PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Yasol Kim (ranked 2548 p4p, 1591 weight class) and Andor Kovacs (ranked 361 p4p, 238 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Kim
vs
Kovacs

175 cm
31
170
10 - 8 - 0

182 cm
28
192
8 - 3 - 1

World class MT
Granite chin

World class MT
Good gas tank

Money Inc. (160Q with Proof ) 165$

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yasol Kim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Andor Kovacs!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yuuki Gou and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kim looks to throw the jab but Kovacs is out of range.
Kim moves out of range as Kovacs strikes.
Kovacs misses the jab.
Kim looks to score with a jab to the body but Kovacs is just out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kim checks a leg kick.
Kovacs misses with a hook. Kim ducked under it nicely.
Kim has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Cloud9 in the buildup to the fight.
Kovacs throws a right hand that Kim ducks under and follows up with a left that Kim also avoids with ease.
Kovacs looks to land a combination but Kim avoids it well.
Kovacs swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kovacs misses with a series of wild punches.
Yasol Kim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kovacs takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kovacs looks to score with a jab to the body but Kim is just out of range.
Kim wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovacs wants to clinch.

Kim has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovacs working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kim digs a right hand into Kovacs's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kovacs's gas tank.
Kim lands with a right to the head.
Kim works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Kim breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Kim gets tackled into the ropes by Kovacs. Kovacs maintains the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kovacs.
Kovacs blocks an uppercut.
Kim misses with a body punch.

Kovacs breaks from the clinch.
Kim throws a solid leg kick but Kovacs takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kim.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kovacs checks a leg kick.
Kovacs throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kovacs throws a right hand that Kim ducks under and follows up with a left that Kim also avoids with ease.
Kovacs punishes Kim's body with a nice straight punch.
Kovacs swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kovacs with a hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kovacs moves in looking to clinch but Kim pushes him off.
Kim scores with a jab to the body.
Nice body punch from Kim.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kim.
Kim takes a swing at Kovacs's ribcage but misses.
Kim throws a low kick but Kovacs avoids it.
Kovacs misses with an uppercut. Kim saw that one coming.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kim darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kovacs misses with a wild body shot.
Kim lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kovacs doesn't manage to clinch there - Kim circles away.
Kovacs throws a series of punches but Kim avoids them all with ease.
Kim throwing a counter right hand but Kovacs manages to avoid it.
Kim goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
It seemed like Kovacs was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kim rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kovacs moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kim ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kovacs moves away.
Kim lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A jab from Kim misses.
Kovacs stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kim.
Kim ducks under a wild hook from Kovacs.
Kovacs takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kim buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs misses with a double jab.
Kovacs doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kovacs throws a lazy head kick
and Kim counters with an inside leg kick.
Kovacs connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kim looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kovacs takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kim shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kovacs uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kim.
Kovacs looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kovacs takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kovacs sizes up Kim with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kim swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kim keeps the fight on the outside.
Kovacs looks to score with a jab to the body but Kim is just out of range.
Kim connects with a solid leg kick.
Kim slips a jab from Kovacs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kim.
Kovacs on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kim. Kim obviously looking to wear him down.
Kovacs throws a big shot that misses.
Kim is looking to wear down Kovacs with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kim throws a hook but Kovacs blocks it.
Kim keeps the fight on the outside.
Kim lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kim moves in looking to clinch but Kovacs pushes him off.
Kim misses with a wild body shot.
Kim moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kovacs throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kim misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kovacs.
Kim looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kovacs throws a series of punches but Kim avoids them all with ease.
Kovacs tests Kim's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kovacs lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kim uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kovacs.
Kim fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kim moves out of range of the body kick.

Kovacs gets a clinch.
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 Yasol Kim will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kim's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A slow jab from Kovacs misses its intended target.
Kovacs takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Kim rushes Kovacs and presses him up against the ropes.
Kovacs misses with a punch on the inside.
Kim tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kovacs blocking some punches.
Kovacs misses with a punch on the inside.
Kim works on Kovacs's body with a couple of short punches.
Kim tries to throw a body punch but Kovacs avoids it by throwing Kim back against the ropes.
Kovacs takes a shot to the head.
Kim prevents a body shot from Kovacs.
Kim misses with some punches.
Kovacs lands a hook that snaps the head of Kim backwards.
Kim working aggressively here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kovacs misses with a shot to the kidneys.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Kim here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Kovacs prevents a body shot from Kim.
Kovacs lands an uppercut.
Kim misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kovacs blocks a body shot from Kim.
Kim misses with a body punch.
A short left from Kovacs.

Kovacs escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kovacs tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kim swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kim checks a low kick from Kovacs.
Kim throws a poor cross that misses
and Kovacs counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kim tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kovacs was well out of range. Poor timing from Kim.
Kovacs circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kovacs lands a head kick. Kim smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kovacs ducks under a wild hook from Kim.
Kovacs's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kovacs moves out of range as Kim strikes.
Kim misses with an uppercut. Kovacs saw that one coming.
Kovacs punishes Kim's body with a nice straight punch.
Kim rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kovacs moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kim just misses with a punch to the body.
Kovacs misses the shot to the body.
Kim is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kovacs.
Kovacs shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kovacs takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kim connects with the punch.
Kovacs tries to work over Kim's front leg with a kick but Kim checks it.
A punch combination from Kovacs misses.
Kim throws a leg kick but Kovacs sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kovacs swats away the attempt to clinch by Kim.
Kovacs throws a counter combo.
Kovacs moves out of range of the body kick.
Kim lands a really nice looking cross but Kovacs seems unphased.

Kim moves into the clinch successfully.
Kim swings wildly with an uppercut but Kovacs uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kovacs lands a body punch.
Kim misses with a punch to the body.
Kovacs misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kovacs is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kim blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovacs lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Yasol Kim has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kim lands with a right to the head.
A short uppercut from Kim.
A short body shot lands from Kim as the two fighters clinch.
Kim lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kovacs blocks an uppercut.
Kim blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kim blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kovacs blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kim throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kovacss head.
Kovacs tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kim misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kovacs lands with a left to the head.
Kovacs blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kim digs a right hand underneath Kovacs's ribcage. Kovacs let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kim struggles to land a body shot inside as Kovacs controls his hands.
Kim has a couple of punches blocked by Kovacs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice left hand lands by Kovacs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Kim scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kovacs lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kim backwards.
Kim misses with some punches.
Kovacs lands with a light punch inside.
Kovacs misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kim misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kovacs lands with a short shot to the head.
Kim misses with the head strike.
Kim has a couple of punches blocked by Kovacs.
Kim lands a nice uppercut.

Kovacs manages to break the clinch.
Kovacs lands a body shot.
Kim lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kovacs throws a right and a left that Kim avoids nicely.
As Kovacs tries to get set, Kim tries to push him back and clinch up but Kovacs manages to avoid the attempt.
Kovacs takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovacs swats away the attempt to clinch by Kim.
Kovacs misses with a wild combination.
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 Yasol Kim will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kovacs gets a clinch.
Kim has a couple of punches blocked by Kovacs.
Kim blocking some punches.
Kovacs tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kovacs struggles to land a body shot inside as Kim controls his hands.
Kim misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kim tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kim lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Kovacs is leaning against Kim and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kim.
Kovacs pushes Kim back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kim throws a punch but it's blocked by Kovacs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kim prevents a body shot from Kovacs.
Kovacs pushes Kim back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Kovacs scores with a shot to the side of Kim's head.
Kovacs swings wildly with an uppercut but Kim uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kovacs scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kovacs backwards.
Kim misses with a punch to the body.
Kovacs blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kovacs lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kim backwards.
Kovacs throws a head punch that misses.
Kim misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kim lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kovacs backwards.
Kovacs tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kovacs scores with an uppercut up the middle.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kim.
Kovacs misses with a body punch.
Kim throws a head punch that misses.
Kovacs lands a left hand.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kovacs.
Still in the clinch, Kovacs scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kovacs throws a punch but it's blocked by Kim.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kovacs's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kovacs misses with a hook. Kim ducked under it nicely.
Andor Kovacs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim looks to land a left hand but Kovacs moved out of range nicely.
Kim bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kim misses with a hook. Kovacs ducked under it nicely.
Kovacs is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Kim with a body shot.
Kovacs scores with a nice head shot.
Good exchange - Kovacs coming out on top.
Kim looks to score with a jab to the body but Kovacs is just out of range.
Kovacs throws an overhand right that lands on Kim's shoulder, as Kim tries to avoid the shot.
A good leg kick by Kim.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kovacs looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kim lands a body shot.
Yasol Kim is winning the standup battle so far.
Kovacs keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kim.
Andor Kovacs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
That kick from Kim tenderised Kovacs's leg. Kovacs is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kovacs on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kim is looking to slow Kovacs down with leg kicks.
Kim misses with a looping left.
Yasol Kim is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Kim misses.
Kovacs throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kim sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kim moves away from the strike by Kovacs.
Kim keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kim scores with a sloppy right hand. Kovacs should have avoided that one.
Kovacs misses the shot to the body.
Kovacs misses with a lunging right hand
and Kim counters with a nice body shot.
Nice body kick from Kim.
Kim connects with an inside leg kick.
A punch combination from Kovacs misses.
Kovacs lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short left from Kim.

Kovacs breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kovacs slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kovacs takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kovacs moves in looking to clinch but Kim pushes him off.
Kovacs attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
An attempted straight right counter from Kim misses the target.

Kovacs gets tackled into the ropes by Kim. Kim maintains the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Kovacs.
Kovacs working aggressively here.
A short right from Kim.
Kovacs tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kovacs misses with a punch to the body.
Kovacs stalling in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Kovacs.
Kim lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Andor Kovacs.
I think Kim has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yasol Kim!
Our winner, Yasol Kim, 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.