PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between James King (ranked 22535 p4p, 22286 weight class) and Maung Maung Thu (ranked 688 p4p, 644 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!

King
vs
Thu

170 cm
26
161
10 - 5 - 0

166 cm
27
135
14 - 12 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Maung Maung Thu!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Ryoma Takatsuka and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thu.
Thu throws a head kick that misses
and King counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Thu thinking.
Thu moves out of range as King strikes.
A big left from Thu misses.
King stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
King looking to land some kicks to the body here.
King pulls out of a head kick attempt.
King misses with a double jab.
Thu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A head kick misses from King.
Thu flicks out a counter leg kick but King steps away.
Thu moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Thu turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Thu walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
King lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thu lands a straight punch to the body, keeping King at a distance.
Thu takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Thu lands a leg kick that knocks King off balance momentarily.
King takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
King sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
King is looking to slow Thu down with leg kicks.
King cracks Thu with an open hand slap.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Thu lands a slapping body shot.

King drives through and clinches with Thu against the ropes.
Thu landing knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Thu.
Knees to the body from Thu.
King tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thu landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Thu told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Thu lands an elbow inside.
King with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
King blocks an elbow strike from Thu.
King misses with a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
King takes an elbow to the temple.
King blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from King.
King throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thu blocks it with crossed arms.
King misses with a knee to the head.
Thu working King over with knees to the body.
King blocks the elbow strike.
Thu scores a nice knee to the body.
King lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thu blocks it with crossed arms.
Thu tries to land knees in the clinch but King avoids the damage to the body.
Thu works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Thu throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Thu stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
King tries to land a knee to the head but Thu blocks with his arms.
Thu prevents a body shot from King.
King definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Thu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thu tries to land knees in the clinch but King avoids the damage to the body.
King swings away with an uppercut that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Thu just misses with a elbow thrown towards King's brow.
Thu with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
King tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
King can't find room to land a body shot as Thu controls the action.
King swings wildly with an uppercut but Thu uses good head movement to avoid it.
King throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thu blocks it with crossed arms.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
King with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
King working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
King utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
King with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that James King will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thu misses with a looping right.
King throws a hook but Thu blocks it.
King throws a leg kick but Thu sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Thu misses with an uppercut. King saw that one coming.
King is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Maung Maung Thu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but King manages to avoid it.
Thu will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
An inside leg kick from King misses.
Thu throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Thu throws a half hearted mid kick.
King tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
King takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Thu lets loose with a powerful body kick. King will feel that in the morning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thu throws a jab but it's blocked by King.
King throws a looping overhand right but Thu ducks down to avoid it.
Thu throws a low kick, looking for King's leg but King calmly moves out of range.
Nice shot by Thu.
King tries to bum rush Thu with a series of wild strikes but Thu uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thu thumps King with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

King instigates a clinch.
King blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A shot in the inside from King.
James King has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Thu takes a knee right on the jaw!

Thu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thu ducks under a wild hook from King.
Thu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. King sees it coming and avoids it easily.
King appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Thu throws a sloppy head kick and King moves out of range easily.
King misses with a head kick.
Thu fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and King has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Some bone on bone action there as King checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Thu with a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
King throws a counter high kick but Thu was just alert enough to avoid it.
Thu staying out of range there.
King throws a front kick aimed at Thu's knee but Thu avoids it well.
Thu just misses with a punch to the body.
Thu misses with a body kick.
Thu motions for King to come forward. Thu throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Thu throws a wild body kick that King sees coming a mile off.
A little feinted left hand from King on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

King has managed to clinch.
King missing with knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Thu.
Thu connects with a knee to the head.
Thu throws a knee to the head but misses.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
King prevents a body shot from Thu.

Thu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thu throws a body kick that misses.
Thu looks to score with a jab to the body but King is just out of range.
King with a jab.
Thu misses with a straight left.
Thu throws a shot to the body.
Thu pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Thu bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Thu with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Thu looks to land a left hand but King moved out of range nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thu throws an overhand right that lands on King's shoulder, as King tries to avoid the shot.
King quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Thu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Thu blocks the body kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maung Maung Thu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Thu misses with a wild body shot.
James King has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
King tries to clinch up but Thu circles away and keeps his distance.
Thu lands a nice looking kick to the body. King takes a step back to recover.
King takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Thu throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
King misses with an attempted mid kick.
King misses the shot to the body.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Thu. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
A good leg kick by Thu.
Thu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thu is looking to score with low kicks.
King throws an overhand right that lands on Thu's shoulder, as Thu tries to avoid the shot.
Thu throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thu punishes King's body with a nice straight punch.
King will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
King backing away here, and Thu unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
King throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Thu.
Thu scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Thu lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
King scores with a spinning back kick!
Good leg kick by Thu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King throws a head kick that half lands.
Thu lands a leg kick that knocks King off balance momentarily.
Nice body kick there by Thu.
A slow jab from King misses its intended target.
King pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
King chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Thu can pounce on him.
Thu lands a nice shot to the body.
King on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Thu throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Thu moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Thu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Thu throws a leg kick which misses King's front leg but catches the back leg as King tries to avoid it.
Thu is looking to slow King down with leg kicks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
King fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thu throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
King stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thu.

King closes the distance and clinches.
King on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thu missing with knees to the body.
King lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
King tries to land knees in the clinch but Thu avoids the damage to the body.
Thu lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thu throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Thu tries to land knees in the clinch but King avoids the damage to the body.
King takes an elbow to the forehead.
Thu lands a nice elbow.
King using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Thu has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thu lands a nice elbow.
King landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Still in the clinch, King scores with a nice short uppercut.
Thu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from King.
King misses with a knee strike.
King tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Thu throws an elbow but misses.
Thu is trying to break the clinch but King has him pressed against the ropes.

Thu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thu slips under a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maung Maung Thu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Thu has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight for Maung Maung Thu!
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Maung Maung Thu!
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight for Maung Maung Thu!

Maung Maung Thu wins by unanimous decision!