PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Riddick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zachary Krantz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Riddick
vs
Krantz

200 cm
22
270 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

196 cm
19
274 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joshua Riddick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zachary Krantz!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Nard Betker and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Riddick is defended easily by Krantz.
Riddick tries to close the distance and clinch but Krantz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Krantz looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Riddick fails with an attempt to clinch.
Riddick looks for a takedown but Krantz sprawls well.
Riddick changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Krantz tries to avoid it but Riddick manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Krantz to the ground. Krantz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Riddick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Riddick with that takedown attempt.
An inside leg kick from Krantz misses.
Krantz misses with a head kick.

Krantz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Riddick looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Krantz is pressing down on Riddick's thigh, looking to free his foot. Riddick is holding on for now.
Krantz is looking to take a break and control but Riddick is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krantz missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Krantz is keen to just control but Riddick is a slippery customer.
Krantz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Riddick's head.
Krantz is keen to just control but Riddick is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Riddick fails with a takedown attempt.
Riddick is looking to clinch but Krantz is avoiding it.
Riddick is looking to clinch but Krantz is avoiding it.
Riddick shoots in but Krantz avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Krantz drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Krantz throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krantz wants to control from the top but Riddick keeps moving.
Krantz might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Riddick kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Krantz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Krantz passes Riddick's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Krantz working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riddick won't allow Krantz to pass to mount.

Riddick kicks off Krantz and gets to his feet.

Krantz is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Riddick's half guard.

Riddick makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Riddick closes this distance looking for a takedown but Krantz circles away.
Riddick is looking to clinch but Krantz is avoiding it.
Riddick has a takedown stuffed.
Riddick is breathing heavily.

Krantz drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Krantz wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Riddick, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krantz creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Krantz landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Krantz looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Riddick is avoiding damage well.
Krantz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Riddick keeps working.
Riddick tries to buck Krantz off but Krantz is having none of it.
Riddick prevents Krantz from improving position.
Riddick tries to escape but Krantz is in control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zachary Krantz dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Riddick misses with a takedown attempt

and Krantz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Riddick's guard now.
Krantz trying to control the position from guard on top but Riddick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Krantz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Riddick has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Krantz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Krantz passes Riddick's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Krantz wants to free his trapped foot but Riddick is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Krantz is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riddick looking for submissions off his back.
Riddick blocking the ground and pound attempt from Krantz.

Riddick looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Riddick is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Krantz pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two 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.
Krantz missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Krantz in particular looking to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Krantz throws a hook but Riddick avoids it easily.
Riddick avoids the head kick by Krantz.
Riddick wants to clinch up but Krantz keeps it at a distance.
Riddick tries to clinch but Krantz moves out of range.
Riddick changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Krantz tries to avoid it but Riddick manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Krantz to the ground. Krantz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Riddick misses with a takedown

and Krantz counters with a head kick that drops Riddick!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Riddick. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Krantz advances position into side control!
Krantz has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krantz trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Krantz throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Riddick avoids a series of strikes thrown by Krantz.

Krantz goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Riddick turns into him and now he's in Krantz's guard.

Riddick has gone for a leg lock! Krantz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Riddick's guard.

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 trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Krantz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Riddick is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Krantz defends well.

Riddick is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zachary Krantz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Riddick's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Riddick wants to clinch up but Krantz keeps it at a distance.

Krantz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Krantz showed some decent athleticism there.
Krantz sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Riddick defending well though.
Krantz works his way into full mount!

Krantz moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Riddick has worked his arm free - good work by Riddick!

Krantz thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riddick pushes Krantz away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Krantz gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Zachary Krantz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Krantz just content to control the position.

Krantz wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Riddick, who protects the arm well.
Riddick is pushing Krantz's head away, looking to escape. Krantz manages to hold on to the position though.

That's two 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 misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The referee asks Krantz politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Krantz prefers to stall for the moment though.
Krantz wants to control but Riddick is keeping him busy.
Riddick gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Riddick is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krantz landing strikes, looking to finish!
Krantz putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Krantz is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Riddick is trying to stand but he's just given Krantz his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Krantz looking for the choke from the back.

Krantz looking for the choke from the back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Riddick showing good submission defense here.
Krantz throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Zachary Krantz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riddick wants to get back to his feet.
Krantz wants to control but Riddick is keeping busy.
Riddick is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Krantz's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Joshua Riddick has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Krantz has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zachary Krantz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Krantz 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zachary Krantz!