PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Sombat Banchamek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Direction (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Banchamek
vs
Direction

172 cm
21
153 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

165 cm
20
143 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Instinct

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Sombat Banchamek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Juan Direction!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Richard Clark and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Direction scores with a jab to the jaw.
Banchamek avoids the body shot from Direction.
Banchamek moves out of range of the strikes.

Banchamek pushes Direction up against the cage in a clinch.
Banchamek swings wildly with an uppercut but Direction uses good head movement to avoid it.
Banchamek unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Banchamek pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Banchamek lands with a left to the head.
Banchamek missing with knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Banchamek.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Direction fails to land.
Direction managing to block the knees to the body from Banchamek.
Direction avoids a wild elbow strike from Banchamek.
Direction on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Direction breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banchamek keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Direction.
A telegraphed right hand from Direction misses the target.
Banchamek misses with a body kick.
Direction misses the shot to the body.
Banchamek 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.
Banchamek slips a straight right by Direction.
Banchamek scores with a body shot.
Direction throws a lazy uppercut

and Banchamek moves into the clinch.
Direction blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Banchamek with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Banchamek throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Direction on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Direction blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Knees to the body from Banchamek.
Direction tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Direction blocks the elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banchamek misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Banchamek fails to land.
Banchamek lands a hook that snaps the head of Direction backwards.
Banchamek on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Banchamek is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Direction is defending well for now.
Banchamek misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Direction.
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!
Direction stalling in the clinch but Banchamek improves position.
Banchamek misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Banchamek creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Banchamek tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Direction avoids it.
Direction wants to stall.
Banchamek throws an elbow but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Direction blocks an elbow strike from Banchamek.
Direction is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Direction throws a head punch that misses.
Banchamek misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Direction managing to block the knees to the body from Banchamek.
Direction throws a head punch that misses.
Direction missing with knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Banchamek obliges.
A nice right hand lands inside from Direction.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Banchamek obliges.
Direction prevents a body shot from Banchamek.
Direction takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Juan Direction has been cut.
Banchamek lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Direction blocks the elbow strike.
Direction trying to land knees to the body.
Banchamek lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A shot in the inside from Banchamek.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Direction on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Banchamek utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Banchamek misses with a hook to the ribs.
Banchamek fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Banchamek throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Banchamek misses with a punch on the inside.
Direction throws a punch but it's blocked by Banchamek.
Banchamek lands with a left to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sombat Banchamek dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Juan Direction's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Direction lands with a straight right. Banchamek didn't see that one coming.
Banchamek throws the left hand but Direction avoids the punch easily.
Banchamek lands a nice shot that snaps Direction's head back.

Banchamek closes the distance and clinches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Banchamek.
Banchamek throws a head punch that misses.
Direction throws a punch but it's blocked by Banchamek.
Banchamek misses with the head strike.
Sombat Banchamek has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Direction content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Direction wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Direction tries to throw a body punch but Banchamek avoids it by throwing Direction back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Banchamek.
Direction looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Direction with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Direction takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banchamek tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Direction avoids it.
Banchamek is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Direction is defending well for now.
Direction misses with a hook from the clinch.
Banchamek scores with a shot to the side of Direction's head.
Banchamek lands an elbow that stopped Direction in his tracks for a moment.
Direction is looking to control Banchamek's arms but Banchamek gets an underhook and turns him. Now Direction has his back to the cage.
Banchamek tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Direction's elbow.
Banchamek works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Banchamek tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Direction misses with a short punch on the inside.
Banchamek missing with knees to the body.
Direction managing to block the knees to the body from Banchamek.
Banchamek using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Direction lands a hook that snaps the head of Banchamek backwards.
Banchamek doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Banchamek lands with a short shot to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Banchamek throws an elbow but misses.
Direction on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Banchamek lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Direction backwards.

Direction is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Banchamek blocking some punches.
Direction is still on wobbly legs! Can Banchamek finish him?
Banchamek throws a head punch that misses.
Banchamek lands a nice uppercut.

That has opened up Juan Direction's cut even more.
Banchamek swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Banchamek putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Direction in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Good body shot from Banchamek.
Banchamek digs a right hand underneath Direction's ribcage. Direction let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Banchamek cracks Direction with a big elbow, right in the eye socket! Direction drops to his knees in obvious pain! The referee starts the count but it's plainly obvious that Direction isn't going to get back to his feet. The referee counts none the less and Banchamek struts around the mat, safe in the knowledge that this one is over. A big win for Banchamek!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Elbows). Sombat Banchamek!
A victorious Sombat Banchamek thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.