PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brojna Kruth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brojna Kruth will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Black
vs
Kruth

170 cm
25
185 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
26
190 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Brojna Kruth!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Black darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Black tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kruth.
Black could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Kruth tries to get to full guard but Black has control of the leg.
Black missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Black thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Black prevents Kruth from improving his position.

Kruth looking for submissions off his back.
Kruth trying to hold on to Black's head to control him but Black postures up.
Kruth really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Black. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Black seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Kruth is looking for a sweep. Black is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Black wants to stand up but Kruth has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kruth's head.
Kruth keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Black sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kruth defending well though.
Black wants to stand up but Kruth has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Black tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kruth knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Black tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kruth.
Kruth has his hands clasped together around Black's back. He's all about the action.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Brojna Kruth hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Kruth has Black up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kruth is defending well.
Kruth misses with a hook to the ribs.

Black jumps guard.
Black looking to control.
Kruth working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kruth must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Kruth is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Black is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Black has escaped and now he's on top!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Black stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kruth swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Black is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kruth's guard.
Black throwing shots but Kruth is blocking nicely.
Black tries to pass to full mount but Kruth defends it.
Kruth is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Black 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.
Black wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Kruth uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Kruth utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Kruth escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Black gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Black stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kruth swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Black stands and steps away. Kruth gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Black shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kruth manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kruth wants to sweep but no luck.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Black would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Black trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kruth holds on and takes a little breather.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kruth can do anything to dispel that myth.
Black looking to pass the guard.
Kruth wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Brojna Kruth was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Kruth is looking to chop away at Black's legs.
Black has his takedown stuffed
and Kruth counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Black dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kruth slaps away a takedown attempt from Black, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Black gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Black tries to circle away but Kruth has him pinned against the cage.
Black changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kruth fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Kruth gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Black to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Black pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kruth is keeping the position for now.
Kruth wants to improve his position but instead Black has moved into half guard.
Kruth wants to improve his position but Black is controlling well.

Black 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.
Kruth keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kruth knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Black decides to stand up.

Kruth closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Black has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kruth after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Black goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kruth prevents it.
Kruth keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Black's efforts to push away.
Kruth lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black jumps guard but Kruth stands there with Black around his waist. Black gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Kruth successfully pulls guard.
Kruth pulls Black in close to prevent any damage.
Black might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Black postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Black preventing the sweep.

Kruth pushes Black off and scrambles back to his feet.
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!

Black bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Black wants to stand but Kruth is controlling his arm.

Kruth sneaks out the side door and pushes Black away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Kruth shoots in and bounces Black off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kruth working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kruth gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Michael Black is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Black is defended easily by Kruth.

Kruth tries to keep at a distance but Black has taken the fight into the clinch.

Black has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kruth uses from the top position.

Kruth stands up from Black's guard - Kruth perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black tries for a takedown but Kruth circles away easily

and Kruth counters by clinching up.
Kruth tries to break the clinch but Black is controlling the position.
Black is looking to break free of the clinch but Kruth has double underhooks.
Black wants to stall.
Black is trying to drag Kruth to the mat but Kruth just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Black wants a takedown.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kruth lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kruth tries to break the clinch but Black is controlling the position.
Black tries for a takedown. No joy.
Black jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kruth walks away with a smile on his face. Black gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kruth fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Black looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brojna Kruth will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Black gets tackled into the cage by Kruth. Kruth maintains the clinch.
Kruth lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kruth wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Brojna Kruth seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Black throws a knee to the head but misses.
Black with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Kruth escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kruth tries a low kick but Black avoids it.

Kruth closes the distance and clinches.

Kruth manages to break the clinch.

Kruth has taken the fight to the clinch.
Black tries to break free but Kruth pushes him back against the cage.

Black is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Kruth can't fight it off and eventually Black manages to take the fight to the floor. Kruth looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Black being controlled here momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Black looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kruth wriggles free and stands up.

Kruth gets a clinch.

Black manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Michael Black overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Black trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Kruth gets to his feet - Black follows without any prompting.
Kruth slaps away a takedown attempt from Black, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Kruth gets caught napping as Black dives in and scores a takedown. Kruth manages to retain guard.
Kruth is pulling down on Black's head to control his posture.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kruth pushes Black off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Black shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Black fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Black. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Black shoots in and drives through. Kruth sprawls well.

Kruth rushes Black and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kruth breaks from the clinch.

Kruth moves into the clinch.
Black has Kruth pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kruth manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kruth pressing his opponent against the cage.
Black tries to circle away but Kruth has him pinned against the cage.
Black blocks a body shot from Kruth.
Black tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kruth just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruth prevents the takedown attempt.
Black has Kruth pressed against the cage, preventing Kruth from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kruth lands a body shot.

Kruth decides to pull guard.

Kruth scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Black shoots for a takedown but Kruth saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kruth connects with a looping right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kruth throws a low kick but it's checked well by Black.

Black gets tackled into the cage by Kruth. Kruth maintains the clinch.
Black is trying to pull guard but Kruth turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Kruth gets control of Black's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kruth will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kruth 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.
Kruth is looking to stand up but Black isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kruth is on top in guard.
Kruth is working Black over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Black keeping full guard, as Kruth tries to pass.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Black being controlled here, momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brojna Kruth comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kruth has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brojna Kruth!