PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Apollo Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arturo Rojas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rojas has chosen Brother Ali - Uncle Sam Goddamn as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Anderson
vs
Rojas

183 cm
31
198 lbs
15 - 12 - 0

185 cm
28
193 lbs
19 - 6 - 0

World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Apollo Anderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Arturo Rojas!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab by Rojas.

Rojas darts in and clinches Anderson up against the ropes.
Anderson prevents a body shot from Rojas.
Anderson throws a head punch that misses.
Anderson throws a head punch that misses.
Rojas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rojas takes a shot to the head.
Anderson blocks a body shot from Rojas.
Rojas tries a body shot but Anderson blocks it.
Anderson misses with some punches.
Rojas lands a right hand.
Rojas misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rojas blocks an uppercut.
Rojas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Anderson.
Anderson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Anderson tries a body shot but Rojas blocks it.
Rojas tries a body shot but Anderson blocks it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Anderson.
Anderson looking to throw knees to the head but Rojas is blocking nicely.
Rojas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Anderson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Anderson blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rojas throws a punch but it's blocked by Anderson.
Anderson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rojas has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Anderson seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Rojas can turn it around.
Anderson blocks a body shot from Rojas.
Rojas is trying to stall.
Rojas lands with a right to the head.
Rojas scores with a nice hook to the head.
Anderson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rojas's elbow.
Anderson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rojas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rojas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rojas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Anderson is leaning against Rojas and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Rojas blocks an uppercut.
Anderson lands with a left to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short left from Rojas.
Anderson throws a punch but it's blocked by Rojas.
Anderson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Anderson.
Anderson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Anderson misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson throws a punch but it's blocked by Rojas.
Rojas lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rojas lands a left hand that snaps the head of Anderson backwards.
Anderson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Anderson misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Anderson on the inside.
Anderson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rojas backwards.
Anderson blocking some punches.
Anderson lands a nice uppercut.
Anderson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rojas tries to throw a body punch but Anderson avoids it by throwing Rojas back against the ropes.
Nice body punch from Anderson.
Rojas blocks an uppercut.
Anderson swings wildly with an uppercut but Rojas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rojas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Anderson misses with a body punch.
Anderson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Rojas blocking some punches.
Rojas lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rojas misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Anderson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Anderson on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Anderson moves into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Anderson.
Rojas has had enough of the clinch but Anderson keeps him there for the moment.
Anderson misses with some punches.
Anderson working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Anderson.
Anderson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rojas is trying to force a seperation but Anderson has the dominant position.
Rojas misses with a hook to the ribs.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rojas.
Rojas struggles to land a body shot inside as Anderson controls his hands.
Anderson cracks Rojas with a nice body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rojas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Anderson's elbow.
Anderson misses with a punch on the inside.
Rojas blocks an uppercut.
Rojas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Anderson throws a punch but it's blocked by Rojas.
Anderson gets through Rojas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Anderson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rojas can't find room to land a body shot as Anderson controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson misses with the head strike.
Anderson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Anderson working aggressively here.
Anderson has a couple of punches blocked by Rojas.
Rojas lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Anderson backwards.
A short body shot lands from Rojas as the two fighters clinch.
Rojas tries to work over Anderson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rojas is leaning against Anderson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Rojas managing to block the knees to the body from Anderson.
Rojas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Anderson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Anderson lands a hook that snaps the head of Rojas backwards.
Apollo Anderson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rojas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rojas blocking some punches.
Anderson lands a nice uppercut.
Rojas lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Anderson misses with a body punch.
Anderson scores with a shoulder strike.
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!
Rojas blocks an uppercut.
Anderson has a couple of punches blocked by Rojas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Anderson has a couple of punches blocked by Rojas.
Anderson swings wildly with an uppercut but Rojas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Anderson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rojas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Anderson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Anderson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Anderson can't find room to land a body shot as Rojas controls the action.
Rojas misses with a punch to the body.
Rojas has a couple of punches blocked by Anderson.
Anderson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Anderson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rojas taking a breather.
Rojas blocking some punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rojas struggles to land a body shot inside as Anderson controls his hands.
A shot in the inside from Anderson.
Rojas misses with a punch to the body.
Anderson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Anderson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Anderson 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.

Anderson connects with an inside leg kick.

Anderson forces Rojas back against the ropes and clinches.
Anderson misses with a punch on the inside.
Rojas lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rojas lands with a light punch inside.
Anderson blocks a body shot from Rojas.
Rojas lands with a left to the head.
Rojas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rojas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Anderson's elbow.
Anderson has a couple of punches blocked by Rojas.
Anderson working aggressively here.
Rojas scores with a shoulder strike.
Rojas misses with a body punch.
Rojas pushes Anderson back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
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!
Anderson misses with a punch on the inside.
Rojas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Anderson's elbow.
Anderson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rojas tries to work over Anderson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rojas working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Anderson.
Rojas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Anderson's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rojas manages to break the clinch.
Rojas thumps Anderson with a low kick.
A shot to the liver by Anderson. Beautiful body shot.
Rojas lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The fight stays on the outside here - Anderson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rojas throws a jab when Anderson was well out of range.
Anderson misses with an uppercut. Rojas saw that one coming.
Rojas takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Anderson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Rojas clinches up against the ropes.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rojas.
Anderson struggles to land a body shot inside as Rojas controls his hands.
Rojas avoiding damage as Anderson throws knees to the body.
Rojas scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Anderson.
A short right from Rojas.
A nice left hand lands by Anderson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson misses with a punch on the inside.
Rojas tries to stall but Anderson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Anderson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Anderson misses with some punches.
Anderson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rojas blocking some punches.
Anderson throws a head punch that misses.
Anderson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rojas lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rojas lands a hook that snaps the head of Anderson backwards.
Anderson lands with a short shot to the head.
Anderson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Anderson blocks a body shot from Rojas.
Anderson swings wildly with an uppercut but Rojas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rojas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Anderson misses with a punch on the inside.
Rojas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Anderson looking to throw knees to the head but Rojas is blocking nicely.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rojas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Arturo Rojas just about did enough to take it.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Anderson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rojas working aggressively here.

Rojas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Anderson scores with a sloppy right hand. Rojas should have avoided that one.
Anderson catches Rojas with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Anderson tries to close the distance and clinch but Rojas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Anderson throws a hook but Rojas blocks it.
Anderson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rojas misses with a head kick.
Rojas fails to land with a series of punches.
Anderson 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.

Rojas has Anderson up against the ropes in a clinch.
Anderson scores with a shot to the side of Rojas's head.
Anderson prevents a body shot from Rojas.
Anderson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
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!
Anderson misses with a punch on the inside.
Rojas misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojas blocking some punches.
Rojas wants to stall.
Anderson has a couple of punches blocked by Rojas.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Anderson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Anderson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Anderson gets through Rojas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Anderson throws a head punch that misses.

Rojas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rojas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rojas takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rojas drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Rojas throws a sloppy head kick
and Anderson counters with an outside leg kick.
Anderson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Anderson gets tackled into the ropes by Rojas. Rojas maintains the clinch.
Rojas misses with a hook to the ribs.
A right hook to the body lands for Rojas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Anderson.
Anderson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rojas can't find room to land a body shot as Anderson controls the action.
Anderson blocks an uppercut.
Rojas pushes Anderson back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Anderson working aggressively here.
Anderson misses with the head strike.
Rojas struggles to land a body shot inside as Anderson controls his hands.
Anderson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Anderson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rojas backwards.
Anderson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Anderson misses with the head strike.
Rojas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Anderson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Anderson misses with a knee strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rojas makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Anderson swings wildly with an uppercut but Rojas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rojas struggles to land a body shot inside as Anderson controls his hands.
Anderson has a couple of punches blocked by Rojas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Apollo Anderson had his way with Arturo Rojas in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Anderson tests Rojas's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Arturo Rojas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anderson throws a hook to the side of Rojas's head but Rojas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Anderson tries to land a leg kick but Rojas saw it coming and moves away.
Anderson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Apollo Anderson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rojas throws a body punch but Anderson moves out of range.
Rojas takes a swing at Anderson's ribcage but misses.
Anderson misses with a straight left.
Anderson throws a lazy right hand but Rojas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Anderson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Anderson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rojas slips under a jab from Anderson.
Anderson throws a head kick that misses.
Anderson goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Anderson has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Rojas.
Anderson throws a head kick that misses.
Anderson throws a head kick that Rojas semi-blocks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anderson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Anderson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rojas lands a shot to the body.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Anderson lands a nice uppercut.
Rojas working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Anderson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Anderson prevents a body shot from Rojas.
A nice left hand lands by Anderson.
Anderson lands a body shot.
Anderson looking to throw knees to the head but Rojas is blocking nicely.
Anderson blocks a body shot from Rojas.
Rojas trying to control the position but instead, Anderson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rojas into the ropes.

Rojas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rojas. That's going to slow Anderson down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Anderson moves away from the strike by Rojas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojas clobbers Anderson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Anderson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Rojas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Anderson.
Still in the clinch, Rojas scores with a nice short uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Anderson.
Anderson misses with a punch on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Rojas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rojas throws a nice head kick!
Anderson throws an overhand right that lands on Rojas's shoulder, as Rojas tries to avoid the shot.

Rojas pushes Anderson up against the ropes in a clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A nice left hand lands by Rojas.
Rojas can't find room to land a body shot as Anderson controls the action.
Rojas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Anderson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Anderson.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Arturo Rojas.
Well Anderson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 50:46
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 49:47
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Apollo Anderson!
Apollo Anderson thanked the fans post fight for their support.
In defeat, Arturo Rojas stepped up to the mic, saying 'Through adversity we triumph. Can't know the glory of Success without failure.'.