PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Joe Steward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dixen Cider (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Steward
vs
Cider

170 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Excellent MT
Big heart

Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joe Steward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dixen Cider!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steward avoids the body shot from Cider.
Steward throws a right hand that Cider ducks under and follows up with a left that Cider also avoids with ease.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cider blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cider is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Steward avoiding damage as Cider throws knees to the body.
Steward managing to block the knees to the body from Cider.
Steward blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cider looking to slow down the pace here.
Cider lands an elbow inside that Steward shrugs off.
Steward misses with a hook to the ribs.
Steward blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Steward tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cider's elbow.
Steward lands a shot to the body.
Steward misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Steward fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Steward avoiding damage as Cider throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steward misses with a punch to the body.
Cider is struggling to control the position.
Steward swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cider blocks an uppercut.
Steward blocks an elbow strike.
Steward misses with the head strike.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Steward misses with a body punch.
Cider will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Steward up against the ropes.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Steward tries to throw a body punch but Cider avoids it by throwing Steward back against the ropes.
Cider blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steward misses with a punch on the inside.
Steward struggles to land a body shot inside as Cider controls his hands.
Steward throws a head punch that misses.
Cider looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Steward blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cider lands an elbow just above Steward 's eye.
Cider is trying to maintain a safe position but Steward gets an underhook and turns Cider into the ropes.
Cider gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Steward fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Cider misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Steward.
Cider is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Steward is defending well for now.
Steward tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cider's elbow.
Steward is trying to maintain a safe position but Cider gets an underhook and turns Steward into the ropes.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cider.
Cider looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head punch on the inside from Steward fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steward.
Steward lands a right hand.
Steward tries to throw a body punch but Cider avoids it by throwing Steward back against the ropes.
Cider tries to stall but Steward uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Cider looking to stall.
Steward blocks an elbow strike.
Cider lands a damaging elbow.
Steward throws a head punch that misses.
Cider trying to land knees to the body.
Steward misses with a hook to the ribs.
Steward working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Steward takes an elbow to the forehead.
Steward blocks the elbow strike.
A head punch on the inside from Steward fails to land.
Cider blocking some punches.
Cider gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Steward.
Steward lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cider blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steward blocks an elbow strike from Cider.
Cider blocking some punches.
Cider blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Steward blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short right from Steward on the inside.
Cider blocking some punches.
Steward lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cider blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steward throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ciders head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Cider pushes off an throws an elbow but Steward leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Steward tries a body shot but Cider blocks it.
Good body shot from Steward.
Cider blocks a body shot from Steward.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steward makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Steward blocks the elbow strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steward.
Cider blocks an uppercut.
Steward lands a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Steward dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Steward throws a right and a left that Cider avoids nicely.
Nice uppercut there from Steward.
Cider dodges the punch combination from Steward.
Cider ducks right into an uppercut from Steward.

Cider has taken the fight to the clinch.
Steward misses with a body punch.
Steward tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Cider throws an elbow but misses.
Cider blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Cider lands a damaging elbow.
Steward letting Cider take a breather here.
Cider is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Steward is defending well for now.
Steward working aggressively here.
The referee is keeping an eye on Cider - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Steward dodges an elbow strike from Cider.
Cider blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steward misses with the head strike.
Cider blocking some punches.
Steward working aggressively here.
Cider looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Cider is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Steward is defending well for now.
Cider is pushing Steward up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Joe Steward has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Steward lands with a left to the head.
Steward misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steward swings away with an uppercut that misses.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Cider throws an elbow but misses.
Steward misses with a body punch.
Steward misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cider throws an elbow but it misses.
Steward tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cider's elbow.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Cider just misses with a elbow thrown towards Steward's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steward blocks the elbow strike.
Steward lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Steward tries to throw a body punch but Cider avoids it by throwing Steward back against the ropes.
Steward lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Steward lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cider backwards.
Steward doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cider stalling in the clinch but Steward improves position.
Steward tries to stall but Cider uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Steward blocks an elbow strike.
Cider is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Steward is defending well for now.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Cider just misses with a elbow thrown towards Steward's brow.
Cider tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Steward avoids it.
Cider prevents a body shot from Steward.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Steward misses with some punches.
Cider looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Cider throws an elbow but it misses.
Cider will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Steward up against the ropes.
Steward lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steward misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cider blocking some punches.
Steward tries to work over Cider's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Steward can't find room to land a body shot as Cider controls the action.
Steward blocks the elbow strike.
Steward struggles to land a body shot inside as Cider controls his hands.
Steward misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cider tries to land knees in the clinch but Steward avoids the damage to the body.
Steward lands a body shot in the clinch.
Steward lands with a right to the head.
Cider throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Cider stalling in the clinch but Steward improves position.
Cider throws an elbow but it misses.
Steward swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cider blocking some punches.
Steward working aggressively here.
Steward on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steward managing to block the knees to the body from Cider.
A nice right hand lands inside from Steward.
Steward misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Steward.
Cider blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steward misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short uppercut from Steward.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cider blocks an uppercut.
Steward throws a punch but it's blocked by Cider.
Steward misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cider misses with a hook from the clinch.
A body shot lands from Steward.
Steward throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Steward fails to land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cider trying to land knees to the body.
Cider looking to slow down the pace here.
Cider tries to land knees in the clinch but Steward avoids the damage to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Steward dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Steward fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A jab lands there for Steward.
Steward looks to land a combination but Cider avoids it well.
Steward with a nice cross.
Steward tests Cider's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Dixen Cider seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cider clinches up with Steward and pushes him back against the ropes.
Cider tries to land knees in the clinch but Steward avoids the damage to the body.
Steward can't find room to land a body shot as Cider controls the action.
Steward swings wildly with an uppercut but Cider uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cider dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Steward tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cider throws a punch but it's blocked by Steward.
Cider trying to stall but Steward improves his position.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Cider.
Steward lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cider or not.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cider comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Steward works on Cider's body with a couple of short punches.
Steward blocks an elbow strike.
Steward blocks an elbow strike from Cider.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Cider misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Steward.
Cider blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steward blocks the elbow strike.
Steward tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Steward takes an elbow to the temple.
A short left from Steward.
Cider trying to control the position but instead, Steward has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cider into the ropes.
Steward avoiding damage as Cider throws knees to the body.
Cider takes a shot to the head.
Cider trying to land knees to the body.
Steward lands with a right to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steward swings wildly with an uppercut but Cider uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cider tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Steward fails to land.
Steward lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cider backwards.
Steward dodges an elbow strike from Cider.
Cider pushes off an throws an elbow but Steward leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Cider pushes off an throws an elbow but Steward leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Steward lands a shot to the body.
Cider takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cider blocking some punches.
Cider lands a damaging elbow.
Steward tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cider's elbow.
Steward misses with some punches.
Steward lands with a right to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Steward working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Cider takes a shot to the head.
Steward misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steward blocks an elbow strike from Cider.
Steward has a couple of punches blocked by Cider.
Steward lands a right hand.
A right handed body shot lands from Steward.
Steward goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Steward goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Steward avoiding damage as Cider throws knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steward.
Steward swings wildly with an uppercut but Cider uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steward tries to stall but Cider uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Steward avoids the elbow strike from Cider, against the ropes.
Steward lands a left hand.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Cider throws an elbow but misses.
Steward blocks an elbow strike.
Cider lands an elbow inside that Steward shrugs off.
Steward managing to block the knees to the body from Cider.
Dixen Cider has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cider is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Steward swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Steward on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cider blocking some punches.
Cider blocking some punches.
Cider trying to stall but Steward improves his position.
Steward working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Cider is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Steward misses with a punch to the body.
Steward lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Cider just misses with a elbow thrown towards Steward's brow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cider trying to land knees to the body.
Cider is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steward.
Steward misses with a body punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Steward showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Steward 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Steward!