PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kostya Tszyu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dennis Dueck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tszyu
vs
Dueck

175 cm
23
154 lbs
16 - 7 - 1

188 cm
27
155 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kostya Tszyu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dennis Dueck!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dueck blocks a head kick by Tszyu.
Dueck blocks a jab.
Tszyu smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Tszyu misses the jab.

Tszyu gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tszyu is pushing Dueck up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Dueck swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Dueck misses with an elbow over the top.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dueck fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Tszyu breaks from the clinch.
Dueck is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tszyu avoids a kick to the body.
Tszyu misses with an uppercut
and Dueck counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Dennis Dueck seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tszyu pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tszyu swings widly with a right hand
and Dueck counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tszyu throws a poor cross that misses
and Dueck counters with a left to the body.
Tszyu connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Tszyu closes the distance and clinches.
Nice body punch from Dueck.
Dueck is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tszyu is defending well for now.
Dueck is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tszyu is defending well for now.
Tszyu tries to break free but Dueck pushes him back against the cage.
Dueck missing with knees to the body.
Dueck doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dueck misses with a body punch.
Tszyu blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Dueck fails to land.
Dueck doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tszyu wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dueck tries to land knees in the clinch but Tszyu avoids the damage to the body.
Dueck works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A nice left hand lands by Dueck.
Tszyu avoiding damage as Dueck throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu stalling the fight.
Tszyu lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Dueck.
Dueck has a couple of punches blocked by Tszyu.
Come on Tszyu - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Dueck misses with the head strike.
Dueck fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short body shot lands from Dueck as the two fighters clinch.

Tszyu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tszyu throws a right hand that misses
and Dueck counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dueck misses with a double jab
enabling Tszyu to counter with a crisp jab.
Dueck misses with a double jab
and Tszyu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Crunch! Tszyu slams his shin into Dueck's torso.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Tszyu scores with a kick to the midsection.
Dueck misses with a two punch combination.
Dueck gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Tszyu misses the jab.
Tszyu tests Dueck's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A jab lands there for Tszyu.
Tszyu dips to his left and cracks Dueck with an uppercut!
Dueck throws a lazy right hand but Tszyu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tszyu is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Tszyu moves out of range of the body kick.
Tszyu checks a leg kick.
A jab lands there for Tszyu.
Dueck swinging wildly here.
Tszyu misses with a combination
and Dueck counters with a nice low kick that buckles Tszyu's knee momentarily.
Tszyu lands a nice looking body kick.
A slow jab from Tszyu misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Dueck slams his shin into Tszyu's torso.
Dueck tries to clinch up.
Tszyu takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Dueck throws a combination that misses
and Tszyu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Dueck tries to clinch but Tszyu moves away
and Dueck takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice body punch from Tszyu.
Dueck tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dueck misses with a double jab
and Tszyu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Dueck looks to land a left hand but Tszyu moved out of range nicely.
Tszyu scores with a body shot.
Tszyu throws a right hand that misses

and Dueck counters by moving into the clinch.
Tszyu taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Tszyu takes a shot to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dueck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostya Tszyu dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A swing and a miss from Tszyu.
Left hook, right uppercut from Tszyu.
Dueck moves out of range as Tszyu throws a body kick.
A jab from Tszyu does it's job there.
Dueck looks for the body kick but Tszyu saw that one coming.
A bone on bone clash there as Tszyu blocks the leg kick.
Dueck ducks under a wild hook from Tszyu.
Jab by Tszyu.
Dueck lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Tszyu scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Dueck has closed the distance and engaged Tszyu in a clinch.
Dueck misses with some punches.
Dueck swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tszyu blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Tszyu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tszyu dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Dueck tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Tszyu counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dueck misses with a body shot.
Dueck looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Dueck tries to clinch but Tszyu is having none of it.
Tszyu takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Dueck just misses with a punch to the body.
Tszyu throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Dueck counters by clinching up.
Dueck tries to throw a body punch but Tszyu avoids it by throwing Dueck back against the cage.
Tszyu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dueck tries to throw a body punch but Tszyu avoids it by throwing Dueck back against the cage.
Dueck misses with a punch to the body.

Tszyu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dueck misses with a body kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Tszyu, as that shot connected.
Tszyu scores with a decent looking hook.
Tszyu lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Dueck has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Tszyu cracks Dueck with a right hand to the side of the head.
Dueck moves out of range of the strikes.

Tszyu closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Dueck working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu blocks a body shot from Dueck.
Dueck trying to land knees to the body.

Tszyu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dueck takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Tszyu throws a lazy body kick
and Dueck counters with a good, hard body kick but Tszyu shrugs it off.
Dueck throws a right hand that misses
and Tszyu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dennis Dueck is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dueck misses with a double jab
and Tszyu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Dueck fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Tszyu is out of range.
Tszyu works over Dueck's head and body with a nice combination.
Dueck throws a body kick that misses.
Dueck with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tszyu to score with a decent uppercut.
A slow jab from Tszyu misses its intended target.
Tszyu moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Tszyu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dueck sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Dueck takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tszyu lands with a right hand.
Tszyu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dueck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dueck throws a hook but Tszyu blocks it.

Dueck clinches up against the cage.
Dueck tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Dueck misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dueck swings wildly with an uppercut but Tszyu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dueck has a couple of punches blocked by Tszyu.
Dueck lands a left hand.

Tszyu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tszyu throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Dueck looks to clinch
and Tszyu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dueck misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tszyu misses with an uppercut
and Dueck counters with an outside leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Dueck.
Tszyu smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Tszyu looks to score with a jab to the body but Dueck is just out of range.
Dueck swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tszyu connects with a right hand. Dueck shakes it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dueck.
Dueck throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Tszyu counters with a nice kick to the body.
Dueck showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tszyu.
Dueck tries to clinch up
and Tszyu counters with a two punch combo.
Tszyu swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Dueck.
Tszyu connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Dueck momentarily.

Tszyu forces Dueck back against the cage and clinches.
Come on Tszyu - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Dueck tries to land knees in the clinch but Tszyu avoids the damage to the body.
Dueck tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Tszyu breaks from the clinch.
Tszyu checks the leg kick.
Nice jab there from Tszyu.
Dueck moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Tszyu throws a hook to the side of Dueck's head but Dueck sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kostya Tszyu dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Tszyu avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tszyu lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Nice cross by Tszyu.
Tszyu thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tszyu bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Dueck's head.
Dueck fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dueck swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Tszyu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dueck wants to slow Tszyu down by chopping away at his legs.
Dueck throws a push kick but Tszyu slaps the foot to one side.
Dueck swinging wildly here.
Tszyu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dueck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from Tszyu.

Tszyu closes the distance and clinches.
Dueck struggles to land a body shot inside as Tszyu controls his hands.
Tszyu blocks an elbow strike.
Dueck using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tszyu has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dueck presses Tszyu against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Dueck misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Tszyu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dueck slips under a jab.
Tszyu works Dueck's body with a nice hook.
Dueck tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Tszyu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tszyu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tszyu throws a lazy uppercut
and Dueck counters with a thumping low kick.
Dueck misses with a low kick.
A low kick from Dueck misses
and Tszyu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tszyu lands a nice shot that snaps Dueck's head back.
Tszyu lands a right hook to the body.
Tszyu clobbers Dueck with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kostya Tszyu is winning the standup battle so far.
Dueck takes one to the chin there.
Jab from Tszyu.
Dueck ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tszyu scores with a kick to the body.

Tszyu moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tszyu.

Tszyu manages to break the clinch.
Tszyu throws a big shot that misses.
Dueck darts in trying to clinch
and Tszyu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dueck throws a push kick but Tszyu slaps the foot to one side.
Tszyu takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Dueck swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Tszyu counters with a nice kick to the body.
Dueck shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Tszyu throws a right hand that Dueck ducks under and follows up with a left that Dueck also avoids with ease.
Dueck looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dueck throws a leg kick
enabling Tszyu to counter with a crisp jab.
Tszyu works Dueck's body with a nice hook.
Nice uppercut there from Tszyu.
Tszyu uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Dueck has time to react.
Tszyu fails with an attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tszyu managing to block the knees to the body from Dueck.
Dueck tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tszyu avoids it.
Tszyu is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Tszyu dodges an elbow strike from Dueck.
Dueck tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Tszyu breaks from the clinch.
Dueck walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tszyu checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Dueck takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Tszyu dodges the punch combination from Dueck.
A swing and a miss from Tszyu.
Dueck throws a series of punches but Tszyu moves out of range.
Tszyu misses with a wild body shot.
Tszyu throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Dueck looks to land a combination. Tszyu sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Dueck has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Dueck there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tszyu lands a body shot.
Dueck has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Tszyu.
Dueck staying out of range there.

Tszyu closes the distance and clinches.
Dueck misses with a punch on the inside.
Tszyu avoiding damage as Dueck throws knees to the body.
Dueck can't find room to land a body shot as Tszyu controls the action.

Tszyu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tszyu slips a jab and a cross from Dueck.
Dueck has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tszyu finds it's way round the side to connect with Dueck's head.
Dueck throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tszyu.
Dueck tries to close the distance and clinch but Tszyu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tszyu swinging wildly here.
Sloppy strikes from Dueck. Those never looked like landing.
Tszyu clobbers Dueck with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tszyu.
Dennis Dueck has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dueck throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tszyu looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kostya Tszyu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tszyu 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kostya Tszyu!