PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between James DeGale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peter Phaan (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!

DeGale
vs
Phaan

198 cm
20
197 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

172 cm
23
197 lbs
6 - 6 - 1

Dangerous knees
Big right hand

Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James DeGale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Peter Phaan!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Saam Ante and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good standup being displayed there by DeGale as he connects with a hook.

Phaan rushes DeGale and presses him up against the ropes.
DeGale scores with a shoulder strike.
DeGale definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Phaan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Phaan tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
DeGale blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
DeGale lands a knee to the body.
DeGale misses with a knee to the head.
DeGale lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
DeGale landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Phaan looks winded!
DeGale crunches a lovely knee into Phaan's ribcage.
DeGale stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short right from DeGale on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. DeGale obliges.
DeGale lands a hook to the side of the head.
DeGale presses Phaan against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
DeGale landing some nice looking knees to the body.
DeGale landing knees to the body.
DeGale scores with a shoulder strike.
DeGale is struggling to control the position.
Phaan has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. DeGale seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Phaan can turn it around.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeGale utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
DeGale scores with a shoulder strike.
DeGale is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A short left from DeGale.
DeGale content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from DeGale.
DeGale is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Phaan is defending well for now.
DeGale scores with a knee to the head.
DeGale lands on the inside with an uppercut.
DeGale stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
DeGale lands a left hand that snaps the head of Phaan backwards.
DeGale stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short uppercut from DeGale.
DeGale displaying some good clinch control by pressing Phaan up against the ropes.
DeGale landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DeGale cracks Phaan with a nice body shot.
DeGale with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
DeGale avoiding damage.
Phaan takes a knee to the side of the body.
Come on DeGale - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
DeGale works on Phaan's body with a couple of short punches.
DeGale with a knee to the head.
DeGale scores with a knee to the head.
Phaan wants to break free but DeGale has control.
DeGale unloads a knee to the mid-section. Phaan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
DeGale lands a hook that snaps the head of Phaan backwards.
DeGale lands a hook that snaps the head of Phaan backwards.
DeGale lands a body shot in the clinch.
DeGale lands a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James DeGale dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

DeGale connects with a body shot.

Phaan moves into the clinch.
Phaan's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
DeGale leaning against his opponent.
DeGale lands a good knee to the midsection. Phaan won't want to take too many of those.
Phaan missing with knees to the body.
DeGale scores with a shoulder strike.
DeGale using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Phaan misses with a knee strike.
A nice left hand lands by DeGale.
DeGale landing knees to the head.
DeGale works on Phaan's body with a couple of short punches.
A short body shot lands from DeGale as the two fighters clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice right hand lands inside from DeGale.
DeGale scores with a knee to the head.
DeGale holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Phaan is breathing heavily.
DeGale lands a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeGale lands a right hand.
DeGale scores with a shoulder strike.
DeGale lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Phaan is rocked!
DeGale lands a hook that snaps the head of Phaan backwards.
Phaan is still on wobbly legs! Can DeGale finish him?
James DeGale has scored more points in the clinch so far.
DeGale is controlling Phaan's neck. DeGale unleashes a big knee up the middle! And another! Phaan goes down! Can he beat the count? 3,4,5,6... he's not going to make it! 9,10. It's all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). James DeGale!
A relieved looking James DeGale thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.