PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Xiomar Halo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Stricker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stricker has chosen Slim Jesus - Drill Time as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Halo
vs
Stricker

205 cm
37
270 lbs
23 - 8 - 0

199 cm
26
239 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

World class boxer
Cardio machine

World class MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160
KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xiomar Halo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steve Stricker!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Albert Achterberg and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stricker manages to avoid it.
Stricker is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Halo with a body shot.
Stricker throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Stricker has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Halo is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Halo lands a jab to the head.

It looks like Steve Stricker has been cut.
Stricker fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Halo checks it well.
Stricker looks to throw the jab but Halo is out of range.
Stricker swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Halo.
Halo misses with a lunging right hand
and Stricker counters with a stiff right hand.
Halo has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Halo throws a hook to the side of Stricker's head but Stricker sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Halo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halo throws an off balance right hand
and Stricker counters with a low kick, right behind Halo 's knee.
A slow jab from Halo misses its intended target.
Stricker throws a leg kick but Halo sees it coming and moves out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Halo misses the target.
Halo is looking to clinch.
Despite the aggression on Stricker's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Stricker.
Halo misses with a wild body shot.
Halo misses with a looping left.
A little jabbing left from Stricker on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Stricker tries to work over Halo's front leg with a kick but Halo checks it.
Stricker lands with a thumping leg kick.
A low kick from Halo misses
and Stricker counters with an outside leg kick.
Halo scores with a jab. Stricker acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The fighters circling - Halo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Halo avoids a kick to the body.
Halo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Stricker is looking to land body kicks.
An inside leg kick lands from Stricker.
No joy there for Stricker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stricker connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Halo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stricker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Halo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Halo fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Stricker checks it well.

Halo forces Stricker back against the ropes and clinches.
Halo has a couple of punches blocked by Stricker.
A right handed body shot lands from Stricker.
A short right from Stricker.
Stricker throws a punch but it's blocked by Halo.
Halo can't find room to land a body shot as Stricker controls the action.
Stricker lands a nice uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Halo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Halo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Stricker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Stricker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve Stricker'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.

Stricker throws a hook to the side of Halo's head but Halo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Halo throws out a loose jab but Stricker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stricker moves away from the strike by Halo.
Steve Stricker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Halo tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Stricker manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stricker tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Halo lands a nice shot that snaps Stricker's head back.
Halo just misses with a punch to the body.
Halo uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Halo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Stricker! But no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stricker connects with a body shot that sends Halo's belly button to the back.
Xiomar Halo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Halo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stricker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halo throws an off balance right hand
and Stricker counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stricker chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Halo misses with a left hand
and Stricker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A jab from Stricker misses.
Halo misses with a body punch
enabling Stricker to counter with a crisp jab.
Stricker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Stricker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Halo on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Stricker avoids a punch combination nicely.
Halo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stricker moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Stricker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Halo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stricker throws out the jab.
Nice defenses there by Stricker.
Halo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stricker throws a lazy body kick
and Halo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Stricker walks into a jab.

That has opened up Steve Stricker's cut even more.
Halo cracks a nice hook into Stricker's ribs.
Stricker wants to land a leg kick but Halo is out of range.
Halo misses the jab.
Halo misses with an uppercut.
Halo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stricker manages to avoid it.
A jab lands there for Halo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xiomar Halo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Steve Stricker's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Halo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Halo avoids the head kick by Stricker.
Halo appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Halo checks a low kick from Stricker.
Halo moves in looking to clinch but Stricker pushes him off.
Stricker scores with a leg kick.
Halo misses with a looping left.
Stricker is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Stricker steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Halo.
Stricker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Halo was well out of range. Poor timing from Stricker.
Stricker turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stricker throws a chopping leg kick but Halo manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Halo keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Stricker lands with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stricker misses with a wild body shot.
Halo swings widly with a right hand
and Stricker counters with a straight right hand.
Halo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Stricker ducks right into an uppercut from Halo.
Halo avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Stricker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Halo.
Halo swings for the body but Stricker moves out of range.
Halo throws a right hand that misses
and Stricker counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Halo misses with an uppercut
and Stricker counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Halo moves into the clinch.
Stricker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Halo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Stricker makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Stricker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo blocks a body shot from Stricker.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Stricker.
Stricker lands with a left to the head.
Stricker throws a head punch that misses.
Stricker scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A right handed body shot lands from Stricker.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stricker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Stricker letting Halo take a breather here.
Steve Stricker seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Halo misses with a punch to the body.
Stricker scores with a shot to the side of Halo's head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Halo.
Stricker lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Halo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Stricker lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Halo backwards.
Halo landing knees to the head.
Stricker tries to throw a body punch but Halo avoids it by throwing Stricker back against the ropes.
A left hand lands to the body for Stricker.
Stricker tries to throw a body punch but Halo avoids it by throwing Stricker back against the ropes.
Stricker scores with a nice hook to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Stricker really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve Stricker'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.

Stricker lands a really nice looking cross but Halo seems unphased.
Stricker misses with a head kick.
Halo misses with a hook. Stricker ducked under it nicely.
Stricker misses with a lunging right hand
and Halo counters with a right hand to the body.
Stricker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Halo manages to avoid it.
Stricker ducks under a wild hook from Halo.
Stricker thinks about the counter body kick.
Halo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stricker tries a low kick but Halo avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stricker checks a leg kick nicely.
A chopping leg kick lands by Halo.
Stricker cracks Halo with a right hand to the side of the head.
Stricker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stricker buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Halo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stricker scores with a nice strike.
A jab from Halo misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Stricker misses.
Stricker misses with an uppercut. Halo saw that one coming.
Stricker just misses with a punch to the body.
Stricker uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Halo.
Halo looks to land a right hand but Stricker moved out of range.
Stricker misses with a two punch combination.
Halo throws a hook but Stricker avoids it easily.
Halo missing with a left hand there. Stricker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stricker ducks under a wild hook from Halo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Stricker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Stricker throws a low kick, looking for Halo's leg but Halo calmly moves out of range.
Halo was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Halo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stricker.
Halo looks for the body kick but Stricker saw that one coming.
Halo is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Stricker throws a leg kick which misses Halo's front leg but catches the back leg as Halo tries to avoid it.
Halo takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stricker takes one to the side of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Halo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stricker with a nice cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Stricker dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Steve Stricker's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Stricker thuds his right hand into Halo's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Xiomar Halo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Halo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A telegraphed right hand from Halo misses the target.
Halo throws a right hand that misses
and Stricker makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Halo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Stricker.
Good work by Halo as he checks the leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Stricker.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stricker moves out of range of the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Halo misses the target.
Stricker ducks under a wild hook from Halo.
Stricker digs a good hook to Halo's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stricker throws a low kick but Halo moves out of range easily.
Stricker connects with a high kick.
Halo throws a leg kick
and Stricker makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Halo really felt that one!
Halo lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Halo swings widly with a right hand
and Stricker counters with a leg kick.
Halo throws a looping overhand right but Stricker ducks down to avoid it.
A jab from Halo misses.
Stricker tries a quick counter leg kick but Halo is wise to it.
Halo misses with a lunging right hand
and Stricker counters with a leg kick.
Halo throws a right hand that misses
and Stricker counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Stricker misses with a few strikes there.
Halo throws a sloppy body shot
and Stricker counters with a leg kick.
Stricker feints and then cracks Halo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Halo down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Halo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Stricker thumps Halo with a low kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Stricker.
Halo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Stricker looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Halo scores with a jab. Stricker acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Stricker throws a quick inside leg kick.
Halo throws a poor cross that misses
and Stricker counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Halo takes a jab right on the kisser.
Stricker pushes Halo away with a front kick.
A good leg kick by Stricker.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Stricker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stricker 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 46:49
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 46:49
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Stricker!
Our winner, Steve Stricker, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.