PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Krukowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benedikt Pushkar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benedikt Pushkar acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Krukowski
vs
Pushkar

181 cm
26
280 lbs
15 - 1 - 0

212 cm
33
285 lbs
18 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Meet the Future
****160Q Energy for $150****

Sport Support

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kevin Krukowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Benedikt Pushkar!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paulsen Ambrosius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pushkar ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Pushkar shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Krukowski defends it nicely.
Pushkar tries for a takedown but Krukowski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pushkar ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Krukowski will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Krukowski leaves Pushkar with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kevin Krukowski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benedikt Pushkar.
Krukowski throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pushkar rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Krukowski moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Krukowski stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pushkar throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Krukowski's waist but Krukowski gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pushkar off to one side.
Pushkar tries a head kick but it misses.
Sloppy strikes from Krukowski. Those never looked like landing.
No luck for Pushkar with that takedown attempt.
Pushkar has a takedown stuffed.
Pushkar throws a hook but Krukowski blocks it.

Krukowski gets caught napping as Pushkar dives in and scores a takedown. Krukowski manages to retain guard.
Krukowski trying to control the position here.
Pushkar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pushkar is fighting to break Krukowski's control of his arms but Krukowski is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Krukowski keeping moving, preventing Pushkar from controlling successfully.
Krukowski controlling Pushkar's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kevin Krukowski has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Pushkar fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Krukowski swings for the body but Pushkar moves out of range.
Krukowski slaps away a takedown attempt from Pushkar, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Pushkar gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Krukowski counters with a low kick, right behind Pushkar 's knee.
Pushkar fails with the takedown.
Krukowski misses with a wild body shot.
Krukowski swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Pushkar cracks Krukowski with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pushkar uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Krukowski.
Pushkar lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Pushkar is trying hard to land a takedown here. Krukowski sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Krukowski avoids the body shot from Pushkar.
Pushkar looks for a takedown but Krukowski sprawls well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pushkar slips a straight right by Krukowski.
Pushkar slips a jab from Krukowski.
Pushkar dives in for a single leg takedown but Krukowski sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Krukowski displaying some good clinch control by pressing Pushkar up against the cage.
Krukowski drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Pushkar gets the underhooks and prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Benedikt Pushkar will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pushkar tries for a takedown but Krukowski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Krukowski takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Pushkar tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Krukowski swivels and escapes.
Pushkar tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pushkar shoots in and drives through. Krukowski sprawls well.
Kevin Krukowski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benedikt Pushkar.
Krukowski checks a leg kick.
Pushkar is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Krukowski.
Pushkar misses with a takedown
and Krukowski counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Krukowski throws a body punch but Pushkar moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pushkar feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Krukowski is pulling down on Pushkar's head. It's preventing any offense from Pushkar, at least for the moment.
Krukowski keeping moving, preventing Pushkar from controlling successfully.
Pushkar looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Krukowski has control of Pushkar's left arm, preventing Pushkar from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Pushkar trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pushkar connects with a nice looking jab.
Krukowski lands a nice looking body shot.
Benedikt Pushkar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pushkar has his takedown stuffed

and Krukowski counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Pushkar's guard now.
Krukowski trying to control the position from guard on top but Pushkar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Krukowski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krukowski stays in close to Pushkar's body and controls the position.
Krukowski trying to control but Pushkar is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kevin Krukowski just wasn't active enough.
A punch combination from Pushkar misses.
Pushkar moves out of range as Krukowski throws a body kick.
Pushkar thows a body shot but no joy.

Krukowski gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Krukowski pulls Pushkar in to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krukowski has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Krukowski working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pushkar.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Krukowski holds on and takes a little breather.
Kevin Krukowski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

We're going to have a standup here because Kevin Krukowski wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Krukowski looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Pushkar tries to land a leg kick but Krukowski saw it coming and moves away.
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 Kevin Krukowski will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Krukowski stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Krukowski wants it to stay on the feet.
Krukowski tries to land a front kick but Pushkar steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Krukowski displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pushkar.
Pushkar misses with a takedown attempt - Krukowski sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kevin Krukowski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benedikt Pushkar.
Pushkar shoots in looking for a takedown but Krukowski manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pushkar's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
We've been told by Krukowski's head coaches at Team Finland that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Pushkar avoids the body shot from Krukowski.
Pushkar fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pushkar throws a shot from downtown. Krukowski moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pushkar doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Krukowski counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Pushkar has his takedown stuffed
and Krukowski counters with a solid body kick.
Pushkar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Krukowski waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Pushkar.
Pushkar fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Krukowski avoids it really well and circles away.
Krukowski feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Pushkar's calf.
Krukowski is looking to wear down Pushkar with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Krukowski scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Well, if Krukowski is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Pushkar is trying to stand back up but Krukowski is controlling him

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kevin Krukowski wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Pushkar uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Krukowski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pushkar moves away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pushkar is defended easily by Krukowski.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pushkar misses with a series of wild punches.
Pushkar has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Krukowski slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

It looks like Benedikt Pushkar has been cut.
Krukowski avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kevin Krukowski is winning the standup battle so far.
Pushkar uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Krukowski.
Krukowski keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Krukowski feints and then cracks Pushkar's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Pushkar down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pushkar fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A shot to the liver by Pushkar. Beautiful body shot.
Pushkar has a takedown stuffed.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pushkar shoots in but Krukowski avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Krukowski throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pushkar has a takedown stuffed.
Krukowski throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Krukowski showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Krukowski 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kevin Krukowski!
A relieved looking Kevin Krukowski thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.