PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Songkom Fairtex (ranked 23407 p4p, 20305 weight class) and Vincent McGuire (ranked 644 p4p, 656 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Fairtex
vs
McGuire

196 cm
28
262
12 - 4 - 0

204 cm
33
250
22 - 9 - 1

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Songkom Fairtex!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vincent McGuire!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Columbo Gatti and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fairtex lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Good leg kick by McGuire.
Fairtex turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Fairtex misses the shot to the body.
McGuire throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fairtex fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
McGuire will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Fairtex lands a slapping body shot.
Fairtex throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent McGuire stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
McGuire scores with a head kick.

It looks like Songkom Fairtex has been cut.
McGuire throws a looping overhand right but Fairtex ducks down to avoid it.
Fairtex misses with an uppercut
and McGuire counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fairtex dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on McGuire. That did some damage!
Songkom Fairtex seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McGuire just misses with a punch to the body.
As McGuire tries to get set, Fairtex tries to push him back and clinch up but McGuire manages to avoid the attempt.
Fairtex fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McGuire manages to avoid it.
Fairtex misses the jab.
Fairtex scores with a body shot.
McGuire on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
McGuire throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McGuire on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Fairtex throws out a loose jab but McGuire uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fairtex throws a right hand that misses
and Fairtex takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A jab from Fairtex misses.
Fairtex just misses with a punch to the body.

Fairtex clinches.
A right hand to the body from McGuire.
McGuire stalling in the clinch but Fairtex improves position.
Fairtex blocking some punches.
Fairtex stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
McGuire blocks an elbow strike from Fairtex.
McGuire can't find room to land a body shot as Fairtex controls the action.
I was talking to Fairtex's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Fairtex slowing the pace effectively.
Fairtex throws an elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex can't find room to land a body shot as McGuire controls the action.
McGuire taking a breather.
McGuire lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fairtex content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Fairtex with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McGuire trying to control the position but instead, Fairtex has worked for underhooks and has pushed McGuire into the ropes.
McGuire wants to stall.
McGuire seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
McGuire on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Fairtex has McGuire pushed against the ropes.
Come on Fairtex - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Fairtex pushes off an throws an elbow but McGuire leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Fairtex softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
McGuire throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fairtexs head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Songkom Fairtex dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Songkom Fairtex's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Fairtex throws a head kick that misses.
McGuire tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Fairtex scores with a head kick. McGuire tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
McGuire doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Fairtex.
McGuire just misses with a punch to the body.
Fairtex seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
A nice leg kick lands there from McGuire.
McGuire looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Fairtex tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McGuire was well out of range. Poor timing from Fairtex.
A jab from Fairtex misses.
Fairtex lands with a right hand.
Fairtex throws a front kick that sends McGuire stumbling back into the ropes.
Fairtex misses with a shot to the body
and McGuire counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McGuire throws a wild body kick that Fairtex sees coming a mile off.
Fairtex is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McGuire can do to turn this around?
McGuire walks into a straight right hand from Fairtex.
McGuire takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire misses with a head kick.
Fairtex connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Fairtex misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McGuire throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A decent looking cross lands there for Fairtex.

McGuire is rocked!
McGuire pivots, looking for a leg kick but Fairtex is out of range and McGuire settles back down.
A low kick from Fairtex is predictable there
letting McGuire counter with a right hand.
McGuire connects with a high kick.
Fairtex is looking to land body kicks.
McGuire looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
McGuire uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fairtex.
Fairtex scores with a leg kick.
McGuire throws a push kick but Fairtex slaps the foot to one side.
Fairtex takes a head kick and keeps coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fairtex misses with an uppercut.
Fairtex looks to land a right hand but McGuire moved out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex misses with a lunging right hand
and McGuire counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Fairtex is rocked!
A swing and a miss from McGuire.
Oh Fairtex is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Songkom Fairtex is winning the standup battle so far.
McGuire throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McGuire tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Fairtex seems to have got his legs back now.
McGuire throws a nice inside leg kick.
Fairtex throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fairtex misses with a shot to the body
and McGuire counters with a nice body kick.
Good leg kick by Fairtex.
McGuire pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fairtex wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
McGuire goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Fairtex moves into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fairtex taking a breather.
McGuire takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Vincent McGuire has been cut.
A head punch on the inside from McGuire fails to land.
Fairtex throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
McGuire tries a body shot but Fairtex blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Songkom Fairtex will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

McGuire uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fairtex.
McGuire is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Fairtex with a body shot.
McGuire misses with a body shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Fairtex.
McGuire throws a looping overhand right but Fairtex ducks down to avoid it.
Fairtex moves out of range as McGuire throws a body kick.
Fairtex tries to counter by clinching up but McGuire breaks away and moves out of range.
Fairtex dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on McGuire. That did some damage!
McGuire lands an overhand right.

Fairtex moves into the clinch.
Fairtex lands a nice elbow.
Fairtex utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Fairtex lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Fairtex creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through McGuire's defenses.
Fairtex digs a right hand underneath McGuire's ribcage. McGuire let out a lung full of air as it connected.
McGuire takes a knee to the side of the body.
McGuire takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fairtex taking a breather.
Fairtex scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire tries to work over Fairtex's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McGuire has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Fairtex seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if McGuire can turn it around.
Fairtex blocking some punches.
Fairtex looking to stall.
McGuire misses with some punches.
McGuire takes an elbow to the temple.
McGuire can't find room to land a body shot as Fairtex controls the action.
McGuire tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fairtex lands a body shot.
McGuire has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Fairtex works on McGuire's body with a couple of short punches.

Fairtex knocks McGuire to the floor with a big elbow! Not sure whether that caught him more off guard or if he's really hurt. He's beaten the count so we'll continue the fight.
McGuire is still on wobbly legs! Can Fairtex finish him?
McGuire avoids the head kick by Fairtex.
Fairtex looks to score with a jab to the body but McGuire is just out of range.
McGuire shapes to counter with a head kick.
McGuire seems to have recovered his senses.
Fairtex lands with a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fairtex tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fairtex with a body punch. A glancing blow.
McGuire's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A slapping leg kick lands for Fairtex.
Fairtex lands a front kick.
A nice leg kick from Fairtex, right into the meat of the thigh.
A nice leg kick lands there from Fairtex.
Fairtex lands with a straight right. McGuire didn't see that one coming.
Fairtex moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Fairtex throws a poor cross that misses
and McGuire counters with a stiff right hand.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Fairtex.
McGuire let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Fairtex with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Fairtex lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Fairtex has closed the distance and engaged McGuire in a clinch.
McGuire has a couple of punches blocked by Fairtex.
Fairtex blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fairtex lands on the inside with an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Songkom Fairtex clearly takes that round.
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!

McGuire lands with a kick to the temple. Fairtex shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Fairtex scores with a hook.
McGuire blocks a head kick by Fairtex.
Fairtex feints with a left and delivers a massive head kick! McGuire collapses like a ragdoll! Game over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:18 of round 4, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Songkom Fairtex!
Songkom Fairtex retains his heavyweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Songkom Fairtex thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.