PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Gary Saxton (ranked 5039 p4p, 451 weight class) and Zlatan Zirkov (ranked 5303 p4p, 465 weight class). Zlatan Zirkov has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Saxton
vs
Zirkov

179 cm
25
165 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

172 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Excellent boxer
Experienced

Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gary Saxton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zlatan Zirkov!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Paulo Santos and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zirkov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Zirkov's jab looks to have found its range, popping Saxton under the eye.

Saxton clinches.
Saxton misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zirkov being controlled against the ropes.
Saxton managing to block the knees to the body from Zirkov.
Saxton managing to block the knees to the body from Zirkov.
Zirkov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Zirkov tries to land knees in the clinch but Saxton avoids the damage to the body.
Zirkov trying to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Zirkov.
Zirkov avoids a wild elbow strike from Saxton.
Zirkov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saxton has him pressed against the ropes.
Zirkov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saxton avoids it.
Saxton avoiding damage as Zirkov throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zirkov tries to land knees in the clinch but Saxton avoids the damage to the body.
Zirkov lands a good knee to the midsection. Saxton won't want to take too many of those.
Saxton avoiding damage as Zirkov throws knees to the body.

Saxton breaks from the clinch.

Zirkov clinches up against the ropes.
Saxton blocking some punches.
Saxton is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Saxton wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zirkov can't break the clinch.
Saxton misses with a hook from the clinch.
Saxton just leaning against Zirkov, taking a breather.
Saxton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Saxton blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Saxton breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zirkov scores with a jab to the body.
Saxton tries to clinch but Zirkov moves out of range.
Zirkov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Saxton misses with a body shot.
Saxton swats away the attempt to clinch by Zirkov.
Zirkov throws a body punch but Saxton moves out of range.
An inside leg kick from Saxton misses.
Saxton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zirkov moves away.
Saxton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zirkov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Zirkov! But no joy.
Zirkov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Saxton's sensitive parts.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zirkov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Zirkov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saxton tries to land a front kick but Zirkov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Zirkov let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Zirkov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zlatan Zirkov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Zirkov forces Saxton back against the ropes and clinches.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Saxton.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Zirkov obliges.
Zirkov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zlatan Zirkov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Saxton looking to slow down the pace here.
Zirkov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Saxton is defending well for now.
Saxton prevents Zirkov from breaking the clinch.
Saxton scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Saxton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zirkov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Saxton rather than just go for the knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zirkov.
Saxton misses with a hook.
Zirkov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Zirkov staying out of range there.
Zirkov moves out of range as Saxton strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zirkov slips a jab from Saxton.
Saxton thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nice straight punches there by Zirkov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Zirkov.
Zirkov moves out of range as Saxton strikes.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zirkov.
Saxton seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Zlatan Zirkov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Saxton scores with a nice right hand.
Saxton pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zirkov let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Saxton throws a poor cross that misses
and Zirkov counters with a nice body shot.

Zirkov clinches up with Saxton and pushes him back against the ropes.
Saxton is trying to force a seperation but Zirkov has the dominant position.
Saxton lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Zirkov missing with knees to the body.
Saxton misses with an elbow over the top.
Zirkov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Saxton in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Saxton struggles to land a body shot inside as Zirkov controls his hands.
Zirkov tries to throw a body punch but Saxton avoids it by throwing Zirkov back against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zirkov tries to land knees in the clinch but Saxton avoids the damage to the body.
Zirkov working aggressively here.
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!
Zirkov tries to land knees in the clinch but Saxton avoids the damage to the body.
Zirkov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Saxton just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zirkov's brow.
Zirkov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zirkov presses Saxton against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Zirkov pushes Saxton back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Zirkov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Saxton throws a leg kick but Zirkov moved away.
Zirkov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zirkov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Saxton tried to score with a low kick but Zirkov checks it.
Zirkov misses with a hook
and Saxton counters with a straight right hand.
Zirkov loads up on a big right hand but Saxton slips the punch.
A quick step to the side and Saxton tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zlatan Zirkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Saxton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Zirkov thumps Saxton with a low kick.
Saxton misses with a series of wild punches.
Zirkov throws a predictable looking body shot
and Saxton counters with a straight right hand.
Saxton throws a body shot but no joy.
Saxton walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Zirkov checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Zirkov scores with a hook to the body. Saxton takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Saxton connects with a single shot there.
Saxton throws a wild body kick that Zirkov sees coming a mile off.
Saxton wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Zirkov bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Saxton misses with a leg kick.
Saxton throws a leg kick but Zirkov sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Zirkov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Zirkov throws a low kick, looking for Saxton's leg but Saxton calmly moves out of range.
Zirkov misses with a low kick as Saxton jumps back.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Zirkov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zirkov throws a body punch but Saxton moves out of range.
Saxton is looking to counter punch.
A jab from Saxton misses.
Zirkov scores with the left hand. Saxton knows he should have avoided that one.
Zirkov moves out of range of the body kick from Saxton.
Zirkov stuns Saxton with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A slow jab from Saxton misses its intended target.
Zirkov misses with the body kick
and Zirkov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Saxton thows a left - swing and a miss!
Saxton takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Saxton blocks the body kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Zirkov checks a leg kick.
Zirkov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Saxton misses with a straight left.
Zirkov connects with a leg kick. Saxton looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Nice straight punches there by Zirkov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Zirkov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saxton throws a jab but it's blocked by Zirkov.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zirkov slips a jab from Saxton.
Zirkov wants to clinch up but Saxton keeps it at a distance.
Saxton throws a jab when Zirkov was well out of range.
Zirkov clobbers Saxton with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Zirkov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zirkov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Saxton misses the shot to the body.
Saxton digs a good body shot into Zirkov's ribs.
Zirkov lands a slapping body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Saxton. Zirkov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zirkov misses with a body shot.
Zirkov is looking to slow Saxton down with leg kicks.
Zirkov works Saxton's body with a nice hook.
Gary Saxton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zlatan Zirkov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zirkov jabs at Saxton's body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zlatan Zirkov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zirkov 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zlatan Zirkov!