PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Retsu Kaioh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cheick Kongo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Kaioh
vs
Kongo

192 cm
36
265 lbs
20 - 12 - 0

193 cm
37
240 lbs
31 - 13 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Retsu Kaioh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cheick Kongo!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Kongo misses the target.
Kaioh misses with a straight right.
A head kick by Kongo misses
and Kaioh counters with a good low kick that Kongo was not able to check.
Kaioh ducks under a wild hook from Kongo.
Kongo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kaioh tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Kongo misses the target.
Kaioh jabs Kongo right on the nose. Kongo blinks but takes it well.
Kongo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice body kick from Kongo.
Kongo misses with a body shot.
A head kick by Kongo misses
and Kaioh counters with a leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kongo.
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!
Kaioh throws a head kick that misses.
Kongo scores with a body shot.
A low kick from Kongo is predictable there
and Kaioh counters with a stiff right hand.
Kongo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Kongo.
Kongo tries a head kick but it misses.
Kongo bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Kaioh avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jab by Kongo.
Kongo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kaioh throws a sloppy head kick
and Kongo counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kongo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kongo thows a body kick. Kaioh tries to catch it but that hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kongo fails to land with a series of punches.
Kaioh uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kongo.
Kongo throws a leg kick but Kaioh sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kongo throws out a powerful jab.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kaioh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaioh moves out of range of the body kick.
Kongo tries a head kick but it misses.
Kaioh misses with a wild combination.
Kongo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kongo tries to clinch up.
Cheick Kongo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kaioh connects with a single shot there.
Kongo walks into a jab.
Kongo tries to clinch there but Kaioh circles away.
Kaioh throws a body punch but Kongo moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kaioh throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kongo misses with a body shot.
Kaioh blocks a head kick by Kongo.
Kongo throws a body kick that misses
and Kaioh counters with a straight right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cheick Kongo dominated that 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.

Kaioh tries a head kick but it misses.
Kongo moves out of range of the body kick.
Kaioh fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kongo throws a leg kick
and Kaioh finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Kaioh moves out of range as Kongo throws a body kick.
Kongo throws a leg kick
and Kaioh counters with a head kick. That will keep Kongo thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Kaioh forces Kongo back against the ropes and clinches.
Kongo has a couple of punches blocked by Kaioh.
Kongo takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Cheick Kongo has been cut.
Kongo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kongo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kongo tries to break the clinch but Kaioh is controlling the position.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kaioh.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kaioh - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kongo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kaioh.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Kongo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaioh misses with an elbow over the top.
Kaioh pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Kaioh lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kongo throws a punch but it's blocked by Kaioh.

Kongo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kongo's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kaioh connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kongo scrambles back to his feet.
Kongo misses with a body kick.
A solid body kick from Kongo.
Kongo is looking to slow Kaioh down with leg kicks.
Kongo dips to his left and cracks Kaioh with an uppercut!
Kaioh takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A low kick from Kongo is predictable there
and Kaioh counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kaioh misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kongo takes a kick to the side of the head.
Kongo lands with a nice combination. Kaioh backs away looking to recover.
Kongo tries to clinch but Kaioh moves out of range.
Kongo lands a head kick. Kaioh smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kaioh avoids the head kick by Kongo.
Kongo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kaioh on the side of the head.
Kongo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A solid body kick from Kongo.
Kaioh blocks a low kick nicely.
Kaioh misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kongo connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kaioh slips a straight right by Kongo.
Kongo fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kaioh checks it well.
Kaioh gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kongo throws a sloppy head kick and Kaioh moves out of range easily.
Kaioh jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kaioh throws a low kick, looking for Kongo's leg but Kongo calmly moves out of range.
Kongo throws a low kick but Kaioh moves out of range easily.
Kongo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kongo lands a leg kick that knocks Kaioh off balance momentarily.
Kongo lands the left hand.
Kaioh checks the leg kick.
Kongo throws a leg kick but Kaioh moved away.

Kongo moves into the clinch.
Kaioh stalling in the clinch.
Kongo misses with a punch on the inside.
Kongo working aggressively here.
Kongo misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaioh pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Kaioh creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kongo's defenses.
Kongo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kongo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kaioh's elbow.
Kongo avoiding damage.
Kaioh blocks a body shot from Kongo.
Kongo dodges an elbow strike from Kaioh.
Kaioh blocks a body shot from Kongo.
Kongo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kongo lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kaioh has Kongo pushed against the ropes.
Kongo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kaioh taking a breather.
Kongo takes a shot to the head.
Kongo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kongo struggles to land a body shot inside as Kaioh controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kongo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kaioh holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Kongo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kaioh stalling in the clinch but Kongo improves position.
Kaioh throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kaioh will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nice elbow from Kaioh.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kaioh is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kongo is keeping busy.

Kongo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kongo throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kongo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kongo throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kongo throws a leg kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cheick Kongo really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cheick Kongo's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kongo missing with a left hand there. Kaioh was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kongo throws a sloppy head kick and Kaioh moves out of range easily.
Kongo misses with a leg kick
and Kaioh counters with a stiff right hand.
Cheick Kongo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kongo checks a leg kick nicely.
Kongo is looking to land body kicks.
Kongo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kongo throws the left hand but Kaioh avoids the punch easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kongo.
Kaioh pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kongo misses with a few strikes there.
Kongo lands a jab to the nose.
Kongo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kaioh.
A big right from Kaioh misses.
A good leg kick by Kongo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kongo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kongo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kaioh.
Kongo bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kaioh's head backwards.
Kongo throws a series of strikes that have Kaioh backpedaling.
That kick from Kaioh tenderised Kongo's leg. Kongo is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kaioh closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kongo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kaioh walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kongo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kongo throws a poor cross that misses
and Kaioh counters with a stiff right hand.
Kongo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kongo throws a sloppy head kick
and Kaioh counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Kaioh slips under a jab from Kongo.
Kaioh throws a sloppy head kick and Kongo moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Kongo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kaioh throws the kick towards the body but Kongo avoids it.
Kaioh fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kongo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kaioh checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kaioh blocks the body kick.
Kongo looks to throw a body kick
and Kaioh counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Kaioh misses with a wild combination.
Kongo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kongo cracks the inside of Kaioh's front leg.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kongo. That's going to slow Kaioh down.
Kongo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cheick Kongo dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Cheick Kongo's cut.
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!

Kongo throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kongo misses with a low kick.
Kongo looks to land a body kick but Kaioh moved away.
Kongo throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kaioh counters with a big head kick but Kongo shrugs it off.
Kongo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kaioh is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kongo tries to land a body kick
and Kaioh counters with a nice uppercut.
Kongo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kongo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kaioh checks a leg kick.
Kongo walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kongo throws a head kick but Kaioh moves out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kongo.
Kongo lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kaioh tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kongo throws a sloppy head kick and Kaioh moves out of range easily.
Kongo throws a leg kick
and Kaioh counters with a series of strikes. Kongo will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kongo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kongo throws a leg kick
and Kaioh counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kongo scores with a kick to the body.
Kongo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Retsu Kaioh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kongo thuds his shin into the meat of Kaioh's side.
Kaioh lands a front kick.
Kongo is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Kaioh connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Kongo is rocked!
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!
Kongo misses with a leg kick
and Kaioh counters with a body kick that stops Kongo in his tracks momentarily.
Kongo is still on wobbly legs! Can Kaioh finish him?
Kaioh is looking to slow Kongo down with leg kicks.
Kongo seems to have recovered his senses.
Kaioh lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kaioh cracks Kongo with a perfect right hand that drops him to the mat! Kongo is sitting up but I can't see if he's OK from my position. The referee's count has reached 5,6,7 and Kongo is still not up. Can he make it? 8,9,10! He's out! Kongo could not beat the count!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Retsu Kaioh!
After winning the bout, Retsu Kaioh thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.