PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Tang Maul (ranked 22105 p4p, 2665 weight class) and Frendy Saputra (ranked 317 p4p, 186 weight class). Maul comes into the arena with Somewhere I Belong blaring out of the sound system. Saputra has chosen Truckin' as his entrance music. Frendy Saputra struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Maul
vs
Saputra

165 cm
35
135
19 - 8 - 1

177 cm
29
148
9 - 5 - 0

World class boxer
Good chin

World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tang Maul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Frendy Saputra!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Sano and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saputra thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maul was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Saputra throws the left hand but Maul avoids the punch easily.
Maul throwing a counter right hand but Saputra manages to avoid it.
Saputra pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maul fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Maul throws a series of punches but Saputra moves out of range.
Saputra takes a swing at Maul's ribcage but misses.
Saputra slips a straight right by Maul.
Maul has been working on his boxing with his coaches at St Petersburg MMA Gym in the buildup to the fight.
A swing and a miss from Maul.
Maul punishes Saputra's body with a nice straight punch.
Maul uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Saputra.
Saputra lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Maul misses with a wild body shot.
Maul cracks Saputra with an open hand slap.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maul tries to close the distance and clinch but Saputra swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maul lands a lovely overhand right.
Maul looks to land a body kick but Saputra moved away.
Saputra swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maul uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Saputra has time to react.
Maul staying out of range there.
Saputra has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Maul scores with a body shot.
Saputra with a nice cross.
Maul lands with an uppercut that bounces Saputra off the ropes and back into range.
Saputra fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maul manages to avoid it.
Maul looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maul lands with a cross.
Saputra misses with a wild body shot.
Saputra uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maul.

Maul closes the distance and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Maul working aggressively here.
Maul wants to stall.
Maul lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Saputra backwards.
Maul tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Saputra lands an uppercut.
Maul putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Saputra in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Maul - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Saputra throws a head punch that misses.
Saputra tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Saputra tries to work over Maul's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short uppercut from Saputra.
Maul comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saputra working some nice short punches in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saputra leaning against his opponent.
Maul is trying to maintain a safe position but Saputra gets an underhook and turns Maul into the ropes.
Saputra managing to block the knees to the body from Maul.
A short left from Saputra.
Saputra blocks the elbow strike.
Saputra tries to throw a body punch but Maul avoids it by throwing Saputra back against the ropes.
A nice left hand lands by Saputra.
A head punch on the inside from Saputra fails to land.
Maul is trying to stall.
Saputra can't find room to land a body shot as Maul controls the action.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Saputra creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Saputra manages to break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saputra scores with the left hand. Maul knows he should have avoided that one.
Saputra misses with a hook.
Nice body kick there by Maul.
Maul misses with a few strikes there.
Maul uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saputra.
Maul lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tang Maul will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Maul scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Saputra keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Maul clinches up with Saputra and pushes him back against the ropes.
A hook to the body from Saputra.
Maul is trying to stall.
Maul working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Saputra blocks the elbow strike.
Saputra lands a shot to the body.
Saputra misses with a hook to the ribs.
Saputra swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Maul tries a body shot but Saputra blocks it.
Maul blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Saputra scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saputra stalling in the clinch but Maul improves position.
A hook to the body from Saputra.
Frendy Saputra seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A nice left hand lands by Saputra.
Saputra tries to work over Maul's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Maul is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Maul working aggressively here.
Frendy Saputra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saputra throws a head punch that misses.
Saputra lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Saputra blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Saputra lands a body shot in the clinch.
Saputra lands a shot to the body.
Saputra tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Maul's elbow.
Maul throws a knee to the head but misses.
Maul blocking some punches.
Maul is trying to stall.
Maul blocks an uppercut.
Maul lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Maul lands a left hand.
Saputra is working Maul over against the ropes.
Saputra misses with a short punch on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Maul's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Saputra is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saputra misses with some punches.
Saputra lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Maul backwards.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Maul is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Saputra is keeping busy.
Saputra is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Maul blocks a body shot from Saputra.
A short left from Maul.
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!
Saputra blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Maul blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Maul misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Saputra lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Saputra blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Saputra blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Saputra lands with a short shot to the head.
Saputra tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frendy Saputra showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Saputra tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maul was well out of range. Poor timing from Saputra.
Saputra misses with a few strikes there.
Saputra lands a jab to Maul's midsection.
Saputra misses with a body shot.
Maul on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Maul misses with a hook.
Saputra moves forwards but Maul connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Maul throws out a loose jab but Saputra uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maul has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Saputra finds it's way round the side to connect with Maul's head.
Maul with a jab.
Saputra ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maul moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saputra. Maul does a little dance to reset his feet.
Maul ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Saputra dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saputra ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maul moves away.
Maul is looking to clinch.
Maul works Saputra's body with a nice hook.
Saputra gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Tang Maul is winning the standup battle so far.
Maul pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Some wild striking there from Saputra.
Saputra looks to score with a jab to the body but Maul is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maul throws a body punch but Saputra moves out of range.
Maul lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Saputra throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maul uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Saputra.
Maul digs a good hook to Saputra's body.
Saputra throws a right and a left that Maul avoids nicely.
Saputra misses with a looping left.
Saputra takes a swing at Maul's ribcage but misses.
Saputra looks to land a left hand but Maul moved out of range nicely.
A slow jab from Saputra misses its intended target.
Saputra takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jab from Maul.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Maul.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Maul - that will leave a mark!
A lazy left from Maul finds it's target.
Maul misses with a two punch combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Saputra lands with a right hand.
Saputra throws a body punch but Maul moves out of range.
Maul connects with a looping right hand.
Saputra throws a jab when Maul was well out of range.
Saputra takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Saputra walks forward, straight into a front kick from Maul.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maul scores with a decent looking hook.
Maul tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maul walks into a stiff left hand from Saputra.
Saputra swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Saputra takes one on the button.
Maul scores with a punch to the head.
Maul's jab looks to have found its range, popping Saputra under the eye.
Saputra is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Saputra slips a jab from Maul.
Maul lands a right hook to the body.
Maul swinging wildly here.
Saputra doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Saputra keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maul.
Saputra on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Saputra takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maul lands a jab to the nose.
Maul keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Saputra.
Maul's jab looks to have found its range, popping Saputra under the eye.
Saputra takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Maul slips under a jab from Saputra.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tang Maul showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Maul 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Frendy Saputra!
A very excited looking Frendy Saputra made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.