PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Klaus Saenger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Croft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Klaus Saenger has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Saenger
vs
Croft

209 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

192 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 1 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Klaus Saenger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ryan Croft!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Croft tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Saenger manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Saenger shoots in for a takedown but Croft shows good takedown defense.
Saenger slips a jab from Croft.
Croft tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Saenger manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Croft throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Saenger tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Croft swivels and escapes.
Ryan Croft seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice sprawl there from Saenger as Croft shoots in.
Saenger shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Croft as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Klaus Saenger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saenger shoots in and drives through. Croft sprawls well.
Croft throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Croft fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saenger avoids the head kick by Croft.

Saenger dives in and scores a takedown into Croft's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Croft working a defensive guard here.

Saenger got a little sloppy there for a moment and Croft has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Saenger has managed to get both his arms back between Croft's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saenger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Saenger will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Saenger tries to free his leg and advance position but Croft is retaining full guard.
Croft is trying to control the position but Saenger postures up.
Saenger wants to control from the top but Croft keeps moving.
Saenger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Croft swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Croft looking to control.

Croft looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Croft tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Saenger would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Croft is trying to control the position but Saenger postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saenger working some strikes from top position.
Saenger passes Croft's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Saenger wants to stand up but Croft is controlling the position.
Saenger is trying to control. Croft wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Croft manages to get to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Saenger sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Croft's guard.
Croft looks winded!
Croft trying to control but Saenger postures up.
Still in half guard, Saenger seems content to control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Croft manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Saenger sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Croft's guard.
Croft tries to roll over but Saenger keeps him under control.
Croft manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saenger is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Saenger controlling from the top position.
Croft wants to sweep here but Saenger controlling him for the moment.
Croft has momentary wrist control but Saenger slips an elbow through the middle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saenger wants to stand but Croft is controlling his posture from full guard.
Croft will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Saenger scoring with punches to the head and body.
Croft should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Saenger trying to control but Croft is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Croft is trying to control the position but Saenger postures up.
Croft can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Saenger controls the pace.
Croft trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Croft fails with an attempt to clinch.
Croft tries to clinch there but Saenger circles away.
Croft wants to clinch.

Croft moves into range and clinches up with Saenger.
Saenger avoiding damage as Croft throws knees to the body.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Croft.
Croft is trying to stall.
Saenger is working for takedown but Croft is calmly controlling the position for now.
Saenger is looking to take this one to the mat.
Croft misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Saenger.
Croft trying to land knees to the body.
Croft unloads a knee to the mid-section. Saenger lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Croft putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Saenger in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Croft is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Croft lands a good knee to the midsection. Saenger won't want to take too many of those.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Croft misses with a knee to the head.
Croft landing knees to the head.
Croft goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Knees in the clinch landing for Croft.
Croft slows down the pace here.

Croft breaks the clinch.

Croft gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Croft lands a knee to the head.

Croft ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Croft no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Saenger seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saenger stopping the sweep attempt from Croft.
Croft has momentary wrist control but Saenger slips an elbow through the middle.

Saenger drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Saenger jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Saenger is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Saenger in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Saenger sitting in guard here, content to control.

Croft has his feet on Saenger's thighs here. He's pushed Saenger off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Saenger screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:18 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ryan Croft!