PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Anton Kruglov (ranked 2929 p4p, 75 weight class) and Brian Baker (ranked 3022 p4p, 80 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kruglov
vs
Baker

171 cm
37
171 lbs
28 - 25 - 2

190 cm
34
220 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 28 - 25 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anton Kruglov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brian Baker!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kruglov thumps Baker with a low kick.
Kruglov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A jab from Kruglov misses.
Baker gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Kruglov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Baker's knee momentarily.

Kruglov moves into the clinch.
Kruglov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Baker avoids it.
Kruglov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Baker lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Baker struggles to land a body shot inside as Kruglov controls his hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kruglov.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Kruglov throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruglov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kruglov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Baker up against the ropes.
Kruglov looking to throw knees to the head but Baker is blocking nicely.
Kruglov scores a nice knee to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kruglov.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kruglov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Baker.
Kruglov stalling in the clinch but Baker improves position.
We've been informed that Baker 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kruglov working aggressively here.
Kruglov lands a knee to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baker leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Kruglov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Kruglov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kruglov feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Baker's calf.
Kruglov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Baker throws a lazy right hand but Kruglov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kruglov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kruglov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Baker can do to turn this around?
Baker closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Baker misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baker staying out of range there.
Kruglov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kruglov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baker moves away.
Baker appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Kruglov rushes Baker and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruglov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bakers head.
Baker stalls.
Baker controlling the action here for a moment.
Baker blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Baker is trying to push Kruglov away but Kruglov has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Kruglov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kruglov trying to stall but Baker improves his position.
Kruglov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker wants to get back to striking at distance but Kruglov won't allow it.
Kruglov trying to stall but Baker improves his position.
The referee is keeping an eye on Kruglov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Baker wants to get back to striking at distance but Kruglov won't allow it.
Kruglov misses with a short punch on the inside.

Baker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kruglov throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Brian Baker has been cut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big right from Kruglov misses.
Baker circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kruglov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Kruglov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Brian Baker's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Baker drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kruglov tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Baker counters with a really nice, stiff jab that drops Kruglov onto his ass. He'll have to take the mandatory count from the referee but he's back on his feet and he seems OK to continue.
Brian Baker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baker lands a right hook to the body.
Baker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Brian Baker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kruglov throws a jab but it's blocked by Baker.
Kruglov misses with a hook. Baker ducked under it nicely.
A little jabbing left from Baker on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kruglov tries to clinch up but Baker circles away and keeps his distance.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Baker! But no joy.
Kruglov connects with a solid leg kick.
Kruglov lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kruglov. That's going to slow Baker down.

Kruglov darts in and clinches Baker up against the ropes.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Baker blocks a body shot from Kruglov.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kruglov.
A head punch on the inside from Kruglov fails to land.
Kruglov swings wildly with an uppercut but Baker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kruglov looking to throw knees to the head but Baker is blocking nicely.
Kruglov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kruglov throws a punch but it's blocked by Baker.
Anton Kruglov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baker trying to stall but Kruglov improves his position.
Anton Kruglov has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kruglov trying to land knees to the body.
Baker tries a body shot but Kruglov blocks it.
Baker is trying to break free.
The referee is keeping an eye on Baker - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A head punch on the inside from Baker fails to land.
Baker swings wildly with an uppercut but Kruglov uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brian Baker.
Well Kruglov 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!