PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Igor Shevchenko (ranked 3442 p4p, 2873 weight class) and Francis The Predator (ranked 416 p4p, 353 weight class). Shevchenko kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Mouth For War - Pantera. The Predator is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The predator tribute. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Shevchenko
vs
The Predator

190 cm
30
270
15 - 6 - 0

193 cm
23
250
10 - 2 - 0

Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

88 Fight Club Clothing $50-$100
Money Inc. (160Q with Proof ) 165$

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 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Igor Shevchenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Francis The Predator!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shevchenko throws a head kick that The Predator semi-blocks.

It looks like Francis The Predator has been cut.
Shevchenko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shevchenko throws a lazy uppercut
and The Predator counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shevchenko misses with an uppercut
letting The Predator counter with a right hand.
Shevchenko scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The Predator throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fighters circling - The Predator throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The Predator scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Shevchenko waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract The Predator.
Shevchenko darts in trying to clinch
and The Predator counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Shevchenko thinking.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shevchenko throws a jab when The Predator was well out of range.
Shevchenko throws a head kick but The Predator moves out of range.
It seemed like The Predator was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Predator throws a good cross that connects.
Shevchenko turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The Predator defending well as Shevchenko loads up on a big left hand.
The Predator appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for The Predator.

It looks like Igor Shevchenko has been cut.
Shevchenko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from The Predator.
The Predator cracks Shevchenko with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.

The Predator lands with a right, followed by a left to the temple and Shevchenko goes down! The ref sends The Predator to a neutral corner so he can begin the count. 3,4,5,6 and Shevchenko is back to his feet. He seems a little groggy but the referee thinks he's OK to continue, so we're back to the action!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shevchenko misses with a hook
letting The Predator counter with a right hand.
Shevchenko walks into a left hand.
Shevchenko takes a jab right on the kisser.
Shevchenko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from The Predator.
Shevchenko throws the left hand but The Predator avoids the punch easily.
The Predator has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from The Predator. Shevchenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
A swing and a miss from Shevchenko.
The Predator throws a hook to the side of Shevchenko's head but Shevchenko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The Predator misses with a double jab.
The Predator throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Shevchenko on the side of the head.
The Predator checks a leg kick nicely.
A little jabbing left from The Predator on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
The Predator tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shevchenko was well out of range. Poor timing from The Predator.
Shevchenko swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
The Predator moves away from the strike by Shevchenko.
The Predator fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shevchenko manages to avoid it.
Igor Shevchenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shevchenko moves away from the strike by The Predator.
Shevchenko uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Shevchenko scores with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Predator thows a left - swing and a miss!
As The Predator looks to move away, Shevchenko throws a big counter combo but The Predator just gets out of the way.
Shevchenko misses with a low kick.
Shevchenko will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The Predator looks to throw the jab but Shevchenko is out of range.
Shevchenko misses with a jab to the body
and The Predator counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shevchenko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and The Predator counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Shevchenko with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Shevchenko goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
The Predator tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shevchenko was well out of range. Poor timing from The Predator.
Shevchenko throws a body shot but no joy.
The Predator looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Shevchenko looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A slow jab from The Predator misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shevchenko loads up on a big right hand but The Predator slips the punch.
The Predator doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
The Predator keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shevchenko.
Shevchenko throws a sloppy body shot
letting The Predator counter with a right hand.
The Predator is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Shevchenko had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Shevchenko tries to bum rush The Predator with a series of wild strikes but The Predator uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as The Predator checks a leg kick.
The Predator just misses with a punch to the body.
The Predator pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shevchenko throws a series of strikes that have The Predator backpedaling.
The Predator darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Shevchenko jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice uppercut lands for The Predator. That snapped Shevchenko's head back.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big right from Shevchenko misses.
The Predator looks like he wants to counter punch here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Having scored a knockdown, Francis The Predator should take round 1, putting pressure on his opponene back strong in round 2.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The Predator looks to land a right hand but Shevchenko moved out of range.
The Predator slips a jab from Shevchenko.
Shevchenko goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Shevchenko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from The Predator! But no joy.
The Predator pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Shevchenko quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Shevchenko throws a body shot but no joy.
A little jabbing left from The Predator on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Shevchenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but The Predator moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shevchenko throws the left hand but The Predator avoids the punch easily.
It seemed like The Predator was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Shevchenko throws a solid leg kick but The Predator takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Shevchenko.
A nice side step and The Predator releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shevchenko throws a body shot but no joy.
The Predator missing with a left hand there. Shevchenko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The Predator throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shevchenko throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Predator works Shevchenko's body with a nice hook.
A cross from The Predator lands.
Shevchenko with a nice calf kick.
Shevchenko tests The Predator's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The Predator paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The Predator on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The Predator uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Shevchenko.
A telegraphed right hand from The Predator misses the target.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shevchenko working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Predator looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The Predator can't break the clinch.
Shevchenko lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The Predator pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shevchenko misses with a hook to the body
and The Predator counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shevchenko lands with a good body shot.
Shevchenko looks to land a right hand but The Predator moved out of range.
The Predator misses the jab.
The Predator checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Shevchenko doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Shevchenko throws a leg kick
and The Predator counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shevchenko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The Predator looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Predator throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shevchenko throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for The Predator. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
The Predator uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Shevchenko.
The Predator now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Shevchenko slips a jab from The Predator.
Shevchenko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from The Predator.
The Predator gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Shevchenko.
Shevchenko moves away from the strike by The Predator.
The Predator fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Shevchenko looks to throw a body kick
and The Predator counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Decent striking displayed by The Predator there.
The Predator works the jab nicely.
The Predator throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shevchenko scores with a jab to the head.
Shevchenko steps to the side to avoid the strikes from The Predator.
Shevchenko just misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shevchenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The Predator cracks a nice hook into Shevchenko's ribs.
Nice defenses there by The Predator.
Shevchenko connects with a jab.
A big left from Shevchenko misses.
Shevchenko throws a body kick that misses
and The Predator counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shevchenko throws a poor cross that misses
letting The Predator counter with a right hand.
Shevchenko misses with a straight right.
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 Igor Shevchenko will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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. This is the final round!

Shevchenko takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The Predator connects with a good right hand that stumbles Shevchenko. Shevchenko circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Francis The Predator seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Shevchenko slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by The Predator as he connects with a hook.
Nice defenses there by The Predator.
The Predator looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The Predator cracks Shevchenko with a good jab.
The Predator ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Predator throws an overhand right that lands on Shevchenko's shoulder, as Shevchenko tries to avoid the shot.
Shevchenko looks to land a left hand but The Predator moved out of range nicely.
The Predator throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The Predator lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Predator uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Shevchenko.
Shevchenko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from The Predator.
Shevchenko with a nice calf kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shevchenko. The Predator does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shevchenko misses with a looping left.
Shevchenko misses the shot to the body.
A shot to the liver by The Predator. Beautiful body shot.
The Predator scores with a shot to the body.
Shevchenko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The Predator showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shevchenko.
It seemed like The Predator was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Predator misses the jab.
The Predator lands a right hook to the body.
The Predator is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Shevchenko throws a front kick that sends The Predator stumbling back into the ropes.
Shevchenko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Shevchenko.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shevchenko throws an overhand right that lands on The Predator's shoulder, as The Predator tries to avoid the shot.
A little jabbing left from The Predator on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Shevchenko throws a leg kick but The Predator sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A swing and a miss from Shevchenko.
Shevchenko swings for the body but The Predator moves out of range.
Shevchenko loads up on a big right hand but The Predator slips the punch.
The Predator digs a good body shot into Shevchenko's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Predator scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shevchenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shevchenko is looking to score with low kicks.
A little jabbing left from The Predator on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
The Predator throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice defenses there by The Predator.
The Predator cracks Shevchenko with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Shevchenko takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The Predator darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The Predator works Shevchenko's body with a nice hook.
Shevchenko throws a sloppy head kick and The Predator moves out of range easily.
Shevchenko moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shevchenko misses with a body shot.
The Predator lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Shevchenko at a distance.
Shevchenko misses with a low kick.
Shevchenko looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
The Predator misses with a hook.
The Predator has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shevchenko slips under a jab from The Predator.
Shevchenko is looking to counter punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice uppercut lands for The Predator. That snapped Shevchenko's head back.
The Predator scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Shevchenko avoids the body shot from The Predator.
An attempted straight right counter from Shevchenko misses the target.
Shevchenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shevchenko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Shevchenko misses with a straight left.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francis The Predator comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think The Predator has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francis The Predator!
After winning the bout, Francis The Predator thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.