PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Gaizka Elizondo (ranked 4369 p4p, 442 weight class) and Ryu Takemura (ranked 6856 p4p, 514 weight class). Elizondo comes into the arena with Peewee Longway & Money Man - Ooowwweee blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Elizondo
vs
Takemura

187 cm
18
158 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

170 cm
28
150 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gaizka Elizondo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryu Takemura!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takemura defending well as Elizondo loads up on a big left hand.
Elizondo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Takemura's hands.
Takemura connects with a crisp jab.
Elizondo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Elizondo throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Takemura counters with a straight right hand.
Elizondo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Takemura counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Elizondo misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Takemura counters with a nice uppercut.
Elizondo misses the jab.
Elizondo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Takemura tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Elizondo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Elizondo throws a shot from downtown. Takemura moves away and avoids it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takemura blocks a jab.
Elizondo scores with a leg kick.
Takemura takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Takemura misses the shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Elizondo. That's going to slow Takemura down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elizondo misses with a low kick.
Takemura tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Elizondo was well out of range. Poor timing from Takemura.
Elizondo tries to close the distance and clinch but Takemura swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Elizondo connects with a body shot.
Elizondo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Elizondo misses with a lunging right hand
and Takemura counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Takemura scores with a crisp jab that stopped Elizondo in his tracks.
Elizondo ducks under a wild hook from Takemura.
Elizondo lands with a nice body punch.
Takemura ducks under a wild hook from Elizondo.
Elizondo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Takemura.
It seemed like Takemura was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Elizondo, as that shot connected.
Takemura misses with a double jab.
Elizondo moves in looking to clinch but Takemura pushes him off.
Elizondo's corner calls for a 1-2. Elizondo obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Elizondo throws a lazy head kick
and Takemura counters with a straight right hand.
Gaizka Elizondo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Elizondo closes the distance and clinches.
Takemura has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Elizondo throws a head punch that misses.

Elizondo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Elizondo throws a nice outside leg kick.
A slow jab from Takemura misses its intended target.
Takemura uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Elizondo.
A low kick from Elizondo misses
and Takemura cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A good leg kick by Elizondo.
Elizondo throws a leg kick that misses.
Takemura fails to land with a series of punches.
Takemura takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Takemura pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Elizondo misses the target.
Elizondo feints and then cracks Takemura's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Takemura down.
Elizondo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Takemura looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Elizondo tenderised Takemura's leg. Takemura is trying to keep his angry face on.
Elizondo lands a really nice looking cross but Takemura seems unphased.
Elizondo missing with a left hand there. Takemura was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Elizondo cracks Takemura with a good jab.
Elizondo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Elizondo tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Takemura counters with a nice uppercut.
Elizondo throws a leg kick but Takemura moved away.
Takemura might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
No joy there for Elizondo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A nice side step and Takemura releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Elizondo thows a leg kick but Takemura checks it
and Takemura counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Elizondo closes the distance but Takemura moves to the side
and Takemura counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Elizondo throws a right hand that misses
and Takemura counters with a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takemura walks into a left hand.
Elizondo wants to clinch but Takemura slips to the side
and Elizondo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elizondo misses with a telegraphed body shot
enabling Takemura to counter with a crisp jab.
Elizondo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Takemura.
Nice uppercut lands for Elizondo. That snapped Takemura's head back.
Elizondo uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Takemura has time to react.

Takemura is rocked!
Takemura tries to get into range but Elizondo steps to the side and lands a beautiful hook that drops Takemura! He's faceplanted into the mat, ass in the air... he's out cold! That's an image he won't want to show his grandkids when he gets older! Elizondo scores the big KO victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Gaizka Elizondo!
An out of breath Gaizka Elizondo thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.