PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Sanderson Reliford (ranked 23625 p4p, 5962 weight class) and Andrei Sobral (ranked 171 p4p, 167 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Reliford
vs
Sobral

208 cm
30
275
12 - 5 - 1

200 cm
21
265
8 - 6 - 0

Great elbows
Very quick

Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sanderson Reliford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Andrei Sobral!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Sobral misses.

Reliford tries to keep at a distance but Sobral has taken the fight into the clinch.
Our sources have told us that Reliford has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Reliford with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Reliford is trying to force a seperation but Sobral has the dominant position.
Sobral with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sobral swings wildly with an uppercut but Reliford uses good head movement to avoid it.
A hook to the body from Sobral.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Reliford throws an elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reliford struggles to land a body shot inside as Sobral controls his hands.

Sobral manages to break the clinch.
Sobral tries to clinch up.

Reliford has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reliford goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Sobral breaks from the clinch.

Sobral has managed to clinch.

Sobral's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Reliford throws a looping overhand right but Sobral ducks down to avoid it.
It seemed like Sobral was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Reliford gets tackled into the ropes by Sobral. Sobral maintains the clinch.
Reliford misses with a body punch.
Reliford is leaning against Sobral and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Reliford throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Sobral breaks from the clinch.
Sobral circles away from the clinch attempt.
Reliford tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sobral swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sobral throws a right and a left that Reliford avoids nicely.
Sobral throws out a leg kick but Reliford moves out of range and Sobral only half commits.
Reliford tries to clinch but Sobral moves away
and Sobral makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Reliford scores with the left hand. Sobral knows he should have avoided that one.
Sobral doesn't manage to clinch there - Reliford circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobral paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

It looks like Sanderson Reliford has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sobral tries to clinch up but Reliford circles away and keeps his distance.
Sloppy strikes from Sobral. Those never looked like landing.
Reliford tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Sobral manages to circle out of the way.
Sobral takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Reliford clinches up against the ropes.
Still in the clinch, Sobral scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sobral trying to land knees to the body.
Sobral wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Reliford has him pressed against the ropes.
Reliford throws a head punch that misses.

Reliford breaks from the clinch.
Reliford loads up on a big right hand but Sobral slips the punch.
Sobral throws a head kick but Reliford moves out of range.

Sobral pushes Reliford up against the ropes in a clinch.
Reliford has had enough of the clinch but Sobral keeps him there for the moment.
Sobral avoiding damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Sobral dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sanderson Reliford's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sobral fails to land with a series of punches.
Sobral defending well as Reliford loads up on a big left hand.
Sobral uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Reliford.

Sobral takes the fight into the clinch.

Reliford manages to break the clinch.
Sobral fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sobral tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Reliford manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Sobral drives through and clinches with Reliford against the ropes.

Sobral escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sobral connects with a jab.
Reliford misses with a straight right.
Sobral is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Reliford with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reliford thows a left - swing and a miss!

Sobral closes the distance and scores with a big combo that sends Reliford crashing to the mat! Reliford uses the ropes to get back to his feet and beat the count. The referee looks concerned but he's going to allow it to continue!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reliford throws a body shot but no joy.
Sobral throws a counter combo.

Sobral closes the distance and pushes Reliford back into the ropes.
Sobral has Reliford pressed against the ropes, preventing Reliford from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sobral is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Reliford is defending well for now.
Andrei Sobral seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reliford is trying to break free.
Reliford blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sobral scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Sobral breaks from the clinch.
Reliford moves in looking to clinch but Sobral pushes him off.
Sanderson Reliford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sobral moves into the clinch.
A short right from Sobral.

Reliford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Good standup being displayed there by Reliford as he connects with a hook.
Sobral fails with an attempt to clinch.
Reliford lands with a straight right. Sobral didn't see that one coming.
Reliford fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sobral moves in looking to clinch but Reliford pushes him off.

Sobral clinches.
Reliford wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sobral has him pressed against the ropes.
Reliford is trying to break the clinch but Sobral is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sobral manages to break the clinch.

Sobral closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Reliford misses with an elbow over the top.
Reliford has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Reliford misses with a hook from the clinch.

Reliford breaks from the clinch.
Andrei Sobral is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sobral rushes Reliford and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Sobral has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sobral lands a body punch in the clinch.
Reliford lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Reliford is trying to maintain a safe position but Sobral gets an underhook and turns Reliford into the ropes.

Sobral's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reliford throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Sobral pushes Reliford up against the ropes in a clinch.
Sobral dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Sobral with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Sobral takes that one, thanks to the knockdown.
The cut man is working on Sanderson Reliford's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Reliford looks to score with a jab to the body but Sobral is just out of range.
Sobral appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Sobral pushes Reliford up against the ropes in a clinch.

Sobral escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sobral throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sobral uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Reliford.

Sobral has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sobral using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Reliford has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Reliford struggles to land a body shot inside as Sobral controls his hands.
Sobral lands a shot to the body.
Reliford wants to break the clinch but can't.
Reliford lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Andrei Sobral has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sobral.
Reliford is trying to stall.

Sobral's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A decent looking cross lands there for Reliford.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sobral closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Reliford wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sanderson Reliford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
With the fighters up against the ropes, Reliford throws an elbow but misses.
Reliford wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sobral has him pressed against the ropes.
Sobral is struggling to control the position.
Reliford using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sobral has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Reliford looking to throw knees to the head but Sobral is blocking nicely.
Reliford is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Reliford is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Sobral has Reliford pressed against the ropes, preventing Reliford from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Reliford has a couple of punches blocked by Sobral.
Nice body punch from Sobral - that landed with a thud.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobral softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Sobral is trying to stall.

Sobral breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sobral takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sobral moves away from the strike by Reliford.

Sobral fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Reliford, pushing him back against the ropes.
Sobral misses with a knee strike.

Reliford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Reliford keeps the fight on the outside.
Andrei Sobral seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Reliford circles away from the clinch attempt.

Sobral has taken the fight to the clinch.
Reliford with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Sobral creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sobral trying to control the position but instead, Reliford has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sobral into the ropes.
Reliford looking to throw knees to the head but Sobral is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrei Sobral comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sobral 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 26:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrei Sobral!
After winning the bout, Andrei Sobral thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.