PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Igor Shevchenko (ranked 2869 p4p, 3155 weight class) and Paul OConnell (ranked 343 p4p, 376 weight class). Shevchenko's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Mouth For War - Pantera. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Shevchenko
vs
OConnell

190 cm
29
270
13 - 5 - 0

209 cm
50
286
35 - 27 - 1

Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Igor Shevchenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 27 - 1, fighting out of New York, Paul OConnell!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Konstantin Menshow and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
OConnell keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shevchenko.
OConnell throws a right hand that misses
enabling Shevchenko to counter with a crisp jab.
OConnell takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Igor Shevchenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
OConnell throws a jab but it's blocked by Shevchenko.
Shevchenko moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
OConnell throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Shevchenko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
OConnell lands a head shot.
OConnell misses the jab.
OConnell takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shevchenko. That's going to slow OConnell down.
OConnell misses with an uppercut. Shevchenko saw that one coming.
Shevchenko throws a big counter combination but OConnell scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
A jab from Shevchenko does it's job there.
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!
A solid body kick from Shevchenko.
OConnell tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Shevchenko tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for OConnell. That snapped Shevchenko's head back.
OConnell misses with a straight right.
Shevchenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
OConnell looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
OConnell looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Shevchenko connects with a single shot there.
Shevchenko lands a straight punch to the body, keeping OConnell at a distance.
Shevchenko scores with a jab. OConnell acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
OConnell throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Shevchenko lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
OConnell throws an off balance right hand
and Shevchenko counters with an inside leg kick.
OConnell ducks under a wild hook from Shevchenko.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from OConnell! But no joy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A low kick from OConnell misses
and Shevchenko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shevchenko fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt OConnell.
Shevchenko connects with a right hand. OConnell shakes it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shevchenko turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
OConnell throws a poor cross that misses
and Shevchenko counters with a slapping leg kick.
Shevchenko scores with a leg kick.
Shevchenko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shevchenko ducks under a wild hook from OConnell.
A head kick misses from Shevchenko.
OConnell throws out a counter right but Shevchenko avoids it with no problem.
OConnell lands a lovely overhand right.
OConnell 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.
Shevchenko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Shevchenko takes a swing at OConnell's ribcage but misses.
Shevchenko has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from OConnell finds it's way round the side to connect with Shevchenko's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
OConnell getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
OConnell just misses with a punch to the body.

Shevchenko instigates a clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Shevchenko dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Shevchenko misses with the combination.
OConnell takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
OConnell misses with a looping left.
OConnell throws a jab when Shevchenko was well out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from OConnell. Shevchenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shevchenko lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
OConnell keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shevchenko.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from OConnell! But no joy.
Shevchenko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that OConnell can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shevchenko cracks OConnell with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
OConnell throws a shot from downtown. Shevchenko moves away and avoids it.
A slow jab from OConnell misses its intended target.
OConnell throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
OConnell takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConnell drops his hands momentarily and Shevchenko takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A solid leg kick lands there for Shevchenko.
Shevchenko misses with a double jab.
OConnell takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
OConnell tries to score with a low kick but Shevchenko moves his leg out of the way.
OConnell catches Shevchenko with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Shevchenko throws a looping overhand right but OConnell ducks down to avoid it.
OConnell throws out a counter right but Shevchenko avoids it with no problem.
Igor Shevchenko is winning the standup battle so far.
Shevchenko takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sloppy strikes from Shevchenko. Those never looked like landing.
Shevchenko scores with a kick to the body.
Shevchenko connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed OConnell momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shevchenko dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on OConnell. That did some damage!
OConnell takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shevchenko scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Shevchenko with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling OConnell to score with a decent uppercut.
OConnell throws the left hand but Shevchenko avoids the punch easily.
A jab from OConnell misses.
Shevchenko misses with the combination.
Shevchenko cracks OConnell with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
OConnell on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
OConnell swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Shevchenko takes one on the chin but seems OK.
OConnell walks into a stiff left hand from Shevchenko.
Shevchenko scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Shevchenko dominated that second 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Shevchenko lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Shevchenko throws a body punch but OConnell moves out of range.
OConnell 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.
Shevchenko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shevchenko connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Shevchenko lands with a shot to the body.
OConnell throws an overhand right that lands on Shevchenko's shoulder, as Shevchenko tries to avoid the shot.
OConnell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shevchenko throws a quick counter kick to the body but OConnell avoids it.
OConnell throws a jab but it's blocked by Shevchenko.
Shevchenko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shevchenko avoids the body shot from OConnell.
Shevchenko throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck OConnell on the side of the head.
A right-left combo lands from Shevchenko.
OConnell does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Shevchenko closes the distance and scores with a big combo that sends OConnell crashing to the mat! OConnell uses the ropes to get back to his feet and beat the count. The referee looks concerned but he's going to allow it to continue!

OConnell is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shevchenko circles away before darting back in with a big straight right hand. It connects beautifully and sends OConnell tumbling to the canvas! He's out cold! Shevchenko wins by KO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:10 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Igor Shevchenko!
During a confident post fight interview, Igor Shevchenko thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.