PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Humberto Manuel Arboleda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor MacLeod (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arboleda's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, ASTAROTH - GUERRA DE METAL. MacLeod comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Battle Hymn kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Manuel Arboleda
vs
MacLeod

165 cm
38
158 lbs
25 - 26 - 1

180 cm
43
160 lbs
21 - 16 - 1

World class MT
Very quick

World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 26 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Humberto Manuel Arboleda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Connor MacLeod!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Wagner Zegers and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arboleda moves in looking to clinch but MacLeod pushes him off.
A combination from Arboleda does no damage.
Nice body kick there by Arboleda.

Arboleda closes the distance and clinches.
Arboleda blocks an uppercut.
MacLeod lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Arboleda.
Arboleda lands a nice elbow.
Arboleda throws a knee to the head but misses.
Arboleda's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
MacLeod prevents a body shot from Arboleda.
MacLeod blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Arboleda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
MacLeod avoiding damage as Arboleda throws knees to the body.
MacLeod is looking to control Arboleda's arms but Arboleda gets an underhook and turns him. Now MacLeod has his back to the ropes.
MacLeod presses Arboleda against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Arboleda stalling in the clinch but MacLeod improves position.
MacLeod scores with a shot to the side of Arboleda's head.
MacLeod presses Arboleda against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
MacLeod taking a breather.
MacLeod throws a head punch that misses.
I was talking to Arboleda's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacLeod blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
MacLeod lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Arboleda backwards.
MacLeod is looking to control Arboleda's arms but Arboleda gets an underhook and turns him. Now MacLeod has his back to the ropes.
Arboleda blocks a punch to the side of the head.
MacLeod misses with a short punch on the inside.
MacLeod lands a hook that snaps the head of Arboleda backwards.
MacLeod misses with a shot to the kidneys.
MacLeod blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Arboleda lands an elbow inside that MacLeod shrugs off.
Arboleda taking a breather.
Arboleda misses with a knee strike.
Arboleda blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Arboleda misses with an elbow over the top.
MacLeod lands a hook to the side of the head.
Arboleda has MacLeod pushed against the ropes.
Arboleda lands a damaging elbow.
Arboleda with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacLeod lands with a light punch inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arboleda lands an elbow that stopped MacLeod in his tracks for a moment.
MacLeod works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by MacLeod as Arboleda tries to tie him up.
A quick uppercut on the inside from MacLeod.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
MacLeod is looking to control Arboleda's arms but Arboleda gets an underhook and turns him. Now MacLeod has his back to the ropes.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
MacLeod is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Arboleda has denied him.
MacLeod throws a head punch that misses.
MacLeod managing to block the knees to the body from Arboleda.
MacLeod on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Arboleda is looking to control MacLeod's arms but MacLeod gets an underhook and turns him. Now Arboleda has his back to the ropes.
Arboleda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from MacLeod.
MacLeod avoiding damage as Arboleda throws knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
MacLeod misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Arboleda unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A head punch on the inside from MacLeod fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arboleda landing some nice looking knees to the body.
MacLeod is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Arboleda trying to land knees to the body.
MacLeod throws a head punch that misses.
MacLeod lands a left hand.
Arboleda lands a left hand.
MacLeod working aggressively here.
MacLeod makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
MacLeod lands a hook that snaps the head of Arboleda backwards.
Arboleda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from MacLeod.
Arboleda landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
MacLeod swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Arboleda lands a hook that snaps the head of MacLeod backwards.
Arboleda trying to stall but MacLeod improves his position.
MacLeod avoiding damage as Arboleda throws knees to the body.
Arboleda looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Arboleda tries a knee to the head but MacLeod blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
MacLeod on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Arboleda tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and MacLeod avoids it.
Arboleda lands an elbow just above MacLeod 's eye.
MacLeod throws a punch but it's blocked by Arboleda.
Arboleda lands a knee to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, MacLeod creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
MacLeod lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Arboleda misses with a body punch.
MacLeod lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Arboleda as MacLeod tries to tie him up.
Arboleda is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
MacLeod working aggressively here.
Arboleda unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Arboleda tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Arboleda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with MacLeod's elbow.
Arboleda creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through MacLeod's defenses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Humberto Manuel Arboleda will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

MacLeod swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Arboleda throws a head kick that misses
and MacLeod connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Arboleda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but MacLeod paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A punch lands to the side of Arboleda 's head but he takes it in his stride.
MacLeod misses with a wild combination.
Arboleda tries to counter by clinching up but MacLeod breaks away and moves out of range.
Arboleda slips a straight right by MacLeod.
MacLeod bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Arboleda's head.
Arboleda tries to clinch up but MacLeod circles away and keeps his distance.
Arboleda tries to clinch up.
MacLeod throws a right and a left that both miss.
Arboleda darts in trying to clinch
and MacLeod counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

MacLeod closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
MacLeod blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
MacLeod swings away with an uppercut that misses.
MacLeod on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
MacLeod works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arboleda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Arboleda trying to land knees to the body.
Arboleda tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
MacLeod stalling in the clinch but Arboleda improves position.
MacLeod lands an uppercut.
Nice elbow from Arboleda.
MacLeod has a couple of punches blocked by Arboleda.
Arboleda is looking to control MacLeod's arms but MacLeod gets an underhook and turns him. Now Arboleda has his back to the ropes.
Arboleda working aggressively here.
MacLeod softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Arboleda tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and MacLeod avoids it.
Arboleda using the Thai plumb to throw knees but MacLeod has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
MacLeod lands a nice uppercut.
Arboleda is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. MacLeod is defending well for now.
MacLeod slows down the pace here.
Arboleda lands a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacLeod trying to stall but Arboleda improves his position.
MacLeod tries a body shot but Arboleda blocks it.
Arboleda goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
MacLeod tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
MacLeod stalling in the clinch but Arboleda improves position.
Arboleda tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and MacLeod avoids it.
MacLeod has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A short uppercut from Arboleda.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short left from Arboleda.
MacLeod is looking to control Arboleda's arms but Arboleda gets an underhook and turns him. Now MacLeod has his back to the ropes.
MacLeod working aggressively here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Arboleda.
Humberto Manuel Arboleda has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Nice elbow from Arboleda.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Arboleda.

It looks like Connor MacLeod has been cut.
Arboleda landing knees to the body.
Arboleda tries to land knees in the clinch but MacLeod avoids the damage to the body.
MacLeod scores with a nice hook to the head.
MacLeod fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arboleda lands an elbow that stopped MacLeod in his tracks for a moment.
Arboleda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Arboleda lands a nice uppercut.
MacLeod stalling the fight.
Arboleda creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through MacLeod's defenses.
Arboleda blocking some punches.
MacLeod misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Arboleda.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Arboleda as MacLeod tries to tie him up.
MacLeod lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Arboleda unloads a knee to the mid-section. MacLeod lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
MacLeod misses with a short punch on the inside.
Arboleda lands a hook to the side of the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by MacLeod as Arboleda tries to tie him up.
Arboleda looking to throw knees to the head but MacLeod is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacLeod tries to throw a body punch but Arboleda avoids it by throwing MacLeod back against the ropes.
Arboleda wants to stall.
MacLeod working aggressively here.
MacLeod misses with a hook from the clinch.
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!
Arboleda lands an elbow just above MacLeod 's eye.
Arboleda is struggling to control the position.
Arboleda is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. MacLeod is defending well for now.
A short right from MacLeod.
MacLeod fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
MacLeod stalling in the clinch but Arboleda improves position.
Arboleda tries a knee to the head but MacLeod blocks it.
MacLeod tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Arboleda's elbow.
Arboleda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from MacLeod.
MacLeod lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
MacLeod pushes Arboleda back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Connor MacLeod will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Connor MacLeod's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Arboleda clinches up against the ropes.
Arboleda misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
MacLeod blocks a body shot from Arboleda.
MacLeod throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Arboledas head.
Arboleda tries a knee to the head but MacLeod blocks it.
Arboleda prevents a body shot from MacLeod.
Arboleda tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and MacLeod avoids it.
MacLeod taking a breather.
MacLeod is trying to stall.
MacLeod lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Arboleda backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arboleda tries to land knees in the clinch but MacLeod avoids the damage to the body.
MacLeod looking to stall.
Arboleda misses with an elbow strike.
MacLeod scores with a shot to the side of Arboleda's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacLeod misses with a short punch on the inside.
Arboleda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
MacLeod softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Arboleda looking to throw knees to the head but MacLeod is blocking nicely.
MacLeod tries to stall but Arboleda uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Knees to the body from Arboleda.
MacLeod gets through Arboleda's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short left from MacLeod.
MacLeod trying to control the position but instead, Arboleda has worked for underhooks and has pushed MacLeod into the ropes.
Arboleda blocks an uppercut.
Arboleda connects with a nasty looking knee right to MacLeod's face.
Arboleda throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Arboleda with a knee to the head.
Arboleda lands an elbow inside.
MacLeod working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
MacLeod lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Arboleda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Arboleda misses with a punch on the inside.
MacLeod misses with a short punch on the inside.
MacLeod takes an elbow to the temple.
A short body shot lands from MacLeod as the two fighters clinch.
A bit of stalling here from MacLeod.
MacLeod digs a right hand underneath Arboleda's ribcage. Arboleda let out a lung full of air as it connected.
MacLeod scores with a shoulder strike.
MacLeod misses with the head strike.
Arboleda lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Arboleda controlling the action here for a moment.
MacLeod lands a hook that snaps the head of Arboleda backwards.
MacLeod wants to stall.
Arboleda prevents a body shot from MacLeod.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacLeod lands a left hand that snaps the head of Arboleda backwards.
A short right from MacLeod on the inside.
MacLeod makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Arboleda unloads a knee to the mid-section. MacLeod lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
MacLeod is working Arboleda over against the ropes.
MacLeod lands a body punch in the clinch.
Arboleda with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
MacLeod struggles to land a body shot inside as Arboleda controls his hands.
Arboleda tries to land knees in the clinch but MacLeod avoids the damage to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Arboleda.
MacLeod swings away with an uppercut that misses.
MacLeod misses with some punches.
Arboleda lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Arboleda tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for MacLeod.
Arboleda misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
MacLeod lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Arboleda backwards.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Arboleda just misses with a elbow thrown towards MacLeod's brow.
MacLeod stalling the fight.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Arboleda just misses with a elbow thrown towards MacLeod's brow.
MacLeod managing to block the knees to the body from Arboleda.
MacLeod is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Arboleda is keeping busy.
Arboleda using the Thai plumb to throw knees but MacLeod has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Arboleda blocking some punches.
Arboleda pushes MacLeod back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for MacLeod.
MacLeod takes a knee right on the jaw!
MacLeod working aggressively here.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
MacLeod misses with a punch on the inside.
Arboleda blocking some punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Connor MacLeod.
I think MacLeod 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Connor MacLeod!
Connor MacLeod decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.