PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Striker Jackson (ranked 1839 p4p, 2625 weight class) and Jesse Kruger (ranked 239 p4p, 333 weight class). Striker Jackson could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jesse Kruger's chin.

Jackson
vs
Kruger

190 cm
21
197
5 - 4 - 0

181 cm
21
200
4 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Fantasy Threads
Un-Kaged Nutrition

Furnace Performance ðŸ”¥
Silverguard Outfitters ðŸ›¡

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Striker Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Jesse Kruger!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kruger misses the shot to the body.
Jackson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jackson throws a counter high kick but Kruger was just alert enough to avoid it.
Kruger throws a sloppy body shot
and Jackson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kruger missing with a left hand there. Jackson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jackson is looking to counter with a body kick.
Kruger lands a right hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruger fails with the takedown
and Jackson counters with a nice leg kick.
Jackson on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson slips under a jab from Kruger.

Jackson gets caught flat footed, as Kruger shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kruger trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jackson has his feet on Kruger's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Kruger scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Jackson doesn't seem bothered though.
Jackson with a nice calf kick.

Kruger shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kruger showed some decent athleticism there.
Jackson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kruger on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kruger sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jackson defending well though.
Kruger missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kruger not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Kruger is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kruger looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kruger not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Jackson is trying to stand back up but Kruger is controlling him
Kruger not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jackson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Jackson tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruger is pressing down on Jackson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Jackson is holding on for now.
Kruger throwing shots but Jackson is blocking nicely.
Kruger trying to control the action but Jackson is working from the bottom.
Jackson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kruger's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kruger's back!
Jackson not allowing Kruger to control his hands.
Kruger has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jackson biding his time, controlling Kruger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruger looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kruger tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jesse Kruger will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jackson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kruger throws a shot from downtown. Jackson moves away and avoids it.
Jackson is looking to counter with head kicks.
Kruger shoots and misses
and Jackson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kruger.
Jackson misses with a body shot.
Jesse Kruger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kruger throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruger throws a jab but it's blocked by Jackson.
Kruger works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kruger. Jackson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kruger takes a swing at Jackson's ribcage but misses.
Jackson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kruger swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kruger displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Jackson throws out the jab.
Kruger's coach down at Combat Wombat Burrow was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Kruger's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Jackson is looking to score with low kicks.
Kruger throws a hook but Jackson avoids it easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Jackson. That's going to slow Kruger down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruger throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Jackson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kruger connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Jackson momentarily.
Kruger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jackson.
A little feinted left hand from Jackson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kruger misses with a hook.
Jackson thuds his shin into the meat of Kruger's side.
Kruger throws an off balance right hand
and Jackson counters with a nice leg kick.
Jackson throws a leg kick that is checked

and Kruger counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Jackson!

Jackson explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Striker Jackson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kruger cracks Jackson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kruger digs a good hook to Jackson's body.
Kruger throws a poor cross that misses
and Jackson counters with a one-two to the body.
Kruger throws a lazy right hand but Jackson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jackson looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Jackson thows a leg kick but Kruger checks it

and Kruger counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kruger throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Jackson to regain full guard.
Jackson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Jackson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kruger throws a strike but Jackson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kruger is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Jackson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kruger.
Jackson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kruger.
Jackson is not content to let Kruger control the position.
Kruger is nestled in close to Jackson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Jackson trying to control from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jesse Kruger will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Jackson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Jackson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kruger.
Kruger misses with a straight left.
Jackson is looking to counter punch.
Kruger lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Jackson lands a high kick!
Kruger dives in for a single leg takedown but Jackson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kruger tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jackson was well out of range. Poor timing from Kruger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson looks to land a right hand but Kruger moved out of range.
Kruger changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A swing and a miss from Kruger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kruger swings away with a body shot that misses
and Jackson counters with a stiff right hand.
Jackson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Jackson thows a leg kick but Kruger checks it

and Kruger counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kruger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kruger won't allow Jackson to get back to his feet.
Kruger wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Kruger keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jackson's head.
Striker Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jesse Kruger is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruger trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kruger slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Let's hope that Kruger has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Kruger stops Jackson from standing up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kruger takes one to the side of the head.
Kruger misses with a body shot.
Jackson throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Kruger counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruger is keen to just control but Jackson is a slippery customer.
Kruger controlling the pace.
Kruger's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Jackson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Jackson is trying to keep Kruger in close.
Jackson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jackson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kruger is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Kruger connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kruger swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jackson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jackson misses the shot to the body.
A low kick from Kruger misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jesse Kruger.
I've got Kruger 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesse Kruger!
After winning the bout, Jesse Kruger thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Striker Jackson spoke after the fight, saying 'He hit the lotto! Ill be back!'.