PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between AJ Kramer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dakota Finley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dakota Finley looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Kramer
vs
Finley

190 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, AJ Kramer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dakota Finley!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Steve Montenegro and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kramer has a takedown stuffed.
Kramer fails with the takedown.
Kramer shoots in and drives through. Finley sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for AJ Kramer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kramer drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kramer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Finley is keeping the position for now.
Kramer is looking to work some ground and pound but Finley has wrist control.
Kramer wants to get up but he can't break Finley's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Finley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Finley looking for a guillotine here but Kramer defends easily.
Finley wants to sweep here but Kramer controlling him for the moment.
Finley is trying to keep Kramer in close.
Kramer is standing up over Finley. Finley looks to escape but Kramer dives into side control.
Finley looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kramer tries to move into full mount but can't pass Finley's legs.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kramer shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Finley pinned against the cage. Finley gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Finley shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kramer but Kramer pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Kramer looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kramer passes to side control.
Finley wants to control but Kramer postures up.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finley tries to bench press Kramer off him but Kramer keeps the position.

Kramer stands up and we're back to a striking position.
AJ Kramer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kramer shoots and misses

and Finley counters with a shoot takedown. Kramer fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kramer throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Kramer manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Finley manages to get himself to full guard.

Kramer drops back looking for a leg! Finley is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Finley manages to kick Kramer off! Kramer jumps back into Finley's guard.

Finley pushes Kramer off and gets back to his feet.

Kramer shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Kramer was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kramer working Finley over with strikes here.
Kramer looking to finish Finley with some ground and pound. This is bad for Finley!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kramer scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Finley is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Kramer trying to control but Finley is having none of it.
Finley tries to hold on but Kramer postures up.

Kramer stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Kramer gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Finley decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kramer's guard.
Finley works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Finley thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kramer's head.
Kramer is looking for a sweep. Finley is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kramer pushes Finley off looking to stand but Finley dives back in and keeps control.

Finley is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Finley is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kramer doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Finley.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kramer is trying to get back to full guard.
Kramer manages to get to full guard.
Finley stops Kramer from standing up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Finley doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kramer 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!
Kramer pushes down on Finley's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Finley keeping control of the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Finley is looking to control Kramer's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Finley avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

AJ Kramer dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kramer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Finley.
Kramer doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Finley counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Finley must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Finley wants to control from the top but Kramer keeps moving.
Finley sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kramer's guard.
Finley controlling the pace.
Finley throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Finley prevents Kramer from improving his position.
Finley trying to pass the guard but Kramer defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kramer pushes Finley off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kramer gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Finley counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kramer seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kramer controls Finley momentarily but Finley frees himself.

Kramer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Finley with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Finley stopping the sweep attempt from Kramer.
Kramer is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Finley trying to hold on to Kramer's head to control him but Kramer postures up.
Kramer prevents Finley from improving his position.
Finley trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kramer drops an elbow to the side of Finley's head.
Finley is looking for a sweep. Kramer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kramer thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Finley's head.
Kramer moves into full mount! Finley won't be happy about that!
Finley tries to hold on but Kramer pushes him away.

Kramer wants to finish this one by submission but Finley is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kramer.

Kramer working for a submission but Finley is keeping him at bay.
The referee warns Finley that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kramer pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kramer looking to finish Finley with some ground and pound. This is bad for Finley!
Kramer wants to control the pace but Finley is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finley can't escape the position.

Kramer working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Kramer looking to control but Finley is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Finley is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kramer scoring with strikes but Finley is staying in there.

Kramer is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Finley has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Finley!
Finley preventing the sweep.
Finley wants to control from the top but Kramer keeps moving.
Finley trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finley controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Kramer looking for a guillotine here but Finley defends easily.

Finley avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kramer bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Finley's guard.
Finley keeping moving, preventing Kramer from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kramer won't allow Finley to sweep him here.
Kramer has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kramer works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Finley is in trouble now - Kramer has advanced to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that AJ Kramer will probably get the nod.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kramer shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Finley's guard.
Finley throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Kramer trying to control but Finley is working from the bottom.
Kramer postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kramer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Finley is keeping the position for now.
Finley is trying to control the position but Kramer postures up.

Finley wriggles free and stands up.

Finley clinches with his opponent.
Kramer is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Finley gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Kramer is trying to trip Finley. He has hold of a leg but Finley is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Kramer persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Kramer wants to control from the top but Finley keeps moving.
Kramer slips nicely into half guard.
Finley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Finley is looking for a sweep. Kramer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kramer passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finley working to try and regain half guard.
Finley regains half guard.
Finley gets back to full guard.
Finley lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kramer!
Kramer avoids a series of strikes thrown by Finley.
Finley with a couple of short strikes.
Kramer tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kramer slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kramer is trying to get back to full guard.
Kramer makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kramer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kramer wants to control but Finley passes easily into half guard.
Finley working Kramer over with strikes.

Finley is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kramer defends it well.
Kramer makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kramer.
Kramer looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kramer can't keep his opponent in guard - Finley advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kramer is looking to improve his position.
Kramer is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Finley's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Finley's back!

Kramer has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Finley! Can he survive? No! He's out! Kramer gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). AJ Kramer!