PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Hokuto Akira (ranked 2010 p4p, 22828 weight class) and Kyle Kovingten (ranked 243 p4p, 610 weight class). Kovingten has chosen Tool - Schism 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.

Akira
vs
Kovingten

176 cm
36
166
24 - 5 - 1

181 cm
32
164
32 - 17 - 2

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
KOMBAT KLOTHING

KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Hokuto Akira!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Kyle Kovingten!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kovingten throws a leg kick
and Akira counters with a nice uppercut.
Kovingten lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Akira checks a leg kick nicely.
Kovingten scores with a body shot.

Kovingten closes the distance and clinches.
Nice body punch from Kovingten - that landed with a thud.
Akira softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Akira tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Akira throws a head punch that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Akira.
Kovingten lands a nice uppercut.
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.
Akira misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from Akira.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Akira gets through Kovingten's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Akira breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kovingten throws a leg kick that misses.
Akira is looking to counter punch.
Kovingten throws a leg kick
and Akira counters with a nice uppercut.
Kovingten looks to score with a jab to the body but Akira is just out of range.
Akira moves out of range as Kovingten strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akira misses with an uppercut.
Akira takes a kick to the side of the head.
A left lands for Kovingten.
Akira moves out of range as Kovingten strikes.
Kovingten throws the kick towards the body but Akira avoids it.
Kovingten throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Akira stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nice jab there from Kovingten.

Kovingten gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Akira misses with a hook to the ribs.
Akira misses with a punch to the body.
Akira misses with the head strike.

Kovingten breaks from the clinch.
Akira misses with a hook
enabling Kovingten to counter with a crisp jab.
Kovingten ducks down and throws 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!
Akira missing with a left hand there. Kovingten was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akira avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kovingten misses with a double jab
enabling Akira to counter with a crisp jab.
Kovingten tries to close the distance and clinch but Akira swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kovingten throws a shot to the body.
Kovingten misses with an attempted mid kick.
Akira throwing a counter right hand but Kovingten manages to avoid it.
Kyle Kovingten seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akira misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kovingten.
Akira throws a jab when Kovingten was well out of range.
A big right from Kovingten misses.
It looked like Akira wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kovingten fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Akira has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kovingten throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
An attempted straight right counter from Akira misses the target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kovingten fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Akira misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kovingten throws a low kick but Akira moves out of range easily.
Akira scores with a nice right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Akira jabbing away but nothing is landing.

It looks like Kyle Kovingten has been cut.
Akira tries to clinch up but Kovingten circles away and keeps his distance.
Akira misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kovingten lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kovingten works the jab nicely.
Kovingten thumps Akira with a low kick.

Kovingten takes the fight into the clinch.
Akira misses with a punch to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kovingten.
Akira misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A hook to the body from Akira.
Kovingten blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Akira goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Akira softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Akira blocks a body shot from Kovingten.
Akira tries a body shot but Kovingten blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Akira.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akira lands a shoulder strike.
Akira trying to control the position but instead, Kovingten has worked for underhooks and has pushed Akira into the ropes.
Akira lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kovingten backwards.
Akira misses with a short punch on the inside.
Akira misses with some punches.

Akira breaks the clinch.
Akira takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kovingten with a hook.
Kovingten throws a lazy uppercut

and Akira counters with a perfectly timed counter left hook that drops Kovingten to the mat, face first! Akira goes to the neutral corner and waits for the referee to start the count. Kovingten is back to hise feet already though and looking to continue the bout! Exciting stuff!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kovingten takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kovingten has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

Akira drops a shoulder and throws a biiiig uppercut that drops Kovingten onto his butt! Kovingten pops straight back to his feet to convince the referee that he's OK to continue.

Kovingten is rocked!
Kovingten throws a body kick that misses.
Kovingten throws a leg kick
and Akira counters with a straight right that drops Kovingten to the canvas! Will Kovingten beat the count? He's still wobbly and as the count reaches 7, he's still struggling to make it. 8...9...10. He's out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Hokuto Akira!
Hokuto Akira retains his lightweight title!
Hokuto Akira seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.