PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Niles Vertebral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcos Maidana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vertebral comes to the cage accompanied by Hemlock | No Time For Sorrow. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Vertebral
vs
Maidana

175 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Excellent boxer
Big heart

Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight 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, Niles Vertebral!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marcos Maidana!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Sandra Marshall and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vertebral missing with a left hand there. Maidana was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Maidana moves into the clinch.
Vertebral is trying to force a seperation but Maidana has the dominant position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vertebral.
Vertebral definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Maidana blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Maidana.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Maidana has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Vertebral keeps control of Maidana as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Vertebral swings wildly with an uppercut but Maidana uses good head movement to avoid it.
A frustrated look appears on Maidana's face as he tries to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vertebral stalling in the clinch but Maidana improves position.
Maidana tries to break free but Vertebral pushes him back against the cage.
Vertebral misses with a hook to the ribs.

Maidana escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Niles Vertebral seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vertebral lands a jab to the head.
Vertebral throws an overhand right that lands on Maidana's shoulder, as Maidana tries to avoid the shot.

Maidana has managed to clinch.

Maidana breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Vertebral lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Maidana has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Maidana and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Maidana pushes Vertebral up against the cage in a clinch.
Maidana dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Vertebral is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short left from Maidana.
Maidana has had enough of the clinch but Vertebral keeps him there for the moment.
Maidana throws an elbow that misses.
Maidana is trying to push Vertebral away but Vertebral has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Vertebral has a couple of punches blocked by Maidana.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maidana breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vertebral uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maidana.
Vertebral throwing a counter right hand but Maidana manages to avoid it.
Vertebral throws a nice looking combination but Maidana bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vertebral wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Maidana doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maidana scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Vertebral cracks Maidana with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Niles Vertebral is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sloppy strikes from Maidana. Those never looked like landing.
Vertebral scores with a decent looking hook.
Maidana takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Vertebral connects with a jab.
Maidana lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A shot to the body from Vertebral misses
enabling Maidana to counter with a crisp jab.
Vertebral lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Vertebral.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vertebral dips to his left and cracks Maidana with an uppercut!
Vertebral throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maidana unleashes a big counter combination but Vertebral bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Vertebral lands a nice shot to the body.
Maidana looks winded!
Maidana is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vertebral lands a head shot.
Maidana tries to clinch
and Vertebral makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Vertebral jabs at Maidana's body.
Vertebral connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Marcos Maidana has been cut.
Maidana takes one on the button.
Vertebral cracks a nice hook into Maidana's ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vertebral connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Jab from Vertebral.

Maidana is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Vertebral.
Vertebral misses with a double jab.
Vertebral lands a nice hook to Maidana's body. Maidana takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Maidana takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Vertebral comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Maidana on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Maidana dodges the punch combination from Vertebral.
Maidana takes a jab right on the kisser.
Vertebral scores with a punch to the head.
Vertebral lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Maidana at a distance.
Maidana takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Vertebral is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Vertebral lands a nice shot to the body.
Vertebral lands a jab-cross combination.
Vertebral lands with a hook. Maidana tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Vertebral cracks a nice hook into Maidana's ribs.
Maidana takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Vertebral moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Vertebral dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Vertebral changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maidana takes one on the button.
Maidana tries to clinch up but Vertebral circles away and keeps his distance.
Vertebral lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Maidana is still on wobbly legs! Can Vertebral finish him?
Vertebral uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Maidana has time to react.
Vertebral connects with a quick right hand that sends Maidana tumbling backwards onto the canvas! As his head bounces into the cage, it doesn't look good for him beating the count! 3,4,5,6,7 and he's up! No, he's back down again! This one is all over - the referee has called off the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Niles Vertebral!
After winning the bout, Niles Vertebral thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.