PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Kruger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Temudjin Khaan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Kruger
vs
Khaan

182 cm
33
165 lbs
14 - 3 - 1

180 cm
30
168 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Paul Kruger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Temudjin Khaan!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kruger misses with a jab, cross combination.
Khaan looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kruger connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Khaan momentarily.
Kruger keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Kruger clinches.
Khaan throws a head punch that misses.
Khaan has Kruger pressed against the cage.

Khaan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kruger has Khaan up against the cage in a clinch.
Khaan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kruger blocks a body shot from Khaan.
Khaan blocks an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruger digs a right hand underneath Khaan's ribcage. Khaan let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The referee is keeping an eye on Khaan - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kruger prevents a body shot from Khaan.
Khaan takes a shot to the head.
Kruger crunches a lovely knee into Khaan's ribcage.
Kruger swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kruger is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Khaan is defending well for now.
Khaan working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kruger creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Khaan scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kruger lands an elbow inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kruger.
Khaan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kruger leaning against his opponent.
Kruger swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Khaan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Khaan is struggling to control the position.
Khaan lands a nice shot to the body.
Kruger scores with a shoulder strike.
Kruger lands with a right to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kruger.
Khaan lands with a light punch inside.
Kruger misses with a knee strike.
Kruger misses with a hook to the ribs.
Khaan trying to control the position but instead, Kruger has worked for underhooks and has pushed Khaan into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khaan tries to work over Kruger's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Khaan.
A shot in the inside from Khaan.
Kruger misses with the head strike.
Kruger lands a shoulder strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Khaan.
Khaan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A frustrated look appears on Khaan's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Khaan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Khaan avoids the head kick by Kruger.
Khaan looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Khaan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kruger manages to avoid it.
Kruger throws a right and a left that both miss.
A little jabbing left from Khaan on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kruger is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Khaan takes a swing at Kruger's ribcage but misses.
Kruger misses with an uppercut. Khaan saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khaan on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kruger goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Khaan jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice body punch from Khaan.

Kruger drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Khaan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kruger wants to take a breather but Khaan manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Kruger.
Khaan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kruger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Khaan is keeping the position for now.
Kruger is pushing down on Khaan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Khaan is fighting to maintain full guard but Kruger has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Kruger wants to stand up but Khaan has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Khaan preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kruger thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Khaan's head.
Khaan is trying to get back to full guard.
Kruger 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.
Khaan trying to hold on to Kruger's head to control him but Kruger postures up.
Khaan wants to improve his position but Kruger is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Kruger dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kruger scoring well with a low kick there.
Khaan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kruger.
A looping hook to the body misses from Khaan. Kruger does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice defenses there by Kruger.
Kruger misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kruger with a poor takedown
and Khaan counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kruger fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Kruger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kruger avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kruger moves into the clinch.
Kruger lands a nice uppercut.
Kruger landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Khaan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kruger throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Kruger scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Kruger misses its intended target.
Kruger slips under a jab from Khaan.

Kruger shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Khaan manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kruger is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Khaan can do to turn this around?
Kruger throws a big elbow that misses.

Kruger got a little sloppy there for a moment and Khaan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kruger has managed to get both his arms back between Khaan's legs - danger averted.
Khaan keeping moving, preventing Kruger from controlling successfully.
Kruger loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kruger trying to control but Khaan is working from the bottom.
Kruger has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Khaan is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khaan wants to sweep but no luck.
Khaan being controlled here, momentarily.
Kruger wants to control from the top but Khaan keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Kruger closes the distance and clinches.
Kruger misses with a knee to the head.
Kruger lands a nice uppercut.
Khaan blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Khaan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kruger fails with the takedown
and Khaan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Khaan avoids the head kick by Kruger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khaan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Khaan misses the shot to the body.
Kruger seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Kruger doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Khaan counter with a right hand.
Khaan throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kruger stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Khaan scoring well with a low kick there.
Khaan fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kruger.
Kruger lunges at Khaan with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Khaan's hand.
Khaan is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kruger rather than just go for the knockout.
Khaan slips a straight right by Kruger.
Khaan throws out a counter right but Kruger avoids it with no problem.
Paul Kruger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khaan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kruger tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Khaan defends well and Kruger ends up having to push Khaan into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kruger walks into a stiff left hand from Khaan.
A slapping leg kick lands for Khaan.
Khaan misses the jab.
Kruger catches Khaan with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kruger throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kruger ducks under a wild hook from Khaan.
Kruger fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kruger fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Khaan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kruger moves out of range of the leg kick from Khaan.
Kruger thows a leg kick but Khaan checks it
and Khaan counters with a stiff right hand.
Khaan throws a sloppy head kick and Kruger moves out of range easily.
Kruger shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Khaan pinned against the cage. Khaan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Khaan! But no joy.
Khaan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nice shot by Kruger.
Kruger connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Khaan's hands.
Kruger looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
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 Paul Kruger 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!

Khaan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kruger fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Khaan avoids it really well and circles away.
Kruger misses with a looping right.
Kruger looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Khaan fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kruger.
Kruger is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A little jabbing left from Khaan on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kruger wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khaan throws a chopping leg kick but Kruger manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kruger tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Khaan was well out of range. Poor timing from Kruger.
Khaan misses with a looping right.
Khaan throws a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khaan takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kruger misses with a series of wild punches.
Kruger tries to clinch there but Khaan circles away.
Khaan appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kruger misses with a takedown attempt
and Khaan counters with a stiff right hand.
Khaan scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kruger shoots in looking for a takedown but Khaan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kruger's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Kruger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kruger throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A little jabbing left from Khaan on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kruger is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Temudjin Khaan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Khaan dodges the punch combination from Kruger.
Kruger fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kruger checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kruger uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Khaan.
Temudjin Khaan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Kruger misses.
Kruger uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Khaan.
Kruger avoids the head kick by Khaan.
Kruger seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kruger or perhaps it was just good defense by Khaan, which made it look bad.
Khaan was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Kruger tries for a takedown but Khaan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Khaan looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Khaan loads up on a big right hand but Kruger slips the punch.
Khaan misses with a right hand
and Kruger counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kruger throws a lazy uppercut
and Khaan counters with an inside leg kick.
Kruger lands a slapping body shot.
Khaan slips a jab and a cross from Kruger.
Kruger takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nice sprawl there from Khaan as Kruger shoots in.
Khaan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruger uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Khaan.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kruger has a couple of punches blocked by Khaan.
Khaan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Khaan lands with a left to the head.
Kruger using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Khaan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kruger fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Paul Kruger has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Still in the clinch, Khaan scores with a nice short uppercut.
Khaan lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Khaan avoiding damage.
Kruger lands a good knee to the midsection. Khaan won't want to take too many of those.
Khaan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Khaan.
Kruger tries to land knees in the clinch but Khaan avoids the damage to the body.
Kruger misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Paul Kruger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kruger misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khaan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Khaan misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kruger scores with a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kruger tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kruger.
Kruger blocking some punches.
Khaan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kruger landing knees to the head.
Khaan lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Khaan avoiding damage as Kruger throws knees to the body.
Khaan throws a head punch that misses.
Khaan tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Khaan lands a body shot.
Kruger tries a knee to the head but Khaan blocks it.
Kruger lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short body shot lands from Khaan as the two fighters clinch.
Khaan stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kruger trying to control the position but instead, Khaan has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kruger into the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Temudjin Khaan.
I think Kruger has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Paul Kruger!
Paul Kruger opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.