PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Maurício Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evander Hollyfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Rua
vs
Hollyfield

191 cm
27
220 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

196 cm
29
218 lbs
18 - 8 - 0

Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Maurício Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Evander Hollyfield!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua thows a leg kick but Hollyfield checks it
and Hollyfield counters with a stiff right hand.
Hollyfield fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hollyfield throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A combination from Hollyfield does no damage.
Hollyfield misses with a shot to the body
and Rua counters with an outside leg kick.
Rua tries to clinch but Hollyfield is having none of it.
Rua throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rua lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rua on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hollyfield throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rua throws the kick towards the body but Hollyfield avoids it.
An inside leg kick lands from Hollyfield.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A punch combination from Hollyfield misses.
Rua misses with a hook
and Hollyfield counters with a slapping leg kick.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Hollyfield circles away.
Rua misses with a hook. Hollyfield ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hollyfield misses with a wild body shot.
Hollyfield takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rua on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rua dodges the punch combination from Hollyfield.
Rua's corner calls for a 1-2. Rua obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Hollyfield lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hollyfield.
Rua tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hollyfield uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rua.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hollyfield circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hollyfield swinging wildly here.
Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rua stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hollyfield.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hollyfield.
Hollyfield lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hollyfield.

It looks like Maurício Rua has been cut.
Rua throws a sloppy head kick and Hollyfield moves out of range easily.
Rua connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Rua moves into the clinch.
Hollyfield landing knees to the head.
Rua misses with a body punch.
Rua misses with a punch to the body.
Hollyfield is trying to force a seperation but Rua has the dominant position.
Rua misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rua tries to work over Hollyfield's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Hollyfield manages to break the clinch.
Rua tries a head kick but it misses.
Hollyfield throws a shot to the body.
Rua looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hollyfield throws a right and a left that Rua avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Hollyfield fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Rua moves into the clinch successfully.
Hollyfield is trying to push Rua away but Rua has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Rua doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rua has a couple of punches blocked by Hollyfield.

Hollyfield breaks from the clinch.
Rua plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Rua throws out a loose jab but Hollyfield uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rua tests Hollyfield's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rua steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hollyfield.
Hollyfield keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rua.
A punch combination from Hollyfield misses.
Rua checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Nice body kick there by Hollyfield.
Hollyfield swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Nice uppercut lands for Rua. That snapped Hollyfield's head back.
Rua takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hollyfield throws a sloppy head kick and Rua moves out of range easily.
Hollyfield with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hollyfield lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rua throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Hollyfield makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rua lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hollyfield circles away quickly and effectively.
Hollyfield bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rua takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hollyfield comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hollyfield takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hollyfield throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Evander Hollyfield will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Maurício Rua's cut.
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.

Some bone on bone action there as Hollyfield checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rua rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hollyfield counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Good standup being displayed there by Hollyfield as he connects with a hook.
Evander Hollyfield seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hollyfield misses with a jab, cross combination.
A combination from Hollyfield does no damage.
Rua throws a lazy right hand but Hollyfield sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hollyfield throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hollyfield ducks under a wild hook from Rua.
Rua slips under a jab from Hollyfield.
Hollyfield misses with a series of wild punches.
Hollyfield scores with a nice head shot.
Hollyfield scores with a sloppy right hand. Rua should have avoided that one.
Rua misses with a leg kick
and Hollyfield counters with a low kick, right behind Rua 's knee.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua throws a looping overhand right but Hollyfield ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Hollyfield.
Rua throws a lazy right hand but Hollyfield sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hollyfield keeps the fight on the outside.
Rua swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Hollyfield pushes him off.
Hollyfield keeps the fight on the outside.
Rua takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Hollyfield walks into a stiff left hand from Rua.
Hollyfield misses with a hook to the body
and Rua counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rua wants to clinch up but Hollyfield keeps it at a distance.
Hollyfield scores with a leg kick.
Rua tries to land a leg kick but Hollyfield saw it coming and moves away.
Hollyfield ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hollyfield connects with an inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rua there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hollyfield lands with a good body shot.
Rua drops his hands momentarily and Hollyfield takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hollyfield throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hollyfield throws a right and a left that both miss.
Good leg kick by Hollyfield there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hollyfield scores with a head kick. Rua tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hollyfield. Rua does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hollyfield lands with a thumping leg kick.
Nice shot lands for Hollyfield.
Hollyfield connects with a looping right hand.
Hollyfield scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hollyfield misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hollyfield throws a body punch but Rua moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Hollyfield ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hollyfield misses with a leg kick.
Rua walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hollyfield.
Hollyfield throws out a powerful jab.
Rua walks into a jab.
Hollyfield looks to land a combination but Rua avoids it well.
Rua misses with a wild body shot.
Hollyfield ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hollyfield looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hollyfield scores with a jab. Rua acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hollyfield moves out of range of the body kick from Rua.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hollyfield misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Rua is predictable there
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Rua takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rua throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Evander Hollyfield is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hollyfield tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rua was well out of range. Poor timing from Hollyfield.
Rua feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hollyfield's calf.
Hollyfield scores with a nice head shot.
Hollyfield throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rua on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Rua goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Hollyfield paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A jab from Hollyfield misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua blocks a head kick by Hollyfield.
Hollyfield slips a jab from Rua.
The crowd cheers as Hollyfield lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rua doesn't seem phased though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evander Hollyfield showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Maurício Rua's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rua has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hollyfield.
Hollyfield fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rua manages to avoid it.
Rua on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rua looks to land a left hand but Hollyfield moved out of range nicely.
A slow jab from Rua misses its intended target.
Rua dodges the punch combination from Hollyfield.
Rua looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hollyfield keeps the fight on the outside.
Hollyfield misses with a two punch combination.
Rua throws a lazy right hand but Hollyfield sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hollyfield lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rua at a distance.
Rua tries to clinch up.
Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hollyfield throws a head kick that half lands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Hollyfield.
Hollyfield misses with the combination.
Rua throws a jab but it's blocked by Hollyfield.
Nice shot by Hollyfield.
Hollyfield connects with a high kick.
Hollyfield lands a jab to the nose.
Hollyfield misses with a two punch combination.
Rua clobbers Hollyfield with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rua swings for the body but Hollyfield moves out of range.
Hollyfield moves out of range as Rua strikes.
Hollyfield pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rua tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hollyfield was well out of range. Poor timing from Rua.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hollyfield tried to score with a low kick but Rua checks it.
Maurício Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hollyfield walks into a straight right hand from Rua.
Rua is looking to clinch but Hollyfield is avoiding it.
Rua tries to land a body kick
and Hollyfield counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nice cross by Hollyfield.
Hollyfield blocks a leg kick.
Hollyfield connects with a looping right hand.
Hollyfield moves away from the strike by Rua.
Hollyfield stuns Rua with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rua walks into a jab.
Nice jab there from Hollyfield.
Hollyfield throws a body punch but Rua moves out of range.
Rua is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Hollyfield cracks Rua with an open hand slap.
Hollyfield misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hollyfield tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hollyfield throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A punch combination from Hollyfield misses.
Rua pushes Hollyfield away with a front kick.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Hollyfield swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hollyfield throws a head kick that misses
and Rua counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hollyfield throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rua blocks a jab.
Good work by Rua as he checks the leg kick.
Rua gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Hollyfield counters with a left and a right that stings Rua.
Hollyfield moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hollyfield dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a head kick that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice uppercut lands for Hollyfield. That snapped Rua's head back.
A bone on bone clash there as Rua blocks the leg kick.
Hollyfield lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Rua tries to clinch up but Hollyfield circles away and keeps his distance.
Hollyfield takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hollyfield misses with a few strikes there.

Rua pushes Hollyfield up against the ropes in a clinch.
Hollyfield prevents a body shot from Rua.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hollyfield tries to break free but Rua pushes him back against the ropes.
Hollyfield is looking to break free of the clinch but Rua has double underhooks.
Rua swings wildly with an uppercut but Hollyfield uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evander Hollyfield comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hollyfield 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evander Hollyfield!
Our winner, Evander Hollyfield, 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.