PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Matel Huchkov (ranked 2920 p4p, 146 weight class) and Russian Zombie (ranked 2204 p4p, 106 weight class). 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.

Huchkov
vs
Zombie

170 cm
31
143 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

167 cm
35
148 lbs
25 - 17 - 1

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matel Huchkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Russian Zombie!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zombie throws out a loose jab but Huchkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Huchkov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Zombie throws a lazy uppercut
and Huchkov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Huchkov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zombie. Zombie obviously looking to wear him down.
Huchkov ducks under a wild hook from Zombie.
Zombie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A head kick misses from Huchkov.
Huchkov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Zombie bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Zombie just misses with a punch to the body.
Russian Zombie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Huchkov throws a body punch but Zombie moves out of range.
Huchkov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zombie lands a nice hook to Huchkov's body. Huchkov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Huchkov throws a head kick that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zombie scores with a crisp jab that stopped Huchkov in his tracks.
The fighters circling - Zombie throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Huchkov takes the fight into the clinch.

Zombie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jab, jab by Zombie - just one landing.
A cross from Zombie lands.
Huchkov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zombie.
Huchkov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Huchkov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Huchkov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Zombie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Huchkov manages to avoid it.
Zombie staying out of range there.
Zombie fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Zombie misses with a hook. Huchkov ducked under it nicely.
Huchkov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zombie.
Zombie connects with an inside leg kick.
Zombie turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Huchkov checks a leg kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zombie misses with a hook

and Huchkov counters by moving into the clinch.
Zombie looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Zombie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zombie throws a sloppy body shot
and Huchkov counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Huchkov pushes Zombie up against the ropes in a clinch.
Zombie misses with a hook to the ribs.
Huchkov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Huchkov.
Still in the clinch, Zombie scores with a nice short uppercut.
Zombie keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Huchkov's efforts to push away.
Huchkov prevents a body shot from Zombie.
Zombie blocks a body shot from Huchkov.
Huchkov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Huchkov has a couple of punches blocked by Zombie.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Huchkov manages to break the clinch.
Huchkov misses with an uppercut. Zombie saw that one coming.
Huchkov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Zombie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Huchkov moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Russian Zombie will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zombie throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Huchkov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Huchkov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Huchkov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zombie throws a hook to the side of Huchkov's head but Huchkov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Huchkov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zombie.
Huchkov tries to counter by clinching up but Zombie breaks away and moves out of range.

Huchkov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zombie, pushing him back against the ropes.
Huchkov lands with a light punch inside.

Zombie pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zombie bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Huchkov's head.
Zombie throws a nice outside leg kick.
Huchkov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zombie lands with an overhand left.
Huchkov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zombie.
Zombie bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Huchkov's head backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Huchkov darts in and clinches Zombie up against the ropes.
Zombie doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Huchkov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zombie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Huchkov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Huchkov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A short right from Zombie on the inside.
Huchkov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Zombie backwards.
Zombie tries to throw a body punch but Huchkov avoids it by throwing Zombie back against the ropes.
Zombie throws a head punch that misses.
Huchkov struggles to land a body shot inside as Zombie controls his hands.
Huchkov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zombie is defending well for now.
Huchkov scores with a shoulder strike.
Zombie working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Zombie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Huchkov tries to clinch but Zombie moves out of range.
Huchkov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Huchkov is looking to chop away at Zombie's legs.
Zombie connects with a solid leg kick.
Zombie lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Zombie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A jab from Zombie misses.
Zombie wants to land a leg kick but Huchkov is out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Huchkov misses the target.
Zombie fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Huchkov is out of range.
Zombie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Huchkov was well out of range. Poor timing from Zombie.
Huchkov throws a big counter combination but Zombie scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Huchkov has closed the distance and engaged Zombie in a clinch.
A short right from Huchkov.

Huchkov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Huchkov misses with a hook. Zombie ducked under it nicely.
A nice leg kick lands there from Zombie.
An inside leg kick lands from Zombie.
Huchkov tries to clinch up but Zombie circles away and keeps his distance.
Huchkov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zombie connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zombie. Huchkov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Huchkov doesn't manage to clinch there - Zombie circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zombie! But no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russian Zombie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Decent striking displayed by Zombie there.
Huchkov tries to clinch up.
The crowd cheers as Zombie lands an impressive looking overhand right. Huchkov doesn't seem phased though.
Huchkov throws a sloppy head kick and Zombie moves out of range easily.
Huchkov is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Zombie throws a leg kick which misses Huchkov's front leg but catches the back leg as Huchkov tries to avoid it.
Huchkov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A good leg kick by Zombie.
Zombie misses with a body shot
and Huchkov counters with a right hand to the body.
Huchkov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Huchkov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Huchkov throws a jab when Zombie was well out of range.
Huchkov moves out of range of the strikes.
Zombie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Huchkov misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zombie throws a looping overhand right but Huchkov ducks down to avoid it.
Zombie takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Huchkov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zombie now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Zombie throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Huchkov to counter with a crisp jab.
Zombie lands an overhand right.
Huchkov slips under a jab from Zombie.
Huchkov appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Huchkov moves in looking to clinch but Zombie pushes him off.
Zombie ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Huchkov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Huchkov throws a looping overhand right but Zombie ducks down to avoid it.

Huchkov has closed the distance and engaged Zombie in a clinch.
Huchkov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Zombie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Huchkov moves out of range as Zombie strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Huchkov.
Zombie dips to his left and cracks Huchkov with an uppercut!
Zombie throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Huchkov throws a big counter combination but Zombie scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Zombie is looking to slow Huchkov down with leg kicks.
Zombie moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Zombie lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Zombie scores with a sloppy right hand. Huchkov should have avoided that one.
Huchkov tries to clinch there but Zombie circles away.
Huchkov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Zombie turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Zombie misses with a looping right.
A shot to the body from Zombie misses
and Huchkov counters with a nice body shot.
Zombie moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zombie clobbers Huchkov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russian Zombie really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Huchkov walks into a stiff left hand from Zombie.
Zombie scores with a jab to the body.
Russian Zombie seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zombie misses with an uppercut.
Zombie fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Huchkov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Huchkov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Zombie lands a jab to Huchkov's midsection.
Zombie fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Huchkov checks it well.
Huchkov wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Zombie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zombie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Huchkov walks into a stiff left hand from Zombie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Huchkov just misses with a punch to the body.
Zombie lands with a straight right. Huchkov didn't see that one coming.
Zombie misses with a straight right.
Huchkov is looking to clinch.
Zombie throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huchkov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Huchkov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Zombie takes a swing at Huchkov's ribcage but misses.
Huchkov is looking to counter punch.
Zombie throws a looping overhand right but Huchkov ducks down to avoid it.
Huchkov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Huchkov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zombie was well out of range. Poor timing from Huchkov.
Huchkov tries to clinch but Zombie moves out of range.
Huchkov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zombie.
Zombie throws a jab when Huchkov was well out of range.
Huchkov is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Zombie.
Nice uppercut lands for Zombie. That snapped Huchkov's head back.
Huchkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zombie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zombie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Huchkov manages to avoid it.
Zombie misses with a wild body shot.
Huchkov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Zombie throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zombie pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zombie misses with a leg kick
and Huchkov counters with a stiff right hand.
Huchkov tries to clinch up but Zombie circles away and keeps his distance.
A big left from Zombie misses.
Zombie swings widly with a right hand
and Huchkov counters with a straight right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zombie slips under a jab.
Huchkov wants to clinch up but Zombie keeps it at a distance.
Zombie lands a nice looking body shot.
Zombie connects with a good right hand that stumbles Huchkov. Huchkov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Zombie looks to land a left hand but Huchkov moved out of range nicely.

Huchkov gets a clinch.

Zombie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zombie throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
It looked like Huchkov was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Zombie.
Huchkov throws a hook but Zombie avoids it easily.
Huchkov throws a sloppy head kick
and Zombie counters with a low kick, right behind Huchkov 's knee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russian Zombie dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Huchkov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Huchkov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zombie, pushing him back against the ropes.
Huchkov has a couple of punches blocked by Zombie.
Zombie prevents a body shot from Huchkov.
Zombie lands with a right to the head.

Zombie breaks the clinch.
Zombie buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zombie.
Zombie scores with a nice head shot.
Huchkov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Zombie misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Huchkov cracks Zombie with a right hand to the side of the head.
Zombie looks to score with a jab to the body but Huchkov is just out of range.
Zombie swings for the body but Huchkov moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Zombie throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Huchkov darts in and clinches Zombie up against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Huchkov.
Huchkov looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Huchkov wants to stall.
Huchkov misses with a punch on the inside.
Zombie misses with the head strike.
Zombie tries to break the clinch but Huchkov is controlling the position.
Huchkov tries to land knees in the clinch but Zombie avoids the damage to the body.
Zombie blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Huchkov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Huchkov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Huchkov tries to close the distance and clinch but Zombie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zombie throws a low kick, looking for Huchkov's leg but Huchkov calmly moves out of range.

Huchkov instigates a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zombie.

Huchkov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zombie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Huchkov.
Matel Huchkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Huchkov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zombie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huchkov wants to clinch
and Zombie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Huchkov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zombie works Huchkov's body with a nice hook.
Some bone on bone action there as Huchkov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Huchkov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zombie.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Huchkov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zombie.
Zombie moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Huchkov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Zombie connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Huchkov scrambles back to his feet.
Zombie throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Zombie throws a body shot but no joy.
Huchkov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Zombie.
Huchkov moves away from the strike by Zombie.
Zombie lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
Russian Zombie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zombie 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 45:50
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 45:50
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 46:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russian Zombie!
During a confident post fight interview, Russian Zombie thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.