PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Samran Darweshi (ranked 15821 p4p, 2396 weight class) and Yasol Kim (ranked 683 p4p, 346 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Darweshi
vs
Kim

193 cm
38
188
20 - 12 - 0

175 cm
31
170
9 - 8 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Granite chin

Money Inc. (160Q with Proof ) 165$

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Samran Darweshi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yasol Kim!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yuuki Gou and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kim scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
We've been informed that Kim 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.
Kim throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kim works Darweshi's body with a nice hook.
Kim pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kim bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Darweshi's head.
Darweshi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kim was well out of range. Poor timing from Darweshi.
A solid leg kick lands there for Darweshi.
Darweshi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kim.
Darweshi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've been told by Darweshi's head coaches at Tran MMA Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Good standup being displayed there by Kim as he connects with a hook.
Kim bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Darweshi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kim.
Darweshi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Darweshi lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Darweshi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Darweshi throws a combination. Kim tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Darweshi throws a nice looking combination but Kim bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kim punishes Darweshi's body with a nice straight punch.
Darweshi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kim misses with a straight right.
Darweshi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kim sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kim.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darweshi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Darweshi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kim.
Kim tries to clinch but Darweshi moves out of range.
Darweshi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kim fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Kim has closed the distance and engaged Darweshi in a clinch.
Darweshi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kim misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kim swings wildly with an uppercut but Darweshi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kim working aggressively here.
A short uppercut from Kim.
Kim working aggressively here.
Kim lands a nice shot to the body.
Kim misses with a hook to the ribs.
Darweshi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Kim lands a shot to the body.
Darweshi lands a left hand.
Kim misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kim lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Darweshi is trying to push Kim away but Kim has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Kim throws a punch but it's blocked by Darweshi.
Darweshi tries to break the clinch but Kim is controlling the position.
Kim tries a body shot but Darweshi blocks it.
Darweshi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kim misses with a hook from the clinch.
Darweshi is trying to break the clinch but Kim has him pressed against the ropes.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kim.
Darweshi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kim has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Darweshi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kim tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Darweshi prevents a body shot from Kim.
Kim lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Darweshi backwards.
Kim throws a punch but it's blocked by Darweshi.
Kim misses with some punches.

Darweshi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Darweshi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim avoids a punch combination nicely.
Darweshi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kim on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Darweshi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Darweshi finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Darweshi throws out a loose jab but Kim uses good head movement to avoid it.
Danga de danga de dang - Kim scores with a four punch combination!
Darweshi takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kim connects with a crisp jab.
Kim tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kim fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Darweshi manages to avoid it.
Kim fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Darweshi manages to avoid it.
Darweshi tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kim is able to avoid easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kim cracks Darweshi with a right hand to the side of the head.
A punch combination from Darweshi misses.
Darweshi slips under a jab.
Kim tries to close the distance and clinch but Darweshi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Darweshi misses the target.
Kim throws a hook to the side of Darweshi's head but Darweshi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim throws a lazy uppercut
and Darweshi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Darweshi throws a series of punches but Kim avoids them all with ease.
Darweshi avoids the body shot from Kim.
Darweshi tries a head kick but it misses.
Darweshi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Darweshi thows a leg kick but Kim checks it

and Kim moves into the clinch.
Kim doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kim doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Darweshi throws a punch but it's blocked by Kim.
Kim misses with some punches.
Kim tries to work over Darweshi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Darweshi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kim working aggressively here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Darweshi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Darweshi lands a knee to the head.
A body shot lands from Kim.
Kim scores with a shot to the side of Darweshi's head.
Still in the clinch, Kim scores with a nice short uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yasol Kim will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice shot lands for Kim.
Samran Darweshi is winning the standup battle so far.
Kim avoids the head kick by Darweshi.
Kim explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kim.
Kim misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Darweshi tries to score with a low kick but Kim moves his leg out of the way.
Darweshi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kim.
Darweshi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Some wild striking there from Darweshi.
Darweshi throws a lazy head kick
and Kim counters with a stiff right hand.
Kim connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Kim gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch on the inside from Kim fails to land.
Darweshi has had enough of the clinch but Kim keeps him there for the moment.
Darweshi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Kim tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Darweshi's elbow.
Darweshi misses with some punches.
Kim misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim misses with a hook to the ribs.
Darweshi wants to stall.

Darweshi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Darweshi loads up on a big right hand but Kim slips the punch.
A little jabbing left from Kim on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kim tried to score with a low kick but Darweshi checks it.

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

Darweshi manages to break the clinch.
Darweshi gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kim.
Kim uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Darweshi.
Kim tries to counter by closing the distance.
Darweshi misses with a hook. Kim ducked under it nicely.
Darweshi takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kim showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Darweshi.
Kim tried to score with a low kick but Darweshi checks it.
Darweshi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kim.
Kim lands a nice shot that snaps Darweshi's head back.
Kim scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kim tries to clinch but Darweshi moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Darweshi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Darweshi keeps the fight on the outside.
Kim cracks Darweshi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Darweshi scores with a spinning back kick!
Kim is looking to slow Darweshi down with leg kicks.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Kim. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Darweshi takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kim staying out of range there.
Kim has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Darweshi finds it's way round the side to connect with Kim's head.
Kim bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Darweshi's head.
Kim works the jab nicely.
Kim just misses with a punch to the body.
Kim avoids a kick to the body.
Darweshi clobbers Kim with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kim is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Darweshi throws a hook to the side of Kim's head but Kim sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kim scores with a nice head shot.
Kim steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Darweshi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim lands a jab to the nose.
A head kick misses from Darweshi.
Darweshi moves out of range of the body kick.
Darweshi slips under a jab from Kim.
Kim misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kim connects with a body shot that sends Darweshi's belly button to the back.
Darweshi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Darweshi throws a head kick but Kim moves out of range.
Kim appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kim uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Darweshi will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kim takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kim doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Kim moves in looking to clinch but Darweshi pushes him off.
Kim lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kim scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kim connects with an inside leg kick.
Kim misses with a low kick.
Kim tries to clinch but Darweshi is having none of it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kim fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Darweshi manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darweshi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kim was well out of range. Poor timing from Darweshi.
Kim fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Darweshi.
Kim throws a right hand that misses
and Darweshi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kim throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Darweshi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kim lands with an overhand left.
Kim lands with a straight right. Darweshi didn't see that one coming.
Darweshi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kim connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kim cracks Darweshi with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kim misses with a body shot.
Darweshi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Darweshi misses with a straight right.
Kim lands an overhand right.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kim connects with a leg kick.
Darweshi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Darweshi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Samran Darweshi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kim takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yasol Kim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Darweshi throws a head kick but Kim moves out of range.
Darweshi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kim circles away quickly and effectively.
Kim with the inside leg kick.
Kim lands a nice leg kick that just misses Darweshi's sensitive parts.
Kim connects with the punch.
Darweshi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kim lands a jab.
Darweshi misses with a low kick.
Kim throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kim motions for Darweshi to come forward. Kim throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Darweshi walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A punch lands to the side of Darweshi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Darweshi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Darweshi throws a jab when Kim was well out of range.
Kim looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kim keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Darweshi.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kim! But no joy.
Kim scores with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Darweshi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Darweshi looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kim tries to clinch there but Darweshi circles away.
Nice uppercut lands for Kim. That snapped Darweshi's head back.
Darweshi moves out of range of the body kick from Kim.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darweshi throws a leg kick that misses.
Crunch! Kim slams his shin into Darweshi's torso.
Darweshi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kim is out of range and Darweshi settles back down.
Darweshi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kim tries a quick counter leg kick but Darweshi is wise to it.
Kim buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Darweshi throws a nice looking combination but Kim bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kim moves out of range of the strikes.
Kim throws a leg kick which misses Darweshi's front leg but catches the back leg as Darweshi tries to avoid it.
Kim throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Kim moves into range and clinches up with Darweshi.
Kim pushes Darweshi back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kim lands a nice uppercut.
Kim lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kim.

Darweshi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kim lands with an uppercut that bounces Darweshi off the ropes and back into range.
Kim lands a jab to the head.
Kim slips under a jab from Darweshi.
Samran Darweshi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sloppy strikes from Darweshi. Those never looked like landing.
Darweshi moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kim steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Darweshi.
Kim throws a shot to the body.
Darweshi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kim.
Darweshi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kim tries to clinch but Darweshi is having none of it.
Kim moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kim's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Darweshi connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kim scrambles back to his feet.
Nice body punch from Kim.
Kim scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Darweshi throws a shot from downtown. Kim moves away and avoids it.
Kim lands with a nice body punch.
Kim lands a nice hook to Darweshi's body. Darweshi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kim with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Darweshi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Darweshi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Yasol Kim is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darweshi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Darweshi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kim sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kim throws a shot to the body.
Darweshi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kim.
Kim misses with a kick to the body.
Kim ducks right into an uppercut from Darweshi.
Kim takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Darweshi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kim moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A clash of legs there as Kim blocks the low kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kim.
Darweshi takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Darweshi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kim scores with a nice body kick.
Kim has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Darweshi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kim wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kim. That's going to slow Darweshi down.
Kim scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kim lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darweshi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kim finds it's way round the side to connect with Darweshi's head.
Kim walks into a stiff left hand from Darweshi.
Darweshi lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Darweshi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kim finds it's way round the side to connect with Darweshi's head.
Darweshi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Darweshi throws a lazy right hand but Kim sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kim connects with a leg kick.
Kim lands with a good body shot.
Darweshi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kim.
Kim lands a leg kick that knocks Darweshi off balance momentarily.
Darweshi throws a leg kick that misses.
Kim digs a good hook to Darweshi's body.
Darweshi takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kim thuds his right hand into Darweshi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kim throws a quick inside leg kick.
Darweshi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kim wants to clinch up but Darweshi keeps it at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yasol Kim comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kim has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yasol Kim!
A victorious Yasol Kim thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.