PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Lilburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruce Boxer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Lilburn
vs
Boxer

188 cm
20
218 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

195 cm
27
220 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Lilburn!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bruce Boxer!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lilburn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Boxer.
Boxer throws a shot from downtown. Lilburn moves away and avoids it.
Boxer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A shot to the liver by Lilburn. Beautiful body shot.
John Lilburn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lilburn throws a leg kick which misses Boxer's front leg but catches the back leg as Boxer tries to avoid it.
Lilburn misses with a hook to the body
and Boxer connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Boxer lands a jab to the nose.
Boxer misses with a wild combination.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lilburn.
Lilburn uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Boxer.
Jab from Boxer.

Lilburn is rocked!
Boxer throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lilburn throws a combination. Boxer tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Boxer slips under a jab from Lilburn.
A jab from Boxer misses.
Lilburn lands a high kick!
Lilburn tries a head kick but it misses.
Lilburn tries to clinch up
and Boxer counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Oh Lilburn is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lilburn throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Boxer.
Lilburn seems to have got his legs back now.
Boxer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lilburn lands a leg kick that knocks Boxer off balance momentarily.
Lilburn slips under a jab.
Lilburn avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lilburn swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Boxer counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Boxer scores with a jab to the body.
Lilburn connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Boxer scores with a jab. Lilburn acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Boxer throws out a loose jab but Lilburn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lilburn throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Boxer. Lilburn does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lilburn getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Boxer throws a right and a left that both miss.
Boxer throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Boxer changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Lilburn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Boxer lands a lovely overhand right.

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!
Boxer takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lilburn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Boxer has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Lilburn.
Boxer looks gassed!
Lilburn is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Lilburn gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lilburn has a couple of punches blocked by Boxer.
Boxer takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Bruce Boxer has been cut.
Lilburn is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Boxer is defending well for now.
Lilburn has a couple of punches blocked by Boxer.
Lilburn lands a shot to the body.
Lilburn throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Boxer is trying to break the clinch but Lilburn has him pressed against the cage.
Lilburn working Boxer over with knees to the body.
Boxer blocks an elbow strike.
Lilburn comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lilburn throws a knee to the head but misses.
Boxer blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Lilburn obliges.
Lilburn lands a good knee to the midsection. Boxer won't want to take too many of those.
Lilburn crunches a lovely knee into Boxer's ribcage.
Boxer takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Lilburn obliges.
Knees to the body from Lilburn.
Boxer blocks an elbow strike from Lilburn.
Lilburn unloads a knee to the mid-section. Boxer lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Boxer blocks an elbow strike from Lilburn.
Lilburn putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Boxer in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lilburn lands a body punch in the clinch.
Lilburn creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Lilburn gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Lilburn misses with an elbow strike.
Boxer is trying to force a seperation but Lilburn has the dominant position.
Boxer is trying to push Lilburn away but Lilburn has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lilburn throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Boxer avoids the elbow strike from Lilburn, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lilburn stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Boxer takes a knee to the side of the body.
Lilburn tries to land knees in the clinch but Boxer avoids the damage to the body.
Lilburn lands a nice knee to the body.
Lilburn trying to land knees to the body.

Boxer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Boxer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lilburn manages to avoid it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lilburn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Boxer throws a one two combo.
Lilburn misses with a body shot.
Boxer blocks a head kick by Lilburn.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lilburn connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Nice defenses there by Lilburn.
Boxer walks forward, straight into a front kick from Lilburn.
Lilburn lands with an uppercut that bounces Boxer off the cage and back into rage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Lilburn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bruce Boxer'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.

Lilburn thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Boxer if he has to take too many more of those.
Lilburn throws a hook but Boxer avoids it easily.
Lilburn throws an off balance right hand
enabling Boxer to counter with a crisp jab.
Lilburn throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Boxer stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lilburn moves away from the strike by Boxer.
Boxer takes a swing at Lilburn's ribcage but misses.
Lilburn swings away with a body shot that misses
and Boxer counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lilburn lands with a thumping leg kick.
Boxer has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lilburn.
Boxer moves out of range of the body kick from Lilburn.
Lilburn takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lilburn slips a straight right by Boxer.
Lilburn connects with a solid leg kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Boxer as he connects with a hook.
Boxer is breathing heavily.
Boxer takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Lilburn staying out of range there.
Lilburn connects with a body shot that sends Boxer's belly button to the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lilburn throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Boxer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A combination from Boxer does no damage.
Lilburn misses with a looping left.
Lilburn drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Boxer crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Lilburn - the referee stops the clock and Boxer gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Lilburn. Boxer manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Lilburn jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lilburn scores with a leg kick.
Lilburn slips a jab and a cross from Boxer.
Lilburn works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Bruce Boxer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Boxer has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Lilburn.
Boxer has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Lilburn.
Lilburn connects with a body shot.
Lilburn bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Boxer's head.
Boxer takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Lilburn feints and then cracks Boxer's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Boxer down.
Boxer's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lilburn.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Lilburn darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Lilburn misses with an uppercut. Boxer saw that one coming.
Lilburn dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Boxer. That did some damage!
Lilburn is looking to clinch but Boxer is avoiding it.
Lilburn throws a leg kick which misses Boxer's front leg but catches the back leg as Boxer tries to avoid it.
Boxer takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Boxer on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Lilburn. Lilburn obviously looking to wear him down.
Lilburn wants to clinch.
Lilburn throws a series of punches but Boxer moves out of range.
Lilburn scoring well with a low kick there.
Lilburn throws a looping overhand right but Boxer ducks down to avoid it.
Lilburn thumps Boxer with a low kick.
Boxer misses with an uppercut. Lilburn saw that one coming.
Boxer fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lilburn lands a slapping body shot.
Lilburn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lilburn scores with a kick to the body.

Lilburn gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lilburn misses with a body punch.
Boxer takes an elbow to the temple.
Lilburn lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Lilburn.
Boxer managing to block the knees to the body from Lilburn.
Lilburn misses with an elbow over the top.
Lilburn scores a nice knee to the body.
Lilburn lands an elbow inside that Boxer shrugs off.
A head punch on the inside from Lilburn fails to land.
Lilburn swings wildly with an uppercut but Boxer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lilburn lands a nice elbow.

That has opened up Bruce Boxer's cut even more.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lilburn lands an elbow that stopped Boxer in his tracks for a moment.
Boxer misses with the head strike.
Boxer is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boxer wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lilburn putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Boxer in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Lilburn lands a damaging elbow.
A short left from Lilburn.
Lilburn lands a hook to the side of the head.
John Lilburn has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lilburn lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Lilburn misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Boxer.
Nice body punch from Lilburn - that landed with a thud.
Lilburn unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A hook to the body from Lilburn.
Boxer takes a knee to the side of the body.
Lilburn lands a damaging elbow.
Boxer tries to break free but Lilburn pushes him back against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lilburn throws an elbow but it misses.
Lilburn misses with an elbow over the top.
Lilburn missing with knees to the body.

Boxer breaks from the clinch.
Lilburn misses the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Lilburn dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bruce Boxer's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lilburn swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lilburn tries to clinch up but Boxer circles away and keeps his distance.
Lilburn misses with an attempted mid kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lilburn.
Lilburn throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Lilburn is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Boxer.
Lilburn just misses with a punch to the body.
Boxer throws a big shot that misses.
Lilburn looks to score with a jab to the body but Boxer is just out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Lilburn.
Lilburn misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boxer lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lilburn at a distance.
Lilburn throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Boxer sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Boxer thows a body shot but no joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lilburn takes the fight into the clinch.
Lilburn digs a right hand underneath Boxer's ribcage. Boxer let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lilburn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lilburn scores a nice knee to the body.
Lilburn working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Boxer blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Boxer takes an elbow to the temple.
Boxer blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lilburn pushes off an throws an elbow but Boxer leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Lilburn obliges.
Lilburn lands a nice elbow.
Boxer working hard to break the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lilburn.
Lilburn comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lilburn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lilburn throws an elbow but misses.
A nice left hand lands by Lilburn.
Lilburn scores with a nice hook to the head.
Boxer blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Boxer.
Boxer avoids the elbow strike from Lilburn, against the cage.
Boxer is looking to break free of the clinch but Lilburn has double underhooks.
Lilburn has a couple of punches blocked by Boxer.
Lilburn keeps control of Boxer as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Boxer blocks the elbow strike.
Boxer wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Boxer takes an elbow to the temple.
Boxer on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Boxer wants to get back to striking at distance but Lilburn won't allow it.
Boxer blocks a body shot from Lilburn.
Lilburn misses with a punch on the inside.
Lilburn misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Boxer.
Lilburn misses with an elbow over the top.
Boxer tries to break the clinch but Lilburn is controlling the position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Boxer.
Lilburn pushes off an throws an elbow but Boxer leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lilburn tries a knee to the head but Boxer blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boxer wants to break the clinch but can't.
Boxer wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lilburn throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Boxer blocks the elbow strike.
Boxer is trying to force a seperation but Lilburn has the dominant position.
Lilburn lands a nice elbow.
Lilburn misses with a punch to the body.
Boxer wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Lilburn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Boxer on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lilburn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lilburn keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Boxer's efforts to push away.
Boxer takes an elbow to the forehead.
Boxer avoiding damage as Lilburn throws knees to the body.
Boxer blocks the elbow strike.
Boxer avoiding damage as Lilburn throws knees to the body.
Boxer is trying to force a seperation but Lilburn has the dominant position.
Lilburn keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Boxer's efforts to push away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Boxer tries to break free but Lilburn pushes him back against the cage.
Lilburn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Boxer's elbow.
Boxer on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Boxer is trying to break free.
Boxer can't break the clinch.
Lilburn throws an elbow but it misses.
A frustrated look appears on Boxer's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lilburn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lilburn misses with some punches.
Lilburn fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lilburn misses with the head strike.
Boxer takes an elbow to the forehead.

Boxer manages to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lilburn avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Boxer takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Lilburn rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Boxer connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Boxer ducks right into an uppercut from Lilburn.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Lilburn clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Bruce Boxer's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lilburn misses with a body kick.
Lilburn scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Boxer takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Lilburn pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lilburn looks to clinch
and Boxer counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lilburn moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Lilburn wants to clinch up but Boxer keeps it at a distance.
Lilburn thows a body kick. Boxer tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Lilburn swings away with a body shot that misses
letting Boxer counter with a right hand.
Lilburn lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Boxer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice body kick from Lilburn.
Lilburn lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Lilburn uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Boxer has time to react.

Lilburn instigates a clinch.
Boxer is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Boxer takes an elbow to the forehead.
Lilburn comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

The cut above Bruce Boxer's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boxer blocks an elbow strike.
Boxer wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lilburn throws an elbow that misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Lilburn.
Lilburn lands an elbow inside.
Boxer is looking to break free of the clinch but Lilburn has double underhooks.
Lilburn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Boxer blocks an elbow strike from Lilburn.
Lilburn lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Nice elbow from Lilburn.

Bruce Boxer's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Bruce Boxer's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:44 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). John Lilburn!
John Lilburn retains his light heavyweight title!