PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Pekka Toivonen (ranked 1992 p4p, 271 weight class) and Emil Marinov (ranked 21661 p4p, 803 weight class). Marinov has chosen Ruelle - Live Like Legends as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Toivonen
vs
Marinov

193 cm
22
210 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

192 cm
23
195 lbs
10 - 4 - 1

Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pekka Toivonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Emil Marinov!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Ryoma Takatsuka and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marinov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Toivonen.
Toivonen ducks under a wild hook from Marinov.
Marinov scores with a punch to the head.

It looks like Pekka Toivonen has been cut.
Toivonen misses with a low kick.
Marinov connects with a solid leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Toivonen.
A quick step to the side and Toivonen tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Toivonen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Toivonen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Toivonen punishes Marinov's body with a nice straight punch.
Toivonen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Marinov.
A good leg kick by Marinov.
Marinov feints and then cracks Toivonen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Toivonen down.
Toivonen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Marinov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Toivonen has managed to clinch.
A short uppercut from Marinov.
Marinov blocking some punches.
Toivonen pushes Marinov back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marinov swings wildly with an uppercut but Toivonen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Toivonen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short right from Toivonen.
Marinov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Toivonens head.
Marinov lands a left hand.
Marinov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A left hand lands to the body for Toivonen.
Toivonen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Toivonen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Marinov lands an uppercut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Toivonen.

Toivonen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Marinov misses with a few strikes there.
Marinov has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Toivonen misses with a double jab.
Toivonen is looking to land body kicks.
Marinov appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
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!
Toivonen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Marinov momentarily.
Marinov misses with a combination

and Toivonen counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marinov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Marinov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Marinov working aggressively here.
Marinov misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Toivonen fails to land.
Marinov cracks Toivonen with a nice body shot.
Toivonen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Marinov up against the ropes.
Toivonen blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Marinov.
Toivonen slowing the pace effectively.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marinov misses with some punches.
Marinov can't find room to land a body shot as Toivonen controls the action.
Marinov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Marinov misses with the head strike.
Toivonen has a couple of punches blocked by Marinov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Emil Marinov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pekka Toivonen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Marinov tries to close the distance and clinch but Toivonen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Emil Marinov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Toivonen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Marinov.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Toivonen checks a leg kick.
Toivonen throws a looping overhand right but Marinov ducks down to avoid it.
Toivonen swings for the body but Marinov moves out of range.
Marinov tries a low kick but Toivonen avoids it.
Toivonen scores with a decent looking hook.
Marinov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Toivonen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Toivonen throws a leg kick but Marinov checks it.
Toivonen looks to score with a jab to the body but Marinov is just out of range.
Marinov throws a solid leg kick but Toivonen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Marinov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toivonen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Marinov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Marinov throws a shot from downtown. Toivonen moves away and avoids it.
Marinov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Toivonen takes a swing at Marinov's ribcage but misses.
Toivonen is looking to wear down Marinov with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marinov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Toivonen misses the jab.
Toivonen connects with a jab.

Toivonen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Toivonen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Toivonen - that landed with a thud.
Toivonen prevents a body shot from Marinov.
Toivonen takes a shot to the head.
Toivonen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Marinov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Toivonen.
Toivonen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Toivonen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Marinov working aggressively here.
Marinov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Emil Marinov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Toivonen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Marinov backwards.
Marinov lands with a short shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Marinov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Toivonen scores with a shot to the side of Marinov's head.
Marinov presses Toivonen against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Toivonen effectively controlling the action here.
Toivonen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Toivonen blocks an uppercut.
Marinov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Toivonen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Toivonen.
Toivonen blocks an uppercut.
Marinov can't find room to land a body shot as Toivonen controls the action.
Toivonen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Marinov backwards.
Marinov has a couple of punches blocked by Toivonen.
Toivonen tries to throw a body punch but Marinov avoids it by throwing Toivonen back against the ropes.
Marinov throws a punch but it's blocked by Toivonen.

Toivonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Pekka Toivonen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pekka Toivonen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Toivonen forces Marinov back against the ropes and clinches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Toivonen.
Toivonen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Marinov tries to throw a body punch but Toivonen avoids it by throwing Marinov back against the ropes.
Toivonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Marinov.
Toivonen working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Toivonen.
Marinov lands a hook to the side of the head.
Toivonen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Marinov.
Toivonen holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marinov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Toivonen is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Toivonen lands a shoulder strike.
Marinov has a couple of punches blocked by Toivonen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marinov has a couple of punches blocked by Toivonen.
Toivonen throws a head punch that misses.
Marinov works on Toivonen's body with a couple of short punches.
Marinov blocking some punches.
Toivonen misses with the head strike.
Marinov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Toivonen lands a right hand.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Toivonen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Toivonen throws a head punch that misses.
A short right from Marinov on the inside.
Marinov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Toivonen putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Marinov in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Toivonen blocking some punches.

Toivonen breaks from the clinch.
Marinov throws a right hand that Toivonen ducks under and follows up with a left that Toivonen also avoids with ease.
Marinov pivots, looking for a leg kick but Toivonen is out of range and Marinov settles back down.
Marinov moves out of range of the leg kick from Toivonen.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marinov throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marinov throws a shot to the body.
Toivonen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Toivonen throws a leg kick but Marinov sees it coming and moves out of range.
Toivonen sets himself, and Marinov steps forward looking for the clinch! Toivonen avoids it this time.
Toivonen feints and then cracks Marinov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Marinov down.
Marinov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Toivonen counters with a right hand to the body.
Toivonen tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Marinov blocks the body kick.
A left lands for Marinov.
Toivonen bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Marinov throws a leg kick that misses.
Toivonen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Marinov slips a jab from Toivonen.
Marinov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Toivonen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Marinov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A slow jab from Marinov misses its intended target.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Pekka Toivonen.
I think Toivonen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Josh West scores the fight for Pekka Toivonen!
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Pekka Toivonen!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Emil Marinov!

Pekka Toivonen wins by split decision!
Pekka Toivonen thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Emil Marinov was interviewed post fight and said 'strong'.