PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Jason Skillz (ranked 24068 p4p, 23694 weight class) and Tang Maul (ranked 519 p4p, 360 weight class). Maul has chosen Somewhere I Belong as his entrance music. 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.

Skillz
vs
Maul

172 cm
22
140
3 - 3 - 1

165 cm
23
135
10 - 2 - 1

World class boxer
Cardio machine

World class MT
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jason Skillz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tang Maul!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maul connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Skillz takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Maul uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Skillz.
Maul jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A little feinted left hand from Skillz on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Skillz lands with an overhand left.
A nice inside leg kick there by Skillz. That's going to slow Maul down.
Skillz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Maul throws a leg kick
and Skillz counters with a right hand to the body.
Maul throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice defenses there by Skillz.
Maul is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Maul throws a shot from downtown. Skillz moves away and avoids it.
Nice straight punches there by Maul. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Maul.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A lazy left from Skillz finds it's target.
Maul is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Skillz.
Maul connects with a good right hand that stumbles Skillz. Skillz circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Skillz throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
A big left from Skillz misses.
Skillz throws a poor cross that misses
and Maul counters with a stiff right hand.
Skillz pivots, looking for a leg kick but Maul is out of range and Skillz settles back down.
A left lands for Maul.
Skillz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maul darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Skillz throws a sloppy head kick and Maul moves out of range easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Maul ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Maul keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Donk. Maul catches Skillz right on the button with a cross.
Maul scores with a nice body kick.
A swing and a miss from Skillz.
Maul lands a glancing blow to the side of Skillz's head.
Skillz misses the shot to the body.
Maul swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Maul uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Skillz.
Maul misses with a wild body shot.
Skillz moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Skillz ducks under a wild hook from Maul.
Maul uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Skillz.
A little jabbing left from Maul on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maul. Skillz does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like Skillz wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Skillz takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nice uppercut there from Skillz.
Skillz blocks the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maul swings for the body but Skillz moves out of range.
Skillz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Maul has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Skillz, as that shot connected.
Skillz throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Maul on the side of the head.
Maul has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Nice uppercut there from Skillz.
Maul showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Skillz.
Skillz ducks under a wild hook from Maul.
Maul checks the leg kick.
Maul checks a leg kick nicely.
Skillz takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Maul throws a half hearted mid kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Maul. That snapped Skillz's head back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skillz misses with a straight left.
Skillz slips under a jab from Maul.
Skillz takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Skillz wants to land a leg kick but Maul is out of range.
Skillz takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tang Maul will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maul throws a body kick that misses.
Maul throws out a leg kick but Skillz moves out of range and Maul only half commits.
Skillz walks into a jab.
Maul ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Skillz moves away.
Skillz tries a low kick but Maul avoids it.
Maul loads up on a big right hand but Skillz slips the punch.
Skillz lands with a shot to the body.
Maul clobbers Skillz with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Skillz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Skillz tried to score with a low kick but Maul checks it.
Skillz tries a head kick but it misses.
Skillz takes one on the button.
Skillz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A little feinted left hand from Skillz on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Skillz tries a low kick but Maul avoids it.
A telegraphed right hand from Skillz misses the target.
Maul looks to land a left hand but Skillz moved out of range nicely.
Maul slips under a jab from Skillz.
Maul swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice defenses there by Maul.
Maul throws a body shot but no joy.
It looked like Skillz wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maul throws a lazy uppercut
and Skillz counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Skillz gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Maul counters with a body kick that stops Skillz in his tracks momentarily.
Maul fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Skillz manages to avoid it.
Skillz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Skillz throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maul sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Skillz connects with a body shot.
Maul throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Skillz, as that shot connected.
Skillz swings for the body but Maul moves out of range.
Skillz misses with a body shot.
Skillz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maul moves away.
Maul moves in looking to clinch but Skillz pushes him off.
The crowd cheers as Skillz lands an impressive looking overhand right. Maul doesn't seem phased though.
Skillz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Maul moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Skillz misses with a kick to the body.
Maul misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skillz's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Maul connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Skillz scrambles back to his feet.
Maul throws a leg kick but Skillz moved away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maul. Skillz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jason Skillz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maul looks to land a body kick but Skillz moved away.
Maul just misses with a punch to the body.
Maul connects with a single shot there.
Skillz looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Maul throws a sloppy body shot
and Skillz counters with a nice uppercut.
Maul moves out of range as Skillz throws a body kick.
Maul swings for the body but Skillz moves out of range.
Skillz misses with a straight left.
Maul staying out of range there.
Maul lands with a hook. Skillz tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Skillz keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maul lands a jab to the nose.
Maul moves away from the strike by Skillz.
Skillz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maul.
Skillz throws a big counter combination but Maul scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Maul connects with an inside leg kick.
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 Jason Skillz will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Skillz throws a lazy right hand but Maul sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Skillz lands a jab to the head.
Skillz swings for the body but Maul moves out of range.
Skillz connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Maul.
Skillz swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Maul scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Skillz misses with a body shot.
Maul jabs at Skillz's body.
Skillz tries to bum rush Maul with a series of wild strikes but Maul uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maul changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
An inside leg kick from Skillz misses.
Skillz avoids the body shot from Maul.
Skillz moves out of range of the body kick from Maul.
Skillz throws a good cross that connects.
A bone on bone clash there as Skillz blocks the leg kick.
Maul throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Maul.
A swing and a miss from Skillz.
Maul is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Skillz with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maul takes one to the side of the head.
Skillz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maul dodges the punch combination from Skillz.
Skillz is looking to chop away at Maul's legs.
A nice inside leg kick there by Maul. That's going to slow Skillz down.
Skillz throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Skillz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Skillz connects with a leg kick.
Nice shot by Maul.
Maul lands with a straight right. Skillz didn't see that one coming.
Maul tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Skillz checks a leg kick.
A little feinted left hand from Skillz on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Skillz shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Skillz on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maul takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Skillz slips a jab and a cross from Maul.
Skillz jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Maul lands a leg kick that knocks Skillz off balance momentarily.
That kick from Skillz tenderised Maul's leg. Maul is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skillz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maul.
Skillz looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Skillz throws a leg kick that misses.
Skillz checks a low kick from Maul.
Maul swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice shot by Maul.
Maul swings widly with a right hand
and Skillz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tang Maul seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Skillz throws a jab but it's blocked by Maul.
Maul throws a series of punches but Skillz moves out of range.
Maul misses the jab.
Maul avoids the body shot from Skillz.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Maul! But no joy.
Skillz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Skillz tries to land a front kick but Maul steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maul throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Skillz sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Skillz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Maul.
Nice shot by Maul.
Maul throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A little feinted left hand from Skillz on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Skillz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tang Maul.
Well Maul has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Tang Maul!
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Tang Maul!

Tang Maul wins by majority decision! Tang Maul retains his bantamweight title!
Our winner, Tang Maul, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.