PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Ari Baba (ranked 3338 p4p, 3291 weight class) and Paul OConnell (ranked 139 p4p, 138 weight class). Paul OConnell acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the ring.

Baba
vs
OConnell

225 cm
27
288
12 - 12 - 0

209 cm
47
293
29 - 23 - 1

Excellent boxer
Very quick

Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ari Baba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 23 - 1, fighting out of New York, Paul OConnell!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baba takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Baba fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A combination from OConnell does no damage.
A jab from Baba misses.
Baba scores with a nice strike.

It looks like Paul OConnell has been cut.
Baba looks to land a right hand but OConnell moved out of range.
OConnell takes one to the chin there.
OConnell looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Sloppy strikes from OConnell. Those never looked like landing.
A shot to the liver by OConnell. Beautiful body shot.
OConnell connects with a nice looking jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
OConnell throws a body punch but Baba moves out of range.
OConnell misses with a jab, cross combination.
Baba throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck OConnell on the side of the head.
Baba misses with a kick to the body.
OConnell is looking for the big counter here.
Baba is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Baba jabs OConnell right on the nose. OConnell blinks but takes it well.
Ari Baba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
OConnell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baba moves away.
It looked like Baba was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConnell throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Baba counters with a straight right hand.
Baba is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Baba is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
OConnell displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Baba has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Kaptajnernes Træningscenter in the buildup to the fight.
OConnell misses with a body punch
and OConnell takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
OConnell looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
OConnell misses the shot to the body.

Baba drops a shoulder and throws a biiiig uppercut that drops OConnell onto his butt! OConnell pops straight back to his feet to convince the referee that he's OK to continue.

OConnell is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Both fighters step back and shake their arms out. Baba engages and cracks OConnell with a massive lead left hook - OConnell tumbles to the floor, out cold! What a shot! Baba is delighted - all that hard work in training paid off!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Ari Baba!