PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Rick Mantle (ranked 6900 p4p, 515 weight class) and John Mackenzie (ranked 24559 p4p, 557 weight class). The key to victory for Rick Mantle has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Mantle
vs
Mackenzie

179 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
150 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rick Mantle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Mackenzie !
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Sandra Marshall and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mantle lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mackenzie circles away quickly and effectively.
Mantle fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mackenzie .
Mantle looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
No joy there for Mantle, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mantle misses with a series of wild punches.
Mackenzie goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Mackenzie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mantle scores with a head kick. Mackenzie tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Mantle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mackenzie goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mackenzie pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mantle was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Mantle misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mackenzie throws a low kick but Mantle moves out of range easily.
Rick Mantle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A clash of legs there as Mantle blocks the low kick.
Mantle lands with a thumping leg kick.
Mantle lands a nice looking kick to the body. Mackenzie takes a step back to recover.
Mackenzie takes a kick to the side of the head.
Mantle thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Mackenzie if he has to take too many more of those.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Mantle.
Mackenzie misses with the combination.
Mackenzie works over Mantle's head and body with a nice combination.
Mackenzie punishes Mantle's body with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Mantle, right into the meat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mackenzie throws a sloppy head kick and Mantle moves out of range easily.
Mackenzie doesn't manage to clinch there - Mantle circles away.
Mackenzie takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
A head kick misses from Mackenzie .
Rick Mantle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mantle lands with a hook. Mackenzie tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Mackenzie takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Mantle misses with a combination
and Mackenzie counters with a left and a right that stings Mantle.
Mantle throws a nice looking combination but Mackenzie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mackenzie blocks a head kick by Mantle.
Mantle misses with a wild body shot.
Mackenzie scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantle feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mackenzie 's calf.
Nice body punch from Mantle.
Mackenzie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mantle lands a head kick!
Mackenzie tries a head kick but it misses.
Mantle goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Mackenzie takes a kick to the side of the head.

Mackenzie forces Mantle back against the ropes and clinches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Mackenzie displaying some good clinch control by pressing Mantle up against the ropes.
Mantle is trying to break the clinch but Mackenzie has him pressed against the ropes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mantle working aggressively here.
Mantle can't break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Mackenzie 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mantle tries to circle away but Mackenzie has him pinned against the ropes.

Mackenzie breaks from the clinch.
Mantle throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mantle throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Mantle 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.

Mackenzie throws a sloppy head kick and Mantle moves out of range easily.
Mantle feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Mackenzie takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Mackenzie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rick Mantle is winning the standup battle so far.
Mantle misses with a head kick.
Mackenzie fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mantle throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Nice jab there from Mantle.
Mackenzie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mantle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mantle throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mantle tries to bum rush Mackenzie with a series of wild strikes but Mackenzie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mackenzie works Mantle's body with a nice hook.

Mackenzie gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Mackenzie .
A frustrated look appears on Mantle's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mantle blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mackenzie keeps control of Mantle as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mantle managing to block the knees to the body from Mackenzie .
A frustrated look appears on Mackenzie 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mackenzie fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mackenzie can't find room to land a body shot as Mantle controls the action.
Mackenzie tries to throw a body punch but Mantle avoids it by throwing Mackenzie back against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mantle is trying to push Mackenzie away but Mackenzie has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Mantle tries to break free but Mackenzie pushes him back against the ropes.
Mackenzie is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Mantle is trying to break the clinch but Mackenzie has him pressed against the ropes.
Mantle landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Mackenzie doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mantle tries to stall but Mackenzie uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Mackenzie has Mantle pressed against the ropes, preventing Mantle from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mackenzie misses with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantle can't break the clinch.
Mantle looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mackenzie can't break the clinch.
Mantle tries to work over Mackenzie 's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mantle wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mackenzie wants to break free but Mantle has control.
Mackenzie misses with a hook to the ribs.

Mackenzie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mantle scores with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mantle scores with a push kick.
Mackenzie throws a solid leg kick but Mantle takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Mackenzie .
Mantle lands a high kick!
Mackenzie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mantle lands with a kick to the temple. Mackenzie shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Mantle looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Mackenzie misses with a wild combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mantle fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mackenzie tries to bum rush Mantle with a series of wild strikes but Mantle uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mackenzie displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Mantle dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mackenzie avoids the head kick by Mantle.
Mantle throws a head kick but Mackenzie moves out of range.
Mantle throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
No joy there for Mantle, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mantle throws a nice inside leg kick.
Mantle throws a head kick but Mackenzie moves out of range.
No joy there for Mantle, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A head kick misses from Mackenzie .
Mantle dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Mackenzie . That did some damage!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mackenzie misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mantle throws a head kick that Mackenzie semi-blocks.
Mackenzie avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mackenzie tries to score with a low kick but Mantle moves his leg out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mackenzie lands a two punch combo.
Mantle lands a leg kick that knocks Mackenzie off balance momentarily.
Mackenzie moves out of range of the leg kick from Mantle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mantle throws a big shot that misses.
Mantle dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mantle moves out of range of the body kick.
Mantle throws a nice looking combination but Mackenzie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Decent striking displayed by Mantle there.

Mackenzie moves into range and clinches up with Mantle.
Mackenzie effectively controlling the action here.
A frustrated look appears on Mantle's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Mackenzie moves into the clinch.
Mackenzie 's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Mantle has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mackenzie can't break the clinch.
Mackenzie controlling the action here for a moment.
A body shot lands from Mackenzie .
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mackenzie missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Mackenzie creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mantle tries to circle away but Mackenzie has him pinned against the ropes.
Mantle looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mantle prevents a body shot from Mackenzie .
Mackenzie has Mantle pressed against the ropes.
Mantle blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mackenzie stalls.
Mackenzie prevents a body shot from Mantle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mantle is trying to force a seperation but Mackenzie has the dominant position.
A frustrated look appears on Mackenzie 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Come on Mackenzie - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Mantle is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mackenzie missing with knees to the body.
Mantle managing to block the knees to the body from Mackenzie .

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rick Mantle.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mantle, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Mantle!