PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Sambo Sam (ranked 1899 p4p, 1375 weight class) and Viktor Kruglov (ranked 69 p4p, 49 weight class). Kruglov has chosen МИХАИЛ КРУГ - Владимирский централ as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sam
vs
Kruglov

185 cm
28
168
15 - 13 - 0

175 cm
27
179
15 - 8 - 0

Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

World class MT
Good gas tank

NARCOS

30th Century Beer Store
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sambo Sam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Viktor Kruglov!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sam misses with a straight left.
Sam on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kruglov. Kruglov obviously looking to wear him down.
Kruglov throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Kruglov moves away from the strike by Sam.
A countering left hand to the body from Kruglov misses.
Sam looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kruglov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sam clobbers Kruglov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kruglov jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kruglov looks to throw a body kick
and Sam counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kruglov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kruglov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sam's head.
A slow jab from Kruglov misses its intended target.
It looked like Sam was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kruglov.
Sam misses with a looping left.
Kruglov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kruglov throws a looping overhand right but Sam ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sam throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kruglov counters with a slapping leg kick.
A jab lands there for Kruglov.
Sam lands a right hook to the body.
Viktor Kruglov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sam ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sam throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sam takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kruglov cracks Sam with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

It looks like Sambo Sam has been cut.
Sam looks to throw the jab but Kruglov is out of range.
Sam displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kruglov throws out the jab.
A swing and a miss from Kruglov.
A head kick misses from Kruglov.
A swing and a miss from Kruglov.
An attempted straight right counter from Sam misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sam looks to score with a jab to the body but Kruglov is just out of range.
Kruglov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A head kick by Kruglov misses
and Kruglov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kruglov lands a leg kick that knocks Sam off balance momentarily.
Kruglov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Viktor Kruglov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kruglov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kruglov tries to land a front kick but Sam steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
It looked like Sam wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kruglov throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Sam counter with a right hand.
Sam blocks a low kick nicely.
Sam is looking to counter punch.
Sam throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kruglov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kruglov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kruglov lands a nice looking kick to the body. Sam takes a step back to recover.
Sam sizes up Kruglov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Kruglov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sambo Sam's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Kruglov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kruglov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Sam counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kruglov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sam counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A big left from Kruglov misses.
Sam was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Viktor Kruglov seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Kruglov lands a front kick to the face, that drops Sam to the canvas! Is he dazed or just shocked? He's back to his feet and the referee is going to allow him to continue the fight!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sam misses with a straight right.
Kruglov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sam swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A nice side step and Kruglov releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kruglov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kruglov throws a head kick that misses.
Sam is looking to counter punch.
Sam works Kruglov's body with a nice hook.
Sam avoids the head kick by Kruglov.
Kruglov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kruglov misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruglov throws a leg kick
and Sam counters with a stiff right hand.
Kruglov throws a head kick but Sam moves out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Kruglov there.
Kruglov looks to land a left hand but Sam moved out of range nicely.
Sam moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kruglov tries a head kick but it misses.
Kruglov moves out of range as Sam strikes.
Kruglov throws a hook to the side of Sam's head but Sam sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kruglov throws an off balance right hand
letting Sam counter with a right hand.
Kruglov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sam moves away.
Kruglov lands with a cross.
Sam checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruglov misses with the body kick
and Sam counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kruglov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sam.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kruglov throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Sam counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sam uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Kruglov misses with a hook
enabling Sam to counter with a crisp jab.
Sam takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A swing and a miss from Kruglov.
Kruglov avoids the body shot from Sam.
Sam connects with a single shot there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sam takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kruglov throws a big shot that misses.
Sam is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Sam displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kruglov throws out the jab.
A counter left hand to the body from Sam misses its target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Viktor Kruglov takes that one, thanks to the knockdown.
The cut man is working on Sambo Sam's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Decent striking displayed by Sam there.
Kruglov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A big left from Kruglov misses.
Sam swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kruglov misses with a looping left.
Sam keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sam is looking to counter punch.
Kruglov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kruglov misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Sam counter with a right hand.
Kruglov swings widly with a right hand
and Kruglov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruglov swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Sam connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Good shot there by Kruglov.
Kruglov throws a sloppy head kick and Sam moves out of range easily.
Sam bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sam appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruglov lands a jab to the head.
Kruglov scores with a hook to the body. Sam takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sam stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sam avoids the body shot from Kruglov.
A big right from Kruglov misses.
Kruglov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kruglov throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Sam connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kruglov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sam.
Kruglov misses with a looping right.
Sam displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kruglov throws out the jab.
An attempted straight right counter from Sam misses the target.
Kruglov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sam is able to avoid easily.
Sam appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Sam looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruglov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kruglov defending well as Sam loads up on a big left hand.
Kruglov throws a poor cross that misses
and Sam counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kruglov looks for the body kick but Sam saw that one coming.
Sam moves away from the strike by Kruglov.
Kruglov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sam takes a swing at Kruglov's ribcage but misses.
Kruglov looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Kruglov misses with a lunging right hand
and Sam counters with a nice uppercut.
A head kick by Kruglov misses
and Sam counters with a right hand to the body.
Kruglov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sam manages to avoid it.
Sam pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sam stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Viktor Kruglov just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Sambo Sam's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sam connects with a jab.
Sam moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A big right from Kruglov misses.
Sam moves out of range of the strikes.
Sam uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kruglov.
Kruglov throws a combination that misses
and Sam counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sam throws a series of punches but Kruglov moves out of range.
Sam staying out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick by Kruglov misses
and Sam counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kruglov throws a right and a left that Sam avoids nicely.
Sam was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Sam throws a hook but Kruglov avoids it easily.
Viktor Kruglov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kruglov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sam.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruglov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sam.
Kruglov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A counter left hand to the body from Sam misses its target.
Kruglov scores with a head kick.
Sam misses with a right hand
and Kruglov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kruglov connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kruglov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sambo Sam has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sam ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kruglov moves away.
Sam keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kruglov.
A little feinted left hand from Sam on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kruglov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kruglov throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Sam throws a hook but Kruglov avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Kruglov misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruglov misses with a hook
and Sam counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kruglov scores with a one two! Sam had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kruglov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sam bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sam is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kruglov misses the jab.
Sam is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kruglov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sam swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd cheers as Kruglov lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sam doesn't seem phased though.
Kruglov throws a body kick that misses
enabling Sam to counter with a crisp jab.
Sam uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kruglov.
Sam swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Kruglov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viktor Kruglov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kruglov 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 4 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Josh West scores the fight 35:40
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 35:40
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 35:40

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viktor Kruglov!
Viktor Kruglov thanked the fans post fight for their support.