PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mairbek Krylov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ludko Struja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Krylov
vs
Struja

188 cm
25
209 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

182 cm
26
211 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mairbek Krylov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ludko Struja!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Daniel Franklin and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Krylov connects with a body shot that sends Struja's belly button to the back.
Struja shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Krylov as he avoids it easily.
Krylov dips to his left and cracks Struja with an uppercut!
Struja misses with a double jab
and Krylov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Struja avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Struja wants to clinch
and Krylov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Struja lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Krylov circles away quickly and effectively.
Krylov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The crowd cheers as Struja lands an impressive looking overhand right. Krylov doesn't seem phased though.
Krylov scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struja throws a combination that misses
letting Krylov counter with a right hand.
Krylov misses with a wild body shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short uppercut from Krylov.
Struja has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Krylov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Struja is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Krylov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mairbek Krylov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ludko Struja.
Krylov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Struja.
Struja working aggressively here.
Krylov is pressed up against the cage. Struja has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Krylov down to the mat. Krylov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Struja shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Krylov counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struja tries to clinch up.
Krylov cracks Struja with a right hand to the side of the head.
Struja wants to clinch but Krylov slips to the side
and Krylov counters with a left to the body.
Struja shoots in looking for a takedown but Krylov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Struja's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Krylov is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Struja.
Krylov blocks a jab.
Struja ducks right into an uppercut from Krylov.
Mairbek Krylov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Struja darts in and clinches Krylov up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Krylov.
A short left from Struja.
Struja tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Krylov smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struja swinging wildly here.
As Struja tries to get set, Krylov tries to push him back and clinch up but Struja manages to avoid the attempt.

Struja gets tackled into the cage by Krylov. Krylov maintains the clinch.
Struja is looking to take this one to the mat.
Krylov pushes Struja back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Struja is trying to push Krylov away but Krylov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Struja is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Struja is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Struja has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Krylov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Struja is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Krylov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Struja has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Krylov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Good body shot from Krylov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Krylov takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Krylov lands a hook to the side of the head.
Struja drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Krylov gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Struja lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Krylov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Krylov definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Krylov tries to get to full guard but Struja has control of the leg.
Struja throwing shots but Krylov is blocking nicely.
Krylov is trying to control but can't.
Struja winds up and cracks Krylov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mairbek Krylov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Krylov looks to land a left hand but Struja moved out of range nicely.
Struja tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Krylov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Krylov lands a body shot.
Struja with a lazy takedown attempt
and Struja takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Krylov connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Krylov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Struja is looking to chop away at Krylov's legs.
Krylov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Struja can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Struja takes a jab right on the kisser.
Struja keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Krylov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struja misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Struja tries for a takedown but Krylov circles away easily
and Krylov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Krylov jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Struja closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Struja looking for a takedown.
Mairbek Krylov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ludko Struja.
Struja jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Krylov walks away with a smile on his face. Struja gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Krylov lands a slapping body shot.
Struja has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.

Krylov moves into the clinch.
Struja wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Struja goes for a takedown in the clinch but Krylov prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krylov gets through Struja's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Struja tries to score a body lock takedown but Krylov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Struja goes for a takedown attempt but Krylov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ludko Struja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Struja tries to keep at a distance but Krylov has taken the fight into the clinch.
The referee calls for Krylov to work.
Struja drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
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!
Struja is working for takedown but Krylov is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struja is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Krylov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Krylov stalling the fight.
Krylov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Struja wants to take the fight to the mat but Krylov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Struja is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Struja struggles to land a body shot inside as Krylov controls his hands.
Krylov stalls.
Krylov stalling against the cage.
Krylov effectively controlling the action here.
Krylov slows down the pace here.
Krylov gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Krylov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Struja is working for takedown but Krylov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Struja tries to score a body lock takedown but Krylov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Krylov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Struja backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for Krylov.
Struja wants to take the fight to the mat but Krylov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Krylov taking a breather.
Struja has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Krylov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Good body shot from Krylov.
Mairbek Krylov has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Krylov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Struja.
Struja is breathing heavily.
Krylov throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mairbek Krylov dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Krylov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Struja.
Struja throws an overhand right that lands on Krylov's shoulder, as Krylov tries to avoid the shot.
Krylov lands a body shot.
Krylov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Krylov wants it to stay on the feet.
Struja throws a poor cross that misses
and Krylov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Struja with a poor takedown

and Krylov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Struja trying to stall but Krylov improves his position.
Struja takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A body shot lands from Krylov.
Struja tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Krylov smiles and moves away.
Mairbek Krylov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ludko Struja.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Krylov. Beautiful body shot.
Krylov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Struja with a poor takedown
and Krylov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Struja scores with a jab to the jaw.
Struja gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Krylov counter with a right hand.
Struja on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Struja shoots in but no luck this time.
Krylov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Struja
and Krylov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Krylov pushes Struja up against the cage in a clinch.
Krylov scores with a shot to the side of Struja's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Struja is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Krylov is keeping busy.
Krylov blocks an uppercut.

Struja's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Krylov drives through and clinches with Struja against the cage.
Struja blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Struja blocks a body shot from Krylov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struja is looking to take this one to the mat.
Krylov is pushing Struja up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Krylov blocks an uppercut.
Struja goes for a takedown in the clinch but Krylov prevents it.
Krylov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ludko Struja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Struja goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Struja can't get the takedown.
Krylov prevents the takedown attempt.
Krylov lands a right hand.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Krylov.
Krylov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Struja misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krylov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Struja has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Krylov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Struja trying to stall but Krylov improves his position.
Krylov slows down the pace here.
Krylov lands a right hand.
Struja wants to take the fight to the mat but Krylov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Struja looking for a takedown.
Krylov lands a shot to the body.
A short right from Krylov.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Struja.
Krylov gets underhooks to prevent Struja's takedown attempt.
Struja goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mairbek Krylov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Krylov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27

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