PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Joe Kickboxing (ranked 7842 p4p, 566 weight class) and Taine Raharuhi (ranked 23805 p4p, 633 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Kickboxing
vs
Raharuhi

160 cm
26
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
165 lbs
7 - 3 - 2

Excellent MT
Very strong

Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Kickboxing!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taine Raharuhi!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raharuhi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kickboxing sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kickboxing misses with a looping right.
Kickboxing gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kickboxing walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kickboxing steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Raharuhi.
Raharuhi looks to score with a jab to the body but Kickboxing is just out of range.
Kickboxing tries to close the distance and clinch up but Raharuhi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Raharuhi doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Kickboxing throws a lazy head kick
and Raharuhi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Raharuhi misses the shot to the body.
Raharuhi has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Kickboxing is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Raharuhi lands a nice shot that snaps Kickboxing's head back.
Raharuhi connects with a nice looking jab.
Kickboxing tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Raharuhi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kickboxing takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Raharuhi has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Kickboxing throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Raharuhi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kickboxing moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Raharuhi swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kickboxing tries to clinch but Raharuhi is having none of it.
Raharuhi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kickboxing stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kickboxing wants to clinch
letting Raharuhi counter with a right hand.
Raharuhi looks to land a combination. Kickboxing sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Raharuhi is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Raharuhi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Raharuhi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kickboxing swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Raharuhi misses with a straight right.
Raharuhi lands a nice hook to Kickboxing's body. Kickboxing takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Raharuhi just misses with a punch to the body.
Kickboxing drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Raharuhi lands a nice shot to the body.
Kickboxing tries to close the distance and clinch up but Raharuhi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Raharuhi cracks Kickboxing with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kickboxing steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Raharuhi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kickboxing tries to clinch but Raharuhi moves out of range.
Kickboxing throws a sloppy head kick and Raharuhi moves out of range easily.
Jab from Raharuhi.
Kickboxing tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Raharuhi lands a nice shot to the body.
Raharuhi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Raharuhi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters circle momentarily. Raharuhi darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kickboxing defending well as Raharuhi loads up on a big left hand.
Kickboxing tries a head kick but it misses.
Kickboxing throws a right hand that Raharuhi ducks under and follows up with a left that Raharuhi also avoids with ease.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kickboxing gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Raharuhi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kickboxing takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kickboxing misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taine Raharuhi dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Raharuhi scores with a nice right hand.
Raharuhi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kickboxing's hands.
Raharuhi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kickboxing pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Raharuhi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Taine Raharuhi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raharuhi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kickboxing drops his hands momentarily and Raharuhi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Raharuhi throws a hook but Kickboxing avoids it easily.
Raharuhi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kickboxing counters with a three punch combo that has Raharuhi backing up. Raharuhi nods at Kickboxing to acknowledge the strikes.
Raharuhi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kickboxing closes the distance looking to clinch
and Raharuhi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raharuhi throws an overhand right that lands on Kickboxing's shoulder, as Kickboxing tries to avoid the shot.
Kickboxing on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Raharuhi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kickboxing tries to clinch but Raharuhi moves away
and Raharuhi counters with a straight right hand.
Kickboxing connects with a high kick.
Kickboxing tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Raharuhi moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Raharuhi misses with a wild body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kickboxing looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kickboxing throws a head kick that misses.
Kickboxing checks a leg kick nicely.
As Raharuhi tries to get set, Kickboxing tries to push him back and clinch up but Raharuhi manages to avoid the attempt.
Raharuhi lands a body shot.
Raharuhi scores with a punch to the head.
Raharuhi connects with a right hand. Kickboxing shakes it off.
Kickboxing lands a leg kick that knocks Raharuhi off balance momentarily.
Raharuhi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kickboxing tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Raharuhi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taine Raharuhi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Raharuhi.
Kickboxing wants to clinch up but Raharuhi keeps it at a distance.
The fighters circling - Raharuhi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It looked like Kickboxing was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Raharuhi.
Kickboxing takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kickboxing looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kickboxing tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Raharuhi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Raharuhi avoids a kick to the body.
Kickboxing throws a leg kick
enabling Raharuhi to counter with a crisp jab.
A cross from Raharuhi lands.
Raharuhi misses with a body shot.
Kickboxing blocks a jab.
Raharuhi misses with a straight left.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kickboxing tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Raharuhi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Raharuhi misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taine Raharuhi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Raharuhi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Joe Kickboxing is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kickboxing lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Raharuhi circles away quickly and effectively.
Kickboxing is looking to clinch but Raharuhi is avoiding it.
Kickboxing wants to clinch up but Raharuhi keeps it at a distance.
Kickboxing throws a head kick but Raharuhi moves out of range.
Raharuhi misses with a leg kick.
A punch combination from Kickboxing misses.
Kickboxing swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Raharuhi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kickboxing takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Raharuhi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kickboxing's head backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kickboxing tries to close the distance and clinch but Raharuhi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Raharuhi lands a slapping body shot.
Raharuhi throws out a loose jab but Kickboxing uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raharuhi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Raharuhi thows a leg kick but Kickboxing checks it
and Kickboxing makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kickboxing darts in trying to clinch
and Raharuhi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raharuhi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kickboxing tries to clinch up.
Raharuhi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kickboxing throws a nice inside leg kick.
Raharuhi just misses with a punch to the body.
Kickboxing wants to clinch.
Kickboxing tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Raharuhi to counter with a crisp jab.
Kickboxing is looking to clinch.
Kickboxing ducks under a wild hook from Raharuhi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kickboxing closes the distance looking to clinch
and Raharuhi counters with a right hand to the body.
Raharuhi misses the shot to the body.
Kickboxing went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Kickboxing tries to clinch
and Raharuhi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Raharuhi slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Good exchange - Raharuhi coming out on top.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Raharuhi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kickboxing tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A leg kick checked by Kickboxing.
Kickboxing swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kickboxing tries to close the distance and clinch up but Raharuhi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Raharuhi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Raharuhi motions for Kickboxing to come forward. Raharuhi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Raharuhi takes a swing at Kickboxing's ribcage but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taine Raharuhi really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kickboxing throws a nice looking combination but Raharuhi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Raharuhi connects with a body shot.
Taine Raharuhi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kickboxing fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Raharuhi misses with a looping left.
Kickboxing takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Raharuhi misses the jab.
Kickboxing looks to clinch
and Raharuhi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kickboxing tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Raharuhi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Raharuhi throws a good cross that connects.
Kickboxing displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Raharuhi throws out the jab.
Kickboxing is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raharuhi. Kickboxing does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kickboxing takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Raharuhi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kickboxing looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raharuhi scores with a shot to the body.
A left and a right from Raharuhi both land. Nice combination.
Kickboxing falls off balance throwing a combination
and Raharuhi counters with a stiff right hand.
Raharuhi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kickboxing. Kickboxing circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kickboxing is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kickboxing moves in looking to clinch but Raharuhi pushes him off.
Raharuhi now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kickboxing tries to clinch but Raharuhi moves out of range.
Kickboxing tries to clinch but Raharuhi moves away
and Kickboxing takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Raharuhi misses with a body shot.
Raharuhi works Kickboxing's body with a nice hook.
Raharuhi avoids the head kick by Kickboxing.
Nice uppercut there from Raharuhi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kickboxing takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raharuhi misses with a hook. Kickboxing ducked under it nicely.
Raharuhi just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromKickboxing.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Raharuhi, as that shot connected.
Raharuhi cracks Kickboxing with an open hand slap.
Raharuhi looks to land a combination but Kickboxing avoids it well.
Raharuhi throws the left hand but Kickboxing avoids the punch easily.
Raharuhi scores with the left hand. Kickboxing knows he should have avoided that one.
Kickboxing takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Raharuhi throws a lazy right hand but Kickboxing sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Raharuhi lands a jab to the head.
Kickboxing tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Raharuhi to counter with a crisp jab.

Kickboxing is rocked!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kickboxing looks to clinch
and Raharuhi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Oh Kickboxing is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kickboxing throws a leg kick
and Raharuhi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Raharuhi connects with a quick right hand that sends Kickboxing tumbling backwards onto the canvas! As his head bounces into the ropes, it doesn't look good for him beating the count! 3,4,5,6,7 and he's up! No, he's back down again! This one is all over - the referee has called off the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch). Taine Raharuhi!
Taine Raharuhi bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.