PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Knut Kroger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Von Lydeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Jack Von Lydeman was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Kroger
vs
Von Lydeman

200 cm
24
220 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

187 cm
20
220 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Knut Kroger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jack Von Lydeman!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksandr Martynov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Von Lydeman dodges the punch combination from Kroger.
Von Lydeman is looking to clinch.
Kroger swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kroger uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Von Lydeman.
Von Lydeman misses with an uppercut.
Kroger lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Von Lydeman circles away quickly and effectively.
Von Lydeman loads up on a big right hand but Kroger slips the punch.
Von Lydeman tries to clinch but Kroger is having none of it.
Kroger slips a jab from Von Lydeman.
Von Lydeman tries to work over Kroger's front leg with a kick but Kroger checks it.
Kroger takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Knut Kroger has been cut.
Von Lydeman misses the shot to the body.
Von Lydeman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Von Lydeman wants to clinch up but Kroger keeps it at a distance.
Kroger misses with a double jab
enabling Von Lydeman to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Von Lydeman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Von Lydeman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Von Lydeman misses with a straight right.
Von Lydeman misses with an uppercut.
Kroger uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Von Lydeman.
Von Lydeman is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Von Lydeman wants to clinch.
Von Lydeman misses with a straight right.
Von Lydeman avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kroger uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Von Lydeman.
Von Lydeman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kroger paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kroger swats away the attempt to clinch by Von Lydeman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Von Lydeman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kroger moves out of range of the strikes.
A swing and a miss from Von Lydeman.
Kroger slips under a jab.
Kroger bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Von Lydeman's head backwards.
Kroger keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Von Lydeman.
Von Lydeman throws a shot from downtown. Kroger moves away and avoids it.
Von Lydeman is looking to clinch but Kroger is avoiding it.
A shot to de liver by Kroger. Beautiful body shot.
Von Lydeman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Von Lydeman waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Kroger.
Von Lydeman misses with a two punch combination.
Von Lydeman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kroger swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A nice combination there by Kroger.
Jack Von Lydeman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Von Lydeman wants to clinch up but Kroger keeps it at a distance.
Kroger displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Von Lydeman throws out the jab.
Kroger lands a glancing blow to the side of Von Lydeman's head.
Jack Von Lydeman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Von Lydeman is looking to clinch.
Kroger checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Von Lydeman tries to clinch but Kroger is having none of it.
Kroger lands a nice looking body shot.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kroger!
Von Lydeman tries to clinch up.
A right-left combo lands from Kroger.
Kroger throws out a leg kick but Von Lydeman moves out of range and Kroger only half commits.
Von Lydeman misses the shot to the body.
Von Lydeman avoids a punch combination nicely.
Von Lydeman thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Von Lydeman thows a left - swing and a miss!
Von Lydeman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kroger paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Von Lydeman throws a combination that misses
and Kroger counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Von Lydeman missing with a left hand there. Kroger was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Von Lydeman gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Von Lydeman working aggressively here.
Von Lydeman lands an elbow inside that Kroger shrugs off.
A right hook to the body lands for Von Lydeman.
Von Lydeman tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Von Lydeman looks gassed!
Von Lydeman misses with an elbow strike.
Kroger on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Von Lydeman with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Von Lydeman misses with a knee strike.

Kroger gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kroger lands strikes from half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kroger seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kroger working Von Lydeman over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Knut Kroger dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Knut Kroger's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Von Lydeman misses with a straight right.
Kroger slips under a jab from Von Lydeman.
Von Lydeman clinches but Kroger breaks the clinch
and Kroger counters with a stiff right hand.
Von Lydeman looks to clinch
and Kroger counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Von Lydeman lands with an uppercut that bounces Kroger off the cage and back into rage.
Von Lydeman misses with a body punch
and Kroger counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Von Lydeman lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kroger tries to bum rush Von Lydeman with a series of wild strikes but Von Lydeman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Knut Kroger is winning the standup battle so far.
Von Lydeman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kroger paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Von Lydeman throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kroger stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Von Lydeman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kroger.

Kroger closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kroger lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Von Lydeman is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Von Lydeman avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kroger.
Kroger working the head with strikes.
Von Lydeman struggling a bit here.
Kroger working the ground and pound from side control.
Kroger works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Kroger sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Von Lydeman is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Von Lydeman wants to control but Kroger postures up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Von Lydeman sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Von Lydeman trying to control from the bottom.
Kroger throwing shots but Von Lydeman is blocking nicely.
Von Lydeman is looking to improve his position.
Kroger throwing shots but Von Lydeman is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Von Lydeman is trying to control but can't.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kroger takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Von Lydeman throws a right hand that Kroger ducks under and follows up with a left that Kroger also avoids with ease.
A swing and a miss from Von Lydeman.
Kroger tries to bum rush Von Lydeman with a series of wild strikes but Von Lydeman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Von Lydeman looks to clinch
and Kroger counters with a one-two to the body.
Von Lydeman closes the distance but Kroger moves to the side
letting Kroger counter with a right hand.
A lazy left from Kroger finds it's target.
Von Lydeman clinches but Kroger breaks the clinch
letting Kroger counter with a right hand.
Nice uppercut there from Von Lydeman.
Von Lydeman takes a swing at Kroger's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kroger lands a jab-cross combination.
Von Lydeman darts in trying to clinch
and Kroger counters with a series of strikes. Von Lydeman will be more careful next time no doubt.
Von Lydeman is looking to clinch but Kroger is avoiding it.
Kroger tries a head kick but it misses.
Von Lydeman fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kroger.
Von Lydeman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A swing and a miss from Von Lydeman.
Kroger moves out of range of the strikes.
Kroger cracks Von Lydeman with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kroger is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kroger scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Von Lydeman tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kroger counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kroger scores with a one two! Von Lydeman had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kroger keeps the fight on the outside.
Kroger uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Von Lydeman.
Von Lydeman closes the distance but Kroger moves to the side
and Kroger connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Von Lydeman lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kroger at a distance.
Von Lydeman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Von Lydeman wants it to stay on the feet.
No joy there for Kroger, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Von Lydeman wants to clinch

and Kroger counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Von Lydeman looking to control.
Von Lydeman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kroger is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Knut Kroger dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Knut Kroger's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Von Lydeman bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
No joy there for Kroger, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kroger showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Von Lydeman.
Von Lydeman looks to throw the jab but Kroger is out of range.
Von Lydeman looks to score with a jab to the body but Kroger is just out of range.
Kroger is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Nice body punch from Kroger.
Kroger catches Von Lydeman with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Von Lydeman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Von Lydeman throws a hook but Kroger blocks it.
Kroger fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Von Lydeman misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Von Lydeman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Von Lydeman misses with a straight left.
Von Lydeman throws a big shot that misses.
Von Lydeman misses with a hook.
A head kick misses from Von Lydeman.
Von Lydeman looks to land a left hand but Kroger moved out of range nicely.
Kroger on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kroger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Von Lydeman throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Von Lydeman throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Von Lydeman avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kroger steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Von Lydeman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kroger bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kroger shoots in for a double leg but Von Lydeman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kroger fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Knut Kroger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Von Lydeman wants to clinch but Kroger slips to the side
and Kroger counters with a straight right hand.
Kroger moves out of range as Von Lydeman strikes.
Kroger staying out of range there.
Kroger lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Von Lydeman throws a jab when Kroger was well out of range.
Von Lydeman tries to clinch up
and Kroger counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kroger closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Von Lydeman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jack Von Lydeman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Von Lydeman coming out on top.
Von Lydeman is looking to clinch.
Von Lydeman tests Kroger's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kroger avoids the body shot from Von Lydeman.
Von Lydeman tries to clinch up.
Von Lydeman is looking to clinch.
Kroger lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Von Lydeman has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
No joy there for Kroger, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
No joy there for Kroger, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Von Lydeman throws a hook but Kroger avoids it easily.
Von Lydeman fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Von Lydeman with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Von Lydeman throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Von Lydeman throws a combination that misses

and Kroger counters with a nice double leg into side control. Von Lydeman won't be happy with that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kroger scoring with punches and elbows.
The ground and pound from Kroger seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kroger throws a strike aimed at the side of Von Lydeman's head but Von Lydeman avoids it well.
Von Lydeman is looking for a sweep.
Kroger in side control, throwing shots but Von Lydeman defends.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Von Lydeman sneaks out the side door and pushes Kroger away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Von Lydeman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kroger throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Von Lydeman.

Von Lydeman darts in and clinches Kroger up against the cage.
Von Lydeman with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Von Lydeman lands a shoulder strike.
A knee to the head by Von Lydeman.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Von Lydeman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kroger has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Knut Kroger!