PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Ryan Locke (ranked 3860 p4p, 23955 weight class) and Zico Verhoeven (ranked 417 p4p, 549 weight class). Locke's entrance music is Pop Smoke - Dior. A fine choice. Ryan Locke has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Locke
vs
Verhoeven

190 cm
22
231
6 - 1 - 0

196 cm
21
262
2 - 1 - 0

Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent MT
Powerful

Conviction
AVALON

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryan Locke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Zico Verhoeven!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Eddie Farnsworth and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Verhoeven has closed the distance and engaged Locke in a clinch.

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

Verhoeven rushes Locke and presses him up against the ropes.

Locke pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Verhoeven throws an off balance right hand
and Locke counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ryan Locke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Locke lands a head shot.
Locke takes a swing at Verhoeven's ribcage but misses.

Verhoeven moves into the clinch successfully.
Verhoeven is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Locke breaks the clinch.
Verhoeven throws a poor cross that misses
and Locke counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Verhoeven uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Locke.
Locke throws a combination. Verhoeven tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
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!

Verhoeven closes the distance and pushes Locke back into the ropes.
Verhoeven lands with a short punch from the clinch.

It looks like Ryan Locke has been cut.
Locke takes a knee to the side of the body.
Verhoeven unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Locke breaks from the clinch.
Locke misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Verhoeven gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A right hook to the body lands for Verhoeven.

Locke breaks the clinch.
Verhoeven slips under a jab.
Verhoeven connects with a nice looking jab.

Verhoeven moves into the clinch successfully.

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

Verhoeven clinches up against the ropes.
Verhoeven lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
A bit of stalling here from Verhoeven.
Verhoeven is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Verhoeven receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Verhoeven with a knee to the head.
Verhoeven lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Locke manages to break the clinch.
Locke looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Verhoeven pushes Locke up against the ropes in a clinch.

Locke manages to break the clinch.
Locke loads up on a big right hand but Verhoeven slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verhoeven takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Locke gets tackled into the ropes by Verhoeven. Verhoeven maintains the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Verhoeven.
Verhoeven makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Verhoeven gets through Locke's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Verhoeven comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

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

Verhoeven fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Locke, pushing him back against the ropes.
Verhoeven is pushing Locke up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Verhoeven stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Locke breaks the clinch.
Verhoeven uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Locke.
Verhoeven keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Locke takes a swing at Verhoeven's ribcage but misses.
Verhoeven displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Locke throws out the jab.
Locke misses with a body shot.

Verhoeven has closed the distance and engaged Locke in a clinch.

Locke escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zico Verhoeven dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ryan Locke's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Verhoeven gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Verhoeven lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Verhoeven lands an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Verhoeven.

Locke breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ryan Locke is winning the standup battle so far.
Locke loads up on a big right hand but Verhoeven slips the punch.

Verhoeven clinches with his opponent.

Locke pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Verhoeven defending well as Locke loads up on a big left hand.
Locke fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A swing and a miss from Locke.
Locke swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Verhoeven closes the distance and clinches.
Verhoeven lands a body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

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

Verhoeven has taken the fight to the clinch.
Verhoeven is pushing Locke up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke with a jab.

Verhoeven moves into the clinch.
Verhoeven with a knee to the head.

Ryan Locke's cut is getting worse.
Verhoeven effectively controlling the action here.

Locke escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Locke looks to throw the jab but Verhoeven is out of range.
Verhoeven looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Locke throws a hook but Verhoeven avoids it easily.

Verhoeven has managed to clinch.
A short right from Verhoeven.
Verhoeven scores with a knee to the head.

Locke escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Locke throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Verhoeven has managed to clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short uppercut from Verhoeven.
Verhoeven connects with a nasty looking knee right to Locke's face.

Locke breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Locke uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Verhoeven defending well as Locke loads up on a big left hand.
A swing and a miss from Locke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Verhoeven moves into range and clinches up with Locke.
Verhoeven has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A nice right hand lands inside from Verhoeven.
Locke takes a knee right on the jaw!

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

Locke gets tackled into the ropes by Verhoeven. Verhoeven maintains the clinch.

Locke manages to break the clinch.
Verhoeven avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Verhoeven takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Locke connects with a body shot.
Locke ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Locke darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Verhoeven fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Locke, pushing him back against the ropes.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Locke pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Locke uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Verhoeven takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Verhoeven gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Verhoeven will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Locke up against the ropes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zico Verhoeven showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ryan Locke's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Verhoeven fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Locke, pushing him back against the ropes.
Zico Verhoeven seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A right hand to the body from Verhoeven.

Locke manages to break the clinch.
Locke catches Verhoeven with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Locke swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Verhoeven moves into range and clinches up with Locke.
A shot in the inside from Verhoeven.
Verhoeven lands a body punch in the clinch.

Locke breaks the clinch.
Locke lands a jab to Verhoeven's midsection.
Verhoeven steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Locke.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Verhoeven clinches with his opponent.

Locke breaks from the clinch.

Verhoeven gets a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Locke escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Verhoeven attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Verhoeven rushes Locke and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verhoeven is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Verhoeven working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Locke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Verhoeven clinches with his opponent.

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

Verhoeven darts in and clinches Locke up against the ropes.
Verhoeven scores with a hook to the body.
A short left from Verhoeven.
Locke's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Verhoeven's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Locke misses with a left hand
and Verhoeven counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Verhoeven instigates a clinch.
Come on Verhoeven - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Verhoeven gets through Locke's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
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!
Verhoeven lands a body shot in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

Verhoeven has closed the distance and engaged Locke in a clinch.
Verhoeven stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Verhoeven.

Locke manages to break the clinch.
Locke swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Locke gets tackled into the ropes by Verhoeven. Verhoeven maintains the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Verhoeven.

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

Verhoeven clinches up against the ropes.
Verhoeven lands a nice knee to the body.
Verhoeven taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Locke wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Verhoeven stalls.
Locke takes an elbow to the temple.
Locke takes a shot to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Verhoeven creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Verhoeven connects with a nasty looking knee right to Locke's face.

Ryan Locke's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Verhoeven landing knees to the head.
Ryan Locke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zico Verhoeven is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Locke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zico Verhoeven comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Verhoeven 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zico Verhoeven!
Zico Verhoeven decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.