PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Hokuto Akira (ranked 1193 p4p, 1789 weight class) and Vasily Grossman (ranked 163 p4p, 237 weight class). 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.

Akira
vs
Grossman

176 cm
33
158
17 - 5 - 1

169 cm
31
158
20 - 6 - 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 17 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Hokuto Akira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vasily Grossman!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akira misses with a lunging right hand

and Grossman counters by moving into the clinch.
Akira digs a right hand into Grossman's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Grossman's gas tank.
Grossman lands an uppercut.
Akira lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Grossman.
Grossman working aggressively here.
A short uppercut from Akira.
Akira working aggressively here.

Akira breaks the clinch.
Akira throws a body shot but no joy.
Akira sets himself, and Grossman steps forward looking for the clinch! Akira avoids it this time.

Akira clinches up against the ropes.
Grossman swings wildly with an uppercut but Akira uses good head movement to avoid it.
Akira blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Akira lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Grossman lands with a left to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grossman blocking some punches.
Grossman tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Akira lands a hook to the side of the head.
Akira blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Akira lands with a left to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akira can't find room to land a body shot as Grossman controls the action.
A short right from Akira on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Akira.
Grossman misses with a body punch.
Grossman scores with a shoulder strike.
Grossman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Grossman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Grossman fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Grossman fails to land.
Akira lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Akira lands with a right to the head.
Grossman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Akira.
Akira doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Akira working aggressively here.
Grossman digs a right hand underneath Akira's ribcage. Akira let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Grossman lands a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A body shot lands from Grossman.
Akira is trying to stall.
A right hook to the body lands for Akira.
Akira is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akira misses with some punches.
Akira lands with a left to the head.
Grossman misses with a punch on the inside.
Grossman has a couple of punches blocked by Akira.
Akira blocks an uppercut.
Akira lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Grossman tries a body shot but Akira blocks it.
Grossman has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Akira seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Grossman can turn it around.
Akira lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Grossman backwards.
Grossman tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Grossman working aggressively here.
Akira throws a punch but it's blocked by Grossman.
Akira working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Grossman throws a head punch that misses.
Akira blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Grossman throws a punch but it's blocked by Akira.
A short right from Akira on the inside.
Grossman misses with a hook from the clinch.
Grossman blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Grossman lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Akira backwards.
Akira goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Akira is looking to control Grossman's arms but Grossman gets an underhook and turns him. Now Akira has his back to the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akira blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Akira fails to land.
Grossman throws a head punch that misses.
Grossman misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Akira fails to land.
A left hand lands to the body for Grossman.
Akira misses with some punches.
Akira misses with a short punch on the inside.
Grossman lands an uppercut.
Grossman throws a punch but it's blocked by Akira.
Grossman swings wildly with an uppercut but Akira uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Akira.
A shot in the inside from Akira.
Akira tries a body shot but Grossman blocks it.
A left hand lands to the body for Akira.
Akira scores with a nice hook to the head.
Grossman swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Grossman throws a punch but it's blocked by Akira.
A short right from Grossman on the inside.
Akira throws a punch but it's blocked by Grossman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Akira lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Grossman backwards.
Akira throws a punch but it's blocked by Grossman.
Grossman misses with a hook to the ribs.
Grossman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Grossman working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Akira fails to land.
Grossman digs a right hand underneath Akira's ribcage. Akira let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Grossman misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Akira fails to land.
A short left from Grossman.
Grossman softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Akira working aggressively here.
Grossman misses with a punch on the inside.
Grossman misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Akira fails to land.
Grossman struggles to land a body shot inside as Akira controls his hands.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grossman lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Akira backwards.

Akira escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Grossman throws a poor cross that misses
and Akira counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Akira. Those never looked like landing.
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 Hokuto Akira will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Akira avoids the body shot from Grossman.
Akira misses with a looping right.
Akira fails with an attempt to clinch.
Akira throws out a powerful jab.
Akira blocks a jab.
Grossman staying out of range there.
Grossman misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Akira counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Akira swings widly with a right hand
and Grossman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fighters circling - Akira throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Grossman wants to counter with a clinch but Akira pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akira throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Grossman to counter with a crisp jab.
Akira getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A telegraphed right hand from Akira misses the target.
Grossman looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Grossman throws a right hand that Akira ducks under and follows up with a left that Akira also avoids with ease.
Hokuto Akira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akira waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Grossman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akira takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Akira gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Akira misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Akira fails to land.
Grossman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Akira on the inside.
Hokuto Akira has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Grossman misses with some punches.
Grossman tries to throw a body punch but Akira avoids it by throwing Grossman back against the ropes.
A shot in the inside from Akira.
Grossman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Grossman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Grossman misses with a hook from the clinch.
Grossman misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Grossman fails to land.
Grossman blocks an uppercut.
Grossman tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Akira lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Akira doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Akira doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Akira.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Akira throws a punch but it's blocked by Grossman.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Akira.
Grossman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Akira.
Akira misses with a hook to the ribs.
Grossman blocking some punches.
Good body shot from Grossman.
Grossman misses with the head strike.
Grossman blocks a body shot from Akira.
A short body shot lands from Akira as the two fighters clinch.
Akira misses with a punch on the inside.
Akira blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Grossman lands a body shot in the clinch.
Akira misses with a short punch on the inside.
Akira misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Grossman swings away with an uppercut that misses.
I was talking to Akira's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Grossman swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Akira prevents a body shot from Grossman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grossman misses with a punch on the inside.
Akira swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Akira blocking some punches.
Still in the clinch, Grossman scores with a nice short uppercut.
Akira blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A short uppercut from Akira.
Akira lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Grossman.
Grossman's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Akira tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Grossman's elbow.
Akira misses with the head strike.
Grossman lands with a short shot to the head.
Grossman lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Akira blocks an uppercut.
Grossman can't find room to land a body shot as Akira controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Akira.
Akira lands a nice shot to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Akira.
Grossman is breathing heavily.
Akira blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Grossman blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Akira blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grossman tries to throw a body punch but Akira avoids it by throwing Grossman back against the ropes.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Akira.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Akira lands a shoulder strike.
Grossman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Akira lands a right hand.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Akira.
Akira lands a right hand that snaps the head of Grossman backwards.
Akira wants to stall.
A short uppercut from Akira.
A right hook to the body lands for Akira.
Akira lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short right from Akira.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Akira.
Grossman misses with a shot to the kidneys.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Grossman creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Grossman takes a shot to the head.
Grossman misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Grossman fails to land.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hokuto Akira dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Akira misses with an uppercut.
Akira ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Grossman looks to throw the jab but Akira is out of range.
Akira misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A big right from Grossman misses.

Akira moves into the clinch successfully.
A short right from Grossman.
Grossman lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Grossman lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Akira backwards.
Akira goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grossman working aggressively here.
Grossman throws a punch but it's blocked by Akira.
Akira lands a nice uppercut.
Akira pushes Grossman back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Akira misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Akira stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Grossman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Grossman misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akira's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Grossman moves out of range of the strikes.
Grossman defending well as Akira loads up on a big left hand.
Grossman now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Grossman misses with a hook
and Akira connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Akira connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Grossman's hands.
Grossman has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Akira finds it's way round the side to connect with Grossman's head.
Grossman misses with a series of wild punches.
Akira uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Grossman has time to react.
Akira closes the distance looking to clinch
and Grossman counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Vasily Grossman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akira changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Akira lands a jab to the nose.
Akira clobbers Grossman with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hokuto Akira is winning the standup battle so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grossman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Good shot there by Akira.
Akira lands a nice shot that snaps Grossman's head back.
Akira throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Grossman to counter with a crisp jab.
Akira just misses with a punch to the body.
Akira is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A little jabbing left from Grossman on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Grossman misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grossman misses with an uppercut.
Good standup being displayed there by Akira as he connects with a hook.
Akira jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Akira scores with a body shot.
Grossman gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A cross from Akira lands.
Grossman circles away from the clinch attempt
and Grossman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Akira is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Akira lunges at Grossman with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Grossman's hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akira wants to clinch but Grossman slips to the side
and Akira takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Akira avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Akira rushes Grossman and presses him up against the ropes.
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!
Akira misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Akira taking a breather.
Akira lands with a short shot to the head.
Grossman swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Akira is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Grossman misses with a punch on the inside.
Akira lands a body shot in the clinch.
Grossman misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Grossman.
Akira tries to work over Grossman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Akira wants to stall.
Akira pushes Grossman back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Akira throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Grossmans head.
Grossman tries to throw a body punch but Akira avoids it by throwing Grossman back against the ropes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hokuto Akira showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Akira has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hokuto Akira!
Hokuto Akira decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.