kuang and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Kuang misses with the head strike.
Good body shot from Kuang.
Kuang tries to throw a body punch but Alexandrov avoids it by throwing Kuang back against the ropes.
Kuang is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Alexandrov can do to turn this around?
Kuang prevents a body shot from Alexandrov.

Kuang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice uppercut lands for Alexandrov. That snapped Kuang's head back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ao Kuang will take that round after scoring the only knockdown of the round.
The cut man is working on Ao Kuang's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kuang gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Alexandrov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kuang thinking.
Kuang is looking to slow Alexandrov down with leg kicks.
Alexandrov is looking to clinch.
Alexandrov closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kuang makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Alexandrov throws a body shot but no joy.
Kuang looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Good work by Alexandrov as he checks the leg kick.
Alexandrov moves in looking to clinch but Kuang pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Alexandrov moves into the clinch successfully.
Alexandrov can't find room to land a body shot as Kuang controls the action.
Kuang lands an uppercut.
Alexandrov can't find room to land a body shot as Kuang controls the action.

Kuang escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Alexandrov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alexandrov.
Alexandrov tries to throw a body punch but Kuang avoids it by throwing Alexandrov back against the ropes.
Alexandrov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kuang lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Alexandrov lands a body shot.
Alexandrov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kuang.
Kuang gets through Alexandrov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kuang misses with some punches.
Kuang tries a body shot but Alexandrov blocks it.
Kuang tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Alexandrov's elbow.
Alexandrov lands an uppercut.
Alexandrov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kuang misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kuang swings wildly with an uppercut but Alexandrov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Good body shot from Alexandrov.
Alexandrov throws a head punch that misses.
Alexandrov works on Kuang's body with a couple of short punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuang misses with a punch to the body.
Alexandrov throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Alexandrov cracks Kuang with a nice body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Alexandrov misses with a body punch.
Alexandrov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kuang throws a head punch that misses.
Alexandrov tries a body shot but Kuang blocks it.
Kuang is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Kuang lands a nice shot to the body.
Alex Alexandrov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alexandrov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kuang is leaning against Alexandrov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Alexandrov breaks from the clinch.
Alexandrov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Alexandrov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kuang counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Alexandrov drives through and clinches with Kuang against the ropes.
Alexandrov scores with a hook to the body.
Alexandrov scores with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov tries to throw a body punch but Kuang avoids it by throwing Alexandrov back against the ropes.
Kuang makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Alexandrov tries to throw a body punch but Kuang avoids it by throwing Alexandrov back against the ropes.

Alexandrov breaks the clinch.

Alexandrov drives through and clinches with Kuang against the ropes.
Alexandrov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kuang throws a punch but it's blocked by Alexandrov.
Kuang working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Alexandrov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from Kuang.
Alexandrov gets through Kuang's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Alexandrov cracks Kuang with a nice body shot.
Nice body punch from Kuang - that landed with a thud.
Kuang scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kuang is trying to break free.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kuang.
Alexandrov looking to slow down the pace here.
Alexandrov misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuang throws a head punch that misses.
Alexandrov is trying to maintain a safe position but Kuang gets an underhook and turns Alexandrov into the ropes.
Alexandrov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Alexandrov tries to throw a body punch but Kuang avoids it by throwing Alexandrov back against the ropes.
Kuang misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alexandrov.
Kuang throws a punch but it's blocked by Alexandrov.
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!
Alexandrov lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kuang.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alexandrov.
A head punch on the inside from Kuang fails to land.

Kuang breaks the clinch.
Kuang avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A little feinted left hand from Kuang on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kuang.
Alexandrov throws a one two combo.
Alexandrov wants to clinch.
Kuang fires out a quick counter leg kick but Alexandrov just manages to avoid it.

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 Ao Kuang.
Well Kuang has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ao Kuang!