PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Ali Imushagh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peter Phaan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Imushagh
vs
Phaan

187 cm
25
179 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
197 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

Lethal high kicks
KO power

Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ali Imushagh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Peter Phaan!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paulsen Ambrosius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Imushagh tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ali Imushagh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Imushagh throws a lazy head kick
and Phaan counters with a straight right hand.
Imushagh swats away the attempt to clinch by Phaan.
The fight stays on the outside here - Phaan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice uppercut lands for Imushagh. That snapped Phaan's head back.
Phaan looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A lazy body kick from Imushagh
and Phaan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Imushagh takes a swing at Phaan's ribcage but misses.
Phaan tries to clinch up but Imushagh circles away and keeps his distance.
Phaan is looking to clinch.
Imushagh tests Phaan's chin there with a solid looking shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Imushagh breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Imushagh moves into range and clinches up with Phaan.
Imushagh lands a right hand.
Imushagh goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Imushagh's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Imushagh throws a left and a right that both miss
and Phaan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Phaan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A bone on bone clash there as Phaan blocks the leg kick.
Imushagh throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Phaan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Crunch! Phaan slams his shin into Imushagh's torso.
Phaan tries to clinch up but Imushagh circles away and keeps his distance.
Imushagh scores with a jab to the head.

Imushagh moves into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Imushagh lands a right hand.

Imushagh manages to break the clinch.
Phaan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Imushagh paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Imushagh fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Phaan on the side of the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Imushagh. Phaan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Imushagh takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imushagh takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Imushagh misses with a wild combination.
Ali Imushagh is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Phaan thuds his right hand into Imushagh's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Imushagh lands with a nice body kick.
Good exchange - Imushagh coming out on top.
Imushagh walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Phaan checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Imushagh gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Imushagh escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Imushagh throws a lazy head kick
and Phaan counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Imushagh forces Phaan back against the ropes and clinches.
Phaan wants to break the clinch but can't.
Phaan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Phaan has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Imushagh scores with a shot to the side of Phaan's head.
Imushagh looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Imushagh breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imushagh throws a half hearted mid kick.
Phaan avoids the head kick by Imushagh.
Phaan looks to score with a jab to the body but Imushagh is just out of range.
Phaan tries a head kick but it misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Imushagh misses the target.
Phaan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Imushagh is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Imushagh throws a low kick but Phaan avoids it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Imushagh lands a left hand that snaps the head of Phaan backwards.

Imushagh's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Imushagh throws a head kick but Phaan moves out of range.

Imushagh moves into range and clinches up with Phaan.

Imushagh breaks from the clinch.
Imushagh connects with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imushagh throws a head kick but Phaan moves out of range.
Phaan tries to close the distance and clinch but Imushagh swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Imushagh tries a head kick but it misses.
Imushagh looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Phaan fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Phaan gets tackled into the ropes by Imushagh. Imushagh maintains the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Imushagh.
Phaan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Imushagh lands a nice elbow.

Imushagh's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Phaan connects with a body shot.
Phaan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Imushagh.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Phaan closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Phaan wants to clinch
and Imushagh counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Phaan gets tackled into the ropes by Imushagh. Imushagh maintains the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Imushagh dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Imushagh darts in and clinches Phaan up against the ropes.
A nice right hand lands inside from Imushagh.

Imushagh breaks from the clinch.
Imushagh bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Phaan's head backwards.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Imushagh here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Phaan wants to clinch.
Phaan tries to clinch up.
Imushagh misses with a double jab.
Phaan tries to clinch up.
Phaan avoids the body shot from Imushagh.
Imushagh throws a nice looking combination but Phaan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Imushagh clinches up against the ropes.

Imushagh escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Imushagh throws a head kick but Phaan moves out of range.
Phaan avoids the body shot from Imushagh.
Ali Imushagh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Phaan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Imushagh paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Imushagh gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Imushagh escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Imushagh misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Imushagh tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick from Phaan lands but Imushagh takes it in his stride.
Phaan with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Imushagh to score with a decent uppercut.
Imushagh scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Phaan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Imushagh.
Phaan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Imushagh instigates a clinch.

Imushagh breaks from the clinch.
Phaan tries to clinch up.
Phaan fails to land with a series of punches.
Imushagh throws a shot to the body.
Imushagh tries a head kick but it misses.
Imushagh moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imushagh thows a body shot but no joy.
Imushagh tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Imushagh misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Imushagh swats away the attempt to clinch by Phaan.
A leg kick checked by Phaan.
A looping hook to the body misses from Imushagh. Phaan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Phaan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Imushagh paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Phaan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Imushagh.
Imushagh is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Phaan tries to close the distance and clinch but Imushagh swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Imushagh wants to clinch.
Imushagh motions for Phaan to come forward. Imushagh throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Phaan dodges the punch combination from Imushagh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Imushagh.
Phaan tries to clinch there but Imushagh circles away.

Imushagh rushes Phaan and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Imushagh manages to break the clinch.
Imushagh swats away the attempt to clinch by Phaan.
Imushagh throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Imushagh fails to land with a series of punches.
Phaan plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Imushagh fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Phaan has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Imushagh rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Phaan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Imushagh has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short right from Imushagh on the inside.

Imushagh breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imushagh waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Phaan.
Imushagh tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Imushagh circles away from the clinch attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Imushagh circles away from the clinch attempt.
Phaan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Phaan tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Imushagh manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Imushagh tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick by Imushagh misses
and Phaan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Imushagh thuds his right hand into Phaan's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Imushagh throws a wild body kick that Phaan sees coming a mile off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Imushagh looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Imushagh throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Phaan.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Imushagh fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Phaan throws a hook but Imushagh avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Imushagh dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Phaan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Imushagh swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A head kick misses from Phaan.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Phaan crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Imushagh - the referee stops the clock and Phaan gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Imushagh. Phaan manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Imushagh swats away the attempt to clinch by Phaan.
Imushagh lands with a kick to the ribs.
Imushagh lands a high kick!

It looks like Peter Phaan has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head kick misses from Imushagh.
Imushagh comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Both fighters circling a little - Imushagh finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Imushagh lands with a kick to the temple. Phaan shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Imushagh moves into the clinch.

Imushagh's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Imushagh displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Phaan throws out the jab.
Imushagh lands a nice shot to the body.
Imushagh pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imushagh throws a head kick but Phaan moves out of range.
Imushagh scores with a nice right hand.
Phaan throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Phaan avoids the head kick by Imushagh.
Phaan looks to score with a jab to the body but Imushagh is just out of range.
Imushagh lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Phaan circles away quickly and effectively.
Ali Imushagh is winning the standup battle so far.
Imushagh throws a sloppy head kick and Phaan moves out of range easily.
Imushagh throws a sloppy head kick and Phaan moves out of range easily.
Imushagh swats away the attempt to clinch by Phaan.
Imushagh keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Danga de danga de dang - Phaan scores with a four punch combination!
Phaan lands a high kick!
Imushagh tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imushagh misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Imushagh throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Phaan.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Phaan moves in looking to clinch but Imushagh pushes him off.
Imushagh tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Phaan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Imushagh.
Imushagh keeps the fight on the outside.
Phaan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Imushagh avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Imushagh avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice body kick from Imushagh.
Imushagh throws a right and a left that Phaan avoids nicely.
Phaan wants to clinch up but Imushagh keeps it at a distance.
A combination from Phaan does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phaan avoids the head kick by Imushagh.
Phaan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Phaan tries to clinch up.
Imushagh doesn't manage to clinch there - Phaan circles away.
Phaan needs to keep his hands up - Imushagh had a free shot at his head there.
Imushagh misses with a combination

and Phaan counters by clinching up.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Imushagh.
Imushagh pushes off an throws an elbow but Phaan leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Phaan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Imushagh has him pressed against the ropes.
Phaan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.

Imushagh escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Phaan lands with a shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Phaan.

Imushagh has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Imushagh throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Phaans head.
Imushagh throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Phaan blocks it with crossed arms.

Phaan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Imushagh throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Phaan.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Imushagh just misses with a punch to the body.
Phaan looks to score with a jab to the body but Imushagh is just out of range.
Phaan tries to bum rush Imushagh with a series of wild strikes but Imushagh uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Phaan looks to throw the jab but Imushagh is out of range.
Imushagh throws a head kick that misses.
Phaan is looking to land body kicks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Imushagh misses with a body shot.
Imushagh connects with a body shot that sends Phaan's belly button to the back.
Peter Phaan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ali Imushagh is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nice body kick there by Imushagh.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ali Imushagh showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Imushagh 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ali Imushagh!
An out of breath Ali Imushagh thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.