PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Yevgen Maartins (ranked 23420 p4p, 5552 weight class) and Steven Kennedy (ranked 768 p4p, 605 weight class). Steven Kennedy has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Yevgen Maartins's chin.

Maartins
vs
Kennedy

180 cm
32
186
17 - 20 - 0

183 cm
41
178
25 - 40 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent MT
Granite chin

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yevgen Maartins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 40 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steven Kennedy!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kennedy, as that shot connected.
Maartins lands a jab to the head.
Kennedy looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kennedy takes one to the chin there.
Nice defenses there by Maartins.
Kennedy has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Some wild striking there from Maartins.
Kennedy looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kennedy on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Maartins misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kennedy.
Maartins misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kennedy.
Kennedy tries to score with a low kick but Maartins moves his leg out of the way.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kennedy.
Maartins throws a nice head kick!
Maartins tries to clinch there but Kennedy circles away.
Maartins throws a right and a left that Kennedy avoids nicely.
Kennedy wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
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!
Maartins misses with an uppercut. Kennedy saw that one coming.
Kennedy is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Maartins with a body shot.
Maartins throws a front kick aimed at Kennedy's knee but Kennedy avoids it well.
Maartins thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Maartins. That snapped Kennedy's head back.
Kennedy circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maartins throws a push kick but Kennedy slaps the foot to one side.
Maartins doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kennedy digs a good hook to Maartins's body.
Kennedy is looking to land body kicks.

Kennedy closes the distance and pushes Maartins back into the ropes.

Kennedy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maartins scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Maartins defending well as Kennedy loads up on a big left hand.
Kennedy bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Maartins avoids the body shot from Kennedy.
Maartins moves out of range of the body kick from Kennedy.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Maartins.
Maartins chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kennedy fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Maartins checks it well.
Kennedy misses with a looping right.
Maartins looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kennedy steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Maartins.
Yevgen Maartins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kennedy throws a lazy right hand but Maartins sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maartins throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kennedy takes one to the chin there.
Maartins cracks Kennedy with a good jab.
Maartins throws a head kick that Kennedy semi-blocks.
Maartins scores with a nice strike.
Maartins takes one to the chin there.
Kennedy has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Kennedy fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Maartins, pushing him back against the ropes.

Kennedy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maartins clobbers Kennedy with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kennedy blocks a head kick by Maartins.
Kennedy needs to keep his hands up - Maartins had a free shot at his head there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maartins avoids the head kick by Kennedy.
Maartins tries to bum rush Kennedy with a series of wild strikes but Kennedy uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kennedy throws a head kick that misses.
Maartins checks a leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yevgen Maartins dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Maartins bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kennedy's head backwards.
Kennedy thows a body kick. Maartins tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Maartins has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kennedy.
Both fighters circling a little - Kennedy finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Kennedy scores with a head kick.
Maartins throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maartins will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Maartins moves out of range of the body kick.
Yevgen Maartins is winning the standup battle so far.
Maartins looks to land a left hand but Kennedy moved out of range nicely.
Kennedy misses with a head kick.
Kennedy chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maartins can pounce on him.
Maartins connects with the punch.
Maartins lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maartins keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kennedy misses with an uppercut
and Maartins counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A jab from Maartins finds it's way through Kennedy's defenses.
Kennedy connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kennedy fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Maartins is out of range.
Maartins looks to land a right hand but Kennedy moved out of range.
Maartins misses with a straight left.
Kennedy misses with a shot to the body
and Maartins counters with a right hand to the body.
Kennedy uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Maartins.
A swing and a miss from Maartins.
Kennedy swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maartins swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Maartins ducks under a wild hook from Kennedy.
Kennedy tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kennedy chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maartins can pounce on him.

Kennedy drives through and clinches with Maartins against the ropes.
Maartins lands a knee to the head.
Maartins misses with an elbow strike.

Kennedy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maartins fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kennedy is out of range.
Kennedy throws a body punch but Maartins moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kennedy throws a push kick but Maartins slaps the foot to one side.
Kennedy checks the leg kick.
Maartins is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kennedy can do to turn this around?
Maartins clobbers Kennedy with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
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!
Kennedy lands an overhand right.
Maartins fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Maartins scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Maartins lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Maartins looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Maartins tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Kennedy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kennedy throws out a counter right but Maartins avoids it with no problem.
Kennedy is looking to clinch.
Maartins dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kennedy. That did some damage!
Kennedy avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kennedy's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maartins tries to clinch but Kennedy is having none of it.
Maartins works the jab nicely.
Maartins throws a low kick but Kennedy avoids it.
Kennedy appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yevgen Maartins dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Maartins scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Kennedy checks a leg kick.
Maartins tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Kennedy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kennedy avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maartins throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Maartins tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kennedy scores with a kick to the body.
A head kick misses from Maartins.
Maartins blocks a low kick nicely.
Kennedy throws a quick inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maartins connects with an inside leg kick.
Maartins throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kennedy.
Maartins connects with the punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maartins tried to score with a low kick but Kennedy checks it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kennedy.
Kennedy is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Kennedy wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maartins throws an overhand right that lands on Kennedy's shoulder, as Kennedy tries to avoid the shot.
Yevgen Maartins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kennedy lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Maartins steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kennedy.
Kennedy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maartins.
Kennedy thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maartins throws a quick inside leg kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kennedy.
No joy there for Maartins, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Maartins looks to land a right hand but Kennedy moved out of range.
Kennedy misses with a double jab.
Maartins throwing a counter right hand but Kennedy manages to avoid it.
Maartins fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Yevgen Maartins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kennedy throws a sloppy head kick and Maartins moves out of range easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kennedy.
Kennedy throws a low kick but it's checked well by Maartins.
Maartins misses with the body kick

and Kennedy holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
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!
Kennedy managing to block the knees to the body from Maartins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kennedy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maartins throws a head kick but Kennedy moves out of range.
Maartins throws the kick towards the body but Kennedy avoids it.
Kennedy tries a quick counter leg kick but Maartins is wise to it.
Kennedy looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Maartins avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Maartins thinks about countering with a head kick.
Maartins with a hook.
Kennedy lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Kennedy drives through and clinches with Maartins against the ropes.
Maartins working Kennedy over with knees to the body.
Maartins lands a knee to the head.
Maartins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kennedy.
Kennedy misses with a knee strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kennedy looking to stall.

Maartins's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Steven Kennedy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Maartins.

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 Yevgen Maartins.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maartins, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight for Yevgen Maartins!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Yevgen Maartins!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Yevgen Maartins!

Yevgen Maartins wins by unanimous decision!
During a confident post fight interview, Yevgen Maartins thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.