PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Petter Anier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harvi Kalaso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kalaso has chosen Hank Williams SR. as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Anier
vs
Kalaso

177 cm
28
160 lbs
13 - 14 - 1

174 cm
38
159 lbs
33 - 26 - 0

Excellent boxer
Very strong

Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 14 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Petter Anier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 26 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Harvi Kalaso!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kalaso is looking to land body kicks.

Anier closes the distance and clinches.
Anier can't break the clinch.
Kalaso tries to break free but Anier pushes him back against the ropes.

Anier's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kalaso fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Anier, pushing him back against the ropes.
Kalaso connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Petter Anier has been cut.

Kalaso breaks from the clinch.
Anier avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kalaso swings for the body but Anier moves out of range.

Kalaso closes the distance and clinches.
Kalaso prevents Anier from breaking the clinch.

Kalaso breaks from the clinch.
Kalaso misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kalaso tries to close the distance and clinch up but Anier swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Anier avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kalaso throws a body kick that misses.
Kalaso swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Anier has closed the distance and engaged Kalaso in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anier prevents Kalaso from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalaso missing with knees to the body.
Anier can't break the clinch.

Kalaso breaks the clinch.
Kalaso closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Anier to counter with a crisp jab.

Anier gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Kalaso breaks from the clinch.
Harvi Kalaso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kalaso fails with an attempt to clinch.

Anier clinches.
Anier lands an elbow that stopped Kalaso in his tracks for a moment.

Anier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Anier throws a right and a left that both miss.
Anier moves out of range as Kalaso throws a body kick.
Kalaso tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Anier manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kalaso throws a leg kick but Anier checks it.
Kalaso takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Anier pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Kalaso back to the ropes. Anier follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's two 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!
Kalaso scores with a push kick.
Kalaso misses with a jab to the body
and Anier counters with a three punch combo that has Kalaso backing up. Kalaso nods at Anier to acknowledge the strikes.
Anier tries a head kick but it misses.

Anier drives through and clinches with Kalaso against the ropes.

Kalaso's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kalaso looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kalaso checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kalaso keeps the fight on the outside.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kalaso, right into the meat.
Kalaso fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kalaso wants to clinch.
Anier buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Kalaso forces Anier back against the ropes and clinches.
Anier is trying to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso throws a punch but it's blocked by Anier.
Anier wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kalaso throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Anier blocks it with crossed arms.
Kalaso blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Anier manages to break the clinch.
Kalaso dodges the punch combination from Anier.
Kalaso misses with a low kick.
Anier tries to move into range but Kalaso moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kalaso tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Anier paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kalaso avoids a kick to the body.
Anier throws a head kick but Kalaso moves out of range.
Anier throws a nice head kick!
Anier tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Kalaso paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kalaso tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Anier holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso is trying to push Anier away but Anier has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Anier stalling.
Anier is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kalaso is keeping busy.

Anier breaks the clinch.
Kalaso is looking to clinch.

Anier takes the fight into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anier is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kalaso is keeping busy.
Anier misses with some punches.
Anier wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kalaso has him pressed against the ropes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kalaso misses with a knee to the head.

Kalaso breaks from the clinch.
Kalaso tries to clinch up but Anier circles away and keeps his distance.
Kalaso misses with a wild combination.
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 Petter Anier will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Petter Anier's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kalaso throws a sloppy head kick and Anier moves out of range easily.
Some wild striking there from Kalaso.

Kalaso gets a clinch.
Kalaso tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A short uppercut from Kalaso.
Anier managing to block the knees to the body from Kalaso.

Anier breaks the clinch.
Anier throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kalaso.
Anier connects with a leg kick. Kalaso looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Anier swats away the attempt to clinch by Kalaso.
Harvi Kalaso seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kalaso throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Anier counters by clinching up.
Kalaso trying to land knees to the body.
Kalaso is trying to maintain a safe position but Anier gets an underhook and turns Kalaso into the ropes.
Anier stalling against the ropes.
Kalaso looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anier working hard to break the clinch.
Anier on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kalaso working hard to break the clinch.
Kalaso lands a damaging elbow.
Anier slows down the pace here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kalaso as Anier tries to tie him up.
Anier tries to break the clinch but Kalaso is controlling the position.
Kalaso lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Anier backwards.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Kalaso tries a body shot but Anier blocks it.
Anier tries a knee to the head but Kalaso blocks it.
Anier wants to break free but Kalaso has control.

Anier's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Kalaso misses its intended target.
Kalaso throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kalaso fails with an attempt to clinch.

Kalaso pushes Anier up against the ropes in a clinch.
Anier stalling in the clinch but Kalaso improves position.

Anier pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sloppy strikes from Kalaso. Those never looked like landing.
Anier throws a body kick that misses.
Kalaso misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Anier tries to clinch up.
Kalaso lands a nice looking body kick.
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!
Anier throws a head kick that misses.
Kalaso tries to clinch there but Anier circles away.
Kalaso avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Anier throws a head kick but Kalaso moves out of range.
Kalaso is looking to clinch.
Anier circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Anier has taken the fight to the clinch.
Anier tries to land a knee to the head but Kalaso blocks with his arms.
Anier goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kalaso lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kalaso lands a right hand that snaps the head of Anier backwards.
Petter Anier has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Anier throws a knee to the head but misses.
Anier is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kalaso is defending well for now.
Anier misses with an elbow strike.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Anier as Kalaso tries to tie him up.
Anier is trying to maintain a safe position but Kalaso gets an underhook and turns Anier into the ropes.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Anier tries to land knees in the clinch but Kalaso avoids the damage to the body.
A short right from Kalaso on the inside.
Anier tries to stall but Kalaso uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kalaso tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso is trying to maintain a safe position but Anier gets an underhook and turns Kalaso into the ropes.

Kalaso breaks the clinch.
Kalaso tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kalaso tries to clinch but Anier moves out of range.
Anier throws a body punch but Kalaso moves out of range.
Anier avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Anier throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Anier gets tackled into the ropes by Kalaso. Kalaso maintains the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Anier - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Anier keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kalaso's efforts to push away.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kalaso takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kalaso throws an elbow that misses.
Kalaso pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Anier is looking to control Kalaso's arms but Kalaso gets an underhook and turns him. Now Anier has his back to the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harvi Kalaso showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Petter Anier's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kalaso tries to clinch up but Anier circles away and keeps his distance.
Kalaso throws a head kick that misses.
Anier is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kalaso wants to clinch.
Kalaso tries to clinch up but Anier circles away and keeps his distance.
Kalaso tries to clinch but Anier moves out of range.
Kalaso lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Anier closes the distance but Kalaso moves to the side
and Kalaso counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Anier circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kalaso fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kalaso throws a chopping leg kick but Anier manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Anier takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Anier wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anier uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kalaso.
Anier avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kalaso fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kalaso tries to clinch up.
Kalaso is looking to clinch but Anier is avoiding it.
Kalaso throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Anier misses with a head kick.
Crunch! Kalaso slams his shin into Anier's torso.
Anier throws a wild body kick that Kalaso sees coming a mile off.
Kalaso tries to close the distance and clinch up but Anier swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kalaso circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kalaso connects with a right hand. Anier shakes it off.
Anier thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Kalaso if he has to take too many more of those.
Kalaso will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso tries to clinch up but Anier circles away and keeps his distance.
Kalaso tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Anier counters with a head kick. That will keep Kalaso thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Anier keeps the fight on the outside.
Kalaso throws a head kick that misses.
Anier tries to close the distance and clinch but Kalaso swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Anier takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kalaso tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Anier manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kalaso moves in looking to clinch but Anier pushes him off.
Petter Anier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kalaso moves in looking to clinch but Anier pushes him off.
Anier blocks a head kick by Kalaso.
Kalaso tries to clinch up but Anier circles away and keeps his distance.
Anier lands with a cross.
Anier throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kalaso misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kalaso lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso tries to clinch but Anier moves out of range.
Anier misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Anier throws a head kick that misses.
Anier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Anier goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Anier pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kalaso is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kalaso tries a head kick but it misses.
Kalaso tries to clinch there but Anier circles away.
Kalaso tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Anier manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Anier wants to clinch up but Kalaso keeps it at a distance.
Anier looks to land a right hand but Kalaso moved out of range.
Anier pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kalaso moves in looking to clinch but Anier pushes him off.
Kalaso fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso tries to clinch but Anier is having none of it.
Anier throws a sloppy head kick and Kalaso moves out of range easily.
Anier misses with a series of wild punches.
Kalaso scoring well with a low kick there.
Kalaso throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Anier.
Kalaso tries to close the distance and clinch but Anier swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Anier fails to land with a series of punches.

Anier gets tackled into the ropes by Kalaso. Kalaso maintains the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Anier.
Anier wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kalaso has him pressed against the ropes.
Kalaso lands a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kalaso throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kalaso has Anier pushed against the ropes.
Kalaso keeps control of Anier as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harvi Kalaso really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Petter Anier's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kalaso avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kalaso tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Anier lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Anier misses with a head kick.
Anier tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kalaso wants to clinch.
Anier throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kalaso misses the shot to the body.
Anier avoids the head kick by Kalaso.
Anier lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kalaso tries to close the distance and clinch but Anier swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kalaso tries to clinch there but Anier circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Anier looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Anier throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalaso fails with an attempt to clinch.

Anier closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Kalaso tries to land knees in the clinch but Anier avoids the damage to the body.

Kalaso breaks the clinch.
Kalaso keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Anier tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Kalaso paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kalaso misses with a body kick.
Anier swats away the attempt to clinch by Kalaso.

Anier moves into the clinch.

Anier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kalaso misses with an uppercut. Anier saw that one coming.
Anier throws a head kick that misses.
Anier is looking to clinch but Kalaso is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso throws a series of punches but Anier moves out of range.
Kalaso moves in looking to clinch but Anier pushes him off.
Kalaso tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Anier counters by moving into the clinch.
Kalaso is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Anier throws an elbow that misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Anier is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kalaso trying to stall but Anier improves his position.

Kalaso's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Anier swats away the attempt to clinch by Kalaso.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head kick by Kalaso misses
and Anier counters with a big head kick but Kalaso shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anier throws a front kick aimed at Kalaso's knee but Kalaso avoids it well.
Kalaso avoids the head kick by Anier.
Kalaso misses the jab.
Kalaso darts in trying to clinch
and Anier counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Anier pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Kalaso back to the ropes. Anier follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Kalaso tries to close the distance and clinch up but Anier swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kalaso checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kalaso tries to clinch up but Anier circles away and keeps his distance.
Kalaso takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Good leg kick by Kalaso there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kalaso tries to clinch up but Anier circles away and keeps his distance.

Anier has Kalaso up against the ropes in a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anier is trying to break the clinch but Kalaso has him pressed against the ropes.
Anier working hard to break the clinch.
Kalaso avoiding damage as Anier throws knees to the body.
Kalaso doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kalaso misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Anier.
Kalaso wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kalaso throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Anier looking to slow down the pace here.
Kalaso tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Anier breaks the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kalaso tries to clinch but Anier moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Anier.
Kalaso scores with a head kick. Anier tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Petter Anier had his way with Harvi Kalaso in that round.
The cut man is working on Petter Anier's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kalaso pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Anier looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Anier misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kalaso closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Kalaso clinches.
Anier keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kalaso's efforts to push away.
Kalaso effectively controlling the action here.
Anier slows down the pace here.
Kalaso swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kalaso looking to throw knees to the head but Anier is blocking nicely.

Anier manages to break the clinch.
Kalaso dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick from Anier lands but Kalaso takes it in his stride.
Anier fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kalaso tries to clinch up.
Anier throws a sloppy head kick

and Kalaso counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kalaso.
Kalaso taking a breather.
Kalaso tries to land knees in the clinch but Anier avoids the damage to the body.
Kalaso lands a damaging elbow.
Anier managing to block the knees to the body from Kalaso.
Anier is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Anier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Anier fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kalaso connects with a body shot that sends Anier's belly button to the back.
Anier tries to clinch up but Kalaso circles away and keeps his distance.
Kalaso tries to clinch up
and Anier counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso tries to clinch up.
Kalaso misses with a leg kick

and Anier counters by moving into the clinch.
Kalaso wants to get back to striking at distance but Anier won't allow it.
Kalaso on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Anier breaks the clinch.
Kalaso fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Anier throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kalaso moves out of range of the body kick.
Anier tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Kalaso manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Anier closes the distance and clinches.
Kalaso is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Anier is keeping busy.
Kalaso tries a body shot but Anier blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anier is trying to force a seperation but Kalaso has the dominant position.
Anier tries to circle away but Kalaso has him pinned against the ropes.

Kalaso breaks from the clinch.
Kalaso takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Anier tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
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.

Kalaso gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Anier is trying to force a seperation but Kalaso has the dominant position.
Kalaso is trying to push Anier away but Anier has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

Anier breaks from the clinch.
Kalaso tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kalaso swinging wildly here.
Anier moves in looking to clinch but Kalaso pushes him off.
Anier tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Kalaso manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kalaso fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso moves out of range of the body kick from Anier.
Anier tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kalaso throws a head kick that misses.
Anier throws a head kick that Kalaso semi-blocks.
Anier doesn't manage to clinch there - Kalaso circles away.
Kalaso throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kalaso doesn't manage to clinch there - Anier circles away.
Anier lands a head kick!
Kalaso punishes Anier's body with a nice straight punch.
Kalaso misses with a head kick.
Kalaso tries to close the distance and clinch up but Anier swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kalaso tries to clinch there but Anier circles away.

Kalaso moves into the clinch.
Kalaso wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Anier has him pressed against the ropes.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Harvi Kalaso.
Well Kalaso has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 47:48
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 47:48
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Harvi Kalaso!
Harvi Kalaso decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.