PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Alistair Spong (ranked 15133 p4p, 103 weight class) and Kusal Perera (ranked 21059 p4p, 106 weight class). Spong kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is 2Pac - I'm A Soldier (Echale Mojo Remix) . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Spong
vs
Perera

195 cm
37
237 lbs
33 - 18 - 1

193 cm
26
240 lbs
17 - 6 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Groove Gear

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Groove Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Alistair Spong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kusal Perera!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Richard Clark and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spong defending well as Perera loads up on a big left hand.
Spong misses with a hook.
Spong is looking to clinch.
Spong connects with a solid leg kick.
Nice uppercut there from Perera.
Spong swings for the body but Perera moves out of range.
Perera throws out a counter right but Spong avoids it with no problem.
Spong tries to clinch
enabling Perera to counter with a crisp jab.
Spong lands a head kick. Perera smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Spong is looking to slow Perera down with leg kicks.
Spong shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Perera eats them both and turns towards Spong to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Nice body punch from Spong.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big left from Perera misses.
Spong uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Perera.
Spong ducks under a wild hook from Perera.

Spong closes the distance and clinches.
Perera lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perera lands a body punch.
Spong lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Kusal Perera has been cut.
Perera misses with the head strike.
Spong tries a body shot but Perera blocks it.
A short right from Spong.
Perera working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Spong is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Perera is defending well for now.
A head punch on the inside from Perera fails to land.
Perera fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Perera throws a head punch that misses.
Perera lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Perera misses with a punch to the body.
Spong softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Spong lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Perera scores with a hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Spong blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Perera creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Perera.
Spong is breathing heavily.
Perera lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Spong blocks a body shot from Perera.
Perera misses with a hook to the ribs.
Spong tries to work over Perera's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perera misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short right from Perera on the inside.
Perera tries a body shot but Spong blocks it.
Perera tries a body shot but Spong blocks it.
A right hand to the body from Perera.
Perera stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Perera misses with a body punch.
Perera goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Perera throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Spongs head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Spong.
A shot in the inside from Perera.
Spong lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Perera misses with a punch to the body.
Spong makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Spong.
Spong swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Perera throws a punch but it's blocked by Spong.
Perera working aggressively here.
Perera makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Perera swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Perera throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kusal Perera will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kusal Perera's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Spong shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Spong closes the distance and clinches.
Spong is leaning against Perera and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Spong working aggressively here.
Spong tries to throw a body punch but Perera avoids it by throwing Spong back against the cage.
Perera struggles to land a body shot inside as Spong controls his hands.
Perera has a couple of punches blocked by Spong.
Perera lands with a light punch inside.
Spong lands a shoulder strike.
Spong misses with a body punch.
Spong lands with a right to the head.
Spong misses with some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Perera.
Perera misses with a body punch.
Nice body punch from Perera - that landed with a thud.
Perera lands a left hand that snaps the head of Spong backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Perera digs a right hand into Spong's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Spong's gas tank.
Perera scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Perera working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Perera has a couple of punches blocked by Spong.
A right handed body shot lands from Perera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Perera on the inside.
Perera working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Perera lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Perera working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Spong takes a shot to the head.
Perera lands a nice uppercut.
Perera lands with a right to the head.
Perera lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Perera scores with a shoulder strike.
Perera working some nice short punches in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Perera lands a body shot.
Perera lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Perera lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Perera lands a hook to the side of the head.
Perera misses with a hook from the clinch.
Perera throws a head punch that misses.
Perera goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Perera scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Spong.
Perera blocks an uppercut.
Spong tries to work over Perera's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Perera.
Spong has a couple of punches blocked by Perera.
Perera works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Perera tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Perera goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Perera lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Perera.
Perera has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Perera lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Spong backwards.
A right hook to the body lands for Perera.
Perera misses with a short punch on the inside.
Perera makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Perera works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Perera lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Perera digs a right hand into Spong's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Spong's gas tank.
Perera lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Perera swings wildly with an uppercut but Spong uses good head movement to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Perera lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Spong or not.
Kusal Perera seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A nice right hand lands inside from Perera.
Perera tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Spong's elbow.
Perera on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kusal Perera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kusal Perera's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Spong ducks into a a hook from Perera and goes down! He looks in a bit of a mess; will he beat the count?! 4,5,6,7,8 - he's up and looking to carry on! The referee looks into his eyes and sees that he's OK to continue!
Alistair Spong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Perera cracks Spong with a left hand that drops him to the canvas, up against the cage! Can Spong get back up in time? 3, 4, 5, 6, 7... he's on one knee... 8, 9... he's up! 'Walk towards me' says the referee. Spong looks steady enough to continue so we're going to continue!

Spong is rocked!

It looks like Alistair Spong has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Perera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Oh Spong is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A nice inside leg kick there by Spong. That's going to slow Perera down.
Spong seems to have got his legs back now.

Perera scores a flash knockdown with a right hook that drops Spong to his hands and knees! The ref pushes Perera away as he looks to land an illegal blow. Spong got an extra few seconds to recover there, which could have made all the differences as he stumbles back to his feet. The referee looks into his eyes and decides to allow the bout to continue. Can he survive?!
Perera misses the jab.
Spong slips a jab and a cross from Perera.
Spong moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Spong has closed the distance and engaged Perera in a clinch.
Spong blocking some punches.
Perera can't find room to land a body shot as Spong controls the action.
Spong lands a shoulder strike.
Perera makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Perera.
Perera works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A left hand lands to the body for Perera.
Perera has a couple of punches blocked by Spong.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perera works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A nice right hand lands inside from Perera.
Perera lands a right hand.
Perera lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Spong.
Perera lands a body shot in the clinch.
Perera tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Perera misses with a hook from the clinch.
Perera lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Perera throws a punch but it's blocked by Spong.
Perera tries to work over Spong's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Perera tries a body shot but Spong blocks it.
Spong has a couple of punches blocked by Perera.
Perera struggles to land a body shot inside as Spong controls his hands.
Perera lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Spong backwards.
Perera fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Spong swings wildly with an uppercut but Perera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Perera tries to work over Spong's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Spong throws a punch but it's blocked by Perera.
I was talking to Spong's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Perera scores with a hook to the body.
Spong blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perera doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Perera prevents a body shot from Spong.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Spong blocking some punches.
A hook to the body from Perera.
A hook to the body from Perera.
Perera misses with a hook to the ribs.
Perera lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Perera fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Perera throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Perera throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Spongs head.
Still in the clinch, Perera scores with a nice short uppercut.
Perera lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Perera - that landed with a thud.
Perera swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Perera lands a left hand.
A shot in the inside from Perera.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Perera is leaning against Spong and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Perera.
A shot in the inside from Perera.
Perera can't find room to land a body shot as Spong controls the action.
Kusal Perera is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Spong has a couple of punches blocked by Perera.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kusal Perera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Perera has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 24:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 24:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kusal Perera!
During a confident post fight interview, Kusal Perera thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Alistair Spong spoke after the fight, saying 'Damn, got caught napping.'.