PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Melankomas Caria (ranked 3251 p4p, 370 weight class) and Alex Stefanovic (ranked 3261 p4p, 372 weight class). Caria's entrance music is Roy Jones Jr - I Smoke, I Drink feat. Mr. Magic & Youngbloodz). A fine choice. 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.

Caria
vs
Stefanovic

186 cm
29
181 lbs
25 - 10 - 1

180 cm
30
184 lbs
13 - 8 - 2

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Melankomas Caria!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Stefanovic!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Kavanagh and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice inside leg kick there by Stefanovic. That's going to slow Caria down.
Caria with a hook.
Melankomas Caria seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stefanovic tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Caria manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stefanovic throws a body punch but Caria moves out of range.
Caria was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Caria wants to clinch up but Stefanovic keeps it at a distance.
Stefanovic jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stefanovic fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Caria on the side of the head.

Caria rushes Stefanovic and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Stefanovic lands with a light punch inside.

Caria breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Caria takes the fight into the clinch.
Nice elbow from Stefanovic.
Caria looking to throw knees to the head but Stefanovic is blocking nicely.
Caria lands with a left to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stefanovic gets through Caria's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Stefanovic creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Caria misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Caria misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stefanovic.
Still in the clinch, Caria scores with a nice short uppercut.
Caria using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stefanovic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Caria doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Caria's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stefanovic slips a jab from Caria.
Caria tries to close the distance and clinch but Stefanovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Caria attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Stefanovic throws a series of punches but Caria moves out of range.
Caria appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Caria throws out a leg kick but Stefanovic moves out of range and Caria only half commits.
Stefanovic misses with a straight right.
Caria throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stefanovic misses with a wild body shot.
Some bone on bone action there as Caria checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Caria was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Stefanovic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Caria with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Stefanovic throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Stefanovic.
Stefanovic lands a right hand.
Stefanovic blocks a body shot from Caria.
Stefanovic throws a head punch that misses.
Stefanovic pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Stefanovic throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Stefanovic struggles to land a body shot inside as Caria controls his hands.
Stefanovic pushes off an throws an elbow but Caria leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A hook to the body from Caria.
Caria tries to throw a body punch but Stefanovic avoids it by throwing Caria back against the ropes.
Stefanovic misses with a short punch on the inside.

Caria breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Caria moves into the clinch successfully.
Caria works on Stefanovic's body with a couple of short punches.
Caria cracks Stefanovic with a nice body shot.
Stefanovic tries to throw a body punch but Caria avoids it by throwing Stefanovic back against the ropes.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stefanovic.
Stefanovic blocks a body shot from Caria.
Caria gets through Stefanovic's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Caria tries to land knees in the clinch but Stefanovic avoids the damage to the body.
Stefanovic pushes off an throws an elbow but Caria leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.

Caria breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice uppercut lands for Stefanovic. That snapped Caria's head back.
Caria tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Caria swats away the attempt to clinch by Stefanovic.
Caria throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Caria checks a leg kick.
Stefanovic throws a jab when Caria was well out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Melankomas Caria will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Caria tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Stefanovic is able to avoid easily.
Stefanovic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Caria.
That kick from Caria tenderised Stefanovic's leg. Stefanovic is trying to keep his angry face on.

Caria drives through and clinches with Stefanovic against the ropes.
Stefanovic creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Caria lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Melankomas Caria has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A right hand to the body from Caria.
Caria avoids the elbow strike from Stefanovic, against the ropes.
Caria takes an elbow to the forehead.
Stefanovic struggles to land a body shot inside as Caria controls his hands.
Caria takes an elbow to the forehead.
Stefanovic lands an elbow inside.
Stefanovic swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Caria lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Stefanovic looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Caria throws a head punch that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch on the inside from Stefanovic fails to land.
Caria lands a shot to the body.
A right hand to the body from Stefanovic.
Stefanovic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stefanovic lands a left hand that snaps the head of Caria backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caria lands a body shot.
Caria takes a shot to the head.
Caria misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Caria breaks from the clinch.
Stefanovic tries to clinch but Caria is having none of it.
Caria ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stefanovic moves away.

Caria clinches.
A nice left hand lands by Stefanovic.
Caria can't find room to land a body shot as Stefanovic controls the action.
Stefanovic throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Caria blocks the elbow strike.

Caria escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A big left from Stefanovic misses.
Stefanovic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Caria swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stefanovic finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Caria fires out a quick counter leg kick but Stefanovic just manages to avoid it.
Stefanovic tries to work over Caria's front leg with a kick but Caria checks it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Stefanovic scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Stefanovic moves out of range of the leg kick from Caria.
Stefanovic connects with the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caria lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stefanovic misses with a looping right.
Stefanovic takes one to the chin there.
Caria throws a series of punches but Stefanovic moves out of range.

Caria rushes Stefanovic and presses him up against the ropes.
Stefanovic lands a nice elbow.
Caria is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Stefanovic is defending well for now.
Caria using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stefanovic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Stefanovic lands a left hand that snaps the head of Caria backwards.
Caria lands a body punch.
Caria lands a nice uppercut.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Stefanovic throws an elbow but misses.
Caria tries a knee to the head but Stefanovic blocks it.
Caria dodges an elbow strike from Stefanovic.
Stefanovic lands an elbow just above Caria 's eye.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stefanovic throws an elbow that misses.
Stefanovic blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Caria working aggressively here.
Stefanovic lands a shoulder strike.
A short uppercut from Caria.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alex Stefanovic will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Stefanovic swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Caria keeps Stefanovic at a distance using the push kick.
Caria checks a leg kick.
Stefanovic shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Stefanovic takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Caria moves away from the strike by Stefanovic.
Caria uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Stefanovic has time to react.
Stefanovic misses with a looping left.
Caria feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Caria throws a front kick that sends Stefanovic stumbling back into the ropes.
Caria is looking to clinch.
Caria throws a low kick but Stefanovic moves out of range easily.
Stefanovic looks to land a combination but Caria avoids it well.

Caria clinches.
Stefanovic working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Stefanovic throws an elbow that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stefanovic throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Caria blocking some punches.
Caria tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Stefanovic misses with a shot to the kidneys.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stefanovic swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Caria.
Stefanovic catches Caria with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Caria connects with a crisp jab.
A thudding body kick lands there by Caria!
Stefanovic scores with a punch to the head.
A big left from Caria misses.
Caria doesn't manage to clinch there - Stefanovic circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Caria throws a looping overhand right but Stefanovic ducks down to avoid it.
Caria walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Stefanovic on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Stefanovic misses with a two punch combination.
Caria motions for Stefanovic to come forward. Caria throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Melankomas Caria is winning the standup battle so far.
Caria scores with a jab. Stefanovic acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Caria tries to move into range but Stefanovic moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Caria drives through and clinches with Stefanovic against the ropes.
Caria working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Stefanovic pushes off an throws an elbow but Caria leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Stefanovic creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Stefanovic creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Caria's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Caria.
Caria with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stefanovic lands a shoulder strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Stefanovic.
A right hand to the body from Stefanovic.
Caria lands a nice knee to the body.

Caria pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
It looks like Caria has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Stefanovic takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Stefanovic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Caria swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Stefanovic, as that shot connected.
Caria lands a glancing blow to the side of Stefanovic's head.

Caria has Stefanovic up against the ropes in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stefanovic has a couple of punches blocked by Caria.
Caria misses with a body punch.
Caria prevents a body shot from Stefanovic.
Caria with an attempt at a knee that misses.

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 Melankomas Caria.
Well Caria has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!