PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Yevgen Maartins (ranked 5335 p4p, 476 weight class) and Luke Venderag (ranked 4849 p4p, 451 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maartins
vs
Venderag

180 cm
27
192 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

181 cm
24
184 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

World class MT
Cardio machine

World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yevgen Maartins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luke Venderag!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Nard Betker and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maartins tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Venderag throws a counter combo.
Venderag tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Venderag changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Venderag fakes the leg kick and cracks Maartins in the body.
Maartins throws a leg kick but Venderag moved away.
A countering left hand to the body from Venderag misses.
Maartins looks to score with a jab to the body but Venderag is just out of range.
Venderag swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Maartins looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Venderag takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Maartins misses with a leg kick
and Venderag counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Maartins throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
As Maartins backs off Venderag throws a huge counter combo but Maartins manages to avoid it all.
Maartins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Venderag is looking for the big counter here.
Maartins takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Maartins scores with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maartins misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maartins misses with a head kick.
A little jabbing left from Venderag on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Maartins blocks a head kick by Venderag.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Venderag ducks under a wild hook from Maartins.
Maartins on the wrong end of a nice jab.

It looks like Yevgen Maartins has been cut.
Maartins tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice defenses there by Maartins.
Maartins tried to counter with a leg kick but Venderag avoided it.
Maartins misses with a left hand
and Venderag counters with a straight right hand.
Maartins scores with a crisp jab that stopped Venderag in his tracks.
Maartins moves to clinch but Venderag breaks away
and Maartins takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A head kick by Maartins misses

and Venderag counters with a nice uppercut that drops Maartins onto his backside! Maartins bounces straight back to his feet before we have a chance to even start the count. He'll get the standing 8 count anyway before we get back underway.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maartins moves out of range as Venderag throws a body kick.
Maartins missing with a left hand there. Venderag was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Maartins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Venderag moves away.
Venderag with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Maartins to score with a decent uppercut.
Maartins pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Venderag shapes to counter with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Venderag blocks a jab.
Maartins throws a sloppy head kick and Venderag moves out of range easily.
Venderag takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Maartins throws a sloppy head kick and Venderag moves out of range easily.
Maartins throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Venderag counters with a nice low kick that buckles Maartins's knee momentarily.
Venderag has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Venderag defending well as Maartins loads up on a big left hand.
It seemed like Venderag was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Venderag misses with a few strikes there.
Maartins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Venderag.
Venderag lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Venderag's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Venderag duly obliges.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A low kick from Maartins misses

and Venderag counters with a lead uppercut that lands right on the button! Maartins goes down! Will Maartins beat the count? 3,4,5 - he's up! No problem. Let's get back to the action!

Maartins is rocked!
Maartins connects with a leg kick. Venderag looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Oh Maartins is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Venderag checks a low kick from Maartins.
Maartins seems to have got his legs back now.
Maartins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Venderag will get the nod in that round, having scored multiple knockdowns.
The cut man is working on Yevgen Maartins's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maartins tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Venderag moves out of range of the strikes.
A jab from Maartins finds it's way through Venderag's defenses.
Maartins is looking to chop away at Venderag's legs.
Maartins throws a leg kick but Venderag sees it coming and moves out of range.
Maartins throws a body punch but Venderag moves out of range.
A jab from Maartins misses.
Venderag now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Luke Venderag seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maartins swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A nice side step and Venderag releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Maartins feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Venderag's calf.
Yevgen Maartins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maartins throws a body punch but Venderag moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Venderag lands a nice looking body shot.
Maartins connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Venderag's hands.
Maartins scores with a leg kick.
Maartins misses with a body punch
and Venderag counters with a nice uppercut.
Maartins loads up on a big right hand but Venderag slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maartins throws a low kick, looking for Venderag's leg but Venderag calmly moves out of range.
Maartins misses with a leg kick.
Maartins misses with a kick to the body.
A head kick by Maartins misses
and Venderag counters with a straight right hand.
Maartins throws a head kick but Venderag moves out of range.
Venderag appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Venderag uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maartins.
Nice body kick there by Maartins.
Maartins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Venderag keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Maartins misses with a head kick.
Maartins throws a big shot that misses.

Maartins instigates a clinch.
Maartins looking to slow down the pace here.
Venderag lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Venderag scores with a nice short uppercut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A body shot lands from Venderag.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maartins tries to land knees in the clinch but Venderag avoids the damage to the body.
Venderag looking to throw knees to the head but Maartins is blocking nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A right hook to the body lands for Venderag.
Venderag lands a body shot in the clinch.
Maartins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Venderag.
Venderag works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Venderag lands a knee to the head.
Venderag presses Maartins against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Venderag lands a body punch.
Venderag is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Venderag pushes Maartins back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Venderag lands a body punch.
Nice body punch from Venderag - that landed with a thud.
Venderag has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Venderag softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Maartins struggles to land a body shot inside as Venderag controls his hands.
Luke Venderag seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A nice right hand lands inside from Venderag.
Venderag prevents a body shot from Maartins.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Luke Venderag will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Yevgen Maartins's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Maartins misses with a wild body shot.

Maartins ducks into a a hook from Venderag and goes down! He looks in a bit of a mess; will he beat the count?! 4,5,6,7,8 - he's up and looking to carry on! The referee looks into his eyes and sees that he's OK to continue!
Venderag throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
A telegraphed right hand from Maartins misses the target.
Venderag displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maartins throws out the jab.
Venderag let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Maartins takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
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!
Venderag looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Yevgen Maartins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Venderag closes the distance and catches Maartins with a lead hook that drops him to the canvas! Maartins is clearly dazed and struggling here! 3,4,5,6,7 and Maartins is up to his feet but the referee has called it off! Maartins is still far too wobbly and he's not going to allow the fight to continue! Venderag takes it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Luke Venderag!
An out of breath Luke Venderag thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.