PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Toktogulovich Bakiyev (ranked 1938 p4p, 199 weight class) and Michael MP (ranked 3099 p4p, 289 weight class). MP has chosen Whitesnake - Is This Love? as his entrance music. Michael MP is staring across the ring at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Bakiyev
vs
MP

171 cm
42
163 lbs
31 - 38 - 1

205 cm
28
274 lbs
12 - 15 - 0

Excellent boxer
Experienced

Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 31 - 38 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Toktogulovich Bakiyev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael MP!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bakiyev throws a body shot but no joy.
A jab from Bakiyev misses.
MP misses with a series of wild punches.
MP looks to land a combination but Bakiyev avoids it well.
Bakiyev moves out of range of the strikes.
MP swinging wildly here.
Bakiyev avoids the head kick by MP.
Bakiyev misses with a body shot.
Bakiyev lands a slapping body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bakiyev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from MP.
No joy there for MP, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
MP throws a series of punches but Bakiyev moves out of range.
Bakiyev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but MP manages to avoid it.
Bakiyev missing with a left hand there. MP was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bakiyev misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MP lands a head kick. Bakiyev smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Bakiyev lands a jab to MP's midsection.
Bakiyev throws a body punch but MP moves out of range.
Bakiyev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but MP moves away.
Michael MP seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
MP throws a head kick but Bakiyev moves out of range.
Bakiyev was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
MP throws a front kick that sends Bakiyev stumbling back into the ropes.
Bakiyev throws a body punch but MP moves out of range.
MP throws a nice head kick!
A looping hook to the body misses from Bakiyev. MP does a little dance to reset his feet.
Despite the aggression on MP's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Bakiyev throws the left hand but MP avoids the punch easily.
MP avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Toktogulovich Bakiyev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bakiyev ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
MP misses with a few strikes there.
Bakiyev looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
MP tries a head kick but it misses.
Bakiyev throws a body punch but MP moves out of range.
MP has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bakiyev connects with a body shot.
MP slips a jab from Bakiyev.
MP throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A jab from MP finds it's way through Bakiyev's defenses.
Bakiyev misses with a body shot.
MP misses with a wild combination.
MP rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bakiyev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bakiyev looks to score with a jab to the body but MP is just out of range.
MP swinging wildly here.
MP steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bakiyev.
MP takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
MP misses with a straight right.
MP misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael MP dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bakiyev takes a swing at MP's ribcage but misses.
Bakiyev throws a good cross that connects.
MP ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bakiyev moves away.
Bakiyev is really struggling to find his range with his punches. MP's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
MP blocks a jab.
MP is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
MP falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bakiyev counters with a left to the body.
Michael MP seems to be getting the better of the standup.
MP misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bakiyev misses with a telegraphed body shot
and MP counters with a stiff right hand.
MP slips a jab from Bakiyev.
MP throws a head kick that misses.
MP misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MP feints a jab promting Bakiyev to slip. MP then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Bakiyev slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
MP takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MP throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Bakiyev counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A big left from Bakiyev misses.
Nice shot by Bakiyev.
Bakiyev scores with a shot to the body.
MP lands with an uppercut that bounces Bakiyev off the ropes and back into range.
MP throws a hook to the side of Bakiyev's head but Bakiyev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bakiyev swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
MP throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
MP swings for the body but Bakiyev moves out of range.
MP throws a combination that misses
enabling Bakiyev to counter with a crisp jab.
Bakiyev lands a really nice looking cross but MP seems unphased.
Michael MP is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A jab from Bakiyev misses.
MP wants to counter with a clinch but Bakiyev pushes him away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
MP throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bakiyev.
Bakiyev appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
MP throws a combination that misses
and Bakiyev makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
MP misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MP ducks under a wild hook from Bakiyev.
MP tries to move into range but Bakiyev moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
MP misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bakiyev defending well as MP loads up on a big left hand.
Bakiyev just misses with a punch to the body.
Bakiyev slips a jab and a cross from MP.
MP uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bakiyev.
MP slips a straight right by Bakiyev.
MP throws a series of punches but Bakiyev moves out of range.
Bakiyev lands with a hook. MP tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
MP throws a chopping leg kick but Bakiyev manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
MP throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bakiyev keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Bakiyev throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bakiyev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from MP.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Toktogulovich Bakiyev will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

MP moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Bakiyev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from MP.
MP lands a two punch combo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bakiyev. MP does a little dance to reset his feet.
MP swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bakiyev makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Bakiyev misses with a body shot.
Bakiyev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from MP.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MP tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
MP throws a series of punches but Bakiyev moves out of range.
Bakiyev connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
MP keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
MP unleashes a big counter combination but Bakiyev bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
MP throws a head kick but Bakiyev moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MP misses with the combination.
MP misses with a head kick.
Bakiyev throwing a counter right hand but MP manages to avoid it.
MP throws a lazy right hand but Bakiyev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
MP tries to bum rush Bakiyev with a series of wild strikes but Bakiyev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
MP takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bakiyev ducks under a wild hook from MP.
Bakiyev is looking to wear down MP with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A big left from Bakiyev misses.
Bakiyev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
MP fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bakiyev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but MP was well out of range. Poor timing from Bakiyev.
Bakiyev cracks MP with a good jab.
Bakiyev jabs at MP's body.
Bakiyev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bakiyev clobbers MP with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Bakiyev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but MP moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MP displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bakiyev throws out the jab.
Nice shot lands for Bakiyev.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
MP tries a head kick but it misses.
Bakiyev takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
MP is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bakiyev.
MP misses with a hook. Bakiyev ducked under it nicely.
Bakiyev ducks under a wild hook from MP.
Bakiyev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but MP was well out of range. Poor timing from Bakiyev.
Bakiyev throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
MP misses with a double jab
and Bakiyev counters with a right hand to the body.
MP lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bakiyev circles away quickly and effectively.
MP looks to land a combination but Bakiyev avoids it well.
MP takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Toktogulovich Bakiyev.
I think Bakiyev 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Toktogulovich Bakiyev!
An out of breath Toktogulovich Bakiyev thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Michael MP was interviewed post fight and said 'That was unexpected. Give me another 5 minutes and that dude is getting wrecked.'.