PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Koya Urabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Owns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Urabe
vs
Owns

178 cm
25
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Excellent MT
KO power

Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Koya Urabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kevin Owns!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Urabe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Urabe wants to clinch up but Owns keeps it at a distance.
Koya Urabe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Urabe fails in his attempt to clinch.
Urabe avoids the head kick by Owns.

Owns gets tackled into the ropes by Urabe. Urabe maintains the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Owns.
Urabe is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Owns is defending well for now.
Owns blocks a body shot from Urabe.
Urabe looking to stall.
Owns blocks the elbow strike.
Urabe avoids the elbow strike from Owns, against the ropes.
Urabe being controlled against the ropes.
Urabe is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Owns is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Owns trying to control the position but instead, Urabe has worked for underhooks and has pushed Owns into the ropes.
Owns looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Owns breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Owns closes the distance and clinches.
Urabe misses with a knee strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Urabe misses with an elbow strike.
A head punch on the inside from Urabe fails to land.
Urabe lands a right hand that snaps the head of Owns backwards.
Owns blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Owns lands a shoulder strike.
Owns misses with an elbow strike.
Urabe is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Urabe misses with the head strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Urabe is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Owns is trying to push Urabe away but Urabe has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Urabe is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Owns tries to break free but Urabe pushes him back against the ropes.
Urabe wants to stall.
Urabe is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Koya Urabe.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Owns's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Urabe misses with a hook to the ribs.
Urabe looking to stall.
Owns is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Owns blocking some punches.
Owns is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

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

Owns has managed to clinch.
Urabe is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Owns lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Urabe backwards.
Owns lands with a light punch inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Owns is trying to maintain a safe position but Urabe gets an underhook and turns Owns into the ropes.
Urabe lands a knee to the head.
Urabe blocks an elbow strike.
Owns is leaning against Urabe and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Urabe prevents a body shot from Owns.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Urabe trying to stall but Owns improves his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Owns dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Urabe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Owns paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Owns avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Owns tries to counter by closing the distance.
Urabe wants to clinch up but Owns keeps it at a distance.
Urabe blocks a head kick by Owns.
Urabe tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Owns manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Koya Urabe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Urabe tries to clinch up but Owns circles away and keeps his distance.
Owns throws a head kick that misses.
Urabe wants to clinch.
Owns avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Urabe tries to clinch but Owns is having none of it.
Owns wants to slow Urabe down by chopping away at his legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Owns clinches.
Owns lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Urabe throws a head punch that misses.
Kevin Owns seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Urabe taking a breather.
Urabe trying to control the position but instead, Owns has worked for underhooks and has pushed Urabe into the ropes.
Urabe tries to stall but Owns uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Urabe tries to stall but Owns uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Urabe landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Urabe is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Owns is keeping busy.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Koya Urabe.

Owns clinches with his opponent.
Owns is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Urabe throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ownss head.
Urabe tries a body shot but Owns blocks it.
Owns is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Urabe is defending well for now.
Owns wants to stall.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Owns as Urabe tries to tie him up.
Urabe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Urabe lands with a right to the head.
Urabe has Owns pressed against the ropes, preventing Owns from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Urabe with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Urabe unloads a knee to the mid-section. Owns lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Owns pushes off an throws an elbow but Urabe leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Urabe looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Stalling in the clinch from Owns.
Owns lands a left hand that snaps the head of Urabe backwards.
Urabe is looking to control Owns's arms but Owns gets an underhook and turns him. Now Urabe has his back to the ropes.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Urabe.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Urabe.
Owns has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Owns controlling the action here for a moment.
Owns wants to get back to striking at distance but Urabe won't allow it.
Owns has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Owns looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Owns has Urabe pushed against the ropes.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Urabe looking to slow down the pace here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Owns stalling the fight.
Urabe tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Owns avoids it.
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!
Urabe misses with a punch to the body.
Owns pushes off an throws an elbow but Urabe leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Owns showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Urabe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Urabe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Owns swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Owns avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Urabe tries to keep at a distance but Owns has taken the fight into the clinch.

Owns's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Urabe is looking to clinch but Owns is avoiding it.
Urabe tries to clinch

and before Urabe can reset, Owns rushes him with a swarm of punches, sending him crashing to the floor, in all sorts of trouble! Urabe is trying to beat the count but we're up to 6 already and he's nowhere near. 7,8... he's up! He's going to continue!

Urabe is rocked!
Urabe tries to clinch but Owns moves out of range.
Oh Urabe is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Owns swats away the attempt to clinch by Urabe.
Urabe seems to have got his legs back now.

Owns closes the distance and pushes Urabe back into the ropes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Urabe stalling in the clinch but Owns improves position.
Owns is looking to control Urabe's arms but Urabe gets an underhook and turns him. Now Owns has his back to the ropes.
Owns blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Owns as Urabe tries to tie him up.
Owns lands a body punch.
Urabe wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owns gets through Urabe's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Owns blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Urabe managing to block the knees to the body from Owns.
Urabe looking to stall.
Urabe is trying to stall.
Urabe seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Owns is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Urabe tries to land knees in the clinch but Owns avoids the damage to the body.
Urabe taking a breather.
Owns stalling the fight.
Good body shot from Urabe.
Urabe looking to stall.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Owns.

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

Owns takes the fight into the clinch.
Owns scores with a shoulder strike.
Urabe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Owns.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Owns lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Owns misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Urabe.
Owns wants to get back to striking at distance but Urabe won't allow it.
A right handed body shot lands from Owns.
Owns throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
A short right from Owns.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Urabe looking to slow down the pace here.
Urabe wants to stall.
Urabe avoiding damage as Owns throws knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Urabe obliges.
Owns tries to break the clinch but Urabe is controlling the position.
Urabe throws a punch but it's blocked by Owns.
Urabe connects with a nasty looking knee right to Owns's face.
Urabe is trying to maintain a safe position but Owns gets an underhook and turns Urabe into the ropes.
Owns lands a body shot.
Koya Urabe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kevin Owns is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Owns can't break the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Owns as Urabe tries to tie him up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Owns comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Owns 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 26:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Owns!