PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Damjan Hrvatin (ranked 4425 p4p, 454 weight class) and Anatoly Lazarev (ranked 7677 p4p, 599 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.

Hrvatin
vs
Lazarev

222 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

160 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Excellent MT
Cuts easily

Great elbows
Heavy handed

Annihilation Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Damjan Hrvatin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Anatoly Lazarev!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Colin Fotheringham and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hrvatin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Lazarev gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Lazarev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lazarev throws a nice outside leg kick.

Lazarev gets a clinch.

Hrvatin breaks from the clinch.
Hrvatin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lazarev doesn't manage to clinch there - Hrvatin circles away.
Hrvatin throws a big counter combination but Lazarev scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Lazarev tries to close the distance and clinch but Hrvatin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
As Lazarev tries to get set, Hrvatin tries to push him back and clinch up but Lazarev manages to avoid the attempt.
Lazarev tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hrvatin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hrvatin drives through and clinches with Lazarev against the ropes.

Hrvatin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Lazarev forces Hrvatin back against the ropes and clinches.
Lazarev looking to slow down the pace here.

Hrvatin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hrvatin misses with the combination.
Lazarev is looking to clinch but Hrvatin is avoiding it.
Hrvatin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lazarev ducks under a wild hook from Hrvatin.
Lazarev throws a series of punches but Hrvatin moves out of range.
Hrvatin appears to be looking for a big counter.
Hrvatin tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Lazarev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Despite the aggression on Lazarev's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Lazarev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lazarev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lazarev tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Hrvatin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hrvatin pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hrvatin tries to bum rush Lazarev with a series of wild strikes but Lazarev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hrvatin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lazarev is looking to clinch.

Lazarev instigates a clinch.

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

Lazarev tries to keep at a distance but Hrvatin has taken the fight into the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Lazarev just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hrvatin's brow.
Hrvatin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lazarev working hard to break the clinch.
Lazarev just leaning against Hrvatin, taking a breather.

Hrvatin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lazarev throws a big shot that misses.
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!
Hrvatin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lazarev wants to counter the offense by Hrvatin and move into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lazarev throws a head kick that misses.

Lazarev gets a clinch.

Hrvatin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Damjan Hrvatin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lazarev throws a combination that misses
and Hrvatin counters with a right hand to the body.

Hrvatin rushes Lazarev and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Hrvatin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Lazarev is trying to break the clinch but Hrvatin is controlling him.

Lazarev breaks from the clinch.
Hrvatin scores with a body shot.
Lazarev tries to land a front kick but Hrvatin steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lazarev wants to clinch up but Hrvatin keeps it at a distance.
Lazarev doesn't manage to clinch there - Hrvatin circles away.
Hrvatin went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Damjan Hrvatin is winning the standup battle so far.

Hrvatin drives through and clinches with Lazarev against the ropes.
Lazarev should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Hrvatin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hrvatin lands a nice shot that snaps Lazarev's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hrvatin throws a combination that misses
and Lazarev counters with a two punch combo.
Lazarev thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lazarev explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Hrvatin pushes Lazarev up against the ropes in a clinch.

Hrvatin breaks the clinch.
A combination from Lazarev does no damage.

Lazarev moves into the clinch.
Hrvatin is trying to force a seperation but Lazarev has the dominant position.
Hrvatin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Hrvatin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Hrvatin clinches with his opponent.

Hrvatin breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hrvatin tries to clinch but Lazarev is having none of it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lazarev lands a left hand.
Hrvatin keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lazarev's efforts to push away.
Hrvatin is trying to push Lazarev away but Lazarev has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

Hrvatin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Hrvatin has Lazarev up against the ropes in a clinch.
Hrvatin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lazarev avoids it.

Lazarev manages to break the clinch.

Lazarev has Hrvatin up against the ropes in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Anatoly Lazarev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hrvatin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Lazarev blocking some punches.
Hrvatin gets through Lazarev's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hrvatin trying to control the position but instead, Lazarev has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hrvatin into the ropes.
Lazarev is trying to break free.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lazarev keeps control of Hrvatin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Hrvatin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hrvatin misses with a straight left.
Hrvatin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hrvatin throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hrvatin throws a right and a left that Lazarev avoids nicely.
Lazarev moves in looking to clinch but Hrvatin pushes him off.
Hrvatin tries to clinch up but Lazarev circles away and keeps his distance.
Lazarev misses with a body shot.
Lazarev wants to clinch.

Lazarev has managed to clinch.
Lazarev is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hrvatin is defending well for now.
Hrvatin tries to break free but Lazarev pushes him back against the ropes.
Lazarev has Hrvatin pressed against the ropes, preventing Hrvatin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lazarev stalling in the clinch but Hrvatin improves position.
Lazarev is pushing Hrvatin up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hrvatin controlling the action here for a moment.
Hrvatin pressing his opponent against the ropes.

Lazarev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lazarev gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lazarev tries to clinch up but Hrvatin circles away and keeps his distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damjan Hrvatin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hrvatin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damjan Hrvatin!