PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Papa John (ranked 4336 p4p, 331 weight class) and Kassim Suluhu (ranked 6854 p4p, 406 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.

John
vs
Suluhu

170 cm
27
140 lbs
6 - 9 - 1

165 cm
29
145 lbs
12 - 17 - 1

Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Papa John!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kassim Suluhu!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Thiago Cunha and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

John fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Suluhu, pushing him back against the ropes.
John lands a knee to the head.
John prevents Suluhu from breaking the clinch.

Suluhu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
John takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Suluhu throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and John counters with a right hand to the body.
Suluhu gets off balance looking for a body kick
and John counters with a left to the body.

John gets a clinch.
Suluhu is trying to push John away but John has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
John has Suluhu pressed against the ropes, preventing Suluhu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
John creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Suluhu's defenses.
John is trying to stall.
John lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
John tries a knee to the head but Suluhu blocks it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Suluhu wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
John taking a breather.
John is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Suluhu is keeping busy.
Suluhu is looking to break free of the clinch but John has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John misses with a body punch.
Suluhu takes an elbow to the temple.
John tries to land knees in the clinch but Suluhu avoids the damage to the body.

Suluhu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Suluhu misses with a kick to the body.
Some wild striking there from John.
John lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Papa John is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Suluhu tries to land a front kick but John steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Suluhu finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Suluhu moves forwards but John connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Suluhu throws a body punch but John moves out of range.
John throws a sloppy head kick and Suluhu moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
John throws a head kick that misses
and Suluhu counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
John moves out of range as Suluhu throws a body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A decent looking cross lands there for Suluhu.
Suluhu lands a straight punch to the body, keeping John at a distance.
John swings for the body but Suluhu moves out of range.
Suluhu let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Suluhu jabs at John's body.
Suluhu is looking to land body kicks.
Suluhu throws a push kick but John slaps the foot to one side.
John wants to clinch.
Suluhu looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Suluhu pivots, looking for a leg kick but John is out of range and Suluhu settles back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Papa John dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Suluhu lands a nice looking body kick.
John throws a right and a left that both miss.
Suluhu looks for the body kick but John saw that one coming.

John rushes Suluhu and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Suluhu tries to circle away but John has him pinned against the ropes.
Our sources have told us that John has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Suluhu working hard to break the clinch.

Suluhu breaks the clinch.
John tries to clinch but Suluhu moves out of range.
John fails in his attempt to clinch.

John closes the distance and pushes Suluhu back into the ropes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Suluhu is trying to break free.
Suluhu is trying to break free.
John using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Suluhu wants to break free but John has control.
Suluhu wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
John throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Suluhu blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from John.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Suluhu as John tries to tie him up.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Suluhu prevents a body shot from John.
Suluhu tries to break the clinch but John is controlling the position.
John misses with some punches.
John misses with a hook to the ribs.

Suluhu breaks the clinch.
John checks a low kick from Suluhu.
As Suluhu looks to move away, John throws a big counter combo but Suluhu just gets out of the way.
Suluhu throws a shot to the body.
Suluhu pushes John away with a front kick.
Kassim Suluhu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Suluhu looks to land a left hand but John moved out of range nicely.
Papa John is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
John misses the shot to the body.
A shot to the liver by Suluhu. Beautiful body shot.
John wants to clinch up but Suluhu keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Suluhu lands a nice shot to the body.
Suluhu swings away with a body shot that misses
and John counters with a series of strikes. Suluhu will be more careful next time no doubt.

John takes the fight into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Suluhu takes an elbow to the forehead.
John using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Suluhu has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.

Suluhu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
John is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Suluhu can do to turn this around?

John clinches up against the ropes.
John keeps control of Suluhu as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
John tries to land a knee to the head but Suluhu blocks with his arms.
John throws a knee to the head but misses.
Papa John has scored more points in the clinch so far.
John keeps control of Suluhu as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Papa John dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Suluhu throws the kick towards the body but John avoids it.
John swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Suluhu.
Suluhu circles away from the clinch attempt
and Suluhu counters with a nice body shot.
John is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Suluhu is trying to counter with his kicks.
John looks to throw the jab but Suluhu is out of range.
Suluhu keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - John looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Suluhu appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
We've been informed that Suluhu has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Suluhu lands a front kick.
Suluhu is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down John rather than just go for the knockout.
John thumps Suluhu with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - John looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Suluhu throws the kick towards the body but John avoids it.
Suluhu lands with a kick to the ribs.
A big left from John misses.
Suluhu punishes John's body with a nice straight punch.
Suluhu misses with a body shot
and John makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
John misses with a leg kick
and Suluhu counters with a leg kick.
Suluhu connects with an inside leg kick.
Suluhu gets off balance looking for a body kick
and John counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
John blocks the body kick.
John thinks about countering with a head kick.
John takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
John tries to clinch there but Suluhu circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Suluhu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
John moves in looking to clinch but Suluhu pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - John looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Good leg kick by Suluhu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Papa John is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
John wants to clinch.
John avoids the body shot from Suluhu.
Suluhu connects with a body shot.
John scores with a head kick. Suluhu tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kassim Suluhu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John tries to clinch up.
Suluhu thinks about the counter body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kassim Suluhu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think John 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Papa John!