PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Ichabod Crane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronan Gaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Crane
vs
Gaara

190 cm
28
206 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

190 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Excellent MT
Very quick

Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ichabod Crane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ronan Gaara!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Nard Betker and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaara throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Gaara tries to score with a low kick but Crane moves his leg out of the way.

Crane clinches with his opponent.
Gaara connects with a knee to the head.

Crane breaks the clinch.
Crane jabs at Gaara's body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Gaara blocks a head kick by Crane.
Ichabod Crane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crane is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gaara looks to land a combination but Crane avoids it well.
Crane throws a one two combo.
Crane tries a head kick but it misses.
Gaara scores with a kick to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Crane tries to clinch up.
Crane fails in his attempt to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gaara throws a punch but it's blocked by Crane.
Gaara misses with a knee to the head.
Gaara has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Crane tries a knee to the head but Gaara blocks it.
Gaara can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaara lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gaara is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.

Crane pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Crane dodges the punch combination from Gaara.

Crane gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Crane breaks the clinch.
Gaara throws a leg kick but Crane sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Gaara throws a lazy right hand but Crane sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Crane dodges the punch combination from Gaara.
Gaara swinging wildly here.
Crane wants to clinch up but Gaara keeps it at a distance.
Gaara lands a jab to the head.
Crane looks to land a combination but Gaara avoids it well.
Crane tries to clinch up.
Crane lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Gaara misses.
Crane fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gaara looks for the body kick but Crane saw that one coming.
Crane misses with a jab, cross combination.
Crane tries to clinch but Gaara is having none of it.

Crane has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Crane misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gaara.

Crane pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Crane is looking to clinch but Gaara is avoiding it.
Crane tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gaara swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Crane closes the distance and pushes Gaara back into the ropes.
Gaara lands a knee to the head.
Gaara lands with a short shot to the head.
Gaara tries a knee to the head but Crane blocks it.
Gaara blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Crane wants to get back to striking at distance but Gaara won't allow it.
Gaara misses with a knee strike.
Crane with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gaara on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crane stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Gaara with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gaara tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Crane avoids it.

Crane breaks from the clinch.
Gaara swinging wildly here.
Danga de danga de dang - Crane scores with a four punch combination!
Gaara looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gaara looks to land a combination but Crane avoids it well.
Crane fails with an attempt to clinch.
Crane fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gaara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gaara lands the left hand.
Crane wants to clinch up but Gaara keeps it at a distance.
Crane plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Crane lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gaara lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Crane.
Crane is looking to clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gaara.
Gaara scores with a sloppy right hand. Crane should have avoided that one.
Gaara connects with a body shot that sends Crane's belly button to the back.
Crane misses with a series of wild punches.
Gaara pushes Crane away with a front kick.
Crane is looking to clinch.
Gaara stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Crane looks to land a combination but Gaara avoids it well.
Gaara misses with a series of wild punches.
Crane ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gaara moves away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gaara moves forwards but Crane connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Gaara misses with a wild combination.
Gaara cracks a nice hook into Crane's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichabod Crane dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Crane fails with an attempt to clinch.
Crane stalks Gaara and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gaara's face. Gaara staggers backwards, shaken.
Crane throws a leg kick

and Gaara holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Crane with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gaara trying to stall but Crane improves his position.
Gaara wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gaara misses with a punch on the inside.

Crane's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gaara looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Crane wants to clinch.
Ichabod Crane is winning the standup battle so far.
Crane doesn't manage to clinch there - Gaara circles away.
Gaara connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gaara throws a right hand that Crane ducks under and follows up with a left that Crane also avoids with ease.
Gaara throws the kick towards the body but Crane avoids it.
Gaara tries to bum rush Crane with a series of wild strikes but Crane uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gaara connects with a good right hand that stumbles Crane. Crane circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Crane throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Gaara counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Crane breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Crane tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Gaara paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gaara waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Crane.
Gaara avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gaara fails to land with a series of punches.
Crane wants to clinch up but Gaara keeps it at a distance.
Crane misses with a jab, cross combination.
A combination from Crane does no damage.
Gaara throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Crane's head.
Gaara scores with a nice strike.
Crane swinging wildly here.
Gaara thumps Crane with a low kick.
Ichabod Crane is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Crane tries to close the distance and clinch but Gaara swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gaara keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Gaara, right into the meat.
Crane is looking to score with low kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaara throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Crane.
Gaara throws a head kick that misses.

Crane moves into the clinch successfully.
Crane wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gaara lands with a light punch inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knees to the body from Gaara.
Gaara is trying to break the clinch but Crane is controlling him.
Gaara avoids a wild elbow strike from Crane.
Knees to the body from Crane.
Gaara swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Gaara using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Crane has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gaara scores with a knee to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Crane.
Crane blocks an uppercut.

Crane breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Crane tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gaara swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Crane takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gaara avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaara scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Good shot there by Gaara.
Crane on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Crane stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Gaara.
Crane misses with a two punch combination.
Crane takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Some wild striking there from Gaara.

Crane moves into range and clinches up with Gaara.
Gaara has had enough of the clinch but Crane keeps him there for the moment.
Gaara wants to get back to striking at distance but Crane won't allow it.
Crane's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Crane blocking some punches.
Gaara lands a shoulder strike.
Gaara avoiding damage as Crane throws knees to the body.
Crane slowing the pace effectively.

Crane pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Crane throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Crane pushes Gaara up against the ropes in a clinch.
Gaara is struggling to control the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gaara lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Crane breaks from the clinch.
Gaara misses with a body shot.
Crane fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gaara dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Crane. That did some damage!
Crane is looking to clinch but Gaara is avoiding it.
Gaara works over Crane's head and body with a nice combination.
Crane throws a sloppy head kick and Gaara moves out of range easily.
Gaara throws an overhand right that lands on Crane's shoulder, as Crane tries to avoid the shot.
Crane moves in looking to clinch but Gaara pushes him off.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gaara swinging wildly here.
Some wild striking there from Crane.
Crane blocks a head kick by Gaara.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronan Gaara showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Crane avoids a kick to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Crane looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gaara scores with a spinning back kick!
Crane walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Gaara checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Gaara throws a right hand that Crane ducks under and follows up with a left that Crane also avoids with ease.
Gaara throws a head kick that misses.
Crane's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Crane duly obliges.
Gaara circles away from the clinch attempt.
Crane misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Crane showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gaara.
Crane doesn't manage to clinch there - Gaara circles away.
Gaara misses with a series of wild punches.
Gaara lands a nice looking body kick.
Gaara tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Crane is able to avoid easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaara throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gaara lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Crane takes a swing at Gaara's ribcage but misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Crane.
Crane dodges the punch combination from Gaara.
Gaara throws a one two combo.
Gaara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Crane connects with an inside leg kick.
Crane tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Crane doesn't manage to clinch there - Gaara circles away.
Crane takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Gaara ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Crane moves away.

Crane clinches up against the ropes.
Gaara looking to throw knees to the head but Crane is blocking nicely.
Crane misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gaara.

Crane escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gaara connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crane moves in looking to clinch but Gaara pushes him off.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Crane clinches up against the ropes.
Gaara tries to stall but Crane uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gaara misses with a body punch.
Crane will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Gaara blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gaara.

Crane manages to break the clinch.
Gaara is looking to score with low kicks.
Crane throws a leg kick but Gaara sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Gaara throws a low kick but Crane moves out of range easily.
Crane keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gaara is looking to chop away at Crane's legs.
Crane throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
A clash of legs there as Gaara blocks the low kick.
Crane tries to clinch there but Gaara circles away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gaara.
Gaara lands a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crane is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No joy there for Gaara, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gaara throws a one two combo.
Gaara rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Crane moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gaara throws a series of punches but Crane avoids them all with ease.

Crane moves into the clinch.

Crane breaks the clinch.
Crane tries to clinch up.
Gaara avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Crane fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gaara, pushing him back against the ropes.
Gaara tries a body shot but Crane blocks it.
Crane tries to land a knee to the head but Gaara blocks with his arms.
Crane has Gaara pressed against the ropes, preventing Gaara from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gaara misses with a punch to the body.

Crane breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Crane rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gaara moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaara avoids the head kick by Crane.
Crane is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Crane is looking to clinch but Gaara is avoiding it.
Crane doesn't manage to clinch there - Gaara circles away.
Gaara lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Crane tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gaara swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gaara.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gaara thuds a left hand into Crane's body.
Gaara misses with a series of wild punches.
Gaara works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Crane tries to close the distance and clinch but Gaara swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Crane throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Gaara counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Crane tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Gaara paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gaara rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Crane moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ichabod Crane.
Well Crane 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ichabod Crane!