PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Artem Levin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Basil Hastings (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hastings has chosen React - Not today as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Basil Hastings told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Levin
vs
Hastings

183 cm
25
188 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

181 cm
27
184 lbs
16 - 16 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Artem Levin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Basil Hastings!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Radbod Blank and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hastings throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Levin needs to keep his hands up - Hastings had a free shot at his head there.
Levin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice body kick from Hastings.
Levin checks a low kick from Hastings.
Levin swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Levin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hastings lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Levin takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hastings scores with a nice strike.
Hastings misses with a head kick.
Hastings is looking to land body kicks.
Hastings tries to land a front kick but Levin steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hastings chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hastings ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Levin checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hastings throws a leg kick
and Hastings takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Levin throws a leg kick which misses Hastings's front leg but catches the back leg as Hastings tries to avoid it.
Hastings throws a low kick, looking for Levin's leg but Levin calmly moves out of range.
Hastings lands with a cross.
Hastings misses with a body kick.
Hastings lands a nice looking kick to the body. Levin takes a step back to recover.
Hastings stuns Levin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hastings throws a leg kick
and Levin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hastings lands a leg kick that knocks Levin off balance momentarily.
Hastings throws a leg kick
and Levin counters with a straight right hand.
Hastings connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hastings throws a leg kick that misses.
Levin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hastings lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hastings lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hastings moves out of range of the strikes.
Hastings appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Levin tries to move into range but Hastings moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Levin tries to clinch up.
Hastings throws a front kick aimed at Levin's knee but Levin avoids it well.
Hastings throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Hastings looks to land a body kick but Levin moved away.
Hastings lands with a straight right. Levin didn't see that one coming.
Hastings looks to land a right hand but Levin moved out of range.
Levin moves away from the strike by Hastings.
Levin swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Levin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Levin takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levin takes one to the side of the head.
A low kick from Hastings is predictable there
and Levin counters with a nice leg kick.
Hastings rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Levin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Levin throws a front kick aimed at Hastings's knee but Hastings avoids it well.
Levin avoids the head kick by Hastings.
Hastings throws a hook but Levin avoids it easily.
Basil Hastings seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hastings lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hastings throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Levin throws a quick inside leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hastings.
A solid leg kick lands there for Levin.
Levin scores with a decent looking hook.
A head kick by Hastings misses
and Levin counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Levin scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Levin checks the leg kick nicely there.
Levin thinks about countering with a body kick.
Hastings thows a leg kick but Levin checks it
and Levin counters with a low kick, right behind Hastings 's knee.
Levin connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hastings's hands.
Hastings misses with a body kick.
Hastings tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Levin is able to avoid easily.
Hastings bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Levin's head.
Hastings lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hastings lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hastings getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hastings lands with a nice body punch.
Hastings throws a low kick but it's checked well by Levin.
Levin tried to counter with a leg kick but Hastings avoided it.
Hastings misses with a body shot
and Levin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hastings fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Levin.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hastings. Levin does a little dance to reset his feet.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Levin checks a leg kick.
Levin throws a quick counter kick to the body but Hastings avoids it.
Hastings gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Levin counters with a nice body shot.
A low kick from Hastings is predictable there
and Levin counters with a nice uppercut.
Hastings throws a body kick that misses.
Hastings checks the leg kick.
Hastings changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hastings throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice straight punches there by Levin. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Levin.
Hastings wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A chopping leg kick lands by Levin.
Hastings lands a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Levin checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hastings stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hastings throws a shot to the body.
Levin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hastings throws a head kick that misses
and Levin counters with an inside leg kick.
Hastings's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Levin tries to clinch up.
Hastings scores with a kick to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hastings.
Hastings lands with a shot to the body.
Hastings misses with a leg kick
and Levin makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hastings throws a leg kick but Levin moved away.
Levin avoids the body shot from Hastings.
Hastings misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hastings throws a wild body kick that Levin sees coming a mile off.
Levin was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nice shot lands for Hastings.
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 kick misses from Hastings.
It looked like Levin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Levin throws out a leg kick but Hastings moves out of range and Levin only half commits.
Levin walks into a jab.
Hastings lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hastings throws a low kick but it's checked well by Levin.
Hastings throws a low kick but it's checked well by Levin.
Levin ducks under a wild hook from Hastings.
Hastings swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hastings moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Hastings lands a head shot.
Levin tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Hastings manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levin tries to clinch there but Hastings circles away.
Levin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hastings misses the shot to the body.
Hastings lands with a nice body punch.
Hastings throws a push kick but Levin slaps the foot to one side.
Levin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hastings ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Levin throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hastings throws a nice outside leg kick.
Levin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hastings.
Hastings misses the jab.
Hastings lands a jab to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hastings throws a good cross that connects.
Hastings throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hastings thows a left - swing and a miss!
Levin appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Hastings lands a nice looking body kick.
Hastings misses with a looping left.
Levin misses with a wild body shot.
Hastings scores with a head kick. Levin tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Levin throws a leg kick but Hastings sees it coming and moves out of range.
Levin takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Levin scoring well with a low kick there.
Hastings throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Levin tries to clinch there but Hastings circles away.
A telegraphed right hand from Hastings misses the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Basil Hastings showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Levin looks to land a right hand but Hastings moved out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Levin.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hastings.
Hastings with a nice cross.
Hastings misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Levin.
Levin half committed to a counter leg kick.
Hastings throws a solid leg kick but Levin takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hastings.
Hastings misses with a low kick.
Hastings throws an off balance right hand
and Levin makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Hastings as he connects with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A solid leg kick lands there for Levin.
Levin throws a shot to the body.
Hastings gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Levin.
Hastings is looking to chop away at Levin's legs.
A little feinted left hand from Levin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hastings walks into a jab.
Hastings lands with a nice body punch.
Levin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hastings.
Levin looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hastings tries to move into range but Levin moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Levin drives through and clinches with Hastings against the ropes.
Levin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Levin blocking some punches.
Hastings misses with some punches.
Hastings dodges an elbow strike from Levin.
Levin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hastings avoids it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hastings.
Levin working aggressively here.
Levin missing with knees to the body.
Hastings lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hastings blocks an elbow strike from Levin.
Artem Levin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hastings goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hastings tries a body shot but Levin blocks it.
Hastings lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
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!
Hastings tries to work over Levin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hastings doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Hastings breaks the clinch.
A head kick by Hastings misses
and Levin counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Hastings throws a head kick but Levin moves out of range.
Hastings falls off balance throwing a combination
and Levin counters with a low kick, right behind Hastings 's knee.
A slapping body kick lands there for Hastings.
Hastings misses with a looping right.
Hastings scores with a hook to the body. Levin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Levin shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hastings throws a poor cross that misses
and Levin counters with a left to the body.
Hastings swings for the body but Levin moves out of range.
Levin appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Levin tries to clinch up.
Hastings scores with a head kick. Levin tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Hastings fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hastings throws a body punch but Levin moves out of range.
Levin bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hastings's head backwards.
Levin checks a low kick from Hastings.
Hastings finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hastings misses with a hook. Levin ducked under it nicely.
Levin checks a low kick from Hastings.
Hastings lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Basil Hastings seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hastings scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hastings fails to land with a series of punches.
It looked like Levin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Levin tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hastings is able to avoid easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hastings throws a head kick but Levin moves out of range.
Levin was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Levin wants to clinch.
Hastings now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Levin misses with a straight right.
Hastings thuds his right hand into Levin's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hastings misses with a shot to the body
letting Levin counter with a right hand.
Hastings swings for the body but Levin moves out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Hastings. That snapped Levin's head back.
Hastings lunges at Levin with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Levin's hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Basil Hastings comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hastings 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30

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