PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Mike Zambidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takanori Gomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Takanori Gomi acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the ring.

Zambidis
vs
Gomi

178 cm
25
195 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Solid boxing
Very quick

Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mike Zambidis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Takanori Gomi!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Nard Betker and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zambidis misses with a two punch combination.
Gomi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gomi tries to bum rush Zambidis with a series of wild strikes but Zambidis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gomi misses with a double jab.
Gomi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zambidis circles away quickly and effectively.
A head kick misses from Zambidis.
Gomi throws a lazy right hand but Zambidis sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zambidis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zambidis scores with a head kick.
Gomi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zambidis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gomi.
Gomi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gomi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gomi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Gomi misses.
Zambidis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
No joy there for Gomi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zambidis scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Zambidis dodges the punch combination from Gomi.
Gomi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zambidis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gomi tries to bum rush Zambidis with a series of wild strikes but Zambidis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gomi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zambidis throws out the jab.
Gomi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Zambidis.
Gomi takes a kick to the side of the head.
Zambidis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zambidis walks into a jab.
Some wild striking there from Zambidis.
Zambidis throws a one two combo.
Zambidis throws a combination that misses
and Gomi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Zambidis misses with a series of wild punches.
Zambidis lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gomi circles away quickly and effectively.
Gomi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zambidis.
Gomi throws out a powerful jab.
Mike Zambidis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gomi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Some wild striking there from Gomi.
Zambidis misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi misses with a double jab.
Gomi misses with the combination.
Zambidis turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A head kick misses from Zambidis.
Gomi with a nice cross.
Zambidis drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Gomi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Zambidis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gomi has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Zambidis throws a hook but Gomi blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi misses with a looping left.
Gomi swinging wildly here.
Gomi connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zambidis momentarily.
Gomi just misses with a punch to the body.
Zambidis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
No joy there for Zambidis, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zambidis misses with the combination.
Zambidis slips a jab and a cross from Gomi.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gomi misses with the combination.
No joy there for Gomi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Takanori Gomi will probably get the nod.
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.

Zambidis misses the jab.
Gomi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zambidis uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gomi.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gomi.
Gomi swinging wildly here.
A combination from Zambidis does no damage.
A punch combination from Zambidis misses.
Zambidis swinging wildly here.
Gomi slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gomi. Zambidis does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gomi is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Zambidis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zambidis tries to bum rush Gomi with a series of wild strikes but Gomi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mike Zambidis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zambidis works over Gomi's head and body with a nice combination.
Sloppy strikes from Zambidis. Those never looked like landing.
Gomi cracks Zambidis with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Gomi 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.
Some wild striking there from Gomi.
Zambidis misses with the combination.
Gomi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zambidis dodges the punch combination from Gomi.
Gomi dodges the punch combination from Zambidis.
Zambidis misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zambidis misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gomi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zambidis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Gomi misses the target.
Gomi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zambidis.
Zambidis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gomi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zambidis misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zambidis displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gomi throws out the jab.
Gomi misses with the combination.
Zambidis fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Zambidis turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi throws a big shot that misses.
Gomi throws a right and a left that Zambidis avoids nicely.
Gomi is breathing heavily.
Zambidis connects with a body shot that sends Gomi's belly button to the back.
Zambidis throws a hook but Gomi avoids it easily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zambidis.
Zambidis stalks Gomi and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gomi's face. Gomi staggers backwards, shaken.
Zambidis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A punch combination from Zambidis misses.
Gomi throws a lazy right hand but Zambidis sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zambidis swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zambidis misses with a series of wild punches.
Zambidis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gomi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi fails to land with a series of punches.
Zambidis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gomi misses with a looping right.
Gomi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sloppy strikes from Zambidis. Those never looked like landing.
Zambidis fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gomi manages to avoid it.
Zambidis misses with a shot to the body
and Gomi counters with a series of strikes. Zambidis will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gomi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zambidis.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zambidis goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Gomi scores with a hook to the body. Zambidis takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gomi swings for the body but Zambidis moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mike Zambidis will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zambidis swings for the body but Gomi moves out of range.
A combination from Zambidis does no damage.
Zambidis is looking to wear down Gomi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Zambidis throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zambidis misses with the combination.
Gomi swinging wildly here.
Zambidis bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A combination from Zambidis does no damage.
Gomi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gomi fails to land with a series of punches.
Zambidis misses with a head kick.
Mike Zambidis is winning the standup battle so far.
Gomi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gomi just misses with a punch to the body.
Gomi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gomi stuns Zambidis with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Zambidis misses with a head kick.
Zambidis throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Zambidis connects with an inside leg kick.
Zambidis blocks a jab.
Gomi lands with a shot to the body.
Zambidis lands with a good body shot.
Gomi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zambidis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gomi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zambidis misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zambidis misses with a wild combination.
Nice body punch from Zambidis.
Zambidis throws a series of punches but Gomi avoids them all with ease.
Gomi misses with a wild combination.
Zambidis swinging wildly here.
Gomi misses with a series of wild punches.
Zambidis tries to bum rush Gomi with a series of wild strikes but Gomi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gomi swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Gomi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A shot to the body from Zambidis misses
and Gomi counters with a series of strikes. Zambidis will be more careful next time no doubt.
Zambidis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gomi blocks a head kick by Zambidis.
Zambidis rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gomi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gomi thows a body shot but no joy.
Gomi throws a nice looking combination but Zambidis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gomi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zambidis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A head kick misses from Zambidis.
Gomi slips a jab and a cross from Zambidis.
Zambidis misses with a double jab.
Gomi throws a nice looking combination but Zambidis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zambidis throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gomi 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.
Gomi with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Gomi misses with the combination.
Gomi scores with a three punch combo!
Zambidis throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zambidis misses with a combination
and Gomi counters with a left and a right that stings Zambidis.
Gomi blocks a head kick by Zambidis.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gomi misses with a double jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Mike Zambidis did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Zambidis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Zambidis.
Zambidis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gomi.
Gomi takes a swing at Zambidis's ribcage but misses.
Gomi misses with a two punch combination.
Gomi looks to land a combination but Zambidis avoids it well.
Zambidis lands with a nice body punch.
Gomi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zambidis.
Gomi checks a leg kick nicely.
Zambidis throws a nice looking combination but Gomi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gomi just misses with a punch to the body.
Gomi throws a nice looking combination but Zambidis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zambidis takes one to the side of the head.
Zambidis misses with a series of wild punches.
Gomi with a nice cross.
Gomi looks to score with a jab to the body but Zambidis is just out of range.
Zambidis throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gomi counters with a one-two to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Gomi avoids the body shot from Zambidis.
Gomi misses with a double jab.
Zambidis misses with a series of wild punches.
Zambidis throws a head kick but Gomi moves out of range.
Gomi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zambidis.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zambidis fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gomi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zambidis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gomi.
Gomi throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Gomi swinging wildly here.
Gomi looks to score with a jab to the body but Zambidis is just out of range.
Gomi throws a series of punches but Zambidis moves out of range.
Gomi throws a looping overhand right but Zambidis ducks down to avoid it.
Zambidis throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gomi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gomi looks to land a combination but Zambidis avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi avoids a punch combination nicely.
A combination from Zambidis does no damage.
Zambidis scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gomi doesn't seem bothered though.
Zambidis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gomi blocks a head kick by Zambidis.
Gomi lands a glancing blow to the side of Zambidis's head.
Zambidis fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Zambidis connects with a leg kick. Gomi looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Gomi takes a swing at Zambidis's ribcage but misses.
Gomi blocks a head kick by Zambidis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi throws out a powerful jab.
Zambidis ducks under a wild hook from Gomi.
Zambidis looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Zambidis keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Zambidis throws a head kick but Gomi moves out of range.
Gomi works Zambidis's body with a nice hook.
Gomi throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Gomi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zambidis misses with a jab, cross combination.
A jab from Gomi misses.
Gomi throws a right hand that Zambidis ducks under and follows up with a left that Zambidis also avoids with ease.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sloppy strikes from Zambidis. Those never looked like landing.
Takanori Gomi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike Zambidis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zambidis swinging wildly here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Takanori Gomi.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 38:39
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 37:40
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 37:39

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takanori Gomi!
After winning the bout, Takanori Gomi thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.