PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Fung Hao Ming (ranked 2707 p4p, 4364 weight class) and African King (ranked 321 p4p, 454 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Hao Ming might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Long Arirang. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Hao Ming
vs
King

176 cm
29
155
7 - 4 - 0

180 cm
36
199
15 - 23 - 2

Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ajax Cloth
Hawaii Nutrition

Hawaii Nutrition
Ajax Cloth

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fung Hao Ming!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 23 - 2, fighting out of London, African King!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King scores with a head kick. Hao Ming tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Hao Ming tries to clinch up.
Despite the aggression on King's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Hao Ming takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Hao Ming lands with a right, followed by a left to the temple and King goes down! The ref sends Hao Ming to a neutral corner so he can begin the count. 3,4,5,6 and King is back to his feet. He seems a little groggy but the referee thinks he's OK to continue, so we're back to the action!

It looks like African King has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
King fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Hao Ming. Those never looked like landing.
King is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
King lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hao Ming throws an overhand right that lands on King's shoulder, as King tries to avoid the shot.
As Hao Ming backs off King throws a huge counter combo but Hao Ming manages to avoid it all.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hao Ming lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hao Ming lands a left hand.
King lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hao Ming blocks an uppercut.
I was talking to Hao Ming's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Hao Ming blocking some punches.
Hao Ming working aggressively here.
King working aggressively here.
King lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
King blocking some punches.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
King throws a head punch that misses.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that King has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
King has a couple of punches blocked by Hao Ming.
King misses with the head strike.
Hao Ming blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hao Ming tried to land a shot to the body but connects with King's elbow.
King tries to work over Hao Ming's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
King misses with a punch on the inside.
Hao Ming lands a right hand.
King swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hao Ming.
Hao Ming tries to throw a body punch but King avoids it by throwing Hao Ming back against the ropes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hao Ming stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short uppercut from Hao Ming.
A head punch on the inside from King fails to land.
Hao Ming lands a left hand that snaps the head of King backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by King.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by King as Hao Ming tries to tie him up.
King blocks an uppercut.
Hao Ming blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
King lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hao Ming backwards.
Hao Ming blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from King fails to land.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
King working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
King throws a head punch that misses.
King scores with a shot to the side of Hao Ming's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fung Hao Ming should take that round, based on the knockdown.
The cut man is working on African King's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Hao Ming is looking to clinch.
King lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
A head kick from Hao Ming lands but King takes it in his stride.
King misses with a jab, cross combination.
King lands with an uppercut that bounces Hao Ming off the ropes and back into range.

King tries to keep at a distance but Hao Ming has taken the fight into the clinch.

Hao Ming manages to break the clinch.
Fung Hao Ming is winning the standup battle so far.

Hao Ming rushes King and presses him up against the ropes.
Hao Ming swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
King misses with some punches.
Hao Ming lands a shoulder strike.
Hao Ming swings wildly with an uppercut but King uses good head movement to avoid it.
King lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hao Ming's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch on the inside from King fails to land.

Hao Ming's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
King throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hao Ming avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Hao Ming pushes King up against the ropes in a clinch.
King blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hao Ming blocks an uppercut.
King scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hao Ming tries to work over King's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hao Ming blocks a body shot from King.
King blocking some punches.
Hao Ming throws a head punch that misses.
Hao Ming blocking some punches.
King fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
King fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hao Ming lands a right hand that snaps the head of King backwards.
King struggles to land a body shot inside as Hao Ming controls his hands.
Hao Ming makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hao Ming swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for King.
Hao Ming misses with the head strike.
King lands with a right to the head.
Hao Ming has a couple of punches blocked by King.
A short right from Hao Ming.
King is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hao Ming is keeping busy.
A head punch on the inside from King fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hao Ming.
King misses with a punch on the inside.
Hao Ming taking a breather.
Hao Ming fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
King looking to stall.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but African King will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on African King's cut.
That's time! Hao Ming's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hao Ming throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
King is looking for the big counter here.
King ducks under a wild hook from Hao Ming.
Fung Hao Ming seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hao Ming misses with a head kick.
King sizes up Hao Ming with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
King misses with an attempted mid kick.
African King is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hao Ming lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hao Ming.
King tries to clinch up
and Hao Ming counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hao Ming was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hao Ming misses with a hook. King ducked under it nicely.
King is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hao Ming with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from King.
King fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

King gets tackled into the ropes by Hao Ming. Hao Ming maintains the clinch.
King working aggressively here.
Hao Ming tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hao Ming lands a hook that snaps the head of King backwards.
King misses with a punch on the inside.
African King seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hao Ming scores with a shot to the side of King's head.
Hao Ming doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A shot in the inside from Hao Ming.
King lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hao Ming scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hao Ming misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hao Ming tried to land a shot to the body but connects with King's elbow.
A short right from King on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A nice left hand lands by Hao Ming.
King blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, King creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hao Ming fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hao Ming lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hao Ming blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hao Ming prevents a body shot from King.
Hao Ming lands a hook that snaps the head of King backwards.
Hao Ming lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hao Ming gets through King's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hao Ming goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hao Ming works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
King lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hao Ming backwards.
King throws a head punch that misses.
King can't find room to land a body shot as Hao Ming controls the action.
King fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
King working some nice short punches in the clinch.
King throws a punch but it's blocked by Hao Ming.
King swings wildly with an uppercut but Hao Ming uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fung Hao Ming clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on African King's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hao Ming throws a looping overhand right but King ducks down to avoid it.
Hao Ming swings for the body but King moves out of range.
King throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hao Ming.
Hao Ming thinks about countering with a head kick.
A lazy left from Hao Ming finds it's target.
Hao Ming swats away the attempt to clinch by King.
King tries to clinch there but Hao Ming circles away.
Hao Ming throws a body kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - King throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
King throws a hook but Hao Ming avoids it easily.
African King has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as King checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from King does no damage.
Hao Ming rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and King counters with a stiff right hand.
Hao Ming cracks King with a good jab.
King tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It appears Hao Ming was looking to counter with a kick there.
Hao Ming throws a sloppy head kick
and King counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
King avoids the head kick by Hao Ming.
King follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Hao Ming throws a jab when King was well out of range.
King throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hao Ming misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - King looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hao Ming misses with a hook.
King let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Nice defenses there by King.
King uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hao Ming.
A jab from Hao Ming does it's job there.
Hao Ming throws a big shot that misses.
King thinks about the counter body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hao Ming dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hao Ming cracks King with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
King moves away from the strike by Hao Ming.
Fung Hao Ming is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
King throws a leg kick that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fung Hao Ming showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hao Ming 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 4 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 40:35
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 39:36
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 40:36

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fung Hao Ming!
Fung Hao Ming seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.