PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Takanori Gomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Zambidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Zambidis has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gomi
vs
Zambidis

190 cm
21
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

178 cm
24
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Excellent boxer
Self confident

Good kicks
Experienced

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Takanori Gomi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mike Zambidis!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zambidis lands a really nice looking cross but Gomi seems unphased.
Gomi blocks a head kick by Zambidis.
Zambidis throws a combination that misses
and Gomi counters with a right hand to the body.
Zambidis throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Gomi counter with a right hand.
A head kick misses from Zambidis.
Zambidis misses with a few strikes there.
Zambidis misses with a wild body shot.
Zambidis catches Gomi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Zambidis swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gomi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zambidis throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gomi counters with a straight right hand.
Zambidis throws a combination that misses
and Gomi counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zambidis misses with a double jab
and Gomi counters with a left to the body.
Gomi blocks a head kick by Zambidis.
Zambidis steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gomi.
Zambidis misses with a double jab
and Gomi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zambidis misses with the combination.
Zambidis misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zambidis moves away.
Gomi misses with a wild body shot.
A bone on bone clash there as Gomi blocks the leg kick.
Gomi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mike Zambidis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zambidis defending well as Gomi loads up on a big left hand.
A jab from Gomi misses.
Zambidis misses with a combination
and Gomi counters with a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi dodges the punch combination from Zambidis.
Some wild striking there from Zambidis.
Zambidis swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gomi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zambidis looks gassed!
Zambidis throws a combination that misses
and Gomi counters with a straight right hand.
Gomi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Good standup being displayed there by Gomi as he connects with a hook.
Gomi looks to land a right hand but Zambidis moved out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zambidis throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zambidis swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Gomi to counter with a crisp jab.
Gomi throws a jab when Zambidis was well out of range.
Nice body punch from Gomi.
Zambidis takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gomi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gomi blocks a head kick by Zambidis.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zambidis bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zambidis misses with a series of wild punches.
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 Takanori Gomi will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zambidis takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Zambidis throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zambidis throws a series of punches but Gomi avoids them all with ease.
Zambidis blocks a jab.
Gomi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zambidis sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gomi ducks under a wild hook from Zambidis.
Zambidis misses with a combination
letting Gomi counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zambidis throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gomi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zambidis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zambidis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Good standup being displayed there by Gomi as he connects with a hook.
Gomi dodges the punch combination from Zambidis.
Zambidis throws a sloppy head kick and Gomi moves out of range easily.
Zambidis is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomi throws an overhand right that lands on Zambidis's shoulder, as Zambidis tries to avoid the shot.
Zambidis uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Gomi has time to react.
Gomi is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Zambidis rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gomi counters with a straight right hand.
Zambidis throws a lazy uppercut
letting Gomi counter with a right hand.
Jab from Gomi.
Zambidis walks into a left hand.
Mike Zambidis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zambidis pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gomi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi misses with a lunging right hand
and Zambidis counters with a good low kick that Gomi was not able to check.
Gomi connects with the punch.
Zambidis misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Gomi counters with a right hand to the body.
Gomi lands a head shot.
Zambidis throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gomi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A left lands for Gomi.
A left lands for Gomi.
Takanori Gomi is winning the standup battle so far.
Zambidis tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Gomi avoids the head kick by Zambidis.
Zambidis misses with a wild combination.
Zambidis pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gomi with a nice cross.
A head kick misses from Zambidis.
Zambidis throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gomi counters with a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takanori Gomi dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Zambidis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zambidis throws a sloppy head kick and Gomi moves out of range easily.
Zambidis fails to land with a series of punches.
Gomi connects with a body shot that sends Zambidis's belly button to the back.
A right-left combo lands from Zambidis.
Gomi throws the left hand but Zambidis avoids the punch easily.
Zambidis pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zambidis misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zambidis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zambidis falls off balance throwing a combination
and Zambidis takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zambidis throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zambidis slips under a jab from Gomi.
Zambidis closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Zambidis takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Gomi lands with a good body shot.
Gomi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zambidis's head backwards.
Zambidis throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gomi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Zambidis thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Zambidis.
Gomi misses with a wild body shot.
Gomi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Zambidis. Zambidis circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Zambidis walks into a left hand.
Zambidis has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Zambidis misses with the combination.
Zambidis loads up on a big right hand but Gomi slips the punch.
Zambidis misses with a combination
and Gomi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi missing with a left hand there. Zambidis was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zambidis takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gomi blocks a head kick by Zambidis.
Gomi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zambidis stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gomi. Zambidis does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zambidis swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gomi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zambidis takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Zambidis has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Zambidis there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gomi swings for the body but Zambidis moves out of range.
Zambidis takes a swing at Gomi's ribcage but misses.
Zambidis slips under a jab.
Mike Zambidis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zambidis takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Zambidis throws a head kick but Gomi moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gomi scores with a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takanori Gomi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gomi 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takanori Gomi!
Our winner, Takanori Gomi, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.