PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Anton Kruglov (ranked 3052 p4p, 351 weight class) and John Locke (ranked 2454 p4p, 294 weight class). Locke has chosen What Makes a Good Man as his entrance music. John Locke has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kruglov
vs
Locke

171 cm
34
184 lbs
25 - 16 - 2

175 cm
33
183 lbs
28 - 17 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 16 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anton Kruglov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Locke!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Daniel Cesar and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kruglov will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Locke tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kruglov is able to avoid easily.
Locke swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kruglov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Locke doesn't seem bothered though.
Kruglov misses with a looping left.
Locke on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kruglov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Locke instigates a clinch.
Locke lands a hook that snaps the head of Kruglov backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Locke working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Locke scores with a hook to the body.
Locke misses with a short punch on the inside.
Locke lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Locke lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kruglov backwards.
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!
Kruglov has a couple of punches blocked by Locke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke tries to throw a body punch but Kruglov avoids it by throwing Locke back against the ropes.
Kruglov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kruglov struggles to land a body shot inside as Locke controls his hands.
A shot in the inside from Kruglov.
Locke is trying to maintain a safe position but Kruglov gets an underhook and turns Locke into the ropes.
Kruglov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Locke softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Kruglov swings wildly with an uppercut but Locke uses good head movement to avoid it.
Locke misses with some punches.
Locke digs a right hand into Kruglov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kruglov's gas tank.
Kruglov crunches a lovely knee into Locke's ribcage.
Locke working aggressively here.
Nice elbow from Kruglov.

It looks like John Locke has been cut.
Locke misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Locke.
Locke managing to block the knees to the body from Kruglov.
Kruglov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Locke misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kruglov blocks a body shot from Locke.
Locke misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Locke blocks an uppercut.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Kruglov prevents a body shot from Locke.
Locke goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Locke has a couple of punches blocked by Kruglov.
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!

Locke breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Locke looking to stall.
Kruglov lands a nice uppercut.
Kruglov lands a knee to the head.
Kruglov misses with some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Anton Kruglov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Locke's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kruglov throws out a leg kick but Locke moves out of range and Kruglov only half commits.
Locke misses with a left hand
and Kruglov counters with a two punch combo.
Locke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kruglov manages to avoid it.
Locke misses with a hook to the body
and Kruglov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Locke uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kruglov.
A little jabbing left from Locke on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Locke misses with a hook to the body
and Locke takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kruglov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Locke counters with a left and a right that stings Kruglov.
Kruglov with a jab.
Locke takes a swing at Kruglov's ribcage but misses.
Locke on the wrong end of a nice hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kruglov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A solid body kick from Locke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke misses with a two punch combination.
Kruglov dips to his left and cracks Locke with an uppercut!
Kruglov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Locke misses with a hook.
Kruglov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Locke throws a right and a left that both miss.
Good leg kick by Locke there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A swing and a miss from Locke.
Locke connects with a high kick.
Good shot there by Locke.
Locke throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kruglov.
A countering left hand to the body from Locke misses.
Locke closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kruglov swings widly with a right hand
and Locke counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kruglov thinking.
Locke tests Kruglov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Locke is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kruglov rather than just go for the knockout.
Locke fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Locke throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kruglov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
John Locke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Locke lands with a hook. Kruglov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Locke thows a left - swing and a miss!
As Locke looks to move away, Kruglov throws a big counter combo but Locke just gets out of the way.
Locke just misses with a punch to the body.
Kruglov scoring well with a low kick there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Locke will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on John Locke's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Locke looks to score with a jab to the body but Kruglov is just out of range.
Kruglov tries to counter by clinching up but Locke breaks away and moves out of range.
Kruglov throws a sloppy head kick and Locke moves out of range easily.
Locke tries to clinch up.
Locke tries to clinch there but Kruglov circles away.
Kruglov throws a poor cross that misses
and Locke counters with a nice body shot.
Locke keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kruglov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Locke.
Locke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kruglov manages to avoid it.
Kruglov is looking to counter punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Locke rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kruglov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kruglov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kruglov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kruglov misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kruglov clobbers Locke with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Locke connects with a body shot that sends Kruglov's belly button to the back.
Locke will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Locke lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kruglov's sensitive parts.
Locke fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kruglov on the side of the head.
Locke moves into range and connects with a jab.
Locke throws a low kick but Kruglov avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Locke misses with a series of wild punches.
Kruglov takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Kruglov scores with a nice head shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters circle momentarily. Kruglov darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kruglov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kruglov looks to clinch
and Locke counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kruglov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Locke swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kruglov counters with a head kick.
Kruglov throws a hook but Locke avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Locke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Locke 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Locke!
John Locke made sure to mention his sponsor, King of Clothes in his post fight interview.