PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ludwig Krantz (ranked 4363 p4p, 4365 weight class) and Such A Slow Learner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Krantz
vs
Learner

180 cm
18
195
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ludwig Krantz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Such A Slow Learner!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Fujiwara and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Learner scores with a takedown into Krantz's guard.
Learner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Learner stops Krantz from standing up.
Krantz keeping moving, preventing Learner from controlling successfully.
Krantz on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Krantz tries to get out of the position.
Learner is pushing down on Krantz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Krantz is fighting to maintain full guard but Learner has managed to sneak the leg through.
Krantz gets back to full guard.
Krantz is looking to stand up but Learner isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Learner wants to pass the guard but Krantz is keeping the position.
Krantz will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Learner wants to pass the guard but Krantz is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Learner stopping the sweep attempt from Krantz.
Krantz is trying to keep Learner in close.
Krantz keeping full guard, as Learner tries to pass.
Learner slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Learner wants to take a breather but Krantz manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Learner.
Learner throws a big elbow that misses.
Learner sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Learner postures up in Krantz's guard and throws a big left but Krantz blocks it.
Learner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Learner is in close to Krantz's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Krantz working for a triangle but Learner defends it easily.

Krantz has an active guard here but Learner has managed to pass into half guard.
Learner wants to lay and pray for a moment but Krantz keeps working.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Learner connects with a nice short shot to Krantz's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krantz tries to get to full guard but Learner has control of the leg.
Krantz is trying is best to control the position here.
Learner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Learner is trying to control. Krantz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Learner prevents Krantz from improving his position.
Learner takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Learner thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Krantz's head.
Learner prevents Krantz from improving his position.
Learner sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Krantz defending well though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Krantz manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krantz is trying to control the position but Learner postures up.
Krantz wants to sweep here but Learner controlling him for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Learner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Learner throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Learner with a lazy takedown attempt

and Krantz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Krantz is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Learner has managed to free his arm - good work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Krantz throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Krantz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Learner's waist but Learner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Krantz off to one side.
Learner ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Learner scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Ludwig Krantz has been cut.
Learner with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Krantz tries to clinch there but Learner circles away.
Learner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Krantz lands with a shot to the body.
Learner throws a series of punches but Krantz moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Krantz.
Ludwig Krantz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Krantz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Learner is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Learner throws a left and a right that both miss

and Krantz counters by clinching up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Krantz has Learner pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Learner manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ludwig Krantz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Learner scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Krantz drags the fight down to the ground.
Learner trying to control the position from guard on top but Krantz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Learner is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Learner is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Learner tries to free his leg and advance position but Krantz is retaining full guard.
Krantz keeping moving, preventing Learner from controlling successfully.
Learner works over Krantz with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Learner passes Krantz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Learner looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Such A Slow Learner has got the better of the ground game so far.
Krantz is refusing to be controlled, as Learner sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Learner sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Krantz defending well though.

Krantz is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Learner pulls his head out easily.
Krantz is staying active underneath Learner, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Learner working Krantz over with strikes.
Krantz wants to get back to his feet.
Learner takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Learner wants to control but Krantz is keeping him busy.
Learner working over Krantz with some ground and pound. Krantz looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Krantz actively working from the bottom here.
Krantz is not content to let Learner control the position.
Krantz wants to control but Learner is keeping busy and won't allow it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Learner takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Learner stops Krantz from getting back to his feet.
Learner tries to pass the half guard into mount. Krantz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Learner in particular looking to stall.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Krantz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Learner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Learner misses with a looping left.
Krantz's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Learner connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Krantz scrambles back to his feet.

Learner looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Krantz has Learner pulled in close to control his posture.
Learner wants to control from the top but Krantz keeps moving.
Learner postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Learner with a nice head shot there.
Learner looking to pass the guard.
Learner distracts Krantz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Such A Slow Learner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ludwig Krantz's cut.
That's time! Krantz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Krantz slaps away a takedown attempt from Learner, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Krantz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Krantz is thwarting Learner's attempts to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Learner tries to roll over but Krantz keeps him under control.
Learner wants to control but Krantz is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Krantz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Learner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Krantz sitting and controlling from the half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Learner blocking the ground and pound attempt from Krantz.
Learner trying to get back to full guard but Krantz takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Krantz tries to control but Learner wriggling away.
Learner gets back to half guard.
Learner trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Krantz manages to pass to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krantz tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Krantz seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Learner for as long as he can get away with.
Learner regains half guard.
Learner tries to roll over but Krantz keeps him under control.
Krantz tries to pass to full mount but Learner defends it.
Learner is pressing down on Krantz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Learner is looking to sweep but instead, Krantz has passed into half guard.
Krantz is pressing down on Learner's thigh, looking to free his foot. Learner is holding on for now.
Learner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Krantz wants to stand up but Learner manages to regain full guard.
Krantz trying to control the position from guard on top but Learner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Learner is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Learner has Krantz pulled in close to control his posture.

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.
Krantz tries to free his leg and advance position but Learner is retaining full guard.
Learner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Learner escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Krantz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Learner can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Krantz controls the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Learner gets a clinch.
Such A Slow Learner is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Learner misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ludwig Krantz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Krantz pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Krantz misses with a knee strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ludwig Krantz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Learner 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Such A Slow Learner!