PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Belial Zaapiel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel delos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Belial Zaapiel has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Zaapiel
vs
delos Santos

171 cm
28
155 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

163 cm
33
153 lbs
17 - 16 - 1

World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent MT
Fast

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 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Belial Zaapiel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Miguel delos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
delos Santos swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
delos Santos fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Zaapiel looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Zaapiel misses with a jab to the body
and delos Santos counters with a series of strikes. Zaapiel will be more careful next time no doubt.
delos Santos will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zaapiel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zaapiel shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. delos Santos eats them both and turns towards Zaapiel to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
delos Santos misses with a two punch combination.
Zaapiel chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Zaapiel tries to land a leg kick but delos Santos saw it coming and moves away.
Zaapiel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from delos Santos.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zaapiel.
A head kick misses from Zaapiel.
delos Santos scores with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaapiel misses with the combination.
Jab by Zaapiel.
Zaapiel fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zaapiel connects with a single shot there.
Zaapiel throws a nice inside leg kick.
delos Santos walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
delos Santos walks forward, straight into a front kick from Zaapiel.

Zaapiel gets a clinch.
Zaapiel missing with knees to the body.

delos Santos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zaapiel misses with a head kick.
The crowd cheers as Zaapiel lands an impressive looking overhand right. delos Santos doesn't seem phased though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
delos Santos uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zaapiel.
Zaapiel misses with a body kick.
Zaapiel throws a jab but it's blocked by delos Santos.
delos Santos rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zaapiel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zaapiel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
delos Santos looks to land a combination but Zaapiel avoids it well.

Zaapiel gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Zaapiel stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Zaapiel utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Zaapiel missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
delos Santos blocks a body shot from Zaapiel.

delos Santos breaks the clinch.
delos Santos swinging wildly here.
delos Santos looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zaapiel fails in his attempt to clinch.
delos Santos slips under a jab.
Zaapiel is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Zaapiel dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
delos Santos avoids the head kick by Zaapiel.
Zaapiel dodges the punch combination from delos Santos.
delos Santos throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zaapiel looks to land a combination but delos Santos avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaapiel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zaapiel avoids a punch combination nicely.
delos Santos misses with a combination
and Zaapiel counters with a good low kick that delos Santos was not able to check.
Zaapiel misses with a looping left.
Zaapiel avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zaapiel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zaapiel chopping away at his opponent's legs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
delos Santos keeps the fight on the outside.
Zaapiel tries a head kick but it misses.
delos Santos misses with a body punch
and Zaapiel counters with an outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Belial Zaapiel dominated that 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.

Zaapiel tries to clinch but delos Santos moves away
and delos Santos counters with a series of strikes. Zaapiel will be more careful next time no doubt.
delos Santos avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Belial Zaapiel is winning the standup battle so far.
delos Santos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zaapiel circles away quickly and effectively.
delos Santos checks a leg kick nicely.
delos Santos tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Zaapiel slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A leg kick checked by delos Santos.
Belial Zaapiel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
delos Santos moves into range and connects with a jab.
Zaapiel connects with a solid leg kick.
Zaapiel scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
delos Santos throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Zaapiel counters with a straight right hand.
Zaapiel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zaapiel looks to score with a jab to the body but delos Santos is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
delos Santos swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zaapiel lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A nice leg kick lands there from Zaapiel.
delos Santos looks to land a combination but Zaapiel avoids it well.
Zaapiel throws a front kick that sends delos Santos stumbling back into the ropes.
No joy there for Zaapiel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
delos Santos swinging wildly here.
delos Santos throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zaapiel wants to clinch.
delos Santos swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaapiel tries a head kick but it misses.
Miguel delos Santos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
delos Santos is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Zaapiel jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Zaapiel throws a body punch but delos Santos moves out of range.
Zaapiel throws a leg kick but delos Santos moved away.
Zaapiel throws a nice head kick!
Zaapiel tries to clinch up but delos Santos circles away and keeps his distance.
Crunch! Zaapiel slams his shin into delos Santos's torso.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zaapiel fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt delos Santos.
A punch combination from delos Santos misses.
That kick from Zaapiel tenderised delos Santos's leg. delos Santos is trying to keep his angry face on.
delos Santos's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Zaapiel fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A shot to the liver by delos Santos. Beautiful body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaapiel staying out of range there.
Zaapiel punishes delos Santos's body with a nice straight punch.
The crowd cheers as delos Santos lands an impressive looking overhand right. Zaapiel doesn't seem phased though.
Zaapiel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A combination from delos Santos does no damage.
Zaapiel takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
delos Santos throws a jab but it's blocked by Zaapiel.

Zaapiel gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Zaapiel stalling in the clinch.
Zaapiel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zaapiel being controlled against the ropes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaapiel stalling in the clinch but delos Santos improves position.
delos Santos blocks an elbow strike from Zaapiel.
Zaapiel working aggressively here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zaapiel.
Zaapiel stalling.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zaapiel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
delos Santos blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
delos Santos wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Belial Zaapiel dominated that second round.
That's time! Zaapiel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Zaapiel avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zaapiel avoids a punch combination nicely.
delos Santos misses with a jab, cross combination.
delos Santos misses with an uppercut. Zaapiel saw that one coming.
Zaapiel turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
delos Santos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zaapiel lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A combination from delos Santos does no damage.
delos Santos throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Some wild striking there from delos Santos.
delos Santos fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
delos Santos throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zaapiel.
Jab, jab by Zaapiel - just one landing.
Zaapiel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zaapiel throws a solid leg kick but delos Santos takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Zaapiel.
delos Santos looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zaapiel lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Zaapiel throws a series of punches but delos Santos avoids them all with ease.
That kick from Zaapiel tenderised delos Santos's leg. delos Santos is trying to keep his angry face on.
Zaapiel lands a jab to delos Santos's midsection.
delos Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A head kick misses from Zaapiel.
Zaapiel bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
delos Santos misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaapiel is looking to slow delos Santos down with leg kicks.
Zaapiel lands the left hand.
Zaapiel avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zaapiel with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zaapiel has closed the distance and engaged delos Santos in a clinch.
Zaapiel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but delos Santos blocks it with crossed arms.
delos Santos prevents a body shot from Zaapiel.
Zaapiel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
delos Santos blocks the elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
delos Santos is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Zaapiel trying to land knees to the body.
Zaapiel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zaapiel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Zaapiel manages to break the clinch.
Zaapiel fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. delos Santos looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
delos Santos ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
delos Santos throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Belial Zaapiel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
delos Santos throws the left hand but Zaapiel avoids the punch easily.
Zaapiel connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Zaapiel tries to clinch but delos Santos moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from delos Santos does no damage.
delos Santos steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zaapiel.
delos Santos swats away the attempt to clinch by Zaapiel.
Zaapiel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zaapiel lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Miguel delos Santos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zaapiel looks to land a right hand but delos Santos moved out of range.
delos Santos throws a lazy right hand but Zaapiel sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
delos Santos takes one on the chin but seems OK.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
delos Santos throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
delos Santos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
delos Santos misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

And that's the end of the fight!
Belial Zaapiel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zaapiel 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Belial Zaapiel!