PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anton Krylov (ranked 170 p4p, 391 weight class) and Jasper Leeuwenhoek (ranked 21 p4p, 49 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Krylov
vs
Leeuwenhoek

180 cm
30
195
15 - 5 - 0

193 cm
30
188
13 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

NARCOS
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anton Krylov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jasper Leeuwenhoek!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Jonathan Paton and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Leeuwenhoek gets a takedown into half guard.
Krylov's coaches at St Petersburg MMA Gym have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Leeuwenhoek is controlling the pace.

Krylov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Krylov trying to hold on to Leeuwenhoek's head to control him but Leeuwenhoek postures up.
Krylov gets full guard.
Leeuwenhoek must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Krylov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Leeuwenhoek doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Leeuwenhoek manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Leeuwenhoek is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leeuwenhoek stopping the sweep attempt from Krylov.
Leeuwenhoek looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Leeuwenhoek is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Leeuwenhoek preventing the sweep.

Krylov has his foot on Leeuwenhoek's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Leeuwenhoek works his way back into a safe position though.
Leeuwenhoek wants to pass the guard but Krylov is keeping the position.
Krylov looking to control.

Krylov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Krylov keeping moving, preventing Leeuwenhoek from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Krylov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Leeuwenhoek defends it easily.

Krylov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Leeuwenhoek has passed into half guard!
Krylov wants to get back to full guard.
Krylov wants to get back to full guard but Leeuwenhoek has passed into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leeuwenhoek remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krylov tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Leeuwenhoek presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Leeuwenhoek sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Krylov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Krylov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Leeuwenhoek content just to control the position here.
Krylov is squirming around, avoiding Leeuwenhoek's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Krylov can't escape the position.
Leeuwenhoek trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Leeuwenhoek controlling from mount.
Krylov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jasper Leeuwenhoek dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nice defenses there by Krylov.

Leeuwenhoek shoots in and bounces Krylov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Krylov keeping moving, preventing Leeuwenhoek from controlling successfully.
Leeuwenhoek stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Krylov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Leeuwenhoek postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Krylov isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Leeuwenhoek stacks Krylov on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Leeuwenhoek!
Krylov is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leeuwenhoek working away.
Jasper Leeuwenhoek has got the better of the ground game so far.
Krylov looking for a sweep but Leeuwenhoek has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Leeuwenhoek can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Krylov is looking to escape.
Krylov is desperately trying to improve his position but Leeuwenhoek has a good base and remains in mount.
Krylov tries to hold on but Leeuwenhoek pushes him away.
Krylov can't escape the position.
Leeuwenhoek controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krylov is working to get back to half guard.
Leeuwenhoek has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Krylov is working hard here to advance position.
Krylov wants to control but Leeuwenhoek is having none of it.
Leeuwenhoek content just to control the position here.
Krylov tries to reverse the position but Leeuwenhoek maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leeuwenhoek looking to control and managing it successfully.
Krylov has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Leeuwenhoek's lack of action.

Krylov actively working from the bottom here.
Krylov is not content to let Leeuwenhoek control the position.
Krylov is looking for a sweep. Leeuwenhoek is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Leeuwenhoek works his way into full mount!
Krylov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leeuwenhoek trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Leeuwenhoek content just to control the position here.
Let's hope that Leeuwenhoek 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.
Krylov is desperately trying to improve his position but Leeuwenhoek has a good base and remains in mount.
Leeuwenhoek sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Krylov is looking to get to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jasper Leeuwenhoek showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Leeuwenhoek gets a double leg takedown into Krylov's guard.
Leeuwenhoek trying to control the position from guard on top but Krylov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Krylov is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Leeuwenhoek rolls with it to try and escape but Krylov cranks on the arm and Leeuwenhoek is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Anton Krylov!
Anton Krylov retains his middleweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Anton Krylov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.