PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Serbe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Philipp Kran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Serbe
vs
Kran

190 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anderson Serbe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Philipp Kran!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Fedor Mirinova and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Serbe drives through with a takedown into Kran's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kran is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kran not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kran lands a good elbow from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kran wants to sweep here but Serbe controlling him for the moment.
Serbe has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Kran escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Serbe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Serbe wants to control from the top but Kran keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kran not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kran looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Serbe trying to control the position from guard on top but Kran is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kran is controlling Serbe's posture.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kran lands with a nice body punch.

Kran forces Serbe back against the cage and clinches.

Kran breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kran misses with a combination
and Serbe makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Serbe defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kran.

Kran clinches up with Serbe and pushes him back against the cage.
Serbe is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kran is keeping busy.
Serbe gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kran.
Kran leaning against his opponent.
Serbe tries a body shot but Kran blocks it.
Kran lands a nice shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kran wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Serbe looking to slow down the pace here.

Serbe has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Kran regains guard immediately.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serbe trying to control but Kran is working from the bottom.
Serbe wants to get up but he can't break Kran's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Kran looking for subs off his back but Serbe has passed one foot through into half guard.
Kran tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kran is trying to get back to full guard.
Serbe is keen to just control but Kran is a slippery customer.
Serbe prevents Kran from standing back up.
Serbe prevents Kran from improving his position.
Serbe is trying to control. Kran wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kran tries to kick Serbe off but Serbe keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kran works his way to full guard. Good work.
Serbe trying to control but Kran is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Philipp Kran will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kran falls off balance throwing a combination
and Serbe counters with an inside leg kick.

Kran has Serbe up against the cage in a clinch.
Kran wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kran has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Kran decides to pull guard.
Kran not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Serbe trying to control but Kran is working from the bottom.
Kran working a defensive guard here.
Serbe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kran is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kran is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Serbe looking to sit in guard and control but Kran gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kran stands and steps away. Serbe gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kran avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Philipp Kran seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Serbe pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Kran back to the cage. Serbe follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Kran rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Serbe moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kran shoots in for a takedown but Serbe shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Serbe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kran throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Serbe.
Serbe moves in looking to clinch but Kran pushes him off.

Serbe closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Kran's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kran looking to hit a scissor sweep but Serbe is one step ahead there.
Serbe trying to control but Kran is working from the bottom.
Kran wants to improve his position but instead Serbe has moved into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serbe is looking to take a break and control but Kran is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Kran manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Serbe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kran swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Kran gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Serbe drags the fight down to the ground.
Serbe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Kran stands and steps away. Serbe gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Serbe lands a head kick. Kran smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Serbe fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kran to the ground. Serbe is now in Kran's guard.
Anderson Serbe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kran keeping moving, preventing Serbe from controlling successfully.

Kran is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kran has Serbe pulled in close to control his posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Serbe has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kran is proving hard to escape from.

Kran has his foot on Serbe's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Serbe works his way back into a safe position though.
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 Anderson Serbe will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kran changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Serbe tries to avoid it but Kran manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Serbe to the ground. Serbe escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Serbe lands a high kick!
Serbe goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A slapping leg kick lands for Serbe.

Kran has closed the distance and engaged Serbe in a clinch.

Serbe tightens his grip and picks Kran up, before dumping him to the ground. Kran manages to land in guard.
Kran throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Serbe wants to control from the top but Kran keeps moving.
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!

Kran is looking for a triangle but Serbe pushes his legs off easily.
Serbe trying to control but Kran is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kran working a defensive guard but Serbe passes into half guard.
Serbe thows a huge punch but Kran dodges it nicely.
Kran tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Serbe has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Kran keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kran wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kran looking to control the position.
Serbe is looking to control Kran but Kran is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Kran manages to escape to his feet.
Kran swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Serbe throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Serbe.
Kran misses with a double jab.

Serbe shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Serbe is keen to just control but Kran is a slippery customer.

Kran is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Serbe pulls his head out easily.
Kran is trying to control but can't.
Kran keeping hold of Serbe's head, controlling as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Serbe is looking for a kimura here.
Kran makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kran.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Serbe wants to stand but Kran is controlling his posture from full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Serbe showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Serbe 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Philipp Kran!