PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Willem Kriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kane Ardal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kriel comes into the arena with Jack Parow & Freshlyground - Army Of One blaring out of the sound system. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Kriel
vs
Ardal

178 cm
23
183 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

182 cm
25
186 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Willem Kriel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kane Ardal!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ardal lets loose with a powerful body kick. Kriel will feel that in the morning.
Ardal misses with an uppercut. Kriel saw that one coming.
Kriel takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ardal walks forward, straight into a front kick from Kriel.

Ardal gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ardal is trying to force a seperation but Kriel has the dominant position.
Ardal blocking some punches.
Kriel lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ardal or not.
I was talking to Kriel's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Kriel lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kriel digs a right hand into Ardal's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ardal's gas tank.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kriel lands a shot to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Kriel.
Ardal on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ardal looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kriel scores with a shot to the side of Ardal's head.
Nice body punch from Ardal.
Kriel lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kriel lands a body shot.
Ardal is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ardal managing to block the knees to the body from Kriel.
Kriel keeps control of Ardal as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ardal wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ardal tries to throw a body punch but Kriel avoids it by throwing Ardal back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Ardal's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ardal is trying to break free.
Kriel working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Ardal breaks the clinch.
Ardal throws an off balance right hand
and Kriel counters with a nice low kick that buckles Ardal's knee momentarily.
A swing and a miss from Ardal.
Kriel moves in looking to clinch but Ardal pushes him off.
Ardal throws a wild body kick that Kriel sees coming a mile off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kriel tries to clinch up.
A head kick from Ardal lands but Kriel takes it in his stride.
Ardal misses with a double jab
and Kriel counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kriel connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ardal checks a leg kick nicely.
Ardal is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Kriel takes one to the chin there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kriel takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ardal blocks a head kick by Kriel.
Ardal throws a head kick that misses
and Kriel counters with a two punch combo.
Kriel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A low kick from Kriel is predictable there
and Ardal counters with a left and a right that stings Kriel.
Ardal lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kriel takes a step back to recover.
Ardal keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kriel.
Ardal throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Ardal scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

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!
Ardal lands a head kick. Kriel smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kriel thumps Ardal with a low kick.
Ardal tries a head kick but it misses.
Kriel throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ardal swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kriel throws the kick towards the body but Ardal avoids it.
Ardal explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Kriel avoids the body shot from Ardal.
Ardal fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kane Ardal will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ardal scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kriel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ardal.
A quick step to the side and Kriel tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ardal looks to land a body kick but Kriel moved away.
Ardal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ardal takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ardal throws a lazy head kick

and Kriel counters with a crisp one two that drops Ardal! Kriel thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Ardal to his feet! Ardal is in big trouble!

Ardal is rocked!
That kick from Ardal tenderised Kriel's leg. Kriel is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kriel throws a leg kick but Ardal checks it.
Ardal plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A slow jab from Ardal misses its intended target.
Ardal has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kriel finds it's way round the side to connect with Ardal's head.
Kane Ardal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ardal pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kriel is out of range and Ardal settles back down.
Kriel looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Ardal takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ardal tries a head kick but it misses.
It looked like Kriel wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ardal throws a jab when Kriel was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kriel clinches up with Ardal and pushes him back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Kriel.
Kriel lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ardal looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kriel prevents Ardal from breaking the clinch.
Kriel lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Willem Kriel has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A frustrated look appears on Ardal's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kriel misses with a knee strike.
Kriel misses with a knee to the head.
Ardal looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ardal tries to break free but Kriel pushes him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Ardal's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kriel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kriel lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ardal tries to break free but Kriel pushes him back against the cage.
Kriel misses with a punch to the body.
Kriel blocks a body shot from Ardal.
Ardal is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kriel cracks Ardal with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kriel lands a body punch.
Kriel using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Ardal is breathing heavily.
Kriel scores with a hook to the body.
Kriel taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Kriel is struggling to control the position.
Ardal is trying to break free.
Ardal wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ardal looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kriel prevents Ardal from breaking the clinch.
Kriel lands a body punch.
Ardal wants to get back to striking at distance but Kriel won't allow it.

Ardal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kriel chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kriel blocks a head kick by Ardal.
Kriel throwing a counter right hand but Ardal manages to avoid it.
Kriel scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ardal steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kriel.
Kriel takes a swing at Ardal's ribcage but misses.
Kriel throws a leg kick but Ardal checks it.
Ardal slips under a jab.
Kriel lands a slapping body shot.
Ardal scores with a jab. Kriel acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ardal lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kriel turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willem Kriel dominated that second round.
That's time! Kriel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ardal throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Kriel lands a big head kick that sends Ardal tumbling to the mat! Kriel takes a step backwards and waves Ardal back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Ardal is still on wobbly legs! Can Kriel finish him?
Kane Ardal seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kriel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ardal throws a series of punches but Kriel avoids them all with ease.
Ardal seems to have recovered his senses.
Jab from Ardal.
Ardal throws a series of strikes that have Kriel backpedaling.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kriel walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ardal checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kriel lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ardal's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ardal misses with a body kick.
Kriel misses with a looping left.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ardal! But no joy.
Ardal misses with a shot to the body
and Kriel counters with an outside leg kick.
Ardal missing with a left hand there. Kriel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kriel thinks about countering with a body kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Ardal finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Ardal scores with a head kick.
Ardal tries a head kick but it misses.
Ardal dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kriel tries to score with a low kick but Ardal moves his leg out of the way.
Ardal is looking for the big counter here.
Ardal punishes Kriel's body with a nice straight punch.
Ardal throws a head kick that Kriel semi-blocks.

Ardal closes the distance and clinches.
A short right from Kriel on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A right hook to the body lands for Kriel.
Ardal on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kriel lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kriel lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kriel tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ardal wants to break free but Kriel has control.
Kriel lands a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kriel gets through Ardal's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ardal wants to break free but Kriel has control.
Ardal has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kriel with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ardal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ardal tries to work over Kriel's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kriel pushes Ardal back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kriel digs a right hand underneath Ardal's ribcage. Ardal let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ardal is trying to push Kriel away but Kriel has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A short right from Kriel on the inside.
Kriel gets through Ardal's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kriel is leaning against Ardal and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A hook to the body from Kriel.
Kriel effectively controlling the action here.
Kriel scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kriel.
Kriel lands with a light punch inside.
Kriel landing knees to the head.
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!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kriel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kriel lands with a right to the head.
Kriel lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ardal or not.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kriel.
Kriel is leaning against Ardal and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short uppercut from Kriel.
Kriel lands a nice shot to the body.
A hook to the body from Kriel.
Kriel connects with a knee to the head.
Kriel lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kriel lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ardal or not.
A short right from Kriel on the inside.
Kriel lands a shot to the body.
A short left from Kriel.
Kriel lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kriel has Ardal pressed against the cage, preventing Ardal from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ardal wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kriel has him pressed against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Kriel.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kriel creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willem Kriel showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kriel 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Willem Kriel!
Willem Kriel was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.