PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Bryan Spong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Luchador (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bryan Spong has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Spong
vs
Luchador

183 cm
25
183 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

160 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good knees
Cuts easily

Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bryan Spong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, James Luchador!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Daniel Franklin and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spong tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Luchador manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Luchador forces Spong back against the ropes and clinches.
Luchador is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Spong tries to land knees in the clinch but Luchador avoids the damage to the body.
Luchador blocks a body shot from Spong.
Luchador blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Luchador avoiding damage as Spong throws knees to the body.
Luchador throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Spong blocks it with crossed arms.

Luchador's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Spong tries to clinch but Luchador moves away

and Luchador holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Spong avoiding damage as Luchador throws knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Luchador fails to land.
Luchador has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Spong missing with knees to the body.
Luchador prevents a body shot from Spong.
Luchador is trying to push Spong away but Spong has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Luchador stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Spong missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luchador tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Luchador gets through Spong's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Spong unloads a knee to the mid-section. Luchador lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Spong tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Luchador avoids it.
Luchador wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Luchador tries to break free but Spong pushes him back against the ropes.
Spong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Luchador.
Spong goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Spong is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Luchador is defending well for now.
Spong keeps control of Luchador as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Luchador is trying to force a seperation but Spong has the dominant position.
Luchador prevents a body shot from Spong.
Spong tries to land knees in the clinch but Luchador avoids the damage to the body.
Spong trying to control the position but instead, Luchador has worked for underhooks and has pushed Spong into the ropes.
Spong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Luchador.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luchador has had enough of the clinch but Spong keeps him there for the moment.
Luchador on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Spong blocks an uppercut.
Spong is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Luchador is defending well for now.
Spong is breathing heavily.
Luchador goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Luchador is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Luchador can't break the clinch.
Luchador avoiding damage as Spong throws knees to the body.
Spong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Luchador.
Luchador has Spong pressed against the ropes.
Luchador wants to get back to striking at distance but Spong won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Luchador can't break the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stalling in the clinch from Spong.
Luchador wants to stall.
Luchador looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Luchador will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Luchador misses with a wild body shot.
Luchador throws a right and a left that both miss.
Spong fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bryan Spong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Luchador throws a leg kick but Spong sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Spong looks to clinch
and Luchador counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Luchador closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Spong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Luchador.
Luchador leaning against his opponent.
Luchador is trying to break free.
Luchador managing to block the knees to the body from Spong.
Luchador blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Luchador effectively controlling the action here.
Spong tries a body shot but Luchador blocks it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Spong misses with a body punch.
Spong lands a body punch in the clinch.
Spong missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Luchador breaks the clinch.
Spong darts in trying to clinch

and Luchador counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Luchador.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Luchador on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Luchador's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Spong missing with knees to the body.
James Luchador seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Luchador trying to stall but Spong improves his position.
Spong trying to land knees to the body.
Spong misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Luchador stalling in the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Spong.
Spong stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Luchador's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Luchador avoiding damage as Spong throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luchador wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Spong.
Luchador wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Luchador wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Spong has him pressed against the ropes.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Luchador avoiding damage.
Spong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Luchador.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spong lands a knee to the body.
Luchador on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Spong takes a shot to the head.
Luchador is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Spong is trying to stall.
Spong is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Luchador is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Luchador will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Luchador throws a leg kick but Spong moved away.

Luchador rushes Spong and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Luchador is trying to break the clinch but Spong has him pressed against the ropes.
Spong trying to land knees to the body.
Luchador is trying to break the clinch but Spong has him pressed against the ropes.
Spong trying to land knees to the body.
Luchador wants to get back to striking at distance but Spong won't allow it.
Luchador tries a body shot but Spong blocks it.
Spong lands a good knee to the midsection. Luchador won't want to take too many of those.
Luchador wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Spong has him pressed against the ropes.
Luchador is looking to control Spong's arms but Spong gets an underhook and turns him. Now Luchador has his back to the ropes.
Spong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Luchador.
Spong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Luchador.
Spong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Luchador.

Luchador's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong missing with knees to the body.
Spong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Luchador.
Spong lands a nice knee to the body.
Spong avoids the elbow strike from Luchador, against the ropes.
Luchador is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Luchador tries to circle away but Spong has him pinned against the ropes.
Luchador is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Spong trying to land knees to the body.
Luchador has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Knees in the clinch landing for Spong.
Spong is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Luchador is defending well for now.
A frustrated look appears on Luchador's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Spong trying to land knees to the body.
Luchador stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Spong tries to land knees in the clinch but Luchador avoids the damage to the body.
Spong landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Luchador wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Luchador lands with a right to the head.
Knees to the body from Spong.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Spong misses with a punch to the body.
Spong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Luchador.
Luchador avoiding damage as Spong throws knees to the body.
Luchador misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Spong.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spong has Luchador pressed against the ropes, preventing Luchador from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Luchador managing to block the knees to the body from Spong.
Spong keeps control of Luchador as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bryan Spong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Luchador is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Spong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Luchador's elbow.

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 Bryan Spong.
I think Luchador has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Luchador!