PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Marko Hanttonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gar Diu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Diu's choice of entrance music: Pulse. Gar Diu is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Hanttonen
vs
Diu

171 cm
21
203 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

188 cm
34
190 lbs
25 - 17 - 1

World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent MT
Good gas tank

LOD: Affordable Quality

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marko Hanttonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Gar Diu!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diu throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hanttonen throws a nice head kick!
Hanttonen throws a leg kick but Diu moved away.
Diu throws an overhand right that lands on Hanttonen's shoulder, as Hanttonen tries to avoid the shot.
Gar Diu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sloppy strikes from Diu. Those never looked like landing.
Diu fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hanttonen checks it well.
Diu uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hanttonen.
Diu misses with a right hand

and Hanttonen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
I was talking to Hanttonen's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Diu is trying to break free.
Diu looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Diu misses with a punch on the inside.
Diu is trying to push Hanttonen away but Hanttonen has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Diu with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Diu blocking some punches.
Hanttonen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hanttonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A hook to the body from Hanttonen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanttonen prevents Diu from breaking the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Diu as Hanttonen tries to tie him up.
Hanttonen lands a shoulder strike.
Diu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hanttonen is defending well for now.
A frustrated look appears on Diu's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hanttonen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The referee calls for Hanttonen to work.
Hanttonen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Diu.

Diu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Diu scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hanttonen.
Diu throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Diu misses with a body shot.
Diu misses with a double jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hanttonen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diu needs to keep his hands up - Hanttonen had a free shot at his head there.
Diu scores with a jab to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Diu misses with a straight right.
Diu displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Marko Hanttonen has been cut.
Diu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Diu misses with a hook.
Diu has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Hanttonen throws a body punch but Diu moves out of range.
Diu thumps Hanttonen with a low kick.

Hanttonen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Diu stalling.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hanttonen prevents Diu from breaking the clinch.
Hanttonen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Diu's elbow.
Diu has a couple of punches blocked by Hanttonen.
Hanttonen misses with some punches.
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 Marko Hanttonen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Marko Hanttonen'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.

A leg kick checked by Hanttonen.
A big left from Hanttonen misses.
Hanttonen tries to clinch but Diu is having none of it.
Sloppy strikes from Hanttonen. Those never looked like landing.
Diu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hanttonen.

Diu gets tackled into the ropes by Hanttonen. Hanttonen maintains the clinch.
Hanttonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hanttonen lands a nice uppercut.

Diu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Diu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Hanttonen clinches with his opponent.
Hanttonen is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Diu takes an elbow to the forehead.
Hanttonen misses with a hook to the ribs.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Hanttonen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Diu's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanttonen misses with a punch to the body.
Diu blocks an uppercut.
Hanttonen digs a right hand underneath Diu's ribcage. Diu let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Hanttonen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hanttonen tries to land knees in the clinch but Diu avoids the damage to the body.
Hanttonen can't find room to land a body shot as Diu controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Hanttonen fails to land.
A short right from Hanttonen.
Hanttonen lands a shoulder strike.
Hanttonen with a knee to the head.
Hanttonen trying to stall but Diu improves his position.

Diu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hanttonen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Diu fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hanttonen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Diu connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Diu - that will leave a mark!
Diu cracks Hanttonen with a right hand to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diu attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Diu ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hanttonen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hanttonen wants to clinch up but Diu keeps it at a distance.
Diu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hanttonen throws out the jab.
Diu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A punch combination from Hanttonen misses.
Diu checks a leg kick nicely.
A clash of legs there as Hanttonen blocks the low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Diu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hanttonen takes a swing at Diu's ribcage but misses.
Diu turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marko Hanttonen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marko Hanttonen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Diu tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Diu bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hanttonen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hanttonen lands a nice looking body kick.
Gar Diu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hanttonen wants to clinch up but Diu keeps it at a distance.
Hanttonen misses with a hook.
Hanttonen tries to clinch up.
Hanttonen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Diu.
Hanttonen moves in looking to clinch but Diu pushes him off.
Diu avoids the body shot from Hanttonen.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Diu blocks an uppercut.
Hanttonen lands a good knee to the midsection. Diu won't want to take too many of those.

Diu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gar Diu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diu on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hanttonen tries a low kick but Diu avoids it.
Diu checks the leg kick.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Diu.
Diu tests Hanttonen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Diu on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hanttonen just misses with a punch to the body.
Diu is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Hanttonen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hanttonen just misses with a punch to the body.
Diu checks the leg kick nicely there.
Diu lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hanttonen lands a nice looking body kick.
Good shot there by Hanttonen.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Diu throws a body punch but Hanttonen moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanttonen has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Diu.
Hanttonen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Diu has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hanttonen is looking to land body kicks.
Hanttonen's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Diu connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hanttonen scrambles back to his feet.
Diu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Diu swinging wildly here.
Diu throws a hook to the side of Hanttonen's head but Hanttonen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hanttonen swings for the body but Diu moves out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Diu.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Diu swings for the body but Hanttonen moves out of range.
Diu will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hanttonen misses with a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marko Hanttonen clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Marko Hanttonen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

A punch combination from Hanttonen misses.
Diu throws a jab when Hanttonen was well out of range.
Diu connects with a looping right hand.
A head kick misses from Diu.
Hanttonen throws a shot from downtown. Diu moves away and avoids it.
Hanttonen scores with a hook to the body. Diu takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hanttonen scores with the left hand. Diu knows he should have avoided that one.
Hanttonen takes a swing at Diu's ribcage but misses.
Hanttonen falls off balance throwing a combination
and Diu counters with a body kick.
Hanttonen throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Hanttonen misses with the body kick
and Diu counters with a nice uppercut.
Diu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hanttonen tries to clinch up.
Hanttonen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diu cracks Hanttonen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Diu slips a jab from Hanttonen.
Hanttonen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Diu.
Hanttonen feints and then cracks Diu's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Diu down.
Diu slips under a jab.
Hanttonen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diu was well out of range. Poor timing from Hanttonen.
Good leg kick by Diu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hanttonen avoids the head kick by Diu.
Diu does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Diu avoids the body shot from Hanttonen.
Diu feints and then cracks Hanttonen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hanttonen down.
Hanttonen slips under a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanttonen lands with a shot to the body.
Hanttonen throws a hook but Diu blocks it.
Hanttonen thows a body shot but no joy.
Diu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hanttonen throws a head kick that misses.
Diu loads up on a big right hand but Hanttonen slips the punch.
Hanttonen throws a jab but it's blocked by Diu.
Hanttonen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hanttonen connects with a solid leg 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!
Diu tries to score with a low kick but Hanttonen moves his leg out of the way.
Hanttonen thows a body shot but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick misses from Diu.
A combination from Hanttonen does no damage.
Hanttonen doesn't manage to clinch there - Diu circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marko Hanttonen had his way with Gar Diu in that round.
The cut man is working on Marko Hanttonen's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hanttonen wants to slow Diu down by chopping away at his legs.
Diu lands with a kick to the ribs.
Hanttonen jabs Diu right on the nose. Diu blinks but takes it well.
Diu misses with a low kick.
Hanttonen throws a front kick aimed at Diu's knee but Diu avoids it well.
Diu scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Diu takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Diu scores with a leg kick.
Diu takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Diu misses with a hook. Hanttonen ducked under it nicely.
Diu keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Diu shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hanttonen feints a jab promting Diu to slip. Hanttonen then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Diu slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Diu moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Hanttonen.
Diu slips under a jab from Hanttonen.
Hanttonen lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Diu has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Diu swinging wildly here.
Hanttonen tries to clinch but Diu is having none of it.
Hanttonen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Diu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hanttonen tries to clinch up.
Hanttonen takes a jab right on the kisser.

Hanttonen pushes Diu up against the ropes in a clinch.
Diu stalling in the clinch but Hanttonen improves position.
Hanttonen pushes Diu back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Diu lands a good knee to the midsection. Hanttonen won't want to take too many of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanttonen working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hanttonen working aggressively here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diu tries to break free but Hanttonen pushes him back against the ropes.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hanttonen.
Hanttonen tries to work over Diu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hanttonen lands with a short shot to the head.
Hanttonen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Gar Diu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hanttonen trying to land knees to the body.
Diu is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Hanttonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short left from Diu.
Hanttonen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Marko Hanttonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Diu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marko Hanttonen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hanttonen 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 50:45
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 50:45
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marko Hanttonen!
A relieved looking Marko Hanttonen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.