PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Craig Clifton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Kruiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kruiz has chosen ZARILA KANDZE as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Clifton
vs
Kruiz

179 cm
29
191 lbs
14 - 13 - 0

185 cm
30
193 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

KnockOut

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 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Craig Clifton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Kruiz!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clifton with a poor takedown
and Kruiz counters with a right hand to the body.
Clifton tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kruiz defends well and Clifton ends up having to push Kruiz into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Clifton looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kruiz is fending him off so far but Clifton persists. Nope, Kruiz circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Clifton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clifton tries for a takedown but Kruiz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kruiz has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Kruiz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Clifton.
Clifton shoots for a double leg takedown but Kruiz sprawls well. He's pushed Clifton's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Kruiz gets caught napping as Clifton dives in and scores a takedown. Kruiz manages to retain guard.
Kruiz wants to sweep but no luck.

Clifton has gone for a leg lock! Kruiz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Clifton's guard.

Clifton keeping moving, preventing Kruiz from controlling successfully.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kruiz tries to free his leg and advance position but Clifton is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruiz is still trying to improve position.
Clifton has a closed guard, preventing Kruiz from standing up.
Kruiz wants to pass the guard but Clifton is keeping the position.

Clifton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kruiz is aware though and is defending well.
Kruiz showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kruiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Clifton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kruiz is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kruiz sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Clifton's guard.

Kruiz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Clifton doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kruiz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruiz is looking to advance position but Clifton won't allow it.

Kruiz is working for a kimura but Clifton is defending it quite comfortably.

Kruiz is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kruiz trying to control the action but Clifton is working from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kruiz is thwarting Clifton's attempts to control the position.
Clifton is pressing down on Kruiz's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Clifton is trying to control the position but Kruiz postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clifton wants to sweep but no luck.

Clifton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kruiz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Clifton is trying to keep Kruiz in close.
Kruiz looking to pass the guard.
Kruiz stands and throws Clifton's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Clifton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Clifton regains half guard.
Kruiz takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Clifton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kruiz passes to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kruiz with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Kruiz is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Clifton tries to hold on but Kruiz postures up.

Kruiz looking to secure an arm triangle but Clifton defends it well.
Kruiz with good strikes from the mount here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kruiz looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Kruiz prevents Clifton from getting the reversal.
Kruiz wants to control the pace but Clifton is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Clifton throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kruiz's waist but Kruiz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Clifton off to one side.
Despite the aggression on Kruiz's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Clifton shoots in but no luck this time.
Kruiz with the counter takedown but Clifton avoids it easily.
Clifton fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Clifton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clifton shoots for a double leg takedown but Kruiz sprawls well. He's pushed Clifton's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A little jabbing left from Kruiz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Clifton takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Clifton looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kruiz is fending him off so far but Clifton persists. Nope, Kruiz circles away and we're back to standing.
Kruiz lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
No joy there for Kruiz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Clifton shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kruiz pinned against the ropes. Kruiz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kruiz with the counter takedown but Clifton avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clifton looks for a takedown but Kruiz sprawls well.
Kruiz with the counter takedown but Clifton avoids it easily.
Some wild striking there from Kruiz.
Clifton fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kruiz avoids it really well and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Clifton is defended easily by Kruiz.
Clifton misses with a takedown
and Kruiz counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clifton looks for a takedown but Kruiz sprawls well.
Kruiz throws a counter combo.

Clifton fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kruiz to the ground. Clifton is now in Kruiz's guard.
Kruiz 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.
Kruiz keeping full guard, as Clifton tries to pass.

Clifton drops back looking for a leg! Kruiz is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kruiz manages to kick Clifton off! Clifton jumps back into Kruiz's guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Kruiz not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruiz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Clifton's guard.

Kruiz wants to pass the guard but Clifton is keeping the position.

Clifton has his foot on Kruiz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kruiz works his way back into a safe position though.
Clifton keeping moving, preventing Kruiz from controlling successfully.
Kruiz looking to sit in guard and control but Clifton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Clifton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kruiz wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Clifton with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kruiz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Clifton is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kruiz tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kruiz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Clifton manages to get himself to full guard.

Clifton is looking for a triangle but Kruiz pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruiz trying to control the position from guard on top but Clifton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kruiz is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Kruiz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Clifton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kruiz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kruiz passes into half guard.
Clifton is trying to get back to full guard.
Clifton trying to control here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kruiz seems to be looking for submissions.
Kruiz thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Kruiz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Clifton shoots in and gets a takedown into Kruiz's guard.
Kruiz keeping moving, preventing Clifton from controlling successfully.

Kruiz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Clifton defends well.
Clifton works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Clifton is working for a submission of some sort.
Kruiz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruiz moves into full guard.

Kruiz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Clifton passes Kruiz's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruiz wants to improve his position but Clifton is controlling well.
Kruiz on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kruiz works his way to full guard. Good work.
Clifton connects with a couple of short punches.
Clifton looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Kruiz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Clifton defends well.
Kruiz tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kruiz working for a triangle but Clifton defends it easily.
Clifton chips away with some ground and pound.
Tom Kruiz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Clifton preventing the sweep.
Kruiz has his hands on Clifton's head, controlling the position.
Clifton tries to free his leg and advance position but Kruiz is retaining full guard.
Clifton throwing strikes but missing.
Clifton wants to pass the guard but Kruiz is keeping the position.
Tom Kruiz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Clifton postures up.
Kruiz looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Clifton puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruiz keeping hold of Clifton's head, controlling as best he can.
Kruiz is trying to get back to full guard.
Kruiz is refusing to be controlled, as Clifton sits in half guard.
Clifton winds up and cracks Kruiz with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kruiz is looking to improve his position.
Kruiz is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Clifton's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Clifton's back!
Kruiz has good solid back control here.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Kruiz's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Clifton is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Kruiz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruiz trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Clifton tries to roll but Kruiz sticks to his back.
Craig Clifton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kruiz just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Clifton is trying to break free.
Kruiz trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Kruiz controls the action.
Clifton looking very determined here, making life difficult for Kruiz.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Clifton tries to break free.
Kruiz biding his time, controlling Clifton.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Craig Clifton.
Well Kruiz 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Kruiz!
Tom Kruiz very nearly forgot to thank Mohito Fightwear amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.