PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between James King (ranked 21507 p4p, 21264 weight class) and Maung Maung Thu (ranked 580 p4p, 583 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

King
vs
Thu

170 cm
29
161
14 - 9 - 1

166 cm
29
135
18 - 17 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains

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 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, James King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Maung Maung Thu!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yuuki Gou and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

King tries to keep at a distance but Thu has taken the fight into the clinch.
Thu managing to block the knees to the body from King.
Thu blocks a body shot from King.
Knees to the body from Thu.
King creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Thu lands with a short shot to the head.
King missing with knees to the body.

King breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Thu has closed the distance and engaged King in a clinch.
Knees to the body from Thu.
King with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
King throws an elbow but it's blocked.
King misses with a knee strike.
Thu avoids a wild elbow strike from King.
Thu lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Thu lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
King tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thu's elbow.
King working Thu over with knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by King.
Nice elbow from Thu.
Thu lands with a left to the head.
Thu lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
King lands an elbow inside that Thu shrugs off.
Thu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Thu lands with a left to the head.
Thu lands a shoulder strike.
Thu throws a head punch that misses.
King lands an elbow just above Thu 's eye.
Our sources have told us that King has been working on his elbows in the gym.
King tries to land knees in the clinch but Thu avoids the damage to the body.
Thu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A hook to the body from King.
Thu managing to block the knees to the body from King.
King lands a shot to the body.
Thu can't find room to land a body shot as King controls the action.
Thu softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
King missing with knees to the body.
Thu lands a hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
King tries a knee to the head but Thu blocks it.
Thu lands with a right to the head.
Thu lands a nice elbow.
Nice elbow from King.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thu misses with a knee to the head.
Thu has thrown a lot of knees so far in this fight and we're lead to believe that's something he's been working on the gym prior to this fight.

King breaks the clinch.
King scores with a head kick. Thu tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
King throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
King uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thu.
Thu blocks the body kick.
King tries to clinch up but Thu circles away and keeps his distance.
Thu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by King.
King looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Thu fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with King, pushing him back against the ropes.
Thu lands with a right to the head.
King misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thu.
Thu lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Thu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
King misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thu lands an elbow just above King 's eye.
Thu working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
King tries to land knees in the clinch but Thu avoids the damage to the body.
King tries to work over Thu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thu lands a body shot.
King trying to land knees to the body.
King misses with some punches.
King throws a punch but it's blocked by Thu.
King tries to land a knee to the head but Thu blocks with his arms.
King tries to throw a body punch but Thu avoids it by throwing King back against the ropes.
King misses with a knee strike.
King takes an elbow to the temple.
Thu scores with an uppercut up the middle.
King tries to throw a body punch but Thu avoids it by throwing King back against the ropes.
Thu lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Thu creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
King throws a knee to the head but misses.
King prevents a body shot from Thu.
Thu creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through King's defenses.
King tries to throw a body punch but Thu avoids it by throwing King back against the ropes.
Thu blocks an elbow strike from King.
King throws a punch but it's blocked by Thu.
Thu connects with a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thu lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Thu.
Thu throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
King throws a knee to the head but misses.
Good body shot from King.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thu.
King takes a shot to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Thu.
Thu lands a hook to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for King.
King missing with knees to the body.
King tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the ropes, King throws an elbow but misses.
Thu throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kings head.
King tries to work over Thu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
King pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Thu connects with a knee to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice right hand lands inside from Thu.
Thu digs a right hand into King's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on King's gas tank.
Thu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. King is defending well for now.
Thu lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt King or not.
King tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thu's elbow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maung Maung Thu dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Thu with a hook.
King looks for the body kick but Thu saw that one coming.

Thu moves into range and clinches up with King.
King working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
King misses with an elbow strike.
Thu scores with a hook to the body.
Thu tries to throw a body punch but King avoids it by throwing Thu back against the ropes.
Thu missing with knees to the body.
Thu gets through King's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
King is looking to break free of the clinch but Thu has double underhooks.
Thu presses King against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Thu lands an elbow inside that King shrugs off.
King looking to throw knees to the head but Thu is blocking nicely.
King wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thu has him pressed against the ropes.
Thu struggles to land a body shot inside as King controls his hands.
King swings wildly with an uppercut but Thu uses good head movement to avoid it.
King tries to throw a body punch but Thu avoids it by throwing King back against the ropes.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Thu. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Thu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Thu lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thu creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through King's defenses.
King managing to block the knees to the body from Thu.
King tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thu avoids it.
Thu lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

King breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Thu moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thu.
King pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
King misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thu tries to land a knee to the head but King blocks with his arms.
King struggles to land a body shot inside as Thu controls his hands.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Thu throws an elbow but misses.
Thu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thu working aggressively here.
Thu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thu misses with a knee strike.
King wants to break the clinch but can't.
King tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
King on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
King is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thu is defending well for now.
Thu blocks a body shot from King.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King misses with a punch to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Thu.
King lands an elbow just above Thu 's eye.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
King tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
King lands an uppercut.
Thu lands an elbow that stopped King in his tracks for a moment.
Maung Maung Thu seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
King landing some nice looking knees to the body.
King misses with a punch to the body.
King scores with a hook to the body.
Thu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. King is defending well for now.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thu.
King's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
King tries a body shot but Thu blocks it.
King looking to throw knees to the head but Thu is blocking nicely.
King tries a body shot but Thu blocks it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Thu.
Thu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
King cracks Thu with a nice body shot.
King misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Thu.
Thu lands a right hand that snaps the head of King backwards.
Thu can't find room to land a body shot as King controls the action.
King blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thu lands a left hand.
Thu digs a right hand into King's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on King's gas tank.
King throws an elbow that misses.
Thu working aggressively here.
Thu working aggressively here.
King goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thu misses with a knee to the head.
King is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Thu pushes King back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
A right hook to the body lands for Thu.
Thu avoiding damage as King throws knees to the body.
Thu lands with a right to the head.
Thu connects with a nasty looking knee right to King's face.
King misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thu working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
King blocks an uppercut.
King tries a body shot but Thu blocks it.
Thu lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Thu softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
King wants to get back to striking at distance but Thu won't allow it.
Thu blocks an elbow strike.
King tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thu dodges an elbow strike from King.
Thu landing knees to the head.
King throws an elbow but it misses.
King is trying to break the clinch but Thu has him pressed against the ropes.
King looking to throw knees to the head but Thu is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
King lands a left hand that snaps the head of Thu backwards.
Thu lands a shot to the body.
Thu prevents King from breaking the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Thu scores with a nice short uppercut.
Thu lands a shoulder strike.
King tries a knee to the head but Thu blocks it.
Thu lands a body shot in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thu cracks King with a nice body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maung Maung Thu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Thu lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
King lands an overhand right.
King doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Thu has closed the distance and engaged King in a clinch.
Thu lands a nice uppercut.
King takes an elbow to the temple.
Thu lands with a short punch from the clinch.
King with an attempt at a knee that misses.
King misses with a punch to the body.
Thu takes a knee right on the jaw!

King breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Thu gets a clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Thu is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from King fails to land.
Thu lands a shot to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Thu just misses with a elbow thrown towards King's brow.
Thu scores with a knee to the head.
Thu crunches a lovely knee into King's ribcage.
Thu lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of King backwards.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
King on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thu blocks an uppercut.
King takes a shot to the head.
King misses with an elbow over the top.
King misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Thu lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt King or not.
Thu lands a hook that snaps the head of King backwards.
Thu throws a head punch that misses.
King wants to get back to striking at distance but Thu won't allow it.
King misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thu throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Thu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
King tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
King looks to throw an elbow but misses.
King misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thu lands with a left to the head.
King takes a shot to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thu obliges.
Thu lands with a right to the head.
King wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
James King has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King takes a shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
King throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thu blocks it with crossed arms.
Thu scores with a shot to the side of King's head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Thu.
Thu stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Thu softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
King doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thu lands a right hand that snaps the head of King backwards.
A knee to the head by Thu.

King is rocked!
Thu lands an uppercut.
Oh King is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Thu creates a bit of space and fires a knee right up the middle, almost lifting King off his feet and sending him crashing to the canvas! King is trying to get back to his feet but his equilibrium is completely gone! The referee has called it off! This fight is over! Thu is jumping up and down like a mad man, celebrating with his cornermen.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee). Maung Maung Thu!