PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Azevedo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Volk Kruth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azevedo comes to the cage accompanied by Puddle Of Mudd - Psycho . Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Azevedo
vs
Kruth

179 cm
20
151 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

165 cm
26
157 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight 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, Thiago Azevedo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Volk Kruth!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Stewart Dunkirk and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kruth has Azevedo up against the cage in a clinch.
Azevedo tries to break the clinch but Kruth is controlling the position.
Azevedo looking to stall.
Azevedo gets underhooks to prevent Kruth's takedown attempt.
Kruth tries for a takedown but Azevedo manages to get underhooks.
Kruth lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kruth lands an elbow that stopped Azevedo in his tracks for a moment.
Kruth stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kruth lands a nice shot to the body.
Kruth throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kruth turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Kruth manages to end up in side control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Azevedo is looking to reverse the position.
Azevedo is trying to control Kruth's posture but Kruth avoids it.
Azevedo taking punishment in the form of punches.
Azevedo wants to control but Kruth postures up.
Kruth has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kruth is working Azevedo over with some ground and pound from side control.
Azevedo is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kruth connects with a decent elbow.
Kruth creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Azevedo sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kruth is looking to take a break and control but Azevedo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Azevedo tries to improve position but can't.
Kruth in side control, throwing shots but Azevedo defends.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Azevedo is not content to let Kruth control the position.
Azevedo can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Azevedo is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kruth connects with a decent elbow.
Azevedo is trying to control Kruth's posture but Kruth avoids it.
Kruth tries to move into full mount but can't pass Azevedo's legs.
Azevedo tries to improve position but can't.
Azevedo struggling a bit here.
Azevedo on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Kruth working the head and body with strikes.
Kruth working the ground and pound from side control.
Azevedo is looking to regain half guard here but Kruth keeps moving and retains side control.
Kruth looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Azevedo is avoiding damage well.
Azevedo sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruth working the head and body with strikes.
Azevedo is looking to improve his position.
Ground and pound from Kruth.
Kruth perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Azevedo is looking for a sweep. Kruth is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Azevedo is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Kruth sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kruth working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Azevedo is trying to get back to full guard.
Azevedo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Azevedo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruth connects with a couple of short punches.
Azevedo seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Kruth trying to control but Azevedo is working from the bottom.
Azevedo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Azevedo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azevedo pulls Kruth in close to prevent any damage.
Kruth pushing down on Azevedo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Azevedo is trying to get back to full guard.
Azevedo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azevedo regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kruth lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Azevedo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Azevedo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Volk Kruth dominated that round.
That's time! Azevedo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A swing and a miss from Azevedo.
Azevedo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Kruth clinches with his opponent.
Azevedo gets underhooks to prevent Kruth's takedown attempt.
Kruth tries a body shot but Azevedo blocks it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kruth is working for takedown but Azevedo is calmly controlling the position for now.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kruth creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kruth misses with an elbow strike.
Kruth goes for a takedown attempt but Azevedo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Thiago Azevedo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Volk Kruth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruth dives in for a single leg takedown but Azevedo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kruth lands an elbow that stopped Azevedo in his tracks for a moment.
Kruth prevents Azevedo from breaking the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kruth throws an elbow but misses.
Azevedo takes an elbow to the temple.
Kruth has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. So far he's outscoring his opponent in the clinch so it seems to have been worthwhile.
Azevedo blocking some punches.

Kruth has clasped his hands together around Azevedo's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Azevedo takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Azevedo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kruth sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Azevedo is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
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.
Kruth scores with punches from side control.
Kruth scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Azevedo to see if he's OK.
Kruth in side control, throwing shots but Azevedo defends.
Kruth working the ground and pound but Azevedo is defending the strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kruth working the ground and pound but Azevedo is defending the strikes.
Azevedo is trying to control Kruth's posture but Kruth avoids it.
Azevedo tries to improve position but can't.
Azevedo defending against the ground and pound.
Kruth working the head with strikes.
Kruth works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Azevedo tries to bench press Kruth off him but Kruth keeps the position.
Azevedo can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruth wants to control but Azevedo is keeping him busy.
Kruth tries to score with some ground and pound. Azevedo controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Kruth works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Azevedo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kruth's best efforts.
Azevedo wants to improve his position but Kruth is controlling well.
Azevedo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kruth is looking to work some ground and pound but Azevedo has wrist control.
Azevedo controls Kruth momentarily but Kruth frees himself.
Kruth working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kruth stays in close to Azevedo's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruth is fighting to break Azevedo's control of his arms but Azevedo is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Azevedo working for submissions but it's allowed Kruth to get to half guard.
Azevedo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kruth.
Azevedo wants to get back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azevedo trying to control here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Azevedo has hold of Kruth's hands but Kruth slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Azevedo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Volk Kruth showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Kruth shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Azevedo as he jumps to the side.
Azevedo throws a head kick but Kruth moves out of range.
Kruth moves away from the strike by Azevedo.
Kruth takes a swing at Azevedo's ribcage but misses.
Azevedo dives in and grabs Kruth's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kruth pushes down on Azevedo's head and hops out.
Kruth blocks the body kick.
Volk Kruth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kruth misses with a looping left.
Kruth throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Azevedo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kruth lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Azevedo misses with a head kick.
Azevedo takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruth smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Azevedo throws a head kick that misses
and Kruth counters with an inside leg kick.
Kruth lands with a thumping leg kick.
Azevedo shoots in looking for a takedown. Kruth tries to sprawl out of it but Azevedo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kruth manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Azevedo throws a head kick that misses
and Kruth counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Azevedo throws a lazy head kick
and Kruth counters with a low kick, right behind Azevedo 's knee.
Kruth with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kruth buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A head kick by Azevedo misses
and Kruth counters with a nice low kick that buckles Azevedo's knee momentarily.
Azevedo throws a sloppy head kick and Kruth moves out of range easily.
Kruth connects with a leg kick. Azevedo looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kruth swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Azevedo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thiago Azevedo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruth misses with a straight right.
Azevedo is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kruth lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Azevedo at a distance.

Azevedo gets caught napping as Kruth dives in and scores a takedown. Azevedo manages to retain guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azevedo working a defensive guard but Kruth passes into half guard.
Kruth seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Azevedo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kruth working over Azevedo with some ground and pound. Azevedo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Azevedo wants to sweep but Kruth has passed to side control!
Kruth working the ground and pound.
Kruth taking a breather here.
Azevedo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kruth.
Azevedo can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruth scoring with punches from side control.
Azevedo can't do much from the bottom here.
Azevedo tries to improve position but can't.
Azevedo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kruth scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kruth moves into full mount! Azevedo won't be happy about that!
Azevedo is working to get back to half guard.
Kruth postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Azevedo looks a forlorn figure.
Azevedo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruth landing strikes from the mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azevedo tries to hold on but Kruth pushes him away.
Kruth with a couple of short strikes.

Azevedo is rocked!
Kruth lands a couple of good shots and Azevedo has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Oh Azevedo is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Azevedo tries to escape the position.
Kruth lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Kruth.
Kruth throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Azevedo!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kruth lands punches and elbows.
Kruth is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Azevedo trying to control the hands but Kruth won't let him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Volk Kruth comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kruth 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Volk Kruth!
A very excited looking Volk Kruth made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.