PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Michael Bronco (ranked 23628 p4p, 621 weight class) and Zlatan Zirkov (ranked 23260 p4p, 632 weight class). 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.

Bronco
vs
Zirkov

173 cm
19
159 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

172 cm
26
160 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

Lethal high kicks
Big right hand

Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Bronco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zlatan Zirkov!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Bronco.
Zirkov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bronco misses with a straight right.
Bronco looks to throw the jab but Zirkov is out of range.
Bronco takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Zirkov throws a body kick that misses.
Zirkov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bronco tried to counter with a leg kick but Zirkov avoided it.
Zirkov moves away from the strike by Bronco.
Zirkov jabs at Bronco's body.
Zirkov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Bronco looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Bronco throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bronco tests Zirkov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bronco takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zirkov wants to clinch up but Bronco keeps it at a distance.
An inside leg kick from Bronco misses.
Bronco works Zirkov's body with a nice hook.
Zirkov misses with a head kick.
Bronco throws an ugly left hook that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Zirkov checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zirkov throws a sloppy head kick and Bronco moves out of range easily.
Zirkov is looking to score with low kicks.
A jab from Bronco finds it's way through Zirkov's defenses.
Zirkov moves out of range as Bronco strikes.
Zirkov throws a low kick, looking for Bronco's leg but Bronco calmly moves out of range.
Bronco throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zirkov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Bronco moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Bronco avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Some bone on bone action there as Bronco checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Zirkov lands with an overhand left.
Nice shot lands for Zirkov.
Bronco misses with a low kick.
Zirkov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Zirkov has closed the distance and engaged Bronco in a clinch.
Bronco tries to stall but Zirkov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bronco blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zirkov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Bronco backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zirkov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bronco.
Bronco blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zirkov missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Zirkov is trying to force a seperation but Bronco has the dominant position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bronco.
Zirkov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bronco's efforts to push away.
The referee is keeping an eye on Bronco - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Zirkov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Bronco on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zirkov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bronco.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zlatan Zirkov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bronco throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bronco misses with a wild combination.
Bronco misses with a low kick as Zirkov jumps back.
That kick from Bronco tenderised Zirkov's leg. Zirkov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Zirkov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Zirkov moves into the clinch successfully.
Bronco is looking to break free of the clinch but Zirkov has double underhooks.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Zirkov works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Bronco tries to break the clinch but Zirkov is controlling the position.
Zirkov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zirkov tries to break the clinch but Bronco is controlling the position.
Bronco on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zirkov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bronco is defending well for now.
Zirkov working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zirkov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Michael Bronco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A slow jab from Bronco misses its intended target.
Zirkov looks to land a combination but Bronco avoids it well.
Bronco throws a series of punches but Zirkov avoids them all with ease.
Zirkov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bronco scores with a nice strike.
Zirkov blocks a leg kick.
A big right from Bronco misses.
Zlatan Zirkov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bronco blocks a head kick by Zirkov.
Bronco fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Zirkov checks it well.
Zirkov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bronco has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Bronco scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Zirkov dodges the punch combination from Bronco.
Zirkov wants to land a leg kick but Bronco is out of range.
Zirkov throws a leg kick
and Bronco counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zirkov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Bronco throws an off balance right hand
and Zirkov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bronco throws a big shot that misses.
Bronco fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zirkov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zirkov lands a nice looking body shot.
Bronco fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bronco's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Bronco duly obliges.
Bronco throws the left hand but Zirkov avoids the punch easily.
Zirkov was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zirkov, right into the meat.
Bronco swinging wildly here.
Bronco throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bronco slips a jab and a cross from Zirkov.
Zirkov throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Good leg kick by Zirkov there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Bronco changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Zirkov throws a sloppy head kick and Bronco moves out of range easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zirkov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Zirkov connects with an inside leg kick.
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 Michael Bronco will probably get the nod.
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.

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Bronco, as that shot connected.
Zirkov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zirkov misses the shot to the body.
Bronco looks to land a right hand but Zirkov moved out of range.
Bronco dips to his left and cracks Zirkov with an uppercut!
Bronco tried to score with a low kick but Zirkov checks it.
Zirkov misses with a left hand
and Bronco counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Zirkov lands a head kick!
Bronco scores with a jab to the head.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zirkov, right into the meat.
A low kick from Zirkov is predictable there
and Bronco counters with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head kick by Zirkov misses
and Bronco counters with a nice body shot.
Bronco tries to bum rush Zirkov with a series of wild strikes but Zirkov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bronco displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Zirkov throws out the jab.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A jab from Bronco does it's job there.
Bronco fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zirkov swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bronco throws a right hand that Zirkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Zirkov also avoids with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bronco avoids the body shot from Zirkov.
Zirkov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bronco checks a low kick from Zirkov.
A solid leg kick lands there for Bronco.
Zirkov tries to clinch up but Bronco circles away and keeps his distance.
Zirkov misses with a head kick.
Zirkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bronco swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zirkov avoids the body shot from Bronco.
Bronco throws a head kick but Zirkov moves out of range.
Zirkov scores with a nice head shot.
Bronco swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bronco misses with a wild body shot.
An inside leg kick lands from Bronco.
Bronco misses with a two punch combination.
Zirkov flicks out a counter leg kick but Bronco steps away.
Bronco throws a shot from downtown. Zirkov moves away and avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bronco ducks right into an uppercut from Zirkov.
Bronco loads up on a big right hand but Zirkov slips the punch.
Zirkov only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Bronco throws a looping overhand right but Zirkov ducks down to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Bronco checks a leg kick.
Bronco tries to bum rush Zirkov with a series of wild strikes but Zirkov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zirkov jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Zirkov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Zirkov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Bronco eats them both and turns towards Zirkov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Zirkov attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Zirkov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bronco.
Zirkov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bronco connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bronco swinging wildly here.
Bronco throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Bronco throws a jab but it's blocked by Zirkov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Bronco showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bronco 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Bronco!