PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Tibo Asztalos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arturo Rojas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rojas has chosen Brother Ali - Uncle Sam Goddamn as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Asztalos
vs
Rojas

186 cm
26
190 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

185 cm
25
193 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Steel Penn's All 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tibo Asztalos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Arturo Rojas!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Hirohito Nitta and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Asztalos clinches.
Asztalos swings wildly with an uppercut but Rojas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rojas trying to control the position but instead, Asztalos has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rojas into the ropes.
Asztalos prevents a body shot from Rojas.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rojas.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Asztalos.
Rojas pushes Asztalos back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Asztalos wants to stall.
Good body shot from Asztalos.
Rojas lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rojas.
Asztalos is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rojas is keeping busy.
Asztalos blocks a body shot from Rojas.
A hook to the body from Asztalos.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rojas breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asztalos feints a jab promting Rojas to slip. Asztalos then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Rojas slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Asztalos missing with a left hand there. Rojas was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rojas lands with a thumping leg kick.
Asztalos misses with a combination
and Rojas counters with a straight right hand.
Rojas connects with a leg kick. Asztalos looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Asztalos on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rojas. Rojas obviously looking to wear him down.
Asztalos fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rojas fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Asztalos on the side of the head.

Rojas instigates a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Still in the clinch, Rojas scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rojas lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Asztalos backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rojas.
Asztalos prevents a body shot from Rojas.
Asztalos lands with a light punch inside.
Asztalos is looking to control Rojas's arms but Rojas gets an underhook and turns him. Now Asztalos has his back to the ropes.
Rojas throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojas lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Asztalos backwards.
Asztalos has a couple of punches blocked by Rojas.
Rojas misses with a hook from the clinch.
Asztalos fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Asztalos tries to work over Rojas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Asztalos misses with a hook to the ribs.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Rojas creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rojas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rojas lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Asztalos backwards.
Rojas taking a breather.
Asztalos blocks a body shot from Rojas.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rojas misses with a punch to the body.
Rojas is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Asztalos is keeping busy.
Rojas effectively controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arturo Rojas dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rojas misses with a hook. Asztalos ducked under it nicely.
Nice body kick there by Rojas.
Asztalos tries to close the distance and clinch but Rojas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No joy there for Asztalos, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Asztalos works Rojas's body with a nice hook.
Nice uppercut there from Rojas.
Asztalos lands an overhand right.
Rojas just misses with a punch to the body.
Asztalos falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rojas counters with a left to the body.
A shot to the body from Asztalos misses

and Rojas counters by clinching up.
Asztalos misses with the head strike.
A nice left hand lands by Asztalos.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rojas misses with a punch to the body.
Rojas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right from Rojas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rojas as Asztalos tries to tie him up.

Rojas breaks the clinch.
Asztalos scores with a decent looking hook.
Rojas looks to score with a jab to the body but Asztalos is just out of range.
Rojas ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rojas fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Asztalos has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rojas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Asztalos.
Rojas throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Rojas turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Asztalos slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Jab from Rojas.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rojas instigates a clinch.
Rojas tries to throw a body punch but Asztalos avoids it by throwing Rojas back against the ropes.
Asztalos misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rojas.
Rojas has Asztalos pushed against the ropes.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojas misses with a low kick.
Asztalos throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Asztalos listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Asztalos tries to clinch up but Rojas circles away and keeps his distance.
Rojas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Asztalos darts in and clinches Rojas up against the ropes.
Asztalos throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Asztalos lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rojas backwards.
Asztalos lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rojas working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Asztalos throws an elbow but misses.
Rojas stalling in the clinch but Asztalos improves position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rojas avoids a wild elbow strike from Asztalos.
Rojas blocks an elbow strike from Asztalos.
Asztalos tries to work over Rojas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rojas misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Arturo Rojas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rojas connects with a leg kick. Asztalos looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rojas throws a series of punches but Asztalos moves out of range.
Asztalos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rojas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Asztalos tries to clinch but Rojas moves out of range.
Rojas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Arturo Rojas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rojas throws out a leg kick but Asztalos moves out of range and Rojas only half commits.
Asztalos tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Rojas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Asztalos wants to clinch
and Rojas counters with a two punch combo.
Rojas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rojas takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Rojas feints and then cracks Asztalos's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Asztalos down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Asztalos ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Arturo Rojas seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rojas misses with a short punch on the inside.
Asztalos is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rojas is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asztalos lands a body shot.
Rojas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rojas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rojas trying to stall but Asztalos improves his position.
Rojas lands a hook that snaps the head of Asztalos backwards.
Asztalos lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rojas or not.
Asztalos misses with a body punch.
Rojas misses with a punch on the inside.
Asztalos lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rojas is trying to break the clinch but Asztalos has him pressed against the ropes.
Rojas swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rojas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rojas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rojas tries a body shot but Asztalos blocks it.
Asztalos doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Asztalos.
Asztalos missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rojas.
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!
Rojas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rojas tries to throw a body punch but Asztalos avoids it by throwing Rojas back against the ropes.
Rojas gets through Asztalos's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Asztalos looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Rojas manages to break the clinch.
Rojas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Asztalos avoids the head kick by Rojas.
A jab lands there for Rojas.
Rojas dodges the punch combination from Asztalos.
Rojas looks to score with a jab to the body but Asztalos is just out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rojas takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Asztalos throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rojas counters with a good low kick that Asztalos was not able to check.
Asztalos scores with a jab to the body.
Asztalos misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Arturo Rojas just about did enough to take it.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rojas lands a glancing blow to the side of Asztalos's head.
Asztalos is looking to wear down Rojas with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rojas looks to land a left hand but Asztalos moved out of range nicely.
Rojas swings for the body but Asztalos moves out of range.
Rojas takes a swing at Asztalos's ribcage but misses.
Rojas throws the left hand but Asztalos avoids the punch easily.
Asztalos throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rojas sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Asztalos blocks the leg kick.
Rojas throws a nice outside leg kick.
Asztalos digs a good hook to Rojas's body.
Asztalos is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rojas scores with a kick to the body.
Asztalos throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rojas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rojas takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rojas connects with a crisp jab.

Rojas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Asztalos swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rojas is working Asztalos over against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asztalos misses with the head strike.
Asztalos misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rojas lands a body punch.
Rojas lands a left hand.
Rojas tries to stall but Asztalos uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Asztalos misses with a punch to the body.
Asztalos has Rojas pressed against the ropes, preventing Rojas from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A nice left hand lands by Rojas.
Asztalos swings wildly with an uppercut but Rojas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Asztalos misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rojas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rojas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nice elbow from Asztalos.
Rojas takes a shot to the head.
Rojas blocking some punches.
A short right from Asztalos.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojas digs a right hand into Asztalos's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Asztalos's gas tank.
Asztalos keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rojas's efforts to push away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rojas blocks an uppercut.

Rojas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A leg kick checked by Rojas.
Rojas takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Asztalos lands a nice hook to Rojas's body. Rojas takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Rojas clinches with his opponent.
Asztalos fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rojas is trying to stall.
Asztalos misses with the head strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Asztalos pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Asztalos pushes Rojas back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Rojas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Arturo Rojas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Asztalos's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Asztalos instigates a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Asztalos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rojas tries to work over Asztalos's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rojas can't find room to land a body shot as Asztalos controls the action.
Asztalos blocks a body shot from Rojas.
Asztalos lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rojas misses with a short punch on the inside.
A hook to the body from Rojas.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rojas.
Rojas struggles to land a body shot inside as Asztalos controls his hands.
Asztalos misses with some punches.
Rojas is trying to break the clinch but Asztalos is controlling him.
Asztalos pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Asztalos can't find room to land a body shot as Rojas controls the action.
Rojas letting Asztalos take a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asztalos lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rojas tries to work over Asztalos's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Asztalos misses with an elbow over the top.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rojas blocking some punches.
Rojas pushes Asztalos back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rojas presses Asztalos against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rojas lands a body punch.
Asztalos looking to stall.
Rojas misses with the head strike.
Rojas stalling.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojas can't find room to land a body shot as Asztalos controls the action.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Asztalos prevents a body shot from Rojas.
Rojas prevents a body shot from Asztalos.
Asztalos throws a punch but it's blocked by Rojas.
Rojas lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Asztalos backwards.
Tibo Asztalos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Asztalos lands a right hand.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Asztalos.
A short right from Rojas.
Asztalos throws an elbow but it misses.
Rojas lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Asztalos backwards.
Asztalos struggles to land a body shot inside as Rojas controls his hands.
Rojas working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Asztalos prevents a body shot from Rojas.
Asztalos taking a breather.
Asztalos misses with some punches.
Rojas trying to control the position but instead, Asztalos has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rojas into the ropes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arturo Rojas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rojas 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 45:50
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 45:50
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arturo Rojas!
During a confident post fight interview, Arturo Rojas thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.