PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Takeru Toyokawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Matthew White was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Toyokawa
vs
White

170 cm
29
150 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

174 cm
25
154 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Granite chin

QFClothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takeru Toyokawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matthew White!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
White keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
White connects with a solid leg kick.
Toyokawa lands a jab.
Toyokawa avoids the body shot from White.
White throws a half hearted mid kick.
White uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Toyokawa.
Toyokawa scores with a shot to the body.
Toyokawa misses with a jab to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
White tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A chopping leg kick lands by Toyokawa.
A slow jab from Toyokawa misses its intended target.
Toyokawa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
White throws a low kick but Toyokawa moves out of range easily.
Toyokawa avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
White uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Toyokawa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toyokawa looks to score with a jab to the body but White is just out of range.
Takeru Toyokawa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
White ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Toyokawa moves away.
Toyokawa lands with a nice body punch.
White wants to clinch up but Toyokawa keeps it at a distance.
White tests Toyokawa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Toyokawa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but White manages to avoid it.
White throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Toyokawa throws a shot from downtown. White moves away and avoids it.
Toyokawa is looking to wear down White with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Toyokawa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
White feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Toyokawa's calf.
Toyokawa looks to throw the jab but White is out of range.
White takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Toyokawa.
Toyokawa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but White moves away.
White throws a nice inside leg kick.

White closes the distance and clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Toyokawa can't find room to land a body shot as White controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from White fails to land.
White swings wildly with an uppercut but Toyokawa uses good head movement to avoid it.
White tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
White working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right from Toyokawa.
Toyokawa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of White backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Toyokawa.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
White lands a nice shot to the body.
Toyokawa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, White creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Toyokawa fails to land.
Toyokawa prevents a body shot from White.
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 Takeru Toyokawa will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

White bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Toyokawa misses with a hook
and White counters with a nice low kick that buckles Toyokawa's knee momentarily.
White throws a push kick but Toyokawa slaps the foot to one side.
Toyokawa throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Toyokawa swings for the body but White moves out of range.
Toyokawa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Toyokawa scores with a jab. White acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
White pivots, looking for a leg kick but Toyokawa is out of range and White settles back down.
White misses with a body punch
and Toyokawa makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Toyokawa misses with a wild body shot.
White scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Toyokawa doesn't seem bothered though.
A clash of legs there as Toyokawa blocks the low kick.
Toyokawa misses with a shot to the body
and White counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Toyokawa is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Toyokawa misses with a straight right.
Takeru Toyokawa is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toyokawa rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and White counters with an outside leg kick.
Toyokawa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. White sees it coming and avoids it easily.
White uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Toyokawa.
White throws a big shot that misses.
White moves away from the strike by Toyokawa.
Toyokawa lands a jab.
Toyokawa just misses with a punch to the body.
White turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Toyokawa lunges at White with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by White's hand.
A leg kick checked by Toyokawa.
White keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
White throws out a leg kick but Toyokawa moves out of range and White only half commits.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White throws a low kick but it's checked well by Toyokawa.
Toyokawa lands a head shot.
Toyokawa lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Toyokawa jabs White to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Toyokawa takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
White tries to close the distance and clinch up but Toyokawa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Toyokawa throws a hook but White blocks it.
A combination from Toyokawa does no damage.
White tries to work over Toyokawa's front leg with a kick but Toyokawa checks it.
White takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Toyokawa has White up against the ropes in a clinch.
White tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
White prevents a body shot from Toyokawa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeru Toyokawa dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

White tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Toyokawa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Toyokawa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Toyokawa misses with a body shot.
Toyokawa connects with a crisp jab.
A cross from Toyokawa lands.

Toyokawa moves into the clinch.
Toyokawa makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Toyokawa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from White on the inside.
White misses with a shot to the kidneys.
White tries to work over Toyokawa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Toyokawa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Toyokawa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Toyokawa.
Toyokawa lands with a light punch inside.
White is trying to stall.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A right hand to the body from White.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White taking a breather.
White tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Toyokawa's elbow.
White fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
White throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Toyokawas head.
A short body shot lands from Toyokawa as the two fighters clinch.
A body shot lands from Toyokawa.
Toyokawa tries a body shot but White blocks it.
Toyokawa prevents a body shot from White.
Toyokawa misses with a hook from the clinch.
White scores with a shoulder strike.
Toyokawa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Toyokawa misses with a short punch on the inside.
White works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
White gets through Toyokawa's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
White's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Toyokawa lands with a light punch inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Toyokawa misses with a punch to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from White.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for White.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toyokawa tries to work over White's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from White.
Toyokawa tries a body shot but White blocks it.
Still in the clinch, Toyokawa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Toyokawa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Toyokawa can't find room to land a body shot as White controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Toyokawa fails to land.
Toyokawa misses with a punch on the inside.
White working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
White misses with some punches.
Toyokawa swings wildly with an uppercut but White uses good head movement to avoid it.
Toyokawa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with White's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by White.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Toyokawa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of White backwards.
Still in the clinch, White scores with a nice short uppercut.
Toyokawa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
White throws a head punch that misses.
Toyokawa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeru Toyokawa clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Toyokawa throws a lazy uppercut
and White counters with a nice body kick.

Toyokawa closes the distance and clinches.
White swings away with an uppercut that misses.
White struggles to land a body shot inside as Toyokawa controls his hands.
Toyokawa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Toyokawa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with White's elbow.
Come on White - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
White blocking some punches.
White lands with a right to the head.
White struggles to land a body shot inside as Toyokawa controls his hands.
White blocks an uppercut.
White is trying to maintain a safe position but Toyokawa gets an underhook and turns White into the ropes.
A short right from Toyokawa.
Toyokawa takes a shot to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Toyokawa fails to land.
White works on Toyokawa's body with a couple of short punches.
White is leaning against Toyokawa and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
White working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toyokawa lands a body punch in the clinch.
White struggles to land a body shot inside as Toyokawa controls his hands.
White lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Toyokawa backwards.
A short uppercut from White.
A hook to the body from White.
Toyokawa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Toyokawa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
White lands a right hand that snaps the head of Toyokawa backwards.
Toyokawa struggles to land a body shot inside as White controls his hands.
White tries to work over Toyokawa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
White blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
White goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
White fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Toyokawa blocking some punches.
White working aggressively here.
Toyokawa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
White is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Toyokawa throws a head punch that misses.
Matthew White seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Toyokawa lands with a light punch inside.
White has a couple of punches blocked by Toyokawa.
Toyokawa lands a left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
White misses with a hook to the ribs.
White lands a shoulder strike.
White misses with some punches.
White swings wildly with an uppercut but Toyokawa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Toyokawa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Toyokawa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
White looking to slow down the pace here.
Toyokawa prevents a body shot from White.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Toyokawa misses with a punch to the body.
A short left from Toyokawa.
White struggles to land a body shot inside as Toyokawa controls his hands.
Toyokawa tries a body shot but White blocks it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew White dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Toyokawa. Those never looked like landing.
Matthew White has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Toyokawa swings for the body but White moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Toyokawa.
White looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
White fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Toyokawa.
White uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Toyokawa.
A nice inside leg kick there by White. That's going to slow Toyokawa down.
Some bone on bone action there as Toyokawa checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
White tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Toyokawa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
White misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Toyokawa.
White avoids a punch combination nicely.
White fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Toyokawa checks it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White connects with a solid leg kick.
White tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
White plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Takeru Toyokawa has been cut.
White throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
White just misses with a punch to the body.
Toyokawa moves out of range as White throws a body kick.
Toyokawa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but White moves away.
Toyokawa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Toyokawa misses with a jab to the body
and White counters with a nice body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
White fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Toyokawa is out of range.
Toyokawa misses with a jab to the body
and White counters with a nice low kick that buckles Toyokawa's knee momentarily.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Toyokawa checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Toyokawa is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Toyokawa checks the leg kick.
White slips a jab and a cross from Toyokawa.
White dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Toyokawa. That did some damage!
Toyokawa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
White pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Takeru Toyokawa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Toyokawa has closed the distance and engaged White in a clinch.
White working aggressively here.
White is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
White leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Toyokawa tries a body shot but White blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew White comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Toyokawa has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 48:48
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 48:47
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 48:48

The fight is ruled a majority draw!