PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Karol Cropp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Djoser Rei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cropp
vs
Rei

209 cm
24
290 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

191 cm
31
238 lbs
22 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Fight Night Nutrition

Conviction
Unique Wear and Custom Design

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Karol Cropp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Djoser Rei!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Paul Gruel and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cropp dives in and grabs Rei's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rei pushes down on Cropp's head and hops out.
Rei uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cropp.
Rei lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cropp's sensitive parts.
Cropp swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cropp moves out of range of the body kick from Rei.
Rei misses with a body shot.
Rei walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rei scores with a nice head shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Nice combo by Cropp! Oh, that's hurt him - Rei falls to the canvas and Cropp follows him into side control.

It looks like Djoser Rei has been cut.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rei is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Cropp looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rei is avoiding damage well.
Cropp throws a strike aimed at the side of Rei's head but Rei avoids it well.
Cropp trying to control the action but Rei is working from the bottom.

Cropp is trying to get an arm triangle but Rei is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cropp goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rei rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Cropp's guard! Nice work there by Rei!

Cropp is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rei won't allow Cropp to sweep him here.

Cropp is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cropp 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.

Cropp is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rei defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cropp trying to keep a closed guard but Rei is proving a slippery customer.
Rei 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.
Rei preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cropp looking for a guillotine here but Rei defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cropp controls Rei momentarily but Rei frees himself.
Cropp keeping moving, preventing Rei from controlling successfully.
Cropp wants to sweep but no luck.
Cropp controls Rei momentarily but Rei frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rei with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Cropp to score with a decent uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rei throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rei lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cropp lands a jab to the nose.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cropp moves forwards but Rei connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A left and a right from Cropp both land. Nice combination.
Rei dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cropp. That did some damage!
Good leg kick by Rei there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rei looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rei throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cropp throws a hook but Rei blocks it.
Rei connects with a solid leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rei.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karol Cropp dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Djoser Rei's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cropp.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rei is looking for a sweep.

Cropp is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rei is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cropp will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cropp working away.
Rei takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Cropp working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rei is looking for a sweep.
Rei is trying to escape the position but Cropp is controlling the position.
Cropp cracks Rei with a big elbow.
Rei really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cropp. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rei holding on.
Cropp wants to control but Rei is keeping him busy.
Cropp misses with the ground and pound.
Cropp wants to control but Rei is keeping him busy.
A lull in the action here as Cropp stalls from top position.
Cropp in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rei tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cropp wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Rei's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Karol Cropp overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee asks Cropp politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Cropp prefers to stall for the moment though.
Cropp is looking to take a break and control but Rei is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rei stuck in half guard on the bottom here.

Cropp is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rei has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cropp with the ground and pound but Rei regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cropp trying to control from half guard but Rei is working away.
Cropp controlling the pace.
Cropp prevents Rei from improving his position.
Cropp lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rei is staying active underneath Cropp, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rei avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cropp.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cropp not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Cropp in particular looking to stall.
Cropp looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rei tries to get to full guard but Cropp has control of the leg.
Cropp throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rei has his hands clasped together around Cropp's back. He's all about the action.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rei is not content to let Cropp control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cropp landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karol Cropp dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Djoser Rei's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rei throws a shot from downtown. Cropp moves away and avoids it.
Cropp feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Reis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Cropp takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rei misses with a head kick.
Cropp connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
That kick from Rei tenderised Cropp's leg. Cropp is trying to keep his angry face on.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rei swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Cropp counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cropp.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cropp's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Cropp is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rei working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cropp.
Cropp slips nicely into half guard.
Rei wants to control but Cropp is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cropp performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Cropp wants to control but Rei is keeping him busy.
Cropp winds up and cracks Rei with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cropp sitting and controlling from the half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ground and pound from Cropp.
Djoser Rei has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rei is staying active underneath Cropp, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cropp sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rei defending well though.
Cropp tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rei knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Cropp prevents Rei from improving his position.
Cropp thows a huge punch but Rei dodges it nicely.
Cropp is trying to control the action in half guard but Rei is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rei regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Cropp.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cropp slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rei keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cropp is thwarting Rei's attempts to control the position.

Cropp wants to work for an arm triangle but Rei is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Cropp trying to pass the guard but Rei defending well.
Cropp sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rei defending well though.

Cropp is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cropp not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Karol Cropp is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cropp throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cropp missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Cropp is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Rei trying to control here.
Cropp trying to control the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cropp is thwarting Rei's attempts to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karol Cropp showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cropp has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karol Cropp!
After the fight, Karol Cropp was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.