PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Archibald Knox (ranked 32 p4p, 47 weight class) and Matteo Boretti (ranked 6 p4p, 12 weight class). Boretti comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the Moon kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Knox
vs
Boretti

185 cm
37
190
33 - 19 - 0

188 cm
32
203
27 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HARDCORE Threads

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Hardcore Alchemy

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 19 - 0, fighting out of New York, Archibald Knox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Matteo Boretti!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knox pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Boretti! But no joy.
Boretti lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Knox takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Knox looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Boretti throws a shot from downtown. Knox moves away and avoids it.
Knox throwing a counter right hand but Boretti manages to avoid it.
Boretti throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Boretti wants to clinch.
Knox throwing a counter right hand but Boretti manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boretti throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Knox misses.
Knox fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Boretti manages to avoid it.
Knox avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Boretti throws a head kick but Knox moves out of range.
Boretti throws a leg kick
and Knox connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Knox works the jab nicely.
Knox swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A left lands for Boretti.
Boretti throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Boretti tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Knox is able to avoid easily.
Knox swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A slow jab from Boretti misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boretti throws a jab but it's blocked by Knox.
Knox thinks about countering with a body kick.
Boretti throws a hook but Knox avoids it easily.

Boretti gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Knox blocks a body shot from Boretti.
Knox controlling the action here for a moment.
Boretti throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Knoxs head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Boretti scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Knox looking to slow down the pace here.
Knox blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The referee calls for Knox to work.
Knox tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Boretti's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Boretti.
Boretti working aggressively here.
Boretti lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Boretti swings wildly with an uppercut but Knox uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Boretti.
A nice right hand lands inside from Boretti.
Boretti misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Boretti swings wildly with an uppercut but Knox uses good head movement to avoid it.
Knox lands a body shot.
Boretti lands with a right to the head.
Knox tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Boretti cracks Knox with a nice body shot.
Knox struggles to land a body shot inside as Boretti controls his hands.
Boretti lands a body shot in the clinch.
Boretti blocks an uppercut.
Boretti tries to throw a body punch but Knox avoids it by throwing Boretti back against the cage.
Boretti is leaning against Knox and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Boretti misses with a hook from the clinch.
Boretti stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Knox is breathing heavily.
Boretti lands a body punch in the clinch.
Boretti working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Boretti makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Boretti's elbow.
Boretti scores with a shoulder strike.
Boretti tries to work over Knox's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Boretti working aggressively here.
Knox blocks a body shot from Boretti.
Boretti misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Boretti lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Knox or not.
Boretti misses with a hook from the clinch.
Boretti throws a punch but it's blocked by Knox.
Knox fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Knox controlling the action here for a moment.
Boretti lands a shot to the body.
Boretti lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Boretti scores with a shot to the side of Knox's head.
Knox lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Knox swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Boretti misses with a hook from the clinch.
Boretti can't find room to land a body shot as Knox controls the action.
Knox working aggressively here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matteo Boretti dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A jab from Boretti finds it's way through Knox's defenses.
Boretti cracks Knox with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Knox lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Boretti is looking to clinch.
Knox scores with a nice body kick.
Knox throws a lazy right hand but Boretti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Knox throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Boretti stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Boretti has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boretti throws a lazy right hand but Knox sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
It looked like Knox was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Boretti.
Boretti throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Matteo Boretti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Knox does it's job there.
A swing and a miss from Knox.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Boretti.
Knox is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Boretti.
Knox looks to score with a jab to the body but Boretti is just out of range.
Boretti looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Knox swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Knox misses with a low kick.
Nice jab there from Knox.
Knox swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A slapping body kick lands there for Knox.
Boretti takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Knox misses with a body kick.
Boretti lands a head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Knox finds it's way through Boretti's defenses.
Boretti scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Boretti lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Knox connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Knox throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Boretti tries to clinch up.
A counter left hand to the body from Knox misses its target.
Knox gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Boretti.
Knox throws a hook to the side of Boretti's head but Boretti sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox throws a big shot that misses.
Boretti staying out of range there.
Boretti is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Decent striking displayed by Knox there.
A low kick from Knox misses
and Boretti counters with a stiff right hand.
Knox takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Boretti uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Knox.
Boretti is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Boretti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Knox wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boretti tries to work over Knox's front leg with a kick but Knox checks it.
Boretti uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Boretti tried to score with a low kick but Knox checks it.
Knox throws a right hand that misses
and Boretti counters with a straight right hand.
Boretti tries to bum rush Knox with a series of wild strikes but Knox uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Boretti uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Boretti has managed to clinch.
Knox misses with a hook from the clinch.
Boretti misses with some punches.
Knox working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A body shot lands from Boretti.
Boretti blocks an uppercut.
Boretti swings wildly with an uppercut but Knox uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Archibald Knox will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Knox throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Matteo Boretti seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Boretti forces Knox back against the cage and clinches.
Knox lands a hook that snaps the head of Boretti backwards.
Boretti goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Boretti throws a head punch that misses.
Knox pushes Boretti back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Knox throws a head punch that misses.
Boretti misses with a punch on the inside.
I was talking to Knox's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Boretti struggles to land a body shot inside as Knox controls his hands.
Boretti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boretti misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Knox lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Knox blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Knox misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Knox fails to land.
Boretti tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Knox's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boretti scores with a nice hook to the head.
Knox is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Knox lands a right hand.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Knox.
Boretti misses with a punch on the inside.
Knox tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Boretti's elbow.
Boretti lands a nice uppercut.
Boretti lands a left hand.
Knox blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Knox lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Boretti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Knox doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Boretti has a couple of punches blocked by Knox.
Knox swings wildly with an uppercut but Boretti uses good head movement to avoid it.
A hook to the body from Knox.
Knox throws a punch but it's blocked by Boretti.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Knox.
Knox looking to slow down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Knox's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Boretti misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Knox struggles to land a body shot inside as Boretti controls his hands.
Boretti has a couple of punches blocked by Knox.
Boretti throws a punch but it's blocked by Knox.

Knox's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Boretti lands a two punch combo.

Boretti darts in and clinches Knox up against the cage.
Boretti tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Knox's elbow.
Knox blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Knox blocks an uppercut.
Boretti blocking some punches.
A short right from Knox on the inside.
Boretti scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox scores with a shot to the side of Boretti's head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Knox.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Boretti.
Knox misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch on the inside from Boretti fails to land.
Knox stalling.
Knox can't find room to land a body shot as Boretti controls the action.
Knox lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Knox creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Boretti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Knox digs a right hand into Boretti's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Boretti's gas tank.
Boretti blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Knox blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Knox goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for Boretti.
Knox lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Boretti creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Boretti throws a head punch that misses.
Knox lands a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head punch on the inside from Boretti fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Boretti fails to land.
Knox pushes Boretti back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Boretti misses with the head strike.
Knox lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short uppercut from Boretti.
Knox lands a body punch.
Boretti misses with the head strike.
Knox blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Boretti blocks an uppercut.
Boretti misses with a short punch on the inside.
Knox misses with the head strike.
Knox looking to slow down the pace here.
Knox lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Knox lands with a left to the head.
Boretti tries to throw a body punch but Knox avoids it by throwing Boretti back against the cage.
Boretti misses with a short punch on the inside.
Knox lands a right hand that snaps the head of Boretti backwards.

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 Archibald Knox.
I think Knox has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Matteo Boretti!
In his post fight interview, Matteo Boretti started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.