PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Marcus Herado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Apollo Takamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Herado
vs
Takamura

175 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Great elbows
Good chin

Good kicks
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marcus Herado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Apollo Takamura!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shirou Masuda and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takamura fails to land with a series of punches.
Takamura misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Herado has closed the distance and engaged Takamura in a clinch.
Takamura has Herado pressed against the ropes, preventing Herado from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Herado is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Takamura is keeping busy.
Takamura is trying to break the clinch but Herado is controlling him.
Herado tries to circle away but Takamura has him pinned against the ropes.
Herado is trying to break the clinch but Takamura has him pressed against the ropes.
Herado is trying to maintain a safe position but Takamura gets an underhook and turns Herado into the ropes.
Herado tries to land knees in the clinch but Takamura avoids the damage to the body.
Herado is trying to force a seperation but Takamura has the dominant position.
Herado has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herado tries to circle away but Takamura has him pinned against the ropes.
Herado is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.

Takamura pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Takamura is looking to slow Herado down with leg kicks.
Herado gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Takamura throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Takamura swats away the attempt to clinch by Herado.
Takamura avoids the head kick by Herado.
Takamura throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Decent striking displayed by Takamura there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herado tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takamura swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A head kick misses from Takamura.
Herado slips a jab and a cross from Takamura.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Herado misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takamura.
Takamura throws the left hand but Herado avoids the punch easily.
Herado throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Herado wants to clinch up but Takamura keeps it at a distance.
Takamura misses with a head kick.
Herado throws a head kick but Takamura moves out of range.

Herado closes the distance and clinches.
Takamura blocks a body shot from Herado.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herado misses with a body punch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Herado is trying to push Takamura away but Takamura has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Herado wants to get back to striking at distance but Takamura won't allow it.
Herado can't break the clinch.

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

Herado rushes Takamura and presses him up against the ropes.
Herado using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Takamura has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Herado.
Herado is looking to break free of the clinch but Takamura has double underhooks.
Takamura blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takamura prevents Herado from breaking the clinch.

Takamura breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Herado.
Herado is looking to clinch but Takamura is avoiding it.
Herado is looking to clinch.
Takamura takes a swing at Herado's ribcage but misses.
Takamura takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Apollo Takamura is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Herado is looking to clinch but Takamura is avoiding it.
Herado throws a head kick but Takamura moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takamura throws a series of punches but Herado moves out of range.
Herado has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Herado there as he acknowledges the shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Herado moves out of range as Takamura strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Marcus Herado will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Herado tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Takamura connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Takamura throws a right and a left that both miss.
Herado takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Takamura.
Herado tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Takamura connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Takamura will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Herado pivots, looking for a leg kick but Takamura is out of range and Herado settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herado tries to clinch there but Takamura circles away.
Herado misses with a head kick.
Herado just misses with a punch to the body.
Marcus Herado is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Herado wants to clinch
enabling Takamura to counter with a crisp jab.
Takamura misses with a low kick.
Herado tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Takamura counters with a big head kick but Herado shrugs it off.
Herado tries to clinch there but Takamura circles away.
Herado tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Takamura manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Herado falls off balance throwing a combination
and Takamura counters with a stiff right hand.

Herado is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Herado leaves his chin hanging out and Takamura seizes the opportunity with an uppercut! Herado crumbles to the floor in a heap! The referee steps in and tends to the downed fighter! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Apollo Takamura!
An out of breath Apollo Takamura thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.