PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Puff Dragon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Staton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Dragon
vs
Staton

187 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
218 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Great elbows
Cardio machine

Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Puff Dragon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Staton!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dragon throws a sloppy head kick and Staton moves out of range easily.
Dragon throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Staton counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Staton checks the leg kick nicely there.
Dragon throws a right hand that misses
and Staton counters with a nice leg kick.
Dragon takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Dragon misses with a left hand
and Staton counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Dragon takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Dragon stuns Staton with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A low kick from Dragon is predictable there
and Staton counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
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!
Dragon misses with a low kick.
Staton slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Staton there.
Nice defenses there by Dragon.
Staton connects with a body shot that sends Dragon's belly button to the back.
Puff Dragon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Staton ducks right into an uppercut from Dragon.
Dragon plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragon pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dragon takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Dragon connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Dragon's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Dragon duly obliges.
Staton slips under a jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Dragon.
Dragon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dragon tries to clinch there but Staton circles away.
Dragon misses with a wild body shot.
Staton misses with a wild body shot.
Staton fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Dragon is out of range.
Staton blocks a low kick nicely.
Dragon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staton takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Dragon throws a wild body kick that Staton sees coming a mile off.
Staton connects with a body shot that sends Dragon's belly button to the back.
Staton with a hook.

It looks like Puff Dragon has been cut.
Staton scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Dragon misses with a body kick.
Staton scores with a shot to the body.
Dragon looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Staton feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Dragon's calf.
Dragon throws a leg kick
and Staton counters with a right hand to the body.
Dragon thuds his shin into the meat of Staton's side.
Dragon wants to clinch but Staton slips to the side
and Staton counters with a leg kick.
Staton uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dragon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staton keeps the fight on the outside.
Dragon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
An inside leg kick lands from Staton.
Staton is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Dragon rather than just go for the knockout.
Staton throws a big shot that misses.
Dragon turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Dragon keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Staton takes a swing at Dragon's ribcage but misses.

Dragon closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Dragon wants to break free but Staton has control.
Dragon blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Staton working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Staton tries to land knees in the clinch but Dragon avoids the damage to the body.
Staton throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dragon has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staton misses with a knee strike.
Staton landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dragon lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Michael Staton has been cut.
Staton lands a nice uppercut.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Dragon just misses with a elbow thrown towards Staton's brow.
A short right from Staton.
Staton avoiding damage as Dragon throws knees to the body.
Staton presses Dragon against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Dragon lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Staton.
Staton misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dragon.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Staton misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dragon missing with knees to the body.
Staton blocks a body shot from Dragon.
Staton trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Puff Dragon will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Staton takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Dragon wants to land a leg kick but Staton is out of range.
Dragon blocks the body kick.
Dragon lands a lovely overhand right.
Dragon bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Staton's head.
Staton throws a body kick that misses.
Staton fakes the leg kick and cracks Dragon in the body.
Staton takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dragon is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Staton.
Staton throws a push kick but Dragon slaps the foot to one side.
Dragon throws a right hand that Staton ducks under and follows up with a left that Staton also avoids with ease.
Dragon throws out a leg kick but Staton moves out of range and Dragon only half commits.
A slapping leg kick lands for Dragon.
Dragon connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragon lands a lovely overhand right.
Dragon's corner calls for a 1-2. Dragon obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Staton throws a solid leg kick but Dragon takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Staton.
Staton looks to land a body kick but Dragon moved away.
Dragon misses with a right hand
and Staton counters with a nice leg kick.
Dragon misses the shot to the body.
Dragon just misses with a punch to the body.
Dragon tries to clinch there but Staton circles away.

Staton tries to keep at a distance but Dragon has taken the fight into the clinch.
Dragon tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Staton avoids it.
Dragon missing with knees to the body.
Staton comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Staton unloads a knee to the mid-section. Dragon lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dragon missing with knees to the body.
Dragon gets through Staton's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Staton avoiding damage as Dragon throws knees to the body.
Dragon managing to block the knees to the body from Staton.
Staton dodges an elbow strike from Dragon.
A short right from Dragon on the inside.
Dragon looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Dragon takes a knee to the side of the body.
Staton blocks an elbow strike.
Dragon has had enough of the clinch but Staton keeps him there for the moment.
Staton blocks the elbow strike.
Dragon is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Staton lands a knee to the head.
Staton misses with an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Staton trying to stall but Dragon improves his position.
Dragon stalling in the clinch but Staton improves position.
A head punch on the inside from Staton fails to land.
Staton tries a knee to the head but Dragon blocks it.
Staton trying to land knees to the body.
Staton throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dragon blocks it with crossed arms.
Dragon swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dragon on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dragon pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Dragon stalling against the ropes.
Dragon lands an elbow that stopped Staton in his tracks for a moment.

Dragon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dragon lands a jab.
Dragon darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Dragon is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Dragon clinches up against the ropes.
Dragon takes an elbow to the temple.
Dragon doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Staton lands an elbow inside.
Dragon blocks an elbow strike.
Staton is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Dragon prevents a body shot from Staton.
Staton lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Puff Dragon's cut is getting worse.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Dragon throws an elbow but misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Staton lands a knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Staton landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Dragon on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dragon throws an elbow but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Puff Dragon dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Staton with a hook.
Dragon takes one on the button.
Dragon lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Staton scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Dragon gets a clinch.
Staton lands a body shot.
Staton throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dragon blocks it with crossed arms.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Staton using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Dragon misses with an elbow over the top.
Staton lands an elbow inside.
Staton has Dragon pressed against the ropes, preventing Dragon from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dragon avoiding damage as Staton throws knees to the body.
Dragon is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Staton missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Staton dodges an elbow strike from Dragon.
Dragon creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Staton's defenses.
Staton looking to throw knees to the head but Dragon is blocking nicely.
Dragon is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Staton avoids a wild elbow strike from Dragon.
Dragon avoiding damage as Staton throws knees to the body.
Dragon throws an elbow that misses.
Dragon on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The referee calls for Staton to work.
Dragon takes an elbow to the temple.
Michael Staton seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Staton blocks an elbow strike from Dragon.
Dragon avoids the elbow strike from Staton, against the ropes.
Knees to the body from Staton.
Michael Staton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dragon misses with an elbow over the top.
Dragon throws an elbow but it misses.
Dragon creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Staton's defenses.
Dragon misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dragon throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dragon managing to block the knees to the body from Staton.
Dragon pushes off an throws an elbow but Staton leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Staton misses with a knee to the head.
Staton managing to block the knees to the body from Dragon.
Dragon misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Staton.
Dragon throws an elbow that misses.
Staton goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Staton goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Staton dodges an elbow strike from Dragon.
Dragon is trying to break the clinch but Staton is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Staton crunches a lovely knee into Dragon's ribcage.
Dragon creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Staton blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Staton is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dragon is defending well for now.
Dragon lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Staton lands a nice uppercut.
Dragon wants to stall.
Dragon pushes off an throws an elbow but Staton leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Staton is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dragon is defending well for now.
Staton unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Staton is leaning against Dragon and scores with a nice uppercut 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!
Staton crunches a lovely knee into Dragon's ribcage.
Dragon takes an elbow to the temple.

Puff Dragon's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Dragon misses with an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Dragon misses with an elbow over the top.
Dragon avoiding damage as Staton throws knees to the body.
Dragon is looking to control Staton's arms but Staton gets an underhook and turns him. Now Dragon has his back to the ropes.
Staton misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dragon.
Staton lands a nice uppercut.
Staton avoiding damage as Dragon throws knees to the body.
Staton using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dragon has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dragon has a couple of punches blocked by Staton.
Staton tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dragon wants to break the clinch but can't.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Staton misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dragon.
Staton misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dragon.
Puff Dragon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Staton misses with a knee to the head.
Staton using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dragon has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Staton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dragon has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Puff Dragon!