PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Tigran Baronian (ranked 6123 p4p, 518 weight class) and Jin Kazama (ranked 5314 p4p, 475 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!

Baronian
vs
Kazama

175 cm
19
160 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

177 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Excellent MT
Very quick

Excellent MT
Very confident

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tigran Baronian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jin Kazama!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Edson Gomes and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kazama throws a head kick but Baronian moves out of range.
Kazama has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Kazama waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Baronian.
Baronian misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kazama.
Kazama wants to clinch up but Baronian keeps it at a distance.
Baronian throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kazama.
Baronian takes a kick to the side of the head.
Baronian on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kazama. Kazama obviously looking to wear him down.
Baronian tries a low kick but Kazama avoids it.
Baronian ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kazama moves away.
Kazama ducks under a wild hook from Baronian.
A decent looking cross lands there for Baronian.

Kazama gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Baronian tries to circle away but Kazama has him pinned against the ropes.
Baronian is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Baronian wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kazama has him pressed against the ropes.
Baronian blocks an uppercut.
Baronian throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kazamas head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazama is working Baronian over against the ropes.
Kazama throws a punch but it's blocked by Baronian.
Kazama misses with some punches.
Kazama is trying to stall.
I was talking to Baronian's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Baronian lands a hook to the side of the head.
Baronian looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Baronian tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right from Baronian on the inside.
Baronian misses with a punch on the inside.
Kazama blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Baronian.
Kazama takes a shot to the head.
Kazama misses with some punches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazama misses with the head strike.
Kazama working aggressively here.
Kazama gets through Baronian's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kazama looking to slow down the pace here.
Baronian wants to stall.
Kazama swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Baronian can't break the clinch.

Baronian breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Baronian takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kazama lands a really nice looking cross but Baronian seems unphased.
Kazama throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Baronian on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Tigran Baronian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kazama throws a nice head kick!
Kazama throws a lazy right hand but Baronian sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
It looked like Baronian was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kazama.
Kazama with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Baronian to score with a decent uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jin Kazama will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fighters circling - Baronian throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kazama blocks a head kick by Baronian.
Kazama throws out a counter right but Baronian avoids it with no problem.
Kazama lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kazama misses with a head kick.
Kazama waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Baronian.
Baronian misses with a looping left.
Kazama throws out a counter right but Baronian avoids it with no problem.
Kazama lands a high kick!
Kazama lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kazama gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kazama lands with a kick to the ribs.
Nice shot lands for Baronian.
Kazama uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Baronian.
Kazama defending well as Baronian loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kazama steps in and throws a big head kick that drops Baronian to the mat! Baronian looks in trouble, can he beat the count? Kazama is bouncing in a neutral corner joining in with the referee '4,5,6' they both chant. 7,8,9... he's not going to make it! 10! He's out! Kazama jumps onto the ropes and takes in the acclaim from the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Head Kick). Jin Kazama!