PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Krakow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Long (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Krakow
vs
Long

180 cm
27
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
155 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Amped Performance

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thomas Krakow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brandon Long!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, John Roberts and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Long moves in looking to clinch but Krakow pushes him off.
Krakow looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Long misses with a jab, cross combination.
Krakow scores with a nice right hand.
Krakow has been working on his boxing with his coaches at 3Band MMA ($500/week) in the buildup to the fight.

Krakow closes the distance and clinches.

Krakow escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sloppy strikes from Krakow. Those never looked like landing.
Krakow pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Long has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Long misses with a knee to the head.
Krakow tries for a takedown but Long manages to get underhooks.
Long is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Long drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Krakow gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Long prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Krakow. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Long decides to pull guard.
Krakow looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Krakow looking to pass the guard.
Krakow engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Krakow decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Krakow pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Krakow lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Krakow closes the distance and clinches.
Krakow prevents the takedown attempt.
Long tries for a takedown. No joy.

Long breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Krakow scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Krakow decides to stand up, so the ref orders Long to his feet.
Long misses with a takedown attempt - Krakow sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A head kick misses from Long.
Long is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Krakow shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Long napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Long throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Krakow throws a head kick that misses.
Long misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've been informed that Long has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Krakow throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Long.

Krakow shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Krakow showed some decent athleticism there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Long wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krakow with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Krakow prevents Long from improving his position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Krakow passes to side control.
Krakow wants to control but Long is keeping him busy.
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 Thomas Krakow will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Krakow thumps Long with a low kick.
Krakow tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Long defends well and Krakow ends up having to push Long into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Long tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Krakow paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Krakow tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Long swivels and escapes.
Krakow dives in and grabs Long's left leg, looking for a takedown. Long pushes down on Krakow's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Krakow. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Long pushes Krakow up against the cage in a clinch.

Krakow wants the takedown. Long is fighting it off but Krakow persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Long's guard against the cage.

Long looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Krakow passes into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Long regains half guard there - taking advantage of Krakow's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Long tries to roll over but Krakow keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long wants to get back to his feet.

Long looking for submissions off his back.
Krakow trying to pass the guard but Long defending well.

Krakow stands up out of the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Long gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Krakow to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Long is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Krakow dives into side control.

Thomas Krakow overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Krakow working the head and body with strikes.
Long is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Long is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krakow wants to lay and pray for a moment but Long keeps working.
Krakow moves into full mount!
Krakow cracks Long with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Long wants to control but Krakow is having none of it.
Krakow tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Long is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Krakow with a couple of short strikes.
Krakow avoids the attempt from Long to control.
Krakow sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Krakow is stalling here but it's allowed Long to get half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Krakow dominated that second round.
That's time! Krakow's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Long throws a big shot that misses.
Long throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Krakow's waist but Krakow gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Long off to one side.
Krakow changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Krakow misses with a head kick.
Long shoots in for a takedown but Krakow shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Krakow wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Krakow closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Long's guard.
Long 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.
Long has momentary wrist control but Krakow slips an elbow through the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Krakow is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Long trying to strike off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Krakow stands up and waves to Long to follow him.
Krakow tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Long moves out of range as Krakow throws a body kick.
Krakow looks for the body kick but Long saw that one coming.
Long with the counter takedown but Krakow avoids it easily.
Long dives in for a single leg takedown but Krakow sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Thomas Krakow has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Long.
Krakow fails to land with a series of punches.
Long displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Krakow.

Long clinches with his opponent.
Long is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A short right from Krakow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Long trying to stall but Krakow improves his position.
Long looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Long tries to break the clinch but Krakow is controlling the position.

Krakow has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Long uses from the top position.
Krakow trying to keep a closed guard but Long is proving a slippery customer.
Long trying to control the position from guard on top but Krakow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Long must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Krakow controls Long momentarily but Long frees himself.
Long wants to stand and escape but instead Krakow has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Long really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Krakow. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long looking for a sweep. Not yet Long, not yet.
Krakow is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Long can't keep his opponent in guard - Krakow advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Krakow stands up from half guard.

Krakow feints and as Long raises his hands in defense, Krakow changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Long wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Krakow manages to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Krakow is thwarting Long's attempts to control the position.
Krakow lands with a punch from half guard.
Krakow takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Krakow wants to control but Long is keeping him busy.
Long is looking to control Krakow's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Long avoid being mounted?
Brandon Long has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thomas Krakow is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Long punching from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Krakow showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Krakow has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Krakow!
After the big win, Thomas Krakow made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Amped Performance and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.