PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Katsuji Rikidozan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bender Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bender Rodriguez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rikidozan
vs
Rodriguez

189 cm
22
220 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

195 cm
22
245 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

World class boxer
Cardio machine

World class MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Katsuji Rikidozan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bender Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good work by Rikidozan as he checks the leg kick.
Rikidozan works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rodriguez throws a nice looking combination but Rikidozan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Rodriguez drives through and clinches with Rikidozan against the cage.

Rikidozan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rikidozan dodges the punch combination from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a wild body kick that Rikidozan sees coming a mile off.
Rodriguez takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rodriguez lands a slapping body shot.
Rodriguez walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rikidozan checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rodriguez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rikidozan.
Rikidozan throws a push kick but Rodriguez slaps the foot to one side.
Rodriguez is looking to slow Rikidozan down with leg kicks.
Rodriguez wants to clinch.
Rikidozan connects with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rikidozan scores with a kick to the midsection.
Rikidozan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rodriguez.
A nice combination there by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rikidozan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rodriguez doesn't seem bothered though.
Rodriguez slips a jab and a cross from Rikidozan.
Rodriguez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rikidozan manages to avoid it.
Rikidozan's corner calls for a 1-2. Rikidozan obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

It looks like Bender Rodriguez has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rodriguez just misses with a punch to the body.
Rodriguez throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rikidozan lands a nice looking body kick.
Rikidozan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rodriguez doesn't seem bothered though.
Rodriguez looks gassed!
Rikidozan fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rikidozan is looking to wear down Rodriguez with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rikidozan bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rodriguez's head.
Rodriguez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rikidozan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Rikidozan. Those never looked like landing.
Rikidozan misses with a two punch combination.
Rikidozan scores with a body shot.
Rodriguez throws a right and a left that Rikidozan avoids nicely.
Rodriguez lands with a slapping head kick.
Rikidozan misses the shot to the body.
Rikidozan throws a nice head kick!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rodriguez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Good leg kick by Rikidozan there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Bender Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodriguez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsuji Rikidozan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bender Rodriguez's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rodriguez moves away from the strike by Rikidozan.
Rikidozan slips a jab from Rodriguez.
Rikidozan looks for the body kick but Rodriguez saw that one coming.

Rodriguez instigates a clinch.
Rikidozan is trying to force a seperation but Rodriguez has the dominant position.

Rikidozan manages to break the clinch.
Rikidozan throws out a leg kick but Rodriguez moves out of range and Rikidozan only half commits.
Rodriguez throws a leg kick
and Rodriguez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rodriguez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rikidozan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A jab from Rikidozan misses.
Rodriguez avoids the head kick by Rikidozan.
Rodriguez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rodriguez misses with a body shot
and Rikidozan counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rikidozan goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Rodriguez misses with a wild combination.
Rikidozan moves out of range as Rodriguez throws a body kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rikidozan. That's going to slow Rodriguez down.
A slapping body kick lands there for Rikidozan.
Rodriguez is breathing heavily.
Rikidozan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rikidozan thows a body kick. Rodriguez tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rikidozan swings for the body but Rodriguez moves out of range.
Rikidozan lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rikidozan jabs Rodriguez right on the nose. Rodriguez blinks but takes it well.

That has opened up Bender Rodriguez's cut even more.
Rikidozan scores with a body shot.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Rikidozan - that will leave a mark!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rikidozan throws a head kick that half lands.
Rikidozan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rikidozan moves into range and connects with a jab.
Rikidozan lands a head shot.
Rodriguez takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rikidozan connects with a solid leg kick.
Rikidozan scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rikidozan lunges at Rodriguez with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rodriguez's hand.

The cut above Bender Rodriguez's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
The crowd cheers as Rikidozan lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rodriguez doesn't seem phased though.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rikidozan.
Rodriguez is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Rikidozan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rodriguez can do to turn this around?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rikidozan misses with a head kick.
Rikidozan lands with a hook. Rodriguez tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Bender Rodriguez's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Rikidozan throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsuji Rikidozan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bender Rodriguez's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rodriguez throws a leg kick but Rikidozan checks it.
Rikidozan throws out a loose jab but Rodriguez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rikidozan throws a head kick that misses.
A punch combination from Rikidozan misses.
Rikidozan scores with a hook.

Rodriguez rushes Rikidozan and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rodriguez misses with some punches.
Rodriguez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rikidozan blocks it with crossed arms.
Rikidozan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rodriguez keeps control of Rikidozan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Rikidozan breaks from the clinch.
Rodriguez checks a low kick from Rikidozan.
Rodriguez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rikidozan. Rikidozan obviously looking to wear him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rikidozan checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rikidozan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Rikidozan thuds a left hand into Rodriguez's body.
Rodriguez's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Nice shot lands for Rikidozan.
Rikidozan throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rikidozan connects with a body shot.
Rodriguez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Donk. Rikidozan catches Rodriguez right on the button with a cross.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Bender Rodriguez's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Katsuji Rikidozan!
Katsuji Rikidozan really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Reaper Combatwear logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.