PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Karol Cropp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Ibrahimovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Karol Cropp could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Marcus Ibrahimovic's chin.

Cropp
vs
Ibrahimovic

209 cm
31
290 lbs
24 - 8 - 0

185 cm
37
182 lbs
31 - 15 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

SP Ultimate Nutrition

SP Ultimate Nutrition
V-Mask Clothing (10%)

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 24 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Karol Cropp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Marcus Ibrahimovic!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Stewart Dunkirk and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cropp moves in looking to clinch but Ibrahimovic pushes him off.
Cropp misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic connects with a jab.
Ibrahimovic fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ibrahimovic lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Cropp throws a shot from downtown. Ibrahimovic moves away and avoids it.
Cropp looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ibrahimovic is fending him off so far but Cropp persists. Nope, Ibrahimovic circles away and we're back to standing.
It seemed like Ibrahimovic was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ibrahimovic throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ibrahimovic feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cropp's calf.
Ibrahimovic tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cropp tries to bum rush Ibrahimovic with a series of wild strikes but Ibrahimovic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cropp connects with the punch.
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!
Ibrahimovic loads up on a big right hand but Cropp slips the punch.
Cropp half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Cropp gets tackled into the cage by Ibrahimovic. Ibrahimovic maintains the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cropp.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Ibrahimovic scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ibrahimovic's coach down at Valhöll GYM was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Ibrahimovic's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Cropp misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ibrahimovic misses with a body punch.
Ibrahimovic tries to throw a body punch but Cropp avoids it by throwing Ibrahimovic back against the cage.
Ibrahimovic gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ibrahimovic misses with an elbow strike.
Nice body punch from Cropp.
Cropp blocks a body shot from Ibrahimovic.
Cropp goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Cropp.
Cropp avoids a wild elbow strike from Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic tries to throw a body punch but Cropp avoids it by throwing Ibrahimovic back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Ibrahimovic.

Cropp gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Ibrahimovic regains guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ibrahimovic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cropp throws an elbow that misses. Ibrahimovic uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Cropp's guard. Nice move by Ibrahimovic!

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!
Ibrahimovic passes into half guard.
Cropp is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ibrahimovic's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ibrahimovic's back!
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 landing with strikes from the back.
Cropp struggling to land strikes to the head as Ibrahimovic covers up.

Ibrahimovic is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ibrahimovic prevents Cropp from getting a body triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahimovic is trying to get back to his feet but Cropp has full control of the position and if anything, Ibrahimovic has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Cropp tightening his grip on Ibrahimovic, looking for the choke.
Cropp punches Ibrahimovic on the ear.
Cropp missing with punches from the back.
Ibrahimovic trying to get back to his feet but Cropp is in full control for now.
Ibrahimovic covering up well under a barage of strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahimovic wants to get back to his feet.
Cropp trying to control.
Cropp lands a shot to the body.
Ibrahimovic is trying to stand back up.
Cropp is trying to stick to Ibrahimovic's back but Ibrahimovic is turning into Cropp. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Cropp's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic tries to free his leg and advance position but Cropp is retaining full guard.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Karol Cropp will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ibrahimovic throws a body punch but Cropp moves out of range.
Cropp displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Ibrahimovic throws an overhand right that lands on Cropp's shoulder, as Cropp tries to avoid the shot.
Cropp shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ibrahimovic pinned against the cage. Ibrahimovic gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ibrahimovic throws a hook to the side of Cropp's head but Cropp sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ibrahimovic.
Cropp darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A head kick misses from Ibrahimovic.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good work by Cropp as he checks the leg kick.
Cropp misses with a two punch combination.
A head kick misses from Ibrahimovic.
Cropp looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ibrahimovic is fending him off so far but Cropp persists. Nope, Ibrahimovic circles away and we're back to standing.
Marcus Ibrahimovic seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cropp. Ibrahimovic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cropp checks the leg kick nicely there.
Ibrahimovic throws an overhand right that lands on Cropp's shoulder, as Cropp tries to avoid the shot.
Cropp checks a leg kick.
Nice cross by Cropp.

Ibrahimovic is rocked!
Cropp fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cropp moves out of range of the body kick from Ibrahimovic.
Cropp tries to counter with a takedown but Ibrahimovic is quick to defend against it.
Cropp shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ibrahimovic pinned against the cage. Ibrahimovic gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karol Cropp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cropp throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jab by Cropp.
Nice body punch from Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic tries to clinch but Cropp moves away

and Cropp decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ibrahimovic's guard.
Ibrahimovic is still in real trouble! Can Cropp finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cropp trying to control the position from guard on top but Ibrahimovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ibrahimovic seems to have recovered his senses.
Cropp throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ibrahimovic works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ibrahimovic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ibrahimovic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cropp.
Cropp wants to control from the top but Ibrahimovic keeps moving.
Cropp working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ibrahimovic's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cropp controls from within his opponent's guard.
Cropp stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ibrahimovic swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ibrahimovic trying to keep a closed guard but Cropp is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ibrahimovic slips a straight right by Cropp.
Cropp scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ibrahimovic doesn't seem bothered though.

Cropp pushes Ibrahimovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Ibrahimovic swings wildly with an uppercut but Cropp uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ibrahimovic is looking to control Cropp's arms but Cropp gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ibrahimovic has his back to the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cropp dodges an elbow strike from Ibrahimovic.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic blocks an uppercut.
Ibrahimovic pushes Cropp back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cropp blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cropp blocking some punches.
Ibrahimovic misses with an elbow over the top.
Ibrahimovic trying to control the position but instead, Cropp has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ibrahimovic into the cage.
Ibrahimovic misses with a punch on the inside.
Marcus Ibrahimovic seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cropp lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cropp cracks Ibrahimovic with a nice body shot.
Cropp has Ibrahimovic pushed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karol Cropp dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cropp has managed to clinch.
Ibrahimovic blocks a body shot from Cropp.
Cropp tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cropp misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cropp blocks an uppercut.
Ibrahimovic blocks an uppercut.
Ibrahimovic blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ibrahimovic swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Cropp connects with a big uppercut there that sends Ibrahimovic tumbling to the ground! Cropp follows him down into his guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cropp accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ibrahimovic is trying to keep Cropp in close.
Cropp is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ibrahimovic can do to turn this around?

Ibrahimovic pushes Cropp off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibrahimovic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cropp.
Cropp misses with a straight left.
Ibrahimovic lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cropp tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ibrahimovic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cropp throws a nice looking combination but Ibrahimovic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
It seemed like Ibrahimovic was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ibrahimovic tries to land a leg kick but Cropp saw it coming and moves away.
Ibrahimovic throws a leg kick which misses Cropp's front leg but catches the back leg as Cropp tries to avoid it.
Ibrahimovic tries to clinch but Cropp is having none of it.
Cropp drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ibrahimovic sprawls and moves away.
Cropp throws a jab but it's blocked by Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ibrahimovic throws a hook but Cropp avoids it easily.
Marcus Ibrahimovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cropp swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cropp steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic throws a head kick but Cropp moves out of range.
Marcus Ibrahimovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahimovic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A jab lands there for Cropp.
Cropp misses with a combination
letting Ibrahimovic counter with a right hand.

Cropp cracks Ibrahimovic with a big right hand and Ibrahimovic goes down!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cropp postures up, still in guard. A huge hammer fist lands that bounces Ibrahimovic's head off the mat! Ibrahimovic is out! He's out! Cropp jumps to his feet and celebrates with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Karol Cropp!
After winning the bout, Karol Cropp thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.