PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Hristo Mihailov (ranked 2270 p4p, 249 weight class) and Dhabu Vihdonic (ranked 7130 p4p, 465 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Mihailov
vs
Vihdonic

193 cm
26
265 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

198 cm
21
260 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Excellent boxer
Very quick

Great elbows
Heavy handed

Vegan Gains
Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hristo Mihailov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dhabu Vihdonic!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Atkins and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vihdonic tests Mihailov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Vihdonic fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mihailov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Mihailov throws a right hand that Vihdonic ducks under and follows up with a left that Vihdonic also avoids with ease.
Vihdonic jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mihailov misses with a wild combination.
Vihdonic only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Vihdonic checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Mihailov lands a glancing blow to the side of Vihdonic's head.

It looks like Dhabu Vihdonic has been cut.
Mihailov on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A jab from Mihailov misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Vihdonic! But no joy.

Vihdonic darts in and clinches Mihailov up against the ropes.
Mihailov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Vihdonic is keeping busy.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Vihdonic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Vihdonic fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mihailov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mihailov connects with a crisp jab.
Mihailov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Vihdonic connects with a leg kick. Mihailov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Vihdonic misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mihailov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Vihdonic throws a right and a left that Mihailov avoids nicely.
Vihdonic avoids a kick to the body.
Vihdonic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mihailov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Vihdonic.
Vihdonic connects with a looping right hand.
Mihailov falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Vihdonic counter with a right hand.
Mihailov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Vihdonic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mihailov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Vihdonic's jab looks to have found its range, popping Mihailov under the eye.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vihdonic feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mihailov's calf.

Mihailov pushes Vihdonic up against the ropes in a clinch.
Mihailov is trying to break the clinch but Vihdonic is controlling him.
Vihdonic tries to work over Mihailov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vihdonic scores with a crisp jab that stopped Mihailov in his tracks.
Vihdonic throws a head kick that misses.
Mihailov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Vihdonic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mihailov swinging wildly here.
Mihailov throws a body kick that misses.
Vihdonic lands with a shot to the body.
Vihdonic throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Mihailov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Vihdonic can pounce on him.
A big left from Mihailov misses.
Vihdonic works over Mihailov's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Hristo Mihailov has been cut.
Vihdonic lands a jab to the nose.
Vihdonic scoring well with a low kick there.
Mihailov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vihdonic.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mihailov works over Vihdonic's head and body with a nice combination.
Mihailov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Vihdonic scores with a decent looking hook.
Mihailov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dhabu Vihdonic dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Vihdonic looks to land a body kick but Mihailov moved away.
Mihailov misses with a two punch combination.
Vihdonic has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Hristo Mihailov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mihailov tries to bum rush Vihdonic with a series of wild strikes but Vihdonic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mihailov tries to bum rush Vihdonic with a series of wild strikes but Vihdonic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vihdonic slips under a jab.
Mihailov looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Mihailov misses with a wild combination.
Vihdonic lands with a slapping head kick.
Mihailov wants to clinch.
Mihailov tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Vihdonic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vihdonic stuns Mihailov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Good leg kick by Vihdonic there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Mihailov moves in looking to clinch but Vihdonic pushes him off.
Vihdonic lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vihdonic swats away the attempt to clinch by Mihailov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vihdonic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Vihdonic misses the jab.
Vihdonic looks to land a combination but Mihailov avoids it well.
Vihdonic scores with a leg kick.
Vihdonic scores with a shot to the body.
Vihdonic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Vihdonic moves into the clinch.
Mihailov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vihdonic is defending well for now.
Mihailov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Vihdonic lands a body shot in the clinch.
Mihailov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Vihdonic keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mihailov's efforts to push away.
Mihailov prevents a body shot from Vihdonic.
Vihdonic lands with a light punch inside.
Mihailov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Vihdonic tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mihailov's elbow.
Vihdonic has Mihailov pressed against the ropes, preventing Mihailov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Vihdonic lands an elbow just above Mihailov 's eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vihdonic gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mihailov working hard to break the clinch.
Vihdonic is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Mihailov takes a shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vihdonic keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mihailov's efforts to push away.
Vihdonic is trying to stall.
Vihdonic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mihailov is looking to break free of the clinch but Vihdonic has double underhooks.
Mihailov has had enough of the clinch but Vihdonic keeps him there for the moment.
Mihailov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vihdonic lands an uppercut.
Mihailov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Vihdonic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vihdonic moves into range and connects with a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dhabu Vihdonic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Vihdonic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mihailov looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Mihailov throws out a head kick that Vihdonic doesn't see coming - it connects and sends Vihdonic crashing to the mat face first! He's bounced up to his knees and is scrambling to get back to his feet and beat the count. He's up on 5 but still looks a bit groggy; will the referee allow it to continue??? He's taking a good look into Vihdonic's eyes and has decided to let it go on!
Vihdonic is looking to slow Mihailov down with leg kicks.
Mihailov misses with a combination
enabling Vihdonic to counter with a crisp jab.
Mihailov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mihailov throws a right and a left that Vihdonic avoids nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vihdonic pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vihdonic moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Vihdonic lands a lovely overhand right.
Vihdonic with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Mihailov tries to bum rush Vihdonic with a series of wild strikes but Vihdonic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vihdonic looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Mihailov tries to close the distance and clinch but Vihdonic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Mihailov tries to keep at a distance but Vihdonic has taken the fight into the clinch.
Vihdonic has Mihailov pressed against the ropes, preventing Mihailov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Vihdonic prevents Mihailov from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vihdonic comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Vihdonic.
Mihailov's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Vihdonic stalling in the clinch but Mihailov improves position.
Mihailov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mihailov takes a shot to the head.

Vihdonic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vihdonic checks a low kick from Mihailov.
A decent looking cross lands there for Vihdonic.
Vihdonic uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Vihdonic cracks Mihailov with a left hand that drops him to the canvas, up against the ropes! Can Mihailov get back up in time? 3, 4, 5, 6, 7... he's on one knee... 8, 9... he's up! 'Walk towards me' says the referee. Mihailov looks steady enough to continue so we're going to continue!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Vihdonic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mihailov, pushing him back against the ropes.

Vihdonic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mihailov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Vihdonic listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sloppy strikes from Mihailov. Those never looked like landing.
Mihailov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vihdonic swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mihailov.
Vihdonic lands with a hook. Mihailov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Vihdonic.
Vihdonic cracks Mihailov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.

Mihailov is rocked!
Mihailov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Oh Mihailov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ohhhhhhhhhh, brutal head kick from Vihdonic! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Dhabu Vihdonic!
Dhabu Vihdonic decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.