PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Ed Driver (ranked 1675 p4p, 41 weight class) and Simon Udovich (ranked 5423 p4p, 185 weight class). Udovich has chosen Godzilla Remix 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!

Driver
vs
Udovich

183 cm
35
215 lbs
19 - 13 - 1

225 cm
23
428 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

World class boxer
Cardio machine

World class boxer
Granite chin

Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Ed Driver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Simon Udovich!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Driver lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Udovich circles away quickly and effectively.
Driver throws a right and a left that Udovich avoids nicely.
Udovich avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Driver throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Udovich.

Udovich tries to keep at a distance but Driver has taken the fight into the clinch.
Driver wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Udovich working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Udovich breaks the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Udovich.
As Udovich tries to get set, Driver tries to push him back and clinch up but Udovich manages to avoid the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Udovich misses with a hook. Driver ducked under it nicely.
Driver is looking to counter with head kicks.

Driver clinches with his opponent.

Udovich breaks the clinch.

Driver pushes Udovich up against the ropes in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A shot in the inside from Udovich.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Driver misses with a knee to the head.

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

Driver closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Driver tries to land knees in the clinch but Udovich avoids the damage to the body.
Udovich wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

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

Udovich cracks Driver with a perfect right hand that drops him to the mat! Driver is sitting up but I can't see if he's OK from my position. The referee's count has reached 5,6,7 and Driver is still not up. Can he make it? 8,9, he's up! Wow, he cut that one a bit fine!

It looks like Ed Driver has been cut.
Udovich lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Driver circles away quickly and effectively.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Udovich throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Udovich throws a sloppy body shot
and Driver cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Driver misses with a head kick.
Udovich swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Driver throws a head kick that misses.
Udovich has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.

Driver closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Driver.
Udovich swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Udovich has had enough of the clinch but Driver keeps him there for the moment.

Udovich's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Udovich throws a lazy uppercut
and Driver cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Driver with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Udovich to score with a decent uppercut.
Driver avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Driver throws a head kick that misses.

Driver fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Udovich, pushing him back against the ropes.

Driver breaks from the clinch.
Driver misses with a two punch combination.
Simon Udovich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Udovich misses.
Udovich misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Driver.
Udovich looks to score with a jab to the body but Driver is just out of range.
Udovich throws a jab but it's blocked by Driver.
Driver tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Simon Udovich will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ed Driver's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Driver throws a sloppy head kick and Udovich moves out of range easily.
Udovich thows a left - swing and a miss!
Udovich throws a nice looking combination but Driver bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Driver uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Udovich.
Driver seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Udovich thuds his right hand into Driver's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Udovich tries to keep at a distance but Driver has taken the fight into the clinch.
Udovich swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Udovich wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Driver makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Udovich scores with a nice hook to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Driver is trying to maintain a safe position but Udovich gets an underhook and turns Driver into the ropes.
Driver blocking some punches.
Udovich misses with a hook from the clinch.
Udovich lands a hook that snaps the head of Driver backwards.

Driver breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Udovich lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Driver wants to clinch but Udovich slips to the side
and Udovich counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Udovich misses with a few strikes there.

Driver closes the distance and pushes Udovich back into the ropes.
Driver is looking to break free of the clinch but Udovich has double underhooks.
Driver blocks a punch to the side of the head.

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

Driver has managed to clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Udovich as Driver tries to tie him up.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Maybe Driver would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.

Driver breaks from the clinch.
Udovich avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Udovich throws out a counter right but Driver avoids it with no problem.
Simon Udovich seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Udovich throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Driver counters with a right hand to the body.
Simon Udovich is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Driver tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Driver tries a head kick but it misses.
Driver throws a head kick that misses
and Udovich makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Udovich throws a body shot but no joy.
Driver tries to clinch but Udovich is having none of it.
Udovich keeps the fight on the outside.
Udovich looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Driver ducks under a wild hook from Udovich.

Driver darts in and clinches Udovich up against the ropes.
Udovich avoiding damage as Driver throws knees to the body.
Udovich lands a hook to the side of the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Driver's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Udovich looks to land a left hand but Driver moved out of range nicely.
Ed Driver is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Driver takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Udovich showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ed Driver's cut.
That's time! Driver's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Driver slips a straight right by Udovich.

Driver closes the distance and clinches.
Driver displaying some good clinch control by pressing Udovich up against the ropes.
Udovich fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Driver manages to break the clinch.
Driver waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Udovich.
Udovich moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Udovich slips a jab and a cross from Driver.
Driver throws a half hearted mid kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Driver lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Udovich backs up against the ropes.
Udovich throws a right hand that misses
and Driver counters with a two punch combo.

Udovich gets tackled into the ropes by Driver. Driver maintains the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Driver.
Ed Driver has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Driver breaks the clinch.
A punch combination from Driver misses.
Driver steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Udovich.
Driver tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Driver is looking to clinch but Udovich is avoiding it.
Udovich swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Driver fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Udovich is out of range.
Driver keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Driver doesn't manage to clinch there - Udovich circles away.
Udovich throws out a counter right but Driver avoids it with no problem.

Driver closes the distance and clinches.
Udovich working aggressively here.
Driver presses Udovich against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Udovich avoiding damage as Driver throws knees to the body.

Driver breaks from the clinch.

Driver rushes Udovich and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Driver breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Driver staying out of range there.

Driver clinches up with Udovich and pushes him back against the ropes.
Driver trying to land knees to the body.
Udovich tries to circle away but Driver has him pinned against the ropes.
Udovich wants to break free but Driver has control.
Udovich tries to circle away but Driver has him pinned against the ropes.
Driver prevents Udovich from breaking the clinch.
Driver is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Udovich is keeping busy.

Driver breaks from the clinch.
Donk. Driver catches Udovich right on the button with a cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Driver fails with an attempt to clinch.
Udovich throws out a loose jab but Driver uses good head movement to avoid it.
Udovich swats away the attempt to clinch by Driver.
Udovich looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ed Driver showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Udovich 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight for Ed Driver!
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight for Simon Udovich!
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight for Ed Driver!

Ed Driver wins by split decision!
After the fight, Ed Driver was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
Simon Udovich was interviewed post fight and said 'Simon *gasp* so *gasp* tired. Simon no do running'.