PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Wesley Taurus (ranked 1810 p4p, 6088 weight class) and Thorvald Espensen (ranked 263 p4p, 562 weight class). Taurus's entrance music is Country Boy - Aaron Lewis. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Taurus
vs
Espensen

183 cm
25
180
16 - 10 - 1

177 cm
31
185
9 - 8 - 1

Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Granite chin

Redemption ink

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 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Wesley Taurus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 1, fighting out of New York, Thorvald Espensen!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Bruno Lombardi and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Espensen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Espensen scores with a nice short uppercut.

Taurus manages to break the clinch.
Taurus bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Espensen's head.

Espensen closes the distance and clinches.
Espensen throws a head punch that misses.

Taurus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Espensen moves in looking to clinch but Taurus pushes him off.
Taurus scores with a jab to the body.

Espensen rushes Taurus and presses him up against the ropes.

Taurus breaks from the clinch.

Espensen instigates a clinch.
Espensen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Taurus backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Taurus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Espensen is looking to clinch.
Taurus fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Espensen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Both fighters circling a little - Taurus finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Espensen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Thorvald Espensen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Espensen gets a clinch.

Taurus breaks the clinch.
Taurus lands a nice shot that snaps Espensen's head back.

Espensen has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espensen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Espensen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Taurus backwards.

Taurus breaks from the clinch.

Espensen drives through and clinches with Taurus against the ropes.
Taurus blocking some punches.

Taurus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

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

Taurus breaks the clinch.
Taurus throws a nice outside leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Taurus breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Espensen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Espensen wants to clinch but Taurus slips to the side
and Taurus counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice jab there from Taurus.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taurus comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Espensen wants to clinch.
Espensen closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Taurus to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taurus thuds his shin into the meat of Espensen's side.
Taurus circles away from the clinch attempt
and Taurus counters with a left to the body.
Espensen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Taurus paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Espensen moves into the clinch.

Taurus's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Taurus throws a leg kick that misses.
Espensen tries to clinch
and Taurus counters with a leg kick.
Espensen tries to clinch but Taurus moves out of range.

Espensen gets a clinch.

Taurus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Espensen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taurus swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Espensen wants to clinch up but Taurus keeps it at a distance.

Espensen forces Taurus back against the ropes and clinches.
Espensen misses with a hook from the clinch.

Taurus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Espensen clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espensen misses with a punch on the inside.

Taurus manages to break the clinch.
Espensen darts in trying to clinch
and Taurus connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Taurus connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Espensen momentarily.
Taurus dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Espensen tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Taurus manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Espensen has closed the distance and engaged Taurus in a clinch.

Taurus breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taurus fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Espensen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Taurus uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Espensen has time to react.
Espensen tries to clinch but Taurus is having none of it.
Taurus avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Espensen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Espensen moves in looking to clinch but Taurus pushes him off.
Taurus circles away from the clinch attempt
and Taurus counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taurus moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
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!
Espensen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Espensen wants to clinch up but Taurus keeps it at a distance.
Taurus appears to be looking for a big counter.

Espensen rushes Taurus and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Espensen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Taurus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Espensen is looking to clinch but Taurus is avoiding it.

Espensen closes the distance and clinches.
Espensen throws a head punch that misses.
Espensen misses with a punch on the inside.
Espensen wants to stall.
A shot in the inside from Espensen.

Taurus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Espensen tries to clinch up.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Espensen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taurus.
Taurus swats away the attempt to clinch by Espensen.
Espensen doesn't manage to clinch there - Taurus circles away.
Taurus is looking for a counter combo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wesley Taurus dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Taurus circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wesley Taurus is winning the standup battle so far.
Espensen tries to clinch up
and Espensen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Espensen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Taurus manages to break the clinch.

Espensen closes the distance and pushes Taurus back into the ropes.
Taurus tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Espensen misses with a punch on the inside.
Espensen misses with a punch on the inside.
Taurus blocks an uppercut.

Taurus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taurus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Espensen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Espensen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Espensen has a couple of punches blocked by Taurus.
Taurus tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Taurus breaks the clinch.
Taurus throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Taurus works the jab nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Espensen tries to clinch but Taurus moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Taurus.
Taurus punishes Espensen's body with a nice straight punch.
Taurus connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Espensen tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Taurus counters with an outside leg kick.
Taurus misses the shot to the body.
Taurus is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Espensen can do to turn this around?

Espensen instigates a clinch.
Espensen lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Taurus's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Espensen forces Taurus back against the ropes and clinches.
Espensen misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Espensen on the inside.
Espensen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Espensen.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taurus.
Espensen lands with a right to the head.
A short right from Espensen on the inside.
Espensen lands a right hand.

Taurus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Espensen takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Espensen moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taurus.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taurus breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Espensen wants to clinch but Taurus slips to the side
and Taurus counters with a straight right hand.

Espensen moves into the clinch.

Taurus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Taurus keeps the fight on the outside.

Espensen has closed the distance and engaged Taurus in a clinch.

Taurus breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taurus scores with a crisp jab that stopped Espensen in his tracks.
Taurus avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Espensen drives through and clinches with Taurus against the ropes.
Taurus lands a body shot.
Espensen throws a head punch that misses.
Espensen lands with a light punch inside.
Taurus takes a shot to the head.
Taurus blocks an uppercut.

Taurus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Espensen wants to clinch but Taurus slips to the side
letting Taurus counter with a right hand.
Some wild striking there from Taurus.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taurus tests Espensen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Espensen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Taurus shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Espensen eats them both and turns towards Taurus to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Espensen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Taurus, pushing him back against the ropes.
Espensen misses with some punches.

Taurus's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Espensen tries to clinch but Taurus is having none of it.
Taurus scores with a jab to the jaw.
Espensen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taurus swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Espensen tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Taurus cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Espensen is looking to clinch.
Taurus scores with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Espensen clinches.
Espensen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Espensen swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Taurus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Espensen clinches up against the ropes.

Taurus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Espensen darts in trying to clinch
and Taurus counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Taurus misses with an uppercut. Espensen saw that one coming.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Espensen! But no joy.
Espensen moves in looking to clinch but Taurus pushes him off.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Taurus.
A cross from Taurus lands.
Espensen is looking to clinch but Taurus is avoiding it.
Taurus keeps the fight on the outside.
Espensen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Espensen is looking to clinch but Taurus is avoiding it.
A quick step to the side and Taurus tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Espensen tries to clinch there but Taurus circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Taurus on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Taurus keeps the fight on the outside.
Espensen tries to clinch
and Taurus counters with a nice uppercut.
Taurus ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Espensen moves away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Espensen! But no joy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wesley Taurus dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Espensen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Taurus, pushing him back against the ropes.
Taurus blocks an uppercut.
Taurus blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Taurus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Espensen has Taurus up against the ropes in a clinch.

Taurus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taurus throws a series of punches but Espensen avoids them all with ease.

Espensen moves into the clinch.
Thorvald Espensen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Taurus breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Espensen tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Taurus manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Espensen tries to clinch but Taurus is having none of it.

Espensen moves into the clinch.

Taurus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taurus lands a nice shot that snaps Espensen's head back.
Espensen closes the distance looking to clinch
and Taurus counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Espensen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espensen tries to close the distance and clinch but Taurus swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Espensen rushes Taurus and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Taurus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Espensen moves into the clinch successfully.
Espensen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.

Taurus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Espensen tries to clinch up but Taurus circles away and keeps his distance.
Taurus throws a quick counter head kick but Espensen was just out of range.
Espensen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Espensen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Espensen is looking to clinch.
Taurus misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Espensen.
Espensen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jab from Taurus.
Taurus tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Espensen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Espensen tries to clinch up.
Espensen tries to clinch up.
Espensen tries to clinch up.

Espensen has closed the distance and engaged Taurus in a clinch.
Thorvald Espensen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taurus breaks the clinch.
Taurus swats away the attempt to clinch by Espensen.
Espensen tries to clinch there but Taurus circles away.
Taurus lands with a hook. Espensen tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Espensen tries to clinch up but Taurus circles away and keeps his distance.
Espensen looks to clinch
and Taurus makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Espensen wants to clinch up but Taurus keeps it at a distance.
Taurus throws a counter high kick but Espensen was just alert enough to avoid it.
Taurus lands with a straight right. Espensen didn't see that one coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Espensen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Espensen has Taurus up against the ropes in a clinch.

Taurus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taurus seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Taurus with a nice cross.
Taurus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taurus throws a wild body kick that Espensen sees coming a mile off.
Espensen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wesley Taurus is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Espensen tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Taurus manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Espensen darts in and clinches Taurus up against the ropes.
Taurus blocking some punches.

Taurus's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Espensen has taken the fight to the clinch.

Taurus breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Espensen closes the distance looking to clinch
and Taurus counters with a low kick, right behind Espensen 's knee.
Espensen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Espensen doesn't manage to clinch there - Taurus circles away.
A quick step to the side and Taurus tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Espensen tries to close the distance and clinch but Taurus swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Espensen moves into the clinch successfully.
Espensen lands a right hand.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taurus.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taurus blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Espensen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Espensen fails to land.
Espensen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Espensen swings wildly with an uppercut but Taurus uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taurus blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Espensen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Taurus blocks an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Espensen throws a head punch that misses.
Taurus blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Espensen working aggressively here.

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 Wesley Taurus.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Taurus, 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight for Wesley Taurus!
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight for Wesley Taurus!
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight for Wesley Taurus!

Wesley Taurus wins by unanimous decision!
A less than humble Wesley Taurus misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.