PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dave Mastain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Kruger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mastain
vs
Kruger

182 cm
21
279 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

201 cm
22
281 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good takedowns
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dave Mastain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Kruger!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kruger gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mastain counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mastain.
A short right from Mastain.

It looks like John Kruger has been cut.
Kruger is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kruger being controlled against the cage.
Kruger wants a takedown but no success here.
Dave Mastain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Kruger.

Kruger has clasped his hands together around Mastain's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Mastain is trying to buck Kruger off.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mastain tries to bench press Kruger off him but Kruger keeps the position.
Kruger tries to advance to mount but can't.
Mastain tries to get back to half guard but can't.
An elbow from Kruger crashes against the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mastain sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kruger is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Mastain is controlling Kruger's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Kruger is looking to stall here but Mastain recovers full guard.
Kruger throws a strike but Mastain rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Mastain stopping the sweep attempt from Kruger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kruger is working an open guard so Mastain takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Kruger gets tackled into the cage by Mastain. Mastain maintains the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Mastain.
Mastain is pressed up against the cage. Kruger has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mastain down to the mat. Mastain avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Mastain moves into the clinch.

Mastain jumps into guard, dragging Kruger to the mat.
Mastain keeping moving, preventing Kruger from controlling successfully.

Mastain escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kruger gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mastain is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mastain avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kruger trying to control the position from guard on top but Mastain is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kruger prevents Mastain from getting back to his feet.
Kruger must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mastain tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mastain on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mastain tries to get out of the position.
Mastain has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Dave Mastain has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kruger with a poor takedown

and Mastain counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kruger looks gassed!

Mastain manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Mastain wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Mastain might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mastain's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mastain is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kruger missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mastain pulls Kruger in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dave Mastain wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Mastain takes the fight into the clinch.
A short uppercut from Mastain.

Mastain pulls guard effortlessly.
Mastain tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Mastain dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Kruger's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kruger takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kruger with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mastain counters by moving into the clinch.

Mastain jumps into guard, dragging Kruger to the mat.
Kruger postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mastain is pulling down on Kruger's head. It's preventing any offense from Kruger, at least for the moment.
Mastain wants to stand up but Kruger is controlling him.
Kruger looking to sit in guard and control but Mastain gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mastain gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Kruger is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mastain counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mastain.
Mastain cracks Kruger with a nice body shot.
Kruger being controlled against the cage.

Mastain jumps guard and drags Kruger to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Mastain is pulling down on Kruger's head. It's preventing any offense from Kruger, at least for the moment.
Mastain lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kruger!
Mastain controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruger tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mastain takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dave Mastain.
Kruger shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mastain counters with a takedown into side control.
Dave Mastain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Kruger.
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!
Mastain controlling the position.
Dave Mastain overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mastain decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Mastain lands a front kick.
Mastain bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
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!

Kruger gets tackled into the cage by Mastain. Mastain maintains the clinch.

Mastain manages to pull guard.
Mastain bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kruger's guard.
Mastain passes Kruger's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Mastain perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Mastain works his foot free and advances to mount.
Mastain content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mastain seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kruger for as long as he can get away with.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Mastain dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Kruger's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Mastain gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nice body punch from Mastain - that landed with a thud.

Mastain pulls guard.
Mastain lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kruger!
Kruger wants to control but Mastain is having none of it.
Mastain tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kruger is trying to reverse the position but instead Mastain has taken his back - oops!
Mastain controlling from the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dave Mastain wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Mastain closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kruger did well to prevent Mastain getting side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mastain in particular looking to stall.
Mastain is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kruger can do to turn this around?

Mastain stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Mastain clinches with his opponent.
Mastain gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kruger.

Mastain breaks from the clinch.
Kruger with a poor takedown

and Mastain counters by moving into the clinch.

Mastain manages to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruger won't allow Mastain to get back to his feet.
Mastain lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kruger!
Mastain content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Dave Mastain just wasn't active enough.

Mastain moves into the clinch successfully.
John Kruger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dave Mastain is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kruger can't get the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Mastain showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mastain has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:25
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:25
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Mastain!