PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mustafa Azzi (ranked 1806 p4p, 204 weight class) and Bale Krueger (ranked 2901 p4p, 303 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Azzi
vs
Krueger

198 cm
25
238 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
265 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Sweet Leaf Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mustafa Azzi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bale Krueger!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Peter Branson and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azzi moves out of range as Krueger strikes.
Azzi is looking to counter punch.
A slow jab from Krueger misses its intended target.
Azzi swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Azzi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Azzi throws a hook but Krueger avoids it easily.
Azzi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Azzi appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Azzi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Azzi with a jab.
Krueger throws a sloppy body shot
and Azzi counters with a stiff right hand.
Azzi drops his hands momentarily and Krueger takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Krueger swings widly with a right hand
and Azzi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Azzi lands a glancing blow to the side of Krueger's head.
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!
Krueger throws a shot from downtown. Azzi moves away and avoids it.
Krueger misses with a shot to the body
and Azzi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Krueger gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Krueger breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Azzi definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krueger throws a sloppy body shot
letting Azzi counter with a right hand.
Krueger throws the left hand but Azzi avoids the punch easily.
Azzi misses with a looping left.

Krueger rushes Azzi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Azzi misses with some punches.
Azzi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Krueger's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Krueger swings widly with a right hand
letting Azzi counter with a right hand.

Krueger moves into the clinch.
Krueger scores with a shoulder strike.
A shot in the inside from Azzi.
Krueger makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Azzi lands a right hand.
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!
Azzi looking to stall.
Azzi lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azzi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Azzi.
Krueger lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Azzi backwards.
Azzi throws a punch but it's blocked by Krueger.
Azzi trying to control the position but instead, Krueger has worked for underhooks and has pushed Azzi into the cage.
Krueger working aggressively here.
Krueger digs a right hand into Azzi's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Azzi's gas tank.
Krueger slows down the pace here.
Krueger lands a shot to the body.
Krueger blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Krueger manages to break the clinch.
Krueger throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
It looked like Azzi wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Krueger throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Azzi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Krueger closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azzi struggles to land a body shot inside as Krueger controls his hands.
Azzi swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Krueger breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Krueger looks to land a right hand but Azzi moved out of range.
Krueger moves to clinch but Azzi breaks away
enabling Azzi to counter with a crisp jab.
Krueger tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Azzi was well out of range. Poor timing from Krueger.
Azzi throwing a counter right hand but Krueger manages to avoid it.

Krueger fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Azzi, pushing him back against the cage.
Azzi throws a punch but it's blocked by Krueger.
Krueger lands with a short shot to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Azzi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've been informed that Krueger has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Krueger's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right from Krueger on the inside.
Krueger digs a right hand into Azzi's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Azzi's gas tank.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Krueger.
Azzi is breathing heavily.
Come on Krueger - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A right hand to the body from Krueger.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Still in the clinch, Krueger scores with a nice short uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Krueger.
Krueger manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Krueger lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Krueger taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Krueger taking a breather.
The crowd are getting on Krueger's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Krueger lands with a short shot to the head.
Krueger misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Krueger.
Azzi tries a body shot but Krueger blocks it.
Krueger blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Krueger lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Azzi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bale Krueger will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Azzi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Krueger gets a clinch.
Azzi is trying to maintain a safe position but Krueger gets an underhook and turns Azzi into the cage.
Krueger tries a body shot but Azzi blocks it.
Azzi throws a head punch that misses.

Krueger escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Krueger misses with a lunging right hand
and Azzi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Azzi lands a jab.
Krueger throws a jab when Azzi was well out of range.
Krueger swings for the body but Azzi moves out of range.
Krueger lands with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azzi throws a looping overhand right but Krueger ducks down to avoid it.

Krueger has Azzi up against the cage in a clinch.
Krueger blocks an uppercut.

Krueger manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azzi walks into a left hand.
Krueger throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Krueger lands with a nice combination. Azzi backs away looking to recover.
Krueger closes the distance looking to clinch
and Krueger takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Krueger lands a nice shot to the body.
Azzi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Krueger.
Krueger throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Azzi counters with a nice uppercut.
Bale Krueger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Krueger throws an overhand right that lands on Azzi's shoulder, as Azzi tries to avoid the shot.
Azzi swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Krueger misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Azzi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Krueger misses with a right hand
and Azzi counters with a right hand to the body.
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!
Krueger ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Azzi sets himself, and Krueger steps forward looking for the clinch! Azzi avoids it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krueger will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Krueger throws a right hand that misses
and Azzi counters with a nice uppercut.
Krueger throws a sloppy body shot
and Azzi counters with a two punch combo.
Azzi throws a jab when Krueger was well out of range.
Krueger wants to clinch but Azzi slips to the side
enabling Azzi to counter with a crisp jab.
Krueger tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Azzi was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Krueger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Krueger dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Krueger misses with a hook
enabling Azzi to counter with a crisp jab.
Krueger throws a jab when Azzi was well out of range.
Krueger misses with a combination
and Azzi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krueger lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Krueger swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Azzi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Azzi tries to bum rush Krueger with a series of wild strikes but Krueger uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Krueger wants to counter with a clinch but Azzi pushes him away.
Azzi takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Azzi is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Krueger clinches up against the cage.
Azzi has a couple of punches blocked by Krueger.
Krueger blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Azzi tries to break free but Krueger pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Krueger.

Krueger breaks from the clinch.
Krueger looks to score with a jab to the body but Azzi is just out of range.
Krueger throws a right hand that misses
and Azzi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Azzi throws a right and a left that Krueger avoids nicely.
Mustafa Azzi is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Krueger closes the distance and clinches.
Krueger lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Azzi backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azzi misses with the head strike.
Krueger has Azzi pushed against the cage.
Bale Krueger seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Azzi lands with a short shot to the head.
Krueger tries to work over Azzi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Krueger lands a body punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Krueger.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Krueger creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Azzi tries to circle away but Krueger has him pinned against the cage.
Krueger has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

Krueger breaks the clinch.

Krueger has managed to clinch.
Krueger can't find room to land a body shot as Azzi controls the action.
Krueger lands a nice uppercut.
Krueger tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Azzi throws a head punch that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bale Krueger will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Krueger avoids the body shot from Azzi.
Krueger misses the shot to the body.
Krueger tests Azzi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Krueger tries to clinch
and Azzi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Azzi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Krueger.
Krueger jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Krueger moves to clinch but Azzi breaks away
and Azzi counters with a nice uppercut.
Krueger misses with a hook
letting Azzi counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Krueger lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Krueger throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jab by Krueger.
A jab from Azzi finds it's way through Krueger's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azzi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A little feinted left hand from Azzi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Krueger misses with a body shot.
A combination from Azzi does no damage.
Krueger misses with a body punch
and Azzi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Krueger there.
Krueger throws a body shot but no joy.
Azzi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
A big left from Krueger misses.
Krueger misses with a body punch
and Azzi counters with a one-two to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Azzi dodges the punch combination from Krueger.
Azzi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Krueger.
Azzi throwing a counter right hand but Krueger manages to avoid it.
Azzi thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azzi misses with an uppercut
and Krueger counters with a one-two to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Azzi throws a shot from downtown. Krueger moves away and avoids it.
Azzi ducks under a wild hook from Krueger.
Azzi throws a looping overhand right but Krueger ducks down to avoid it.
Krueger lands with a good body shot.
Azzi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Krueger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Azzi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Krueger.
It looked like Azzi was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Krueger misses with a body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Azzi misses the target.

Krueger pushes Azzi up against the cage in a clinch.

Krueger breaks the clinch.
Azzi with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krueger throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Azzi loads up on a big right hand but Krueger slips the punch.
Krueger misses with a right hand
and Azzi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Krueger throws a lazy right hand but Azzi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Azzi misses the target.
Krueger looks to throw the jab but Azzi is out of range.
Krueger lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Krueger connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Azzi's hands.
Azzi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Azzi swings widly with a right hand
and Krueger makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Azzi needs to keep his hands up - Krueger had a free shot at his head there.
Krueger works the jab nicely.
Krueger misses with a jab to the body
and Azzi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mustafa Azzi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice defenses there by Azzi.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Azzi lands a shoulder strike.

Krueger breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Krueger throws a poor cross that misses
and Azzi counters with a nice uppercut.
Krueger pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Krueger jabs Azzi right on the nose. Azzi blinks but takes it well.
Azzi throws a jab when Krueger was well out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Krueger! But no joy.
Azzi fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Krueger on the side of the head.
Azzi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Krueger throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Azzi counter with a right hand.
Bale Krueger is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Krueger shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Azzi eats them both and turns towards Krueger to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bale Krueger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Krueger winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bale Krueger!