PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Jankovic (ranked 5359 p4p, 5293 weight class) and Samwel Nkruma (ranked 485 p4p, 482 weight class). Nkruma is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Imperial March - Pegboard Nerds. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jankovic
vs
Nkruma

192 cm
21
188
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
19
184
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Conviction

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ivan Jankovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Samwel Nkruma!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nkruma walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nkruma doesn't manage to clinch there - Jankovic circles away.
Jankovic throwing a counter right hand but Nkruma manages to avoid it.
Jankovic lands a glancing blow to the side of Nkruma's head.
Nkruma fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nkruma tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And Jankovic counters with a quick kick to the body but Nkruma blocks it.
Jankovic tests Nkruma's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nkruma wants to clinch
and Jankovic counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nkruma moves in looking to clinch but Jankovic pushes him off.
Jankovic stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Jankovic misses the shot to the body.
Jankovic dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nkruma takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nkruma on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Nkruma moves to clinch but Jankovic breaks away
and Jankovic makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Jankovic circles away from the clinch attempt
and Jankovic counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nkruma is looking to clinch but Jankovic is avoiding it.
Ivan Jankovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nkruma tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jankovic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
It looked like Jankovic wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Nkruma instigates a clinch.
Nkruma jumps guard but Jankovic stands there with Nkruma around his waist. Nkruma gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nkruma pushes off an throws an elbow but Jankovic leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Nkruma tries to throw a body punch but Jankovic avoids it by throwing Nkruma back against the cage.
Jankovic works on Nkruma's body with a couple of short punches.
Still in the clinch, Jankovic scores with a nice short uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Jankovic.
A short uppercut from Jankovic.
Jankovic lands a nice uppercut.
Nkruma tries to pull guard but Jankovic holds him up against the cage and eventually Nkruma drops back down to his feet.
A hook to the body from Jankovic.

Jankovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jankovic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nkruma sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Jankovic lands with a shot 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!
Nice cross by Jankovic.
Nkruma tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jankovic uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Nkruma has time to react.

Jankovic lands a left and a right that send Nkruma crashing to the mat, dazed. Jankovic thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Samwel Nkruma has been cut.
Jankovic throws a hook but Nkruma blocks it.
Jankovic connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Jankovic lands a slapping body shot.
Nkruma tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jankovic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jankovic is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Jankovic explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Nkruma tries to clinch up but Jankovic circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice body kick there by Jankovic.
Nkruma moves out of range of the body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nkruma with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Jankovic to score with a decent uppercut.
Jankovic lands a jab to Nkruma's midsection.

Nkruma fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jankovic, pushing him back against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Jankovic as Nkruma tries to tie him up.
Jankovic lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nkruma backwards.
Nkruma looking to slow down the pace here.
Jankovic lands a body shot.
A shot in the inside from Jankovic.
Nkruma's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Nkruma wants to stall.
Jankovic lands a nice uppercut.
Nkruma is trying to stall.
Jankovic working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Jankovic scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Jankovic.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jankovic lands a body punch.
Jankovic digs a right hand underneath Nkruma's ribcage. Nkruma let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Jankovic gets through Nkruma's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nkruma tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jankovic just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ivan Jankovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samwel Nkruma.
Nkruma is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jankovic is defending well for now.
Jankovic lands with a light punch inside.

Nkruma successfully pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jankovic preventing the sweep.
Jankovic stays in close to Nkruma's body and controls the position.

Nkruma throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nkruma being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Jankovic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Samwel Nkruma's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nkruma fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jankovic thuds his right hand into Nkruma's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nkruma fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nkruma looks to clinch
letting Jankovic counter with a right hand.
Jankovic lands with an overhand left.
Nkruma gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Nice shot by Jankovic.
Jankovic swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nkruma takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Nkruma moves out of range of the body kick from Jankovic.
Nkruma is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nkruma fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jankovic was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nkruma tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Jankovic lands an impressive looking overhand right. Nkruma doesn't seem phased though.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Jankovic.
Nkruma avoids the body shot from Jankovic.
Nkruma uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Jankovic.
Nkruma wants to clinch up but Jankovic keeps it at a distance.
Jankovic misses with a body kick.
Jankovic throws the left hand but Nkruma avoids the punch easily.

Nkruma closes the distance and clinches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nkruma just misses with a elbow thrown towards Jankovic's brow.
Jankovic lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jankovic lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nkruma jumps guard but Jankovic stands there with Nkruma around his waist. Nkruma gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nkruma's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Jankovic lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nkruma tries a knee to the head but Jankovic blocks it.
Jankovic tries to throw a body punch but Nkruma avoids it by throwing Jankovic back against the cage.
Nkruma tries to work over Jankovic's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Jankovic.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jankovic scores with a shot to the side of Nkruma's head.
Nice body punch from Jankovic - that landed with a thud.
Nkruma tries to throw a body punch but Jankovic avoids it by throwing Nkruma back against the cage.
Ivan Jankovic has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Jankovic goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jankovic scores with a nice hook to the head.
Jankovic lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Jankovic lands a body punch.
Nkruma tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jankovic just stands there and leans against the cage.
Nkruma jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jankovic walks away with a smile on his face. Nkruma gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ivan Jankovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samwel Nkruma.
Jankovic thuds his right hand into Nkruma's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Jankovic lands with a right hand.
Jankovic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nkruma can do to turn this around?
Jankovic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nkruma.
Nkruma tries to close the distance and clinch but Jankovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
It looks like Jankovic has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jankovic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nkruma manages to avoid it.
Nkruma tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jankovic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nkruma darts in trying to clinch
and Jankovic counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nkruma tries to close the distance and clinch but Jankovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jankovic. Nkruma does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jankovic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nkruma moves away.
Jankovic throws out a loose jab but Nkruma uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nkruma takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nkruma looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jankovic lands a nice looking kick to the body. Nkruma takes a step back to recover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nkruma takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Jankovic cracks Nkruma with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Jankovic dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nkruma wants to clinch but Jankovic slips to the side
and Jankovic counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jankovic looks for the body kick but Nkruma saw that one coming.
Jankovic lunges at Nkruma with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Nkruma's hand.
Nkruma's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Jankovic connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Nkruma scrambles back to his feet.
Nkruma misses with an uppercut.
Jankovic connects with a leg kick.
Jankovic lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Ivan Jankovic is winning the standup battle so far.
Nkruma takes one on the button.

Nkruma is rocked!
Jankovic scores with a nice body kick.
Nkruma has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

Nkruma clinches with his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Jankovic dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Samwel Nkruma's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Jankovic throws a good cross that connects.
Nkruma is still on wobbly legs! Can Jankovic finish him?
Jankovic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nkruma seems to have recovered his senses.
Jankovic misses with a straight right.
Jankovic throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nkruma wants to clinch
and Jankovic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jankovic lands with a good body shot.
Nkruma misses with the body kick
and Jankovic connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jankovic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nkruma tries to clinch but Jankovic moves out of range.
Nkruma has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Jankovic.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nkruma clinches.
Nkruma is trying to pull guard but Jankovic has him pressed against the cage.
Nkruma misses with a punch to the body.

Nkruma decides to pull guard.

Nkruma is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jankovic is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nkruma looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Jankovic passes into half guard.
Nkruma takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Well, if Jankovic is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Nkruma wants to control but Jankovic is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Jankovic prevents Nkruma from improving his position.
Nkruma is controlling Jankovic's trapped leg to prevent Jankovic from advancing to side control.
Nkruma tries to roll over but Jankovic keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nkruma is looking to get back to full guard here but Jankovic has managed to pass to side control instead.
Nkruma is looking for a sweep.
Jankovic controlling the position from side mount.
Nkruma tries to bench press Jankovic off him but Jankovic keeps the position.
Nkruma manages to get back to half guard.

Nkruma looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Jankovic controlling the pace.
Nkruma works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nkruma is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Nkruma working for a triangle but Jankovic defends it easily.

Nkruma throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nkruma lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Nkruma won't allow Jankovic to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jankovic keeping moving, preventing Nkruma from controlling successfully.
Nkruma is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Jankovic knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nkruma on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nkruma wants to pass the guard but Jankovic is keeping the position.
Samwel Nkruma has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jankovic on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Jankovic tries to get out of the position.
Jankovic tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ivan Jankovic.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jankovic, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:26
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Jankovic!
Our winner, Ivan Jankovic, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.