PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Manchester Red (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xiomar Halo (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!

Red
vs
Halo

225 cm
34
287 lbs
26 - 12 - 2

205 cm
39
270 lbs
25 - 11 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Heavy handed

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 26 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Manchester Red!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xiomar Halo!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Aafke Stam and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halo has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Red finds it's way round the side to connect with Halo's head.
Red misses the shot to the body.
Red throws the kick towards the body but Halo avoids it.
Halo throws out a counter right but Red avoids it with no problem.
A head kick misses from Red.
Red on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Halo cracks Red with an open hand slap.
Red takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Red misses with a head kick.
Halo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Red.
Red keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Halo.
Halo cracks Red with a good jab.
Red rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Halo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
It seemed like Halo was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Red throws a body punch but Halo moves out of range.
Halo looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Red looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Halo wants to counter with a clinch but Red pushes him away.
Halo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Manchester Red seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Red looks to land a left hand but Halo moved out of range nicely.
Halo missing with a left hand there. Red was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've been informed that Halo has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Halo throws a body punch but Red moves out of range.
Halo moves out of range as Red throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Red.
Red throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Halo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Halo throws a body shot but no joy.
Red takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Red tries to close the distance and clinch but Halo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Halo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Red.
Red has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Netherlands Top Team & KT in the buildup to the fight.
Red misses with a double jab.
Halo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Halo lands the left hand.
Halo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Red misses with a hook. Halo ducked under it nicely.
Red throws a body kick that misses
and Halo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Red misses with a body shot.
Red really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Red scores with a head kick.
Red ducks under a wild hook from Halo.
Red misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A shot to the liver by Halo. Beautiful body shot.
Red wants to slow Halo down by chopping away at his legs.
Red misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Halo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Red throws a sloppy head kick
and Halo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Halo blocks a head kick by Red.
Halo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Halo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Red.
Red lands a head kick!
Red defending well as Halo loads up on a big left hand.
Nice defenses there by Red.
Halo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Halo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Red uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Halo.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Red misses with a head kick.
Halo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Red misses with a few strikes there.

Red instigates a clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Halo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Xiomar Halo will probably get the nod.
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.

Red tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Halo was well out of range. Poor timing from Red.
Halo scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Red misses with a low kick as Halo jumps back.
Halo listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Red wants to clinch
and Halo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Red checks a leg kick.
Red moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Red thows a body kick. Halo tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Halo throws the left hand but Red avoids the punch easily.
Red blocks a jab.
Red keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Halo.
Halo avoids the body shot from Red.
Xiomar Halo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Red cracks Halo with an open hand slap.
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.
Red tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Halo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Red swings for the body but Halo moves out of range.
Red avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Red tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Red defending well as Halo loads up on a big left hand.
Red throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Halo swings for the body but Red moves out of range.
Halo misses with a low kick.
Red throws a combination. Halo tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Red takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Halo throws a body shot but no joy.
Halo misses with a looping right.

Red moves into the clinch.
Red landing knees to the body.
Red doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Halo looking to throw knees to the head but Red is blocking nicely.
Red with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Red wants to break the clinch but can't.
Red looking to throw knees to the head but Halo is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo blocks a body shot from Red.
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!
A head punch on the inside from Halo fails to land.
Red lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Halo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Red's elbow.
Red tries to land a knee to the head but Halo blocks with his arms.
Red tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Red manages to break the clinch.
Red throws a sloppy head kick and Halo moves out of range easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Red blocks the leg kick.
Red moves out of range of the strikes.
It looked like Red wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Red tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Halo is able to avoid easily.
Halo throws a head kick but Red moves out of range.
Halo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Red misses with a body kick.
Red is looking to wear down Halo with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Red tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Halo throws a low kick, looking for Red's leg but Red calmly moves out of range.
Red scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Manchester Red will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Halo throws a jab when Red was well out of range.
Red keeps Halo at a distance using the push kick.

Red rushes Halo and presses him up against the ropes.
Halo blocks an elbow strike from Red.
Halo blocking some punches.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Red throws an elbow but misses.
Red misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Halo.
Halo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Red manages to break the clinch.
Halo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Red.
Red walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Halo swats away the attempt to clinch by Red.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halo checks a leg kick.
Halo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Red.
A nice leg kick lands there from Halo.

Halo has managed to clinch.
Halo tries to throw a body punch but Red avoids it by throwing Halo back against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Red misses with a body punch.
Red misses with an elbow strike.
Halo avoiding damage as Red throws knees to the body.
Halo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Red blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right from Halo on the inside.
Red blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Halo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Red tries to land a knee to the head but Halo blocks with his arms.
A body shot lands from Halo.
Halo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Halo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Halo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Halo prevents Red from breaking the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Red creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Red breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Red drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Red tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Halo was well out of range. Poor timing from Red.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Halo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Red showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Halo.
Red defending well as Halo loads up on a big left hand.
A shot to the liver by Red. Beautiful body shot.
Halo cracks Red with a good jab.
Red keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Halo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Red is looking to clinch.
Red throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Halo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Red stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Halo misses with an uppercut. Red saw that one coming.
Red slips a straight right by Halo.
Halo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Red.
Halo throws a low kick but Red moves out of range easily.
Halo just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromRed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xiomar Halo really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Red lands an overhand right.
Red stuns Halo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Red throws a jab but it's blocked by Halo.
Halo looks to land a left hand but Red moved out of range nicely.
Halo misses the jab.
Red is looking to clinch but Halo is avoiding it.
Red fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Red throws the kick towards the body but Halo avoids it.
Red throws a chopping leg kick but Halo manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Red throws a series of punches but Halo moves out of range.
Nice cross by Halo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Red checks a leg kick.
Red throws a predictable looking body shot
and Halo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Red throws out a leg kick but Halo moves out of range and Red only half commits.
Red throws a leg kick
letting Halo counter with a right hand.
Red misses with a wild body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Red throws a head kick that half lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Red throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Red misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Halo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Halo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Halo scores with a nice right hand.
Red slips a jab from Halo.
Red checks a leg kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Halo, as that shot connected.

Red is rocked!
Red throws a sloppy head kick and Halo moves out of range easily.
Halo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Red was well out of range. Poor timing from Halo.

Halo connects with a beautiful left hand that drops Red onto his butt! Red bounces straight back up though - he's OK. After the ref checks him out, we're back to the action.
Oh Red is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Halo cracks Red with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.

Halo scores a flash knockdown with a right hook that drops Red to his hands and knees! The ref pushes Halo away as he looks to land an illegal blow. Red got an extra few seconds to recover there, which could have made all the differences as he stumbles back to his feet. The referee looks into his eyes and decides to allow the bout to continue. Can he survive?!
Red walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Red's elbow.
Red seems to have got his legs back now.
Red tries to land knees in the clinch but Halo avoids the damage to the body.
Halo stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Red looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Red misses with an elbow over the top.
Red blocks a body shot from Halo.
Halo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Red managing to block the knees to the body from Halo.
Halo avoiding damage as Red throws knees to the body.
Halo taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Red is trying to break the clinch but Halo is controlling him.
Halo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Red has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Halo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Reds head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A right hook to the body lands for Halo.
Red lands a nice knee to the body.
Halo managing to block the knees to the body from Red.
Red creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xiomar Halo takes that final round after knocking his opponent down multiple times.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Red throws a right and a left that Halo avoids nicely.
Manchester Red has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Halo ducks under a wild hook from Red.

Red walks into a big right hand from Halo and goes down! The referee sends Halo to a neutral corner as Red gets back to his feet. He looks OK so we're back under way.
Red misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Halo.
Halo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Halo closes the distance and catches Red with a lead hook that drops him to the canvas! Red is clearly dazed and struggling here! 3,4,5,6,7 and Red is up to his feet but the referee has called it off! Red is still far too wobbly and he's not going to allow the fight to continue! Halo takes it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:24 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Xiomar Halo!
Xiomar Halo decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.