PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Tak Sin Thanarat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joaozinho Gurgel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Sin Thanarat
vs
Gurgel

215 cm
36
285 lbs
24 - 15 - 1

193 cm
35
244 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Tak Sin Thanarat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joaozinho Gurgel!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Atkins and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thanarat fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Thanarat loads up on a big right hand but Gurgel slips the punch.
Thanarat misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gurgel tries to bum rush Thanarat with a series of wild strikes but Thanarat uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thanarat misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gurgel.
A nice leg kick lands there from Thanarat.
Thanarat feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Gurgels jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Gurgel throws a body punch but Thanarat moves out of range.
Gurgel connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Thanarat momentarily.
Gurgel shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Gurgel just misses with a punch to the body.
Thanarat throws a head kick but Gurgel moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Gurgel.
Thanarat ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gurgel moves away.
Thanarat scores with the left hand. Gurgel knows he should have avoided that one.

It looks like Joaozinho Gurgel has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gurgel takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Gurgel throws a leg kick but Thanarat moved away.
Thanarat lands a head shot.
Gurgel tries to move into range but Thanarat moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Tak Sin Thanarat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Thanarat.
Gurgel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thanarat misses the shot to the body.
Thanarat blocks the body kick.
A big left from Thanarat misses.
Gurgel slips a jab from Thanarat.
Thanarat moves out of range as Gurgel strikes.
Thanarat throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Thanarat has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gurgel.
Thanarat throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Jab from Thanarat.

That has opened up Joaozinho Gurgel's cut even more.
Thanarat attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Gurgel rushes Thanarat and presses him up against the ropes.
Gurgel managing to block the knees to the body from Thanarat.
Thanarat comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nice body punch from Gurgel - that landed with a thud.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gurgel lands a hook that snaps the head of Thanarat backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gurgel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thanarat throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Thanarat working hard to break the clinch.
Thanarat is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Thanarat working Gurgel over with knees to the body.
Gurgel working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Thanarat tries to land a knee to the head but Gurgel blocks with his arms.
Gurgel presses Thanarat against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Gurgel misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gurgel throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Thanarats head.
Gurgel working aggressively here.
Gurgel misses with the head strike.
Gurgel blocks an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gurgel misses with a punch to the body.
A hook to the body from Gurgel.
Gurgel pushes Thanarat back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Thanarat is breathing heavily.
Gurgel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Thanarat backwards.
Gurgel lands a shoulder strike.
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 Tak Sin Thanarat will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Joaozinho Gurgel's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gurgel fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Thanarat has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Thanarat tries to move into range but Gurgel moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gurgel lands a right hook to the body.
Tak Sin Thanarat is winning the standup battle so far.
Gurgel goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Thanarat misses with a wild body shot.
Gurgel ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thanarat scores with a decent looking hook.
A head kick misses from Gurgel.
A telegraphed right hand from Gurgel misses the target.
Gurgel takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gurgel paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Gurgel scores with a jab to the jaw.
Danga de danga de dang - Gurgel scores with a four punch combination!
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!
Thanarat looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Gurgel throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gurgel wants to clinch.
Thanarat scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gurgel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thanarat.
Thanarat throws a jab but it's blocked by Gurgel.
Thanarat loads up on a big right hand but Gurgel slips the punch.
Gurgel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thanarat takes a swing at Gurgel's ribcage but misses.
Thanarat fails to land with a series of punches.
Thanarat tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gurgel was well out of range. Poor timing from Thanarat.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gurgel.
Thanarat scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gurgel in his tracks.
Thanarat tries to clinch up.
Thanarat works Gurgel's body with a nice hook.
Gurgel lands a nice looking body kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A lazy left from Gurgel finds it's target.
Thanarat fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gurgel manages to avoid it.
Thanarat is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thanarat throws a jab but it's blocked by Gurgel.
Thanarat takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gurgel swings for the body but Thanarat moves out of range.
Thanarat keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Gurgel cracks the inside of Thanarat's front leg.
Nice cross by Gurgel.
Gurgel with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gurgel.
Gurgel keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gurgel.
Gurgel throws a leg kick which misses Thanarat's front leg but catches the back leg as Thanarat tries to avoid it.
Thanarat misses with a straight right.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gurgel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gurgel will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Thanarat checks a leg kick.
Gurgel motions for Thanarat to come forward. Gurgel throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joaozinho Gurgel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joaozinho Gurgel'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. This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Thanarat.
Thanarat takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
No joy there for Gurgel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gurgel connects with a solid leg kick.
Thanarat is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gurgel lands a leg kick that knocks Thanarat off balance momentarily.
Gurgel keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Thanarat is looking to land body kicks.
Gurgel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thanarat.
Gurgel throws a right hand that Thanarat ducks under and follows up with a left that Thanarat also avoids with ease.
Gurgel has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Nice body kick there by Thanarat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gurgel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thanarat throws a hook to the side of Gurgel's head but Gurgel sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gurgel scores with a hook.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Gurgel.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gurgel fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gurgel scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gurgel cracks the inside of Thanarat's front leg.
Gurgel throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gurgel throws a shot from downtown. Thanarat moves away and avoids it.

Gurgel clinches.
Thanarat prevents a body shot from Gurgel.
Thanarat misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gurgel has a couple of punches blocked by Thanarat.
Gurgel keeps control of Thanarat as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Gurgel pushes Thanarat back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gurgel misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gurgel working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Gurgel misses with some punches.
Gurgel misses with a body punch.
Gurgel misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Gurgel.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Gurgel. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Gurgel lands a left hand.
Come on Thanarat - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Thanarat prevents a body shot from Gurgel.
Gurgel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
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!
Gurgel lands with a left to the head.
Thanarat goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gurgel misses with a punch to the body.
Thanarat stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Thanarat's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Gurgel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thanarat is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gurgel is defending well for now.
Gurgel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gurgel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Thanarat breaks the clinch.
Gurgel throws a solid leg kick but Thanarat takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Gurgel.
Gurgel 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joaozinho Gurgel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gurgel 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joaozinho Gurgel!
Joaozinho Gurgel thanked the fans post fight for their support.