PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Paul Kruger (ranked 5687 p4p, 516 weight class) and Humberto Manuel Arboleda (ranked 10344 p4p, 653 weight class). Kruger kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Fire and Fury. Arboleda has chosen ASTAROTH - GUERRA DE METAL as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Kruger
vs
Manuel Arboleda

182 cm
38
165 lbs
19 - 9 - 1

165 cm
43
158 lbs
28 - 36 - 1

Dangerous knees
Very quick

Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Fanatic Inc.
IniTech Nutrition

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 19 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Paul Kruger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 36 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Humberto Manuel Arboleda!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kruger takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Kruger closes the distance and clinches.
Arboleda blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Arboleda taking a breather.
Kruger lands a right hand that snaps the head of Arboleda backwards.
Arboleda tries a knee to the head but Kruger blocks it.
A short left from Kruger.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Arboleda.
Arboleda landing knees to the body.
Arboleda lands an uppercut.
Kruger throws a punch but it's blocked by Arboleda.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kruger.
Kruger with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kruger swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Arboleda missing with knees 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!
Arboleda misses with an elbow strike.
Kruger with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Arboleda lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kruger can't find room to land a body shot as Arboleda controls the action.
Arboleda is trying to stall.
Kruger putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Arboleda in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kruger crunches a lovely knee into Arboleda's ribcage.
Arboleda takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kruger tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Kruger breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kruger keeps the fight on the outside.

Kruger has closed the distance and engaged Arboleda in a clinch.
Arboleda missing with knees to the body.
Arboleda pushes Kruger back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Arboleda lands an elbow inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kruger.
Kruger blocks an elbow strike.
Kruger tries to land a knee to the head but Arboleda blocks with his arms.
Kruger misses with a body punch.
Arboleda is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kruger is defending well for now.

Kruger breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kruger clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kruger throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Arboleda blocks it with crossed arms.
Kruger lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arboleda missing with knees to the body.
Arboleda trying to land knees to the body.
Kruger slowing the pace effectively.
Arboleda missing with knees to the body.
Arboleda takes a shot to the head.
Kruger tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Arboleda avoids it.
Kruger misses with an elbow strike.
Kruger lands a left hand that snaps the head of Arboleda backwards.

Kruger breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kruger closes the distance and pushes Arboleda back into the ropes.
Arboleda trying to land knees to the body.

Kruger breaks from the clinch.

Kruger closes the distance and clinches.
Arboleda throws an elbow but it misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kruger takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Arboleda throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Arboleda just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kruger's brow.
Arboleda misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Kruger dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kruger fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Arboleda, pushing him back against the ropes.
Kruger blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kruger is leaning against Arboleda and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kruger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kruger working Arboleda over with knees to the body.
Kruger is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Arboleda can do to turn this around?
Kruger blocks an elbow strike from Arboleda.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Kruger creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kruger lands a good knee to the midsection. Arboleda won't want to take too many of those.
Kruger lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kruger misses with a knee to the head.
Kruger managing to block the knees to the body from Arboleda.
Kruger connects with a nasty looking knee right to Arboleda's face.

It looks like Humberto Manuel Arboleda has been cut.

Kruger's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Arboleda wants to clinch.

Kruger closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kruger managing to block the knees to the body from Arboleda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arboleda avoids a wild elbow strike from Kruger.
Arboleda blocks an elbow strike from Kruger.
Arboleda avoiding damage as Kruger throws knees to the body.
Arboleda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kruger.
Kruger avoiding damage as Arboleda throws knees to the body.
Arboleda trying to land knees to the body.
Kruger gets through Arboleda's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kruger lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Arboleda's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kruger lands with a left to the head.
Kruger takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kruger blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Arboleda lands a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kruger as Arboleda tries to tie him up.
Arboleda tries to land knees in the clinch but Kruger avoids the damage to the body.

Kruger manages to break the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kruger rushes Arboleda and presses him up against the ropes.
Kruger lands a good knee to the midsection. Arboleda won't want to take too many of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruger misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kruger lands a left hand that snaps the head of Arboleda backwards.
Arboleda tries to land knees in the clinch but Kruger avoids the damage to the body.
Arboleda with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Arboleda blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Arboleda tries to land knees in the clinch but Kruger avoids the damage to the body.
Kruger blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Kruger breaks the clinch.

Kruger fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Arboleda, pushing him back against the ropes.
Kruger connects with a knee to the head.
Kruger connects with a nasty looking knee right to Arboleda's face.
A short right from Kruger.
Arboleda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Arboleda takes a shot to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kruger tries to throw a body punch but Arboleda avoids it by throwing Kruger back against the ropes.
Arboleda throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kruger blocks it with crossed arms.

Kruger manages to break the clinch.
Arboleda has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Kruger is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Arboleda tries to close the distance and clinch but Kruger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Kruger dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Humberto Manuel Arboleda's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kruger closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Arboleda throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kruger lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A short uppercut from Kruger.
Kruger managing to block the knees to the body from Arboleda.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Kruger manages to break the clinch.
Kruger circles away from the clinch attempt.

Kruger has Arboleda up against the ropes in a clinch.
Arboleda's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kruger cracks Arboleda with a nice body shot.
Arboleda missing with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruger avoiding damage as Arboleda throws knees to the body.
Arboleda throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kruger scores with a nice hook to the head.
Arboleda throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kruger missing with knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kruger escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arboleda gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kruger makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kruger blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kruger.
A short uppercut from Kruger.
Kruger pushes off an throws an elbow but Arboleda leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Kruger tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Arboleda tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kruger avoids it.
Kruger throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kruger is looking to control Arboleda's arms but Arboleda gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kruger has his back to the ropes.
Arboleda lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kruger backwards.
Arboleda missing with knees to the body.
Arboleda with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kruger misses with an elbow strike.
A knee to the head by Kruger.
Kruger misses with the head strike.
Kruger on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kruger lands a shoulder strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Arboleda pushes off an throws an elbow but Kruger leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arboleda tries a knee to the head but Kruger blocks it.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Paul Kruger has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kruger digs a right hand underneath Arboleda's ribcage. Arboleda let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kruger taking a breather.
Kruger dodges an elbow strike from Arboleda.
Kruger trying to land knees to the body.
Kruger stalling the fight.
Kruger misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Arboleda.
Kruger lands an uppercut.
Arboleda lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Arboleda.
Arboleda looking to throw knees to the head but Kruger is blocking nicely.
Kruger scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kruger tries to land a knee to the head but Arboleda blocks with his arms.
Kruger avoiding damage as Arboleda throws knees to the body.
Kruger blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Kruger clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Humberto Manuel Arboleda's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kruger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Kruger takes the fight into the clinch.
Kruger misses with a knee to the head.
Kruger lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Arboleda.
Kruger throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kruger tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Arboleda avoids it.
Arboleda missing with knees to the body.
Kruger missing with knees to the body.
Kruger working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Arboleda lands a damaging elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Arboleda.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruger creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Arboleda's defenses.
A shot in the inside from Arboleda.

Kruger manages to break the clinch.
Arboleda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Kruger paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Kruger moves into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Arboleda is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kruger is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arboleda letting Kruger take a breather here.
Arboleda misses with a body punch.
Kruger is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Arboleda is defending well for now.
Kruger misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kruger missing with knees to the body.
Kruger takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Paul Kruger has been cut.
Arboleda using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kruger has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Arboleda landing knees to the body.
Arboleda tries to work over Kruger's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kruger avoids the elbow strike from Arboleda, against the ropes.
Arboleda cracks Kruger with a nice body shot.
Arboleda with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Arboleda lands a knee to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Kruger tries to throw a body punch but Arboleda avoids it by throwing Kruger back against the ropes.
Arboleda with a knee to the head.
Arboleda is looking to control Kruger's arms but Kruger gets an underhook and turns him. Now Arboleda has his back to the ropes.
Arboleda misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arboleda trying to land knees to the body.
Arboleda goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Kruger creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kruger connects with a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arboleda tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Arboleda throws a knee to the head but misses.

Kruger's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kruger closes the distance and pushes Arboleda back into the ropes.
Kruger throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Arboleda tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kruger avoids it.
Arboleda landing knees to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Kruger.
Kruger misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Arboleda.
Kruger tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Arboleda tries to land knees in the clinch but Kruger avoids the damage to the body.
Kruger lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Arboleda.
A body shot lands from Kruger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Paul Kruger will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kruger fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Arboleda tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Kruger manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Arboleda cracks Kruger with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Kruger gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kruger swings wildly with an uppercut but Arboleda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Arboleda scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Arboleda is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

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

Kruger clinches.
Kruger connects with a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruger lands a knee to the head.
Arboleda avoids the elbow strike from Kruger, against the ropes.

Kruger manages to break the clinch.
Arboleda tries to close the distance and clinch but Kruger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
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!

Kruger gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kruger lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arboleda tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kruger avoids it.
Still in the clinch, Kruger scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kruger takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kruger misses with a knee strike.
Kruger lands a good knee to the midsection. Arboleda won't want to take too many of those.
Come on Kruger - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kruger is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Kruger throws an elbow but misses.
Kruger softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Kruger lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kruger swings wildly with an uppercut but Arboleda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Arboleda missing with knees to the body.
Kruger's Muay Thai looks sharper than normal. He has obviously been working on it in the gym.
Kruger avoids a wild elbow strike from Arboleda.
Kruger missing with knees to the body.
Kruger scores with a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arboleda takes a knee to the side of the body.
Arboleda is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Kruger crunches a lovely knee into Arboleda's ribcage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kruger trying to stall but Arboleda improves his position.
Kruger makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kruger lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Arboleda lands a nice elbow.
Arboleda letting Kruger take a breather here.
Arboleda misses with a knee to the head.
Kruger looking to throw knees to the head but Arboleda is blocking nicely.
Kruger working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Arboleda.
Kruger misses with a short punch on the inside.
Humberto Manuel Arboleda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kruger using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arboleda has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Arboleda tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Arboleda with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Arboleda tries to land knees in the clinch but Kruger avoids the damage to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Kruger showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kruger 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Paul Kruger!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Paul Kruger!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Paul Kruger!

Paul Kruger wins by unanimous decision!
Paul Kruger really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that IniTech Nutrition logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.