PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Stephen Steve (ranked 2958 p4p, 23074 weight class) and Malboe Tabitan (ranked 303 p4p, 488 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.

Steve
vs
Tabitan

180 cm
33
177
21 - 15 - 1

185 cm
27
192
0 - 1 - 0

Dangerous knees
Insanely flexible

Solid Muay Thai
Heavy handed

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 21 - 15 - 1, fighting out of New York, Stephen Steve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Malboe Tabitan!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Paul Gruel and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steve throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tabitan tries to counter by closing the distance.
Steve lands a nice hook to Tabitan's body. Tabitan takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Stephen Steve seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steve throws the left hand but Tabitan avoids the punch easily.
Tabitan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Steve misses with a body shot.
The crowd cheers as Steve lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tabitan doesn't seem phased though.
Tabitan throws the kick towards the body but Steve avoids it.
Steve lands a jab to the nose.
Steve moves out of range as Tabitan throws a body kick.
Tabitan blocks the body kick.
Tabitan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Tabitan takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Tabitan moves forwards but Steve connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Steve feints and then cracks Tabitan's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tabitan down.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Steve misses with a low kick.
The fighters circling - Tabitan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tabitan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Steve.
Steve throws a low kick but it's checked well by Tabitan.
Tabitan is looking to score with low kicks.
A combination from Tabitan does no damage.
A little feinted left hand from Steve on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tabitan takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sloppy strikes from Tabitan. Those never looked like landing.
Steve tries to land a front kick but Tabitan steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Steve sets himself, and Tabitan steps forward looking for the clinch! Steve avoids it this time.
Steve throws a hook to the side of Tabitan's head but Tabitan sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Steve sizes up Tabitan with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Tabitan tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Steve manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A bone on bone clash there as Steve blocks the leg kick.
Steve throws the left hand but Tabitan avoids the punch easily.
Steve throws a jab when Tabitan was well out of range.
Steve attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Tabitan tries to counter by closing the distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tabitan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tabitan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Steve throws a head kick but Tabitan moves out of range.
Tabitan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steve swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Steve is looking to slow Tabitan down with leg kicks.
Steve is looking to chop away at Tabitan's legs.
Tabitan was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Tabitan wants to clinch.
Steve throws a shot to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Steve throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Steve pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tabitan tries to clinch
enabling Steve to counter with a crisp jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Steve dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Steve misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tabitan.
Steve ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tabitan moves away.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Steve.
Tabitan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steve swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Steve looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Tabitan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tabitan wants to clinch.
Tabitan tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Steve counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve misses with a kick to the body.
Steve lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A cross from Steve lands.
Tabitan doesn't manage to clinch there - Steve circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tabitan falls off balance throwing a combination

and Steve holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Steve.
Tabitan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Steve creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Steve throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tabitan blocks it with crossed arms.
Tabitan tries to break the clinch but Steve is controlling the position.
Tabitan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Steve tries a knee to the head but Tabitan blocks it.
Steve is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Steve connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Malboe Tabitan has been cut.
Tabitan has had enough of the clinch but Steve keeps him there for the moment.
Steve is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tabitan can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tabitan stalling in the clinch but Steve improves position.
Tabitan is trying to break the clinch but Steve has him pressed against the ropes.

Steve breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Steve moves into the clinch successfully.
Steve throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tabitan wants to break the clinch but can't.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Steve.
Steve lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tabitan backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tabitan trying to stall but Steve improves his position.
Steve lands a nice uppercut.

Steve breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Steve looks to score with a jab to the body but Tabitan is just out of range.
Tabitan is looking for the big counter here.

Steve has taken the fight to the clinch.
Steve prevents Tabitan from breaking the clinch.
Steve lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Steve dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Malboe Tabitan's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Steve takes the fight into the clinch.
Steve lands with a light punch inside.
Steve lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Steve lands with a light punch inside.
Tabitan is trying to break free.
Tabitan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tabitan struggles to land a body shot inside as Steve controls his hands.
Tabitan avoiding damage as Steve throws knees to the body.
Tabitan has had enough of the clinch but Steve keeps him there for the moment.
Steve scores with a nice hook to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Steve.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steve breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tabitan tries to close the distance and clinch but Steve swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jab from Steve.
Steve tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tabitan was well out of range. Poor timing from Steve.
Steve buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Steve digs a good body shot into Tabitan's ribs.
Steve works Tabitan's body with a nice hook.
Steve throws a quick inside leg kick.
Steve tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tabitan was well out of range. Poor timing from Steve.

Steve closes the distance and pushes Tabitan back into the ropes.
Steve lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tabitan backwards.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Steve as Tabitan tries to tie him up.
Steve lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tabitan backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve pushes Tabitan back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steve lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Tabitan is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Steve is keeping busy.
Steve lands a good knee to the midsection. Tabitan won't want to take too many of those.
Tabitan taking a breather.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Steve creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Tabitan has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Steve seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Tabitan can turn it around.
Steve lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tabitan.
Tabitan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Steve has Tabitan pressed against the ropes, preventing Tabitan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Steve unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Steve breaks from the clinch.
Tabitan tries a head kick but it misses.
Tabitan shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Stephen Steve is winning the standup battle so far.
Steve comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Steve clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Malboe Tabitan's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A solid leg kick lands there for Steve.
Tabitan wants to clinch.

Steve clinches up against the ropes.
Steve scores a nice knee to the body.
Steve lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Steve manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Tabitan looks to clinch
and Steve counters with a thumping low kick.
Tabitan checks a leg kick.

Steve moves into range and clinches up with Tabitan.
Tabitan is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Steve is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve scores with a shoulder strike.
A short left from Steve.
Steve lands a hook to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Steve.

Steve breaks the clinch.
Tabitan tries to clinch but Steve moves away
and Steve counters with a straight right hand.
Tabitan tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Steve counters with an outside leg kick.
Steve connects with a solid leg kick.
Steve scores with a kick to the midsection.

Steve moves into the clinch.

Steve breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tabitan is looking to clinch.

Steve rushes Tabitan and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Steve lands a hook to the side of the head.
Stephen Steve is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Steve here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Steve breaks the clinch.
Tabitan is looking to clinch but Steve is avoiding it.
Steve pivots, looking for a leg kick but Tabitan is out of range and Steve settles back down.
Tabitan unleashes a big counter combination but Steve bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Steve throws a push kick but Tabitan slaps the foot to one side.
That kick from Steve tenderised Tabitan's leg. Tabitan is trying to keep his angry face on.
An inside leg kick lands from Steve.
Tabitan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Steve swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Steve scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tabitan doesn't seem bothered though.
Steve is looking to wear down Tabitan with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Tabitan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Steve showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Steve 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 40:33
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 40:33
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 40:33

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Steve!
A relieved looking Stephen Steve thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.