PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Dan Church (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janek Kolanko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Janek Kolanko will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Church
vs
Kolanko

174 cm
20
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

225 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Dangerous knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Dan Church!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Janek Kolanko!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Church gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kolanko looking to slow down the pace here.
Kolanko throws a knee to the head but misses.

Church breaks from the clinch.

Church has taken the fight to the clinch.

Church manages to break the clinch.
Kolanko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kolanko tries to clinch up but Church circles away and keeps his distance.
Church tries a low kick but Kolanko avoids it.
Church fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Church looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Kolanko closes the distance and clinches.
Church is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Kolanko has Church pressed against the ropes, preventing Church from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Church has had enough of the clinch but Kolanko keeps him there for the moment.
Kolanko blocks an elbow strike.
Church scores a nice knee to the body.
Church misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kolanko.
Kolanko looking to throw knees to the head but Church is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Church breaks from the clinch.
Kolanko tries to close the distance and clinch but Church swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Church misses with the combination.
A punch combination from Church misses.
Church swats away the attempt to clinch by Kolanko.
Janek Kolanko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Church feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kolankos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Church.
Kolanko takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kolanko tries to clinch up but Church circles away and keeps his distance.

Kolanko clinches up with Church and pushes him back against the ropes.
Church unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Church landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Church is looking to break free of the clinch but Kolanko has double underhooks.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kolanko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kolanko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Church tries to land knees in the clinch but Kolanko avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Church manages to break the clinch.
Kolanko is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kolanko doesn't manage to clinch there - Church circles away.
Kolanko wants to clinch up but Church keeps it at a distance.
Church throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kolanko.
Church lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kolanko's sensitive parts.
Church throws a series of punches but Kolanko avoids them all with ease.
Church looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Church clinches.
Kolanko tries a knee to the head but Church blocks it.
Church working hard to break the clinch.

Church breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Church swats away the attempt to clinch by Kolanko.
Church tries to bum rush Kolanko with a series of wild strikes but Kolanko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Church wants to clinch.
Kolanko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kolanko tries to clinch up but Church circles away and keeps his distance.
Kolanko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Church paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kolanko tries to clinch but Church is having none of it.
Kolanko tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Church manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Church rushes Kolanko and presses him up against the ropes.
Church wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kolanko looking to stall.

Church breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kolanko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Church lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kolanko tries to clinch up
and Church counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Kolanko has managed to clinch.
Kolanko looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Church working hard to break the clinch.
Kolanko taking a breather.
Church blocks an elbow strike from Kolanko.
Kolanko is looking to control Church's arms but Church gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kolanko has his back to the ropes.
Kolanko is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Church has denied him.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Janek Kolanko.
A punch combination from Church misses.
Church rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kolanko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Church is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Church moves into the clinch successfully.

Church breaks from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kolanko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kolanko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kolanko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Church.
Church just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Church dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Church gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A bit of stalling here from Kolanko.
Church tries to land knees in the clinch but Kolanko avoids the damage to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kolanko.
Church is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Church is trying to force a seperation but Kolanko has the dominant position.
Church is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Kolanko misses with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Kolanko.
Kolanko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Church breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Church clinches.
Kolanko trying to stall but Church improves his position.
Church misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kolanko.
Kolanko prevents a body shot from Church.
Kolanko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kolanko lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kolanko tries a knee to the head but Church blocks it.

Church pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A combination from Church does no damage.
Church swats away the attempt to clinch by Kolanko.
Church wants to clinch up but Kolanko keeps it at a distance.
Church rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kolanko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Church throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kolanko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Church paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kolanko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Church tries to keep at a distance but Kolanko has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kolanko misses with a knee to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kolanko is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Janek Kolanko.
A looping hook to the body misses from Church. Kolanko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kolanko doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Dan Church is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Church looks to land a combination but Kolanko avoids it well.
Kolanko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Church swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kolanko tries to clinch

and Church counters by clinching up.

Church's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Church swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kolanko doesn't manage to clinch there - Church circles away.
Church avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A combination from Church does no damage.
Kolanko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kolanko moves in looking to clinch but Church pushes him off.

Church drives through and clinches with Kolanko against the ropes.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Kolanko throws an elbow but misses.
Church looking to stall.
Kolanko trying to stall but Church improves his position.
Kolanko seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Church lands an elbow inside that Kolanko shrugs off.
Church scores with a shoulder strike.
Kolanko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Church escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Church fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kolanko manages to avoid it.

Church moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Church tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kolanko avoids it.
Church lands a knee to the body.
Church wants to stall.

Church manages to break the clinch.
Kolanko tries to clinch but Church moves away

and Church counters by moving into the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Kolanko.
Church wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Church tries a body shot but Kolanko blocks it.
Kolanko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kolanko is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Church is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kolanko scores with a knee to the head.
Church dodges an elbow strike from Kolanko.
Church is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Church 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!

Church lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kolanko circles away quickly and effectively.
Kolanko tries to clinch up.
Church misses with a wild combination.
Dan Church is winning the standup battle so far.
Kolanko tries to clinch

and Church moves into the clinch.
Kolanko lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Church putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kolanko in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kolanko pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Kolanko is looking to control Church's arms but Church gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kolanko has his back to the ropes.
Church is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Church as Kolanko tries to tie him up.
Kolanko has Church pressed against the ropes, preventing Church from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kolanko tries a knee to the head but Church blocks it.
Kolanko tries to land a knee to the head but Church blocks with his arms.

Church manages to break the clinch.
Kolanko doesn't manage to clinch there - Church circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Church rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kolanko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kolanko tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Church counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kolanko's knee momentarily.
Kolanko takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kolanko slips a jab and a cross from Church.
Church throws a nice looking combination but Kolanko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kolanko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Church paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kolanko tries to clinch but Church moves away
and Church counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kolanko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kolanko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Church paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dan Church is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Church looks to score with a jab to the body but Kolanko is just out of range.
Church avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kolanko darts in trying to clinch

and Church counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Church is trying to break the clinch but Kolanko is controlling him.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Church as Kolanko tries to tie him up.
Kolanko with a knee to the head.
Kolanko lands a knee to the head.
Church works on Kolanko's body with a couple of short punches.
Church wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kolanko has him pressed against the ropes.
Church tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kolanko avoids it.
Kolanko wants to stall.
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!
Church blocks the elbow strike.
Church lands a body punch.
Kolanko is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Church is keeping busy.
Kolanko throws a knee to the head but misses.
A frustrated look appears on Church's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kolanko trying to stall but Church improves his position.
Church wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kolanko looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kolanko throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Church blocks it with crossed arms.
A right handed body shot lands from Church.
Kolanko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Church breaks from the clinch.

Church clinches with his opponent.
Kolanko trying to control the position but instead, Church has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kolanko into the ropes.
Good body shot from Church.
Kolanko stalling in the clinch but Church improves position.

Church breaks the clinch.

Church gets a clinch.
Church working hard to break the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Church as Kolanko tries to tie him up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kolanko tries to land a knee to the head but Church blocks with his arms.
Kolanko managing to block the knees to the body from Church.
Church is trying to break the clinch but Kolanko has him pressed against the ropes.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Church is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kolanko is defending well for now.
Church unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Dan Church is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kolanko with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kolanko managing to block the knees to the body from Church.
Kolanko tries to stall but Church uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Church is trying to break the clinch but Kolanko is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Church breaks the clinch.
Church throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kolanko moves in looking to clinch but Church pushes him off.
Janek Kolanko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A head kick misses from Kolanko.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Church showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Church 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Church!
A determined Dan Church didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!