PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Darwin Hampton (ranked 5945 p4p, 21210 weight class) and Alex Alexandrov (ranked 223 p4p, 564 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.

Hampton
vs
Alexandrov

188 cm
26
215
2 - 6 - 0

188 cm
40
205
32 - 41 - 0

Solid boxing
Experienced

Dangerous knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Darwin Hampton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 41 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Alexandrov!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Topper Green and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hampton swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Alexandrov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Alexandrov gets a clinch.
Hampton lands with a left to the head.
Hampton takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hampton tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A left hand lands to the body for Alexandrov.
Hampton lands with a right to the head.
Alexandrov struggles to land a body shot inside as Hampton controls his hands.
Alexandrov working aggressively here.
Hampton lands with a right to the head.
Alexandrov tries a body shot but Hampton blocks it.
Alexandrov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Alexandrov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hampton tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Hampton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hampton circles away from the clinch attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Hampton on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Alexandrov tries to clinch but Hampton moves away
and Hampton cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexandrov cracks a nice hook into Hampton's ribs.

Alexandrov takes the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hampton.
Hampton is trying to break the clinch but Alexandrov is controlling him.
Hampton is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Alexandrov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Alexandrov tries a knee to the head but Hampton blocks it.

Hampton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hampton avoids the head kick by Alexandrov.
Alexandrov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Alexandrov.
Hampton swats away the attempt to clinch by Alexandrov.
A little feinted left hand from Hampton on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Alexandrov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexandrov lands a body punch.
Alexandrov stalling in the clinch but Hampton improves position.
Hampton looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Alexandrov misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Hampton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hampton throws an overhand right that lands on Alexandrov's shoulder, as Alexandrov tries to avoid the shot.
Alexandrov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hampton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alexandrov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hampton manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Alexandrov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hampton counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Alexandrov tries to clinch up but Hampton circles away and keeps his distance.
Hampton keeps the fight on the outside.
Alexandrov with the inside leg kick.
Alexandrov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hampton swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alex Alexandrov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Alexandrov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alexandrov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hampton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hampton throws a lazy right hand but Alexandrov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Alexandrov throws a right hand that Hampton ducks under and follows up with a left that Hampton also avoids with ease.
As Alexandrov looks to move away, Hampton throws a big counter combo but Alexandrov just gets out of the way.
Alexandrov throws a right and a left that Hampton avoids nicely.
Hampton appears to be looking for a big counter.
Alexandrov is looking to clinch but Hampton is avoiding it.
Hampton was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Alexandrov doesn't manage to clinch there - Hampton circles away.

Alexandrov closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alexandrov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Alexandrov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hampton has had enough of the clinch but Alexandrov keeps him there for the moment.
Alexandrov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Alexandrov stalling.
Alex Alexandrov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexandrov pushes Hampton back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short left from Hampton.
Alexandrov misses with a body punch.
Hampton lands a right hand that snaps the head of Alexandrov backwards.

Hampton breaks from the clinch.
Alexandrov throws a head kick but Hampton moves out of range.
Alexandrov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Alexandrov looks low and kicks high, catching Hampton right on the side of the head, sending him crashing to the canvas! Will he be able to beat the count? 3,4,5 - he's already back to his feet and ready to go! Let's see if he's still with it!

It looks like Darwin Hampton has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Alexandrov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Alexandrov has Hampton pressed against the cage, preventing Hampton from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hampton tries to break the clinch but Alexandrov is controlling the position.
Hampton wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hampton is trying to break the clinch but Alexandrov is controlling him.
Hampton misses with a punch on the inside.
Hampton tries to break the clinch but Alexandrov is controlling the position.
Alexandrov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hampton blocks it with crossed arms.
Hampton working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Alexandrov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hampton's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hampton tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hampton has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Hampton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hampton scores with a punch to the head.

Alexandrov has Hampton up against the cage in a clinch.
Hampton lands with a left to the head.

Hampton breaks the clinch.

Alexandrov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hampton, pushing him back against the cage.
Alexandrov trying to stall but Hampton improves his position.

Hampton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alex Alexandrov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big left from Hampton misses.
Despite the aggression on Alexandrov's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Alex Alexandrov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Alexandrov rushes Hampton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hampton letting Alexandrov take a breather here.
Alexandrov tries to work over Hampton's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Alexandrov takes that one, thanks to the knockdown.
The cut man is working on Darwin Hampton's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Alexandrov closes the distance and scores with a big combo that sends Hampton crashing to the mat! Hampton uses the cage to get back to his feet and beat the count. The referee looks concerned but he's going to allow it to continue!
Alexandrov is looking to clinch but Hampton is avoiding it.

Alexandrov has taken the fight to the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hampton.
Hampton throws a head punch that misses.
Alexandrov taking a breather.
Alexandrov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Alexandrov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Alexandrov throws a nasty head kick that just misses. He throws another kick to the head of his opponent and almost takes it off! Hampton crumples to the floor and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Alex Alexandrov!
Alex Alexandrov seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.