PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jorgen Kruth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rasheed Tavarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kruth
vs
Tavarez

187 cm
21
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

197 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jorgen Kruth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rasheed Tavarez!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Chris Downing and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tavarez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kruth throws a front kick that sends Tavarez stumbling back into the cage.
Tavarez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kruth throws a front kick aimed at Tavarez's knee but Tavarez avoids it well.
Kruth shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tavarez pinned against the cage. Tavarez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tavarez keeps the fight on the outside.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kruth.
Kruth throws a leg kick which misses Tavarez's front leg but catches the back leg as Tavarez tries to avoid it.
Kruth closes the distance looking to clinch

and Tavarez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tavarez.
Tavarez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kruth has him pressed against the cage.

Kruth breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jorgen Kruth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kruth closes the distance looking to clinch
and Tavarez finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Kruth is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavarez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A left and a right from Tavarez both land. Nice combination.
Tavarez fails to land the takedown.
Jorgen Kruth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rasheed Tavarez.
Tavarez shoots in but Kruth avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tavarez is looking to clinch.
Kruth blocks a head kick by Tavarez.
Kruth shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tavarez pinned against the cage. Tavarez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tavarez blocks a head kick by Kruth.
Tavarez looks for a takedown but Kruth sprawls well.
Tavarez shoots for a double leg takedown but Kruth sprawls well. He's pushed Tavarez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tavarez clinches with his opponent.
Kruth gets underhooks to prevent Tavarez's takedown attempt.
Tavarez wants a takedown but no success here.
Tavarez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tavarez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kruth avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Tavarez works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Kruth wants to stand and escape but Tavarez is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tavarez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kruth is trying to keep Tavarez in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavarez controlling from the top position.
Tavarez pushing down on Kruth's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kruth trying to control from the bottom.
Kruth knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tavarez on the ground.
Tavarez is controlling the pace.
Tavarez's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rasheed Tavarez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Tavarez shoots in for a double leg but Kruth sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tavarez is looking to clinch.
Tavarez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kruth circles away.
Tavarez displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Tavarez shoots in but Kruth avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jorgen Kruth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rasheed Tavarez.
Kruth fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tavarez thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Kruth if he has to take too many more of those.
Tavarez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kruth looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tavarez displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Some wild striking there from Tavarez.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tavarez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kruth counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tavarez is on top in guard.
Tavarez wants to pass the guard but Kruth is keeping the position.
Tavarez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kruth is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tavarez passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Tavarez is looking to take a break and control but Kruth is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tavarez landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavarez happy to just control the position for now.

Tavarez stands up and beckons Kruth to his feet.
Kruth circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tavarez fails to land the takedown.
Tavarez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kruth as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Tavarez gets a clinch.
Tavarez wants to break the clinch but can't.

Tavarez pulls Kruth into guard.
Kruth would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Tavarez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tavarez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kruth is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rasheed Tavarez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tavarez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kruth swats away the attempt to clinch by Tavarez.

Tavarez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tavarez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kruth prevents it.
Tavarez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kruth is trying to break the clinch but Tavarez has him pressed against the cage.
Come on Tavarez - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruth lands a knee to the body.
Tavarez is working for takedown but Kruth is calmly controlling the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kruth wants to break free but Tavarez has control.

Kruth breaks from the clinch.
Kruth scores with a spinning back kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavarez shoots in for a double leg but Kruth sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jorgen Kruth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rasheed Tavarez.
Kruth throws a sloppy head kick and Tavarez moves out of range easily.
Tavarez fails to land the takedown.
Tavarez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kruth. Kruth obviously looking to wear him down.
Kruth tries for a takedown but Tavarez circles away easily

and Tavarez counters with a shoot takedown. Kruth fights it but they end up in guard.
Kruth is wriggling around but Tavarez manages to pass to half guard.
Tavarez is taking a breather. Kruth says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Tavarez passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavarez fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Tavarez landing punches.
Tavarez looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Jorgen Kruth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tavarez content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavarez lands a heavy elbow.
Tavarez controlling the pace for now.

Tavarez looking to secure an arm triangle but Kruth defends it well.
Tavarez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruth wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Tavarez controls the action.
Tavarez connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Kruth to escape the position.
A lull in the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rasheed Tavarez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tavarez 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rasheed Tavarez!