PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Kento Haraguchi (ranked 6264 p4p, 6120 weight class) and Cendrik Evans (ranked 279 p4p, 445 weight class). Evans has chosen KB as his entrance music. The key to victory for Kento Haraguchi has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Haraguchi
vs
Evans

175 cm
23
135
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
26
130
1 - 4 - 0

Solid boxing
Good chin

Good elbows
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kento Haraguchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cendrik Evans!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Edson Gomes and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Evans is looking to clinch.
Evans throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Evans avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Evans instigates a clinch.
Haraguchi taking a breather.
Evans keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Haraguchi's efforts to push away.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Evans as Haraguchi tries to tie him up.
Evans looking to slow down the pace here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haraguchi avoiding damage as Evans throws knees to the body.
Evans is trying to break free.
Evans wants to break free but Haraguchi has control.
Evans is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Haraguchi.
The referee calls for Haraguchi to work.
Haraguchi is trying to stall.
Evans is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Evans is trying to break free.
Haraguchi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Evans has him pressed against the ropes.
Evans is trying to force a seperation but Haraguchi has the dominant position.
Evans tries to land a knee to the head but Haraguchi blocks with his arms.
Haraguchi throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Haraguchi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Haraguchi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Evans keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Haraguchi's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haraguchi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Haraguchi has had enough of the clinch but Evans keeps him there for the moment.
Haraguchi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Evans is keeping busy.
Evans wants to break free but Haraguchi has control.
Evans wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Evans is trying to break free.
Evans keeps control of Haraguchi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Haraguchi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Evans circles away from the clinch attempt.

Evans has closed the distance and engaged Haraguchi in a clinch.
Evans is trying to maintain a safe position but Haraguchi gets an underhook and turns Evans into the ropes.
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 Kento Haraguchi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Evans lands with a good body shot.
Haraguchi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Haraguchi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Haraguchi sets himself, and Evans steps forward looking for the clinch! Haraguchi avoids it this time.
Evans avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Haraguchi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Evans blocks a jab.
Haraguchi misses with a few strikes there.
Evans throws a fast counter high kick but Haraguchi manages to duck under it in time.
Haraguchi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Evans showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Haraguchi.
Evans looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Haraguchi looks to land a combination but Evans avoids it well.
Haraguchi sets himself, and Evans steps forward looking for the clinch! Haraguchi avoids it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans avoids a kick to the body.
Evans avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Haraguchi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Haraguchi blocks a head kick by Evans.
Evans throws the kick towards the body but Haraguchi avoids it.
Evans pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Haraguchi tries to clinch but Evans is having none of it.
Haraguchi throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Evans tries to close the distance and clinch but Haraguchi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Haraguchi tries to close the distance and clinch but Evans swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Evans closes the distance looking to clinch
and Haraguchi counters with a three punch combo that has Evans backing up. Evans nods at Haraguchi to acknowledge the strikes.

Evans is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Haraguchi has closed the distance and engaged Evans in a clinch.
Evans is still on wobbly legs! Can Haraguchi finish him?
Haraguchi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Haraguchi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Haraguchi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Evans can do to turn this around?
Haraguchi creates a bit of distance and cracks Evans with a big uppercut! Evans goes down! The referee pushes Haraguchi away into a neutral corner and starts the count. 4,5,6,7. Will Evans make it up in time? He's still flopping around all over the place! The referee has called off the fight! Haraguchi takes it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:14 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Kento Haraguchi!
Cendrik Evans was interviewed post fight and said 'Congrats to the champ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'.