PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Nkosiyapha Ngwabeni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Cassio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Ngwabeni
vs
Cassio

185 cm
19
170 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

181 cm
19
174 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nkosiyapha Ngwabeni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Cassio!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ngwabeni lands a really nice looking cross but Cassio seems unphased.

Ngwabeni has managed to clinch.

Ngwabeni breaks the clinch.

Ngwabeni has Cassio up against the ropes in a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Ngwabeni breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ngwabeni tries to close the distance and clinch but Cassio swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A slow jab from Cassio misses its intended target.
Ngwabeni dips to his left and cracks Cassio with an uppercut!
Cassio ducks right into an uppercut from Ngwabeni.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cassio defending well as Ngwabeni loads up on a big left hand.
Cassio slips a jab and a cross from Ngwabeni.
Cassio fails to land with a series of punches.
Ngwabeni takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Ngwabeni forces Cassio back against the ropes and clinches.

Ngwabeni's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ngwabeni doesn't manage to clinch there - Cassio circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cassio tries to clinch but Ngwabeni moves out of range.
Cassio waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ngwabeni.

Ngwabeni clinches up with Cassio and pushes him back against the ropes.
Cassio is looking to break free of the clinch but Ngwabeni has double underhooks.

Ngwabeni breaks from the clinch.
Ngwabeni tries to bum rush Cassio with a series of wild strikes but Cassio uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cassio throws a body punch but Ngwabeni moves out of range.
Cassio misses with a wild body shot.
Ngwabeni feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Cassios jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Ngwabeni takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ngwabeni listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Ngwabeni steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cassio.

Ngwabeni gets a clinch.
Cassio tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cassio struggles to land a body shot inside as Ngwabeni controls his hands.
Ngwabeni lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ngwabeni breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ngwabeni tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cassio swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Ngwabeni clinches.
Cassio misses with a punch to the body.
Cassio misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Ngwabeni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cassio swats away the attempt to clinch by Ngwabeni.
Cassio throws an overhand right that lands on Ngwabeni's shoulder, as Ngwabeni tries to avoid the shot.
Ngwabeni avoids the body shot from Cassio.
Cassio looks to land a right hand but Ngwabeni moved out of range.

Ngwabeni clinches.

Ngwabeni breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ngwabeni moves out of range of the strikes.
Cassio jabs Ngwabeni right on the nose. Ngwabeni blinks but takes it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ngwabeni misses with a wild body shot.

Ngwabeni has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cassio has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Ngwabeni manages to break the clinch.
A punch combination from Cassio misses.
Cassio lands a nice hook to Ngwabeni's body. Ngwabeni takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ngwabeni misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cassio tries to clinch but Ngwabeni is having none of it.
Cassio loads up on a big right hand but Ngwabeni slips the punch.

Ngwabeni drives through and clinches with Cassio against the ropes.
Cassio fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Ngwabeni breaks the clinch.

Ngwabeni clinches.
Cassio struggles to land a body shot inside as Ngwabeni controls his hands.

Ngwabeni manages to break the clinch.
Cassio throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Cassio. Beautiful body shot.
Cassio ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ngwabeni defending well as Cassio loads up on a big left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cassio uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Ngwabeni has time to react.

Ngwabeni fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cassio, pushing him back against the ropes.

Ngwabeni breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ngwabeni keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Ngwabeni has taken the fight to the clinch.

Ngwabeni pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nkosiyapha Ngwabeni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cassio!
Cassio avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A punch combination from Ngwabeni misses.
Ngwabeni takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cassio takes a body punch but keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nkosiyapha Ngwabeni dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cassio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ngwabeni.
Joe Cassio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Ngwabeni has closed the distance and engaged Cassio in a clinch.
Cassio misses with a punch on the inside.

Ngwabeni pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ngwabeni is looking to clinch.
Ngwabeni throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Ngwabeni moves into range and clinches up with Cassio.

Ngwabeni breaks the clinch.
Ngwabeni thows a body shot but no joy.
Cassio throws a jab when Ngwabeni was well out of range.
Cassio throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ngwabeni is looking to clinch.
Cassio tries to close the distance and clinch but Ngwabeni swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ngwabeni.
Ngwabeni fails in his attempt to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Ngwabeni.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cassio misses with a straight right.

Ngwabeni moves into range and clinches up with Cassio.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Nice body punch from Ngwabeni - that landed with a thud.

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

Ngwabeni has taken the fight to the clinch.

Ngwabeni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ngwabeni swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ngwabeni misses with the combination.
Cassio throws a series of punches but Ngwabeni moves out of range.
Cassio misses with a jab to the body
and Ngwabeni counters with a one-two to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ngwabeni fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cassio manages to avoid it.
Cassio works Ngwabeni's body with a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cassio circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ngwabeni tries to close the distance and clinch but Cassio swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ngwabeni lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cassio circles away quickly and effectively.
Cassio uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Ngwabeni has time to react.

Ngwabeni moves into the clinch.
Cassio lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Cassio struggles to land a body shot inside as Ngwabeni controls his hands.
Ngwabeni makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Ngwabeni pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Cassio misses with an uppercut. Ngwabeni saw that one coming.
Nice shot by Ngwabeni.
Ngwabeni waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cassio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ngwabeni is looking to clinch but Cassio is avoiding it.

Cassio tries to keep at a distance but Ngwabeni has taken the fight into the clinch.

Ngwabeni breaks the clinch.
Ngwabeni uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cassio.
Cassio throws an overhand right that lands on Ngwabeni's shoulder, as Ngwabeni tries to avoid the shot.
Cassio falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ngwabeni counters by moving into the clinch.

Ngwabeni pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ngwabeni has managed to clinch.
Cassio misses with a punch to the body.
Nkosiyapha Ngwabeni has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Ngwabeni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ngwabeni misses with a two punch combination.
Ngwabeni uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cassio.
Ngwabeni connects with the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Cassio misses.
Nkosiyapha Ngwabeni is winning the standup battle so far.
Ngwabeni tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Cassio paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Ngwabeni moves into the clinch successfully.
Ngwabeni prevents a body shot from Cassio.
Cassio wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ngwabeni breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ngwabeni defending well as Cassio loads up on a big left hand.
Cassio throws a nice looking combination but Ngwabeni bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nkosiyapha Ngwabeni is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ngwabeni avoids the body shot from Cassio.
Ngwabeni lands a right hook to the body.

Ngwabeni moves into the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Ngwabeni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A swing and a miss from Cassio.
Cassio misses with a body shot.
Ngwabeni avoids the body shot from Cassio.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nkosiyapha Ngwabeni dominated that second round.
That's time! Ngwabeni's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cassio misses with the combination.
Ngwabeni tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Cassio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice shot lands for Ngwabeni.
Cassio swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ngwabeni uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cassio.
Ngwabeni tries to bum rush Cassio with a series of wild strikes but Cassio uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ngwabeni misses with a few strikes there.
Ngwabeni slips a jab from Cassio.
Cassio lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ngwabeni misses with a body shot.
Ngwabeni tries to clinch up but Cassio circles away and keeps his distance.
Cassio swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ngwabeni tries to clinch but Cassio is having none of it.
Cassio tries to clinch but Ngwabeni moves out of range.

Ngwabeni pushes Cassio up against the ropes in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ngwabeni pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ngwabeni walks into a left hand.

It looks like Nkosiyapha Ngwabeni has been cut.
Cassio takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Cassio lands with a good body shot.

Ngwabeni takes the fight into the clinch.
Cassio lands with a short shot to the head.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ngwabeni manages to break the clinch.
Ngwabeni works over Cassio's head and body with a nice combination.
Ngwabeni thuds a left hand into Cassio's body.
Ngwabeni wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ngwabeni jabs at Cassio's body.
Cassio wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ngwabeni showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cassio.

Ngwabeni clinches up with Cassio and pushes him back against the ropes.

Ngwabeni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A combination from Cassio does no damage.
Cassio misses with a two punch combination.
Cassio takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Ngwabeni clinches.

Ngwabeni breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cassio wants to clinch up but Ngwabeni keeps it at a distance.
Cassio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ngwabeni defending well as Cassio loads up on a big left hand.

Ngwabeni darts in and clinches Cassio up against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cassio can't break the clinch.

Ngwabeni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ngwabeni tests Cassio's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ngwabeni moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Ngwabeni closes the distance and clinches.

Ngwabeni breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ngwabeni tries to bum rush Cassio with a series of wild strikes but Cassio uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cassio throws a right and a left that both miss.
A left and a right from Cassio both land. Nice combination.
Some wild striking there from Ngwabeni.

Ngwabeni has closed the distance and engaged Cassio in a clinch.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ngwabeni slips a straight right by Cassio.
Cassio misses with a hook. Ngwabeni ducked under it nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cassio on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Ngwabeni gets a clinch.
Ngwabeni blocks a punch to the side of the head.

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

Ngwabeni gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cassio misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cassio struggles to land a body shot inside as Ngwabeni controls his hands.

Ngwabeni breaks from the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cassio tries to close the distance and clinch but Ngwabeni swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ngwabeni throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cassio fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ngwabeni manages to avoid it.
Cassio listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nkosiyapha Ngwabeni showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ngwabeni 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nkosiyapha Ngwabeni!
An out of breath Nkosiyapha Ngwabeni thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.