PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Leonardo Atunes (ranked 1945 p4p, 255 weight class) and Judge LaCrosse (ranked 2043 p4p, 266 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Atunes
vs
LaCrosse

180 cm
35
180 lbs
25 - 12 - 3

194 cm
33
182 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 12 - 3, fighting out of New York, Leonardo Atunes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Judge LaCrosse!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Atkins and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Atunes throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
LaCrosse misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Atunes fails to land.
A left hand lands to the body for Atunes.
Atunes is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but LaCrosse is keeping busy.
Atunes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Atunes lands a left hand.
Atunes lands a left hand that snaps the head of LaCrosse backwards.
LaCrosse tries to throw a body punch but Atunes avoids it by throwing LaCrosse back against the ropes.

Atunes breaks from the clinch.
LaCrosse lands a nice hook to Atunes's body. Atunes takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
LaCrosse throws a body punch but Atunes moves out of range.
Atunes lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Atunes swats away the attempt to clinch by LaCrosse.

Atunes gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atunes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Atunes blocks an uppercut.
Atunes blocking some punches.
Atunes throws a blind hook that connects with the side of LaCrosses head.
LaCrosse lands with a left to the head.
LaCrosse is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Atunes.
LaCrosse misses with some punches.
We've been informed that LaCrosse has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
A head punch on the inside from Atunes fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Atunes.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by LaCrosse as Atunes tries to tie him up.
LaCrosse lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Atunes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
LaCrosse scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Atunes throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Atunes pushes LaCrosse up against the ropes in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Atunes.
LaCrosse throws an elbow but it's blocked.
LaCrosse struggles to land a body shot inside as Atunes controls his hands.
LaCrosse lands an elbow just above Atunes 's eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short right hand to the side of the head by LaCrosse.
Atunes tries to throw a body punch but LaCrosse avoids it by throwing Atunes back against the ropes.

Atunes manages to break the clinch.
LaCrosse thuds his right hand into Atunes's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
LaCrosse walks into a straight right hand from Atunes.
Atunes swings widly with a right hand
and Atunes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The fighters circling - Atunes throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
LaCrosse connects with a nice looking jab.
Atunes bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
LaCrosse tries to clinch but Atunes moves out of range.
LaCrosse tries to close the distance and clinch up but Atunes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sloppy strikes from LaCrosse. Those never looked like landing.
LaCrosse is looking to clinch but Atunes is avoiding it.
Atunes finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Atunes throws a lazy right hand but LaCrosse sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
LaCrosse is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Atunes with a body shot.
LaCrosse misses with a straight right.
LaCrosse is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Judge LaCrosse will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Atunes lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Atunes lands a nice shot to the body.
LaCrosse tries to clinch but Atunes moves out of range.
Atunes connects with an inside leg kick.
LaCrosse moves out of range as Atunes throws a body kick.
Atunes misses the shot to the body.
LaCrosse wants to clinch.

LaCrosse rushes Atunes and presses him up against the ropes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atunes scores with a nice hook to the head.
LaCrosse throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Atunes blocks a punch to the side of the head.
LaCrosse keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Atunes's efforts to push away.
Atunes misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atunes taking a breather.
Atunes misses with some punches.
Atunes manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
LaCrosse scores with a nice hook to the head.
Atunes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Atunes taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Atunes looking to stall.
A head punch on the inside from LaCrosse fails to land.

Atunes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Atunes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by LaCrosse.
Atunes feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Atunes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
LaCrosse is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
LaCrosse on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A swing and a miss from LaCrosse.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
LaCrosse on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Good exchange - Atunes coming out on top.
LaCrosse tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Atunes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

LaCrosse has closed the distance and engaged Atunes in a clinch.
Judge LaCrosse seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
LaCrosse struggles to land a body shot inside as Atunes controls his hands.
LaCrosse misses with a short punch on the inside.
Atunes is trying to push LaCrosse away but LaCrosse has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
LaCrosse lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Atunes manages to break the clinch.
LaCrosse on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Atunes lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Atunes throws a right hand that misses
and LaCrosse counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A telegraphed right hand from Atunes misses the target.
LaCrosse tries to close the distance and clinch up but Atunes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
LaCrosse tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Atunes counters with a left to the body.
LaCrosse clobbers Atunes with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leonardo Atunes dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

LaCrosse defending well as Atunes loads up on a big left hand.
Leonardo Atunes is winning the standup battle so far.
Atunes throws out a powerful jab.
Atunes misses with a leg kick
and LaCrosse counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Atunes uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before LaCrosse has time to react.
Atunes misses with a head kick.
LaCrosse throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice defenses there by Atunes.
Atunes lands with a nice body kick.
LaCrosse tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Atunes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Atunes tries a low kick but LaCrosse avoids it.
Atunes misses with a low kick.

LaCrosse moves into the clinch.
With the fighters up against the ropes, LaCrosse throws an elbow but misses.
LaCrosse fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Atunes tries to throw a body punch but LaCrosse avoids it by throwing Atunes back against the ropes.
Atunes lands a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Atunes blocks an uppercut.
Atunes lands a body punch in the clinch.

Atunes manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
LaCrosse is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
LaCrosse scores with a jab to the jaw.
Atunes takes a swing at LaCrosse's ribcage but misses.
LaCrosse has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Atunes looks to land a right hand but LaCrosse moved out of range.
LaCrosse tries to clinch but Atunes is having none of it.
LaCrosse tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Atunes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
LaCrosse blocks a head kick by Atunes.
LaCrosse looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Atunes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Atunes throws an overhand right that lands on LaCrosse's shoulder, as LaCrosse tries to avoid the shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by LaCrosse.
Atunes looks to score with a jab to the body but LaCrosse is just out of range.
Atunes scores with a leg kick.
LaCrosse uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Atunes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but LaCrosse was well out of range. Poor timing from Atunes.

LaCrosse rushes Atunes and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Atunes blocks a body shot from LaCrosse.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atunes lands with a right to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Atunes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
LaCrosse displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Atunes throws out the jab.
It seemed like LaCrosse was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
LaCrosse doesn't manage to clinch there - Atunes circles away.
LaCrosse takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
LaCrosse tries to clinch but Atunes is having none of it.
LaCrosse misses with a series of wild punches.
LaCrosse misses the shot to the body.
Atunes swings for the body but LaCrosse moves out of range.
LaCrosse fails with an attempt to clinch.

LaCrosse closes the distance and clinches.
Atunes avoids the elbow strike from LaCrosse, against the ropes.
Atunes leaning his opponent against the ropes.
LaCrosse lands a left hand that snaps the head of Atunes backwards.
Atunes blocks an elbow strike from LaCrosse.

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 Leonardo Atunes.
I think Atunes 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Leonardo Atunes!
Leonardo Atunes 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.