PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Pickard (ranked 3086 p4p, 4027 weight class) and Lars Kraulthammer (ranked 399 p4p, 492 weight class). Lars Kraulthammer is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Pickard
vs
Kraulthammer

184 cm
19
208
3 - 1 - 0

181 cm
23
214
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Finnish Elite Extreme Science

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rodney Pickard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lars Kraulthammer!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Illya Tyunina and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pickard lands with a hook. Kraulthammer tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Pickard connects with a crisp jab.

Kraulthammer closes the distance and clinches.
Pickard can't break the clinch.
Pickard stops a takedown attempt from Kraulthammer.
Pickard is trying to break the clinch but Kraulthammer is controlling him.
Kraulthammer jumps guard but Pickard turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kraulthammer drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pickard pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rodney Pickard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lars Kraulthammer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kraulthammer fails with a takedown attempt.
Pickard swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kraulthammer takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Kraulthammer gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraulthammer tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pickard sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kraulthammer somewhat.
Pickard dips to his left and cracks Kraulthammer with an uppercut!
Kraulthammer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pickard swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kraulthammer closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
It looks like Pickard has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.

Kraulthammer moves into the clinch.
Pickard wants to break the clinch but can't.

Pickard breaks the clinch.

Kraulthammer manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Pickard on his heels. He'll look to pass Pickard's guard now, I'm sure.
Pickard is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Kraulthammer dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Pickard taking a bit of punishment here - Kraulthammer scoring with strikes.

It looks like Rodney Pickard has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kraulthammer tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kraulthammer in side control lands a decent elbow.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Kraulthammer working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Kraulthammer working away.
Pickard taking punishment in the form of punches.

Kraulthammer looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Kraulthammer is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pickard is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kraulthammer trying to control the position but Pickard is working away.

Kraulthammer wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pickard, who protects the arm well.
Pickard tries to improve position but can't.
Pickard can't do much from the bottom here.

Kraulthammer tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kraulthammer has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pickard takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Kraulthammer looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Pickard is wriggling around trying to escape but Kraulthammer has hooked up a rear naked choke! Is it over??? Is it... you're damn right it is! Pickard taps out and Kraulthammer picks up the big win! Great work there by Kraulthammer!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Lars Kraulthammer!
Post fight, Lars Kraulthammer took to the microphone: 'I can run through anyone'.