PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Riley Knox (ranked 6525 p4p, 1948 weight class) and Mako Akumba (ranked 674 p4p, 266 weight class). Knox comes to the ring accompanied by Roy Jones Jr - I Smoke, I Drink feat. Mr. Magic & Youngbloodz). Mako Akumba will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Knox
vs
Akumba

188 cm
30
216
21 - 8 - 0

199 cm
36
206
13 - 14 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Riley Knox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mako Akumba!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shigeki Sano and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knox misses with an uppercut.
Knox throws a hook to the side of Akumba's head but Akumba sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Akumba drives through and clinches with Knox against the ropes.
Akumba blocks an uppercut.
Knox tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Akumba is leaning against Knox and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Knox lands a good knee to the midsection. Akumba won't want to take too many of those.
Knox lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Knox tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Akumba avoids it.
Knox lands a nice shot to the body.
Knox with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Knox misses with the head strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knox misses with a punch to the body.
A short uppercut from Knox.
Knox takes an elbow to the temple.
Akumba struggles to land a body shot inside as Knox controls his hands.
Akumba lands with a short shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A hook to the body from Knox.
I was talking to Knox's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akumba lands a body punch.

Akumba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Knox circles away from the clinch attempt
and Akumba takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Mako Akumba has been cut.
Akumba 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.
Akumba dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Akumba moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Knox throws a hook but Akumba blocks it.
Akumba tries to clinch there but Knox circles away.
Akumba moves away from the strike by Knox.
Akumba moves away from the strike by Knox.
Akumba unleashes a big counter combination but Knox bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Knox throws a lazy right hand but Akumba sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Knox drives through and clinches with Akumba against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akumba tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Knox's elbow.
Knox misses with a punch to the body.
Akumba digs a right hand into Knox's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Knox's gas tank.
Akumba can't break the clinch.
Knox throws a knee to the head but misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Akumba breaks the clinch.
Nice cross by Knox.
Knox misses with a hook.
Akumba shapes to counter with a head kick.
Akumba drops his guard momentarily, allowing Knox to crack him with a picture perfect lead left hook! Boom! Down goes Akumba! Oh, he's in big trouble - I don't like his chances here as the referee's count reaches 5. 6,7,8,9...10! He's out! Knox takes it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Riley Knox!
Riley Knox decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.