PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Captain Kat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Humberto Manuel Arboleda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arboleda comes into a darkened arena with his song building. ASTAROTH - GUERRA DE METAL kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Kat
vs
Manuel Arboleda

175 cm
24
146 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

165 cm
27
157 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

World class MT
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Captain Kat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Humberto Manuel Arboleda!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Kat finds it's way through Arboleda's defenses.

Kat closes the distance and pushes Arboleda back into the ropes.
Arboleda crunches a lovely knee into Kat's ribcage.
Arboleda with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kat using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arboleda has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kat can't find room to land a body shot as Arboleda controls the action.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Kat on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Arboleda missing with knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Arboleda obliges.
Arboleda blocks a body shot from Kat.
Kat on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
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!
Arboleda with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Arboleda on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kat with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nice elbow from Arboleda.
Arboleda told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Arboleda gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Arboleda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kat.
Arboleda lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kat backwards.
Kat is trying to push Arboleda away but Arboleda has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Kat managing to block the knees to the body from Arboleda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kat tries a body shot but Arboleda blocks it.
Kat tries to land a knee to the head but Arboleda blocks with his arms.
Arboleda is working Kat over against the ropes.
Arboleda pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Arboleda lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Arboleda tries to land a knee to the head but Kat blocks with his arms.
Arboleda working Kat over with knees to the body.
I was talking to Kat's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Arboleda lands an uppercut.
Arboleda tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Arboleda has Kat pressed against the ropes.
Kat throws a knee to the head but misses.
Arboleda has Kat pressed against the ropes.
Arboleda lands a knee to the body.
Arboleda managing to block the knees to the body from Kat.
Kat dodges an elbow strike from Arboleda.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Arboleda just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kat's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kat avoids the elbow strike from Arboleda, against the ropes.
Kat can't find room to land a body shot as Arboleda controls the action.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Arboleda.
Arboleda lands a nice knee to the body.
Kat blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Still in the clinch, Arboleda scores with a nice short uppercut.
Arboleda takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kat misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kat tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Arboleda avoids it.
Kat tries a knee to the head but Arboleda blocks it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Arboleda.
Kat connects with a nasty looking knee right to Arboleda's face.
Kat with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Arboleda unloads a knee to the mid-section.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kat connects with a knee to the head.
Kat using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arboleda has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Arboleda is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kat's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Humberto Manuel Arboleda dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kat throws the kick towards the body but Arboleda avoids it.
Kat throws a sloppy head kick and Arboleda moves out of range easily.
Humberto Manuel Arboleda is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Arboleda blocks a head kick by Kat.
Kat doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kat walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Arboleda moves out of range as Kat throws a body kick.

Kat rushes Arboleda and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Arboleda.
Arboleda lands a body punch in the clinch.
Arboleda misses with a knee to the head.
Arboleda landing knees to the body.
Arboleda is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kat using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arboleda has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kat throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kat looking to throw knees to the head but Arboleda is blocking nicely.
Arboleda lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kat throws a knee to the head but misses.
Humberto Manuel Arboleda seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Arboleda.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Arboleda landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arboleda misses with a knee to the head.
Arboleda throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kat blocks it with crossed arms.
Arboleda trying to land knees to the body.
Arboleda lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Arboleda landing knees to the head.
Arboleda prevents a body shot from Kat.
Arboleda is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kat is defending well for now.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Arboleda throws an elbow but misses.
Arboleda misses with a knee strike.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Arboleda pushes Kat back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Arboleda comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A right handed body shot lands from Arboleda.
Arboleda connects with a knee to the head.
Arboleda on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Arboleda with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kat using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arboleda has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kat avoiding damage as Arboleda throws knees to the body.
Arboleda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arboleda tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Arboleda obliges.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kat trying to land knees to the body.
Arboleda is trying to maintain a safe position but Kat gets an underhook and turns Arboleda into the ropes.
Kat misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kat landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kat tries to land a knee to the head but Arboleda blocks with his arms.
Kat with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A hook to the body from Arboleda.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Arboleda unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Arboleda throws a knee to the head but misses.
Arboleda tries a knee to the head but Kat blocks it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Arboleda obliges.
Arboleda tries to work over Kat's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Arboleda avoiding damage.
Kat blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kat is looking to break free of the clinch but Arboleda has double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Humberto Manuel Arboleda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Arboleda blocks a head kick by Kat.

Arboleda moves into the clinch.
Arboleda misses with an elbow over the top.
Kat is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Arboleda is defending well for now.
A frustrated look appears on Kat's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kat landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kat blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kat blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kat lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kat avoiding damage as Arboleda throws knees to the body.
Arboleda avoiding damage as Kat throws knees to the body.
Arboleda tries to land a knee to the head but Kat blocks with his arms.
Kat tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Arboleda tries a knee to the head but Kat blocks it.
Kat goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Arboleda obliges.
Kat on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kat managing to block the knees to the body from Arboleda.
Arboleda putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kat in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kat goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kat throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Arboleda blocks it with crossed arms.
Kat throws a knee to the head but misses.
Arboleda is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Arboleda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kat.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Arboleda.
Arboleda is trying to maintain a safe position but Kat gets an underhook and turns Arboleda into the ropes.
Arboleda misses with a knee to the head.
Arboleda lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kat is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Arboleda missing with knees to the body.
Arboleda will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kat up against the ropes.
Nice body punch from Kat.
Arboleda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Arboleda lands a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arboleda with a knee to the head.
Arboleda on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Arboleda blocks a body shot from Kat.
Arboleda using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kat has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kat trying to control the position but instead, Arboleda has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kat into the ropes.
Kat blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
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!
Arboleda wants to stall.
Arboleda is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Arboleda blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Arboleda takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Humberto Manuel Arboleda has been cut.
Arboleda swings wildly with an uppercut but Kat uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kat tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Arboleda lands a knee to the body.
Kat avoiding damage as Arboleda throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Humberto Manuel Arboleda really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Humberto Manuel Arboleda's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Arboleda gets a clinch.
Captain Kat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Arboleda scores with a shot to the side of Kat's head.
Kat can't find room to land a body shot as Arboleda controls the action.
Kat scores with a knee to the head.
Kat goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kat avoiding damage as Arboleda throws knees to the body.
Arboleda is pushing Kat up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kat throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Arboleda blocks it with crossed arms.
Kat on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Arboleda with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Arboleda working Kat over with knees to the body.
Kat throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Arboleda blocks it with crossed arms.
Kat with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Arboleda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kat.
Kat with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Nice body punch from Arboleda - that landed with a thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Arboleda as Kat tries to tie him up.
Kat tries to land knees in the clinch but Arboleda avoids the damage to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Kat throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Arboleda blocks it with crossed arms.
Kat can't find room to land a body shot as Arboleda controls the action.
Arboleda looking to throw knees to the head but Kat is blocking nicely.
Arboleda lands an elbow that stopped Kat in his tracks for a moment.
Arboleda with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kat looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kat tries to throw a body punch but Arboleda avoids it by throwing Kat back against the ropes.
Kat misses with a body punch.
Arboleda landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Arboleda creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kat's defenses.
Kat tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Arboleda utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Arboleda lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Arboleda works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A right hand to the body from Kat.
Arboleda is working Kat over against the ropes.
Arboleda tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Arboleda is stalling here.
Arboleda looking to throw knees to the head but Kat is blocking nicely.
Arboleda lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kat backwards.
Kat with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kat is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Arboleda is defending well for now.
Arboleda tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Arboleda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kat's elbow.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Arboleda throws an elbow but misses.
Arboleda utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kat digs a right hand into Arboleda's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Arboleda's gas tank.
Kat taking a breather.
Kat with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Humberto Manuel Arboleda dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Humberto Manuel Arboleda's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Arboleda takes the fight into the clinch.
Arboleda displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kat up against the ropes.
Kat misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Arboleda.
Kat throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Arboleda blocks it with crossed arms.
Kat throws a knee to the head but misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Kat.
Kat connects with a nasty looking knee right to Arboleda's face.
Kat missing with knees to the body.
Kat with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kat avoiding damage as Arboleda throws knees to the body.
Arboleda looking to throw knees to the head but Kat is blocking nicely.
Arboleda wants to stall.
Kat throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Arboleda blocks it with crossed arms.
Kat takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kat tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kat misses with a knee to the head.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
A body shot lands from Arboleda.
Kat avoiding damage as Arboleda throws knees to the body.
Kat looking to slow down the pace here.
Kat tries to land a knee to the head but Arboleda blocks with his arms.
Arboleda tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kat misses with a knee strike.
Kat with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kat throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Arboleda with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kat tries a knee to the head but Arboleda blocks it.
Arboleda tries to land knees in the clinch but Kat avoids the damage to the body.
Kat is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Kat unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kat with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arboleda landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kat missing with knees to the body.
Kat looking to throw knees to the head but Arboleda is blocking nicely.
Arboleda crunches a lovely knee into Kat's ribcage.
Arboleda tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Arboleda landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kat doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Knees to the body from Arboleda.
A nice right hand lands inside from Arboleda.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Arboleda.
Kat misses with a knee strike.
Arboleda lands a nice elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kat lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Arboleda stalling in the clinch.
Kat tries to land knees in the clinch but Arboleda avoids the damage to the body.
Kat tries to throw a body punch but Arboleda avoids it by throwing Kat back against the ropes.
Arboleda digs a right hand underneath Kat's ribcage. Kat let out a lung full of air as it connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Humberto Manuel Arboleda.
I've got Arboleda winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 45:50
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 45:50
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Humberto Manuel Arboleda!
Humberto Manuel Arboleda spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.