PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Kruger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Stareh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kruger
vs
Stareh

180 cm
20
172 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 Amsterdam, Sam Kruger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Johnny Stareh!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Radbod Blank and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Kruger or perhaps it was just good defense by Stareh which made him look bad.
Stareh misses with a double jab.
Kruger shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stareh but Stareh pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kruger fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Kruger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kruger shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stareh sprawls well. Stareh wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kruger gets slowly back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Stareh.
Stareh works over Kruger's head and body with a nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stareh pinned against the cage. Stareh gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kruger swings widly with a right hand
and Stareh counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stareh moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kruger walks into a stiff left hand from Stareh.
Stareh stuffs the takedown.
Kruger is looking to clinch but Stareh is avoiding it.
Stareh throws a right and a left that Kruger avoids nicely.
Kruger fails with a takedown attempt.
Stareh defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kruger.
Kruger is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruger shoots in looking for a takedown. Stareh tries to sprawl out of it but Kruger keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stareh manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kruger shoots in for a takedown but Stareh shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Stareh displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kruger.
Kruger showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stareh.
Stareh lands a head kick. Kruger smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kruger showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stareh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stareh swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kruger fails in his attempt to clinch.
No joy there for Stareh, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stareh throws a right hand that Kruger ducks under and follows up with a left that Kruger also avoids with ease.
Stareh pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Kruger back to the cage. Stareh follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Sam Kruger has been cut.
Stareh throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stareh misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kruger shoots in but Stareh avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Stareh displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kruger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stareh throws a series of punches but Kruger moves out of range.
Stareh misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stareh connects with a leg kick. Kruger looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kruger has his takedown stuffed
and Stareh cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stareh rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kruger moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kruger tries to close the distance and clinch but Stareh swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Stareh dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sam Kruger's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stareh throws a head kick that half lands.
Stareh misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stareh stuffs the takedown attempt from Kruger. Kruger gets slowly back to his feet.
Stareh throws a series of punches but Kruger avoids them all with ease.

Stareh gets caught flat footed, as Kruger shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kruger wants to control from the top but Stareh keeps moving.
Stareh really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kruger. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kruger prevents Stareh from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stareh keeping moving, preventing Kruger from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sam Kruger wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Stareh swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stareh misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stareh is breathing heavily.
Stareh throws a nice looking combination but Kruger bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Some wild striking there from Stareh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruger fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kruger shoots for a double leg takedown but Stareh sprawls well. He's pushed Kruger's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Kruger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kruger tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Danga de danga de dang - Kruger scores with a four punch combination!
A good leg kick by Stareh.
Kruger shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stareh as he avoids it easily.
Stareh scores with a three punch combo!
Danga de danga de dang - Stareh scores with a four punch combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kruger drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kruger prevents Stareh from escaping the position.
Kruger tries to advance to mount but can't.
The strikes coming from Kruger are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Kruger is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Stareh has escaped the position, nice work there.

Stareh throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruger shoots in looking for a takedown. Stareh tries to sprawl out of it but Kruger keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stareh manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stareh swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stareh swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stareh connects with a right hand. Kruger shakes it off.
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 Sam Kruger will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sam Kruger's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Stareh stuffs the takedown attempt from Kruger. Kruger gets slowly back to his feet.
Sam Kruger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kruger looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kruger closes the distance and clinches up with Stareh, looking for a takedown. Kruger pushes Stareh against the cage but Stareh circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Kruger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stareh throws a head kick that misses.
Stareh throws a right hand that Kruger ducks under and follows up with a left that Kruger also avoids with ease.
Kruger shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stareh pinned against the cage. Stareh gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Kruger scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stareh is trying to stand back up but Kruger is controlling him
Kruger is keen to just control but Stareh is a slippery customer.
Stareh wants to get back to his feet.

Kruger looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Stareh is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kruger is looking for a kimura but Stareh is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kruger to get the leverage.
Kruger not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kruger wants to free his trapped foot but Stareh is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stareh is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruger throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Kruger maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Stareh could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Kruger has cracked it and Stareh is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Kruger!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Sam Kruger!
A very excited looking Sam Kruger made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.