PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maicon Kuster (ranked 7178 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ains Crul (ranked 9056 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kuster
vs
Crul

190 cm
18
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

213 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Maicon Kuster!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ains Crul!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Daniel Franklin and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crul fails in his attempt to clinch.
Crul will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Crul fails with the takedown
and Kuster counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kuster tries to clinch but Crul is having none of it.
Crul throws a sloppy head kick and Kuster moves out of range easily.
Kuster digs a good hook to Crul's body.
Crul throws a nice looking combination but Kuster bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Crul shoots in looking for a takedown. Kuster tries to sprawl out of it but Crul keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kuster manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crul tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kuster manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kuster tries to land a body kick

and Crul counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kuster pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crul jumps guard but Kuster stands there with Crul around his waist. Crul gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Maicon Kuster has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ains Crul.

Crul breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Crul avoids the body shot from Kuster.
Crul let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A clash of legs there as Crul blocks the low kick.

Crul has Kuster up against the cage in a clinch.
Kuster tries to throw a body punch but Crul avoids it by throwing Kuster back against the cage.
Kuster lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Crul blocks a body shot from Kuster.
Kuster tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Crul's elbow.
Kuster tries to land knees in the clinch but Crul avoids the damage to the body.
Crul blocking some punches.
Kuster goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Crul prevents a body shot from Kuster.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crul blocking some punches.
Kuster misses with a punch on the inside.
Kuster tries to throw a body punch but Crul avoids it by throwing Kuster back against the cage.

Crul successfully pulls guard.
Kuster wants to pass the guard but Crul is keeping the position.
Kuster wants to control from the top but Crul keeps moving.
Kuster has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Crul is proving hard to escape from.
Crul looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crul working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kuster doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kuster manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kuster wants to control from the top but Crul keeps moving.
Crul wants to get back to his feet but Kuster is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kuster tries to clinch but Crul moves out of range.
Kuster stuffs the takedown attempt from Crul. Crul gets slowly back to his feet.
Kuster fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Crul manages to avoid it.
Crul closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kuster circles away.
A quick step to the side and Kuster tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Kuster clinches up with Crul and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Crul breaks from the clinch.
We've been informed that Crul has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Crul tries to clinch up
and Kuster counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Crul thinking.
Kuster waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Crul.
Crul dodges the punch combination from Kuster.
Crul tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kuster swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kuster is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Crul.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Crul dives in for a single leg takedown but Kuster sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kuster throws a quick counter kick to the body but Crul avoids it.

Crul fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kuster, pushing him back against the cage.
Kuster pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Crul blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maicon Kuster dominated that round.
That's time! Kuster's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Crul has his takedown stuffed
and Kuster cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Crul misses with a low kick as Kuster jumps back.
The fight stays on the outside here - Crul looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kuster throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kuster swings away with a body shot that misses
and Crul counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Crul wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crul ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Crul avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Crul shoots in for a takedown but Kuster shows good takedown defense.
Crul tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crul scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Kuster digs a good hook to Crul's body.

Kuster closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Crul did well to prevent Kuster getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuster prevents Crul from improving his position.
Crul is not content to let Kuster control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Crul can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kuster is really struggling to control Crul but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Kuster looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Crul trying to control but Kuster postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuster trying to control from half guard but Crul is working away.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Crul tries to land a front kick but Kuster steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crul looks to clinch
and Kuster cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kuster with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Crul slips a straight right by Kuster.
Crul is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kuster.
Kuster tries to close the distance and clinch but Crul swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Crul is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Kuster misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Crul.
As Kuster backs off Crul throws a huge counter combo but Kuster manages to avoid it all.
Crul connects with a nice looking jab.
Crul fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Maicon Kuster has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ains Crul.
Crul checks the leg kick nicely there.
Jab by Kuster.
Ains Crul is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Crul showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kuster.
Crul tries to clinch there but Kuster circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuster pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuster tries to clinch but Crul moves out of range.
Kuster is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Crul can do to turn this around?
Crul shoots and misses
and Kuster counters with a right hand to the body.
Kuster doesn't manage to clinch there - Crul circles away.

Kuster fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Crul, pushing him back against the cage.
Kuster struggles to land a body shot inside as Crul controls his hands.
Kuster tries to throw a body punch but Crul avoids it by throwing Kuster back against the cage.
A short right from Kuster.

Crul escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Maicon Kuster is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Crul uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kuster.
Crul ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Crul is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
The crowd cheers as Kuster lands an impressive looking overhand right. Crul doesn't seem phased though.
Kuster takes a swing at Crul's ribcage but misses.
Kuster wants to clinch but Crul slips to the side
letting Crul counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maicon Kuster dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Crul shoots in looking for a takedown but Kuster manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Crul's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Crul moves into the clinch.
Kuster lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kuster can't find room to land a body shot as Crul controls the action.
Crul blocks a body shot from Kuster.
Kuster is stalling here.
Kuster digs a right hand underneath Crul's ribcage. Crul let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kuster lands a hook to the side of the head.
A body shot lands from Crul.
Kuster is pressed up against the cage. Crul has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kuster down to the mat. Kuster avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuster misses with a hook. Crul ducked under it nicely.
Crul shoots in looking for a takedown but Kuster manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Crul's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Maicon Kuster has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ains Crul.
Kuster tries to close the distance and clinch but Crul swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Crul takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kuster clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuster lands a hook to the side of the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Kuster.
Kuster lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A left hand lands to the body for Kuster.
Kuster swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kuster tries to work over Crul's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kuster misses with a punch to the body.
A short right from Kuster.
Kuster is trying to maintain a safe position but Crul gets an underhook and turns Kuster into the cage.
Crul blocks an elbow strike.
Kuster lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Crul backwards.
Crul blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kuster has a couple of punches blocked by Crul.
Kuster misses with the head strike.
Kuster misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Crul.
Kuster is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Crul is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kuster misses with the head strike.

Crul's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kuster is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kuster pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Crul darts in looking for a takedown but Kuster gets double underhooks and turns Crul into the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Crul tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kuster sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Crul somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuster throws a hook but Crul blocks it.
Crul tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kuster was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kuster throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kuster looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Crul is looking for the big counter here.
Kuster punishes Crul's body with a nice straight punch.
Kuster pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kuster swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A head kick misses from Kuster.
Maicon Kuster is winning the standup battle so far.
Kuster scores with a jab to the body.
Kuster darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crul swats away the attempt to clinch by Kuster.
Crul tries to land a body kick

and Kuster counters by moving into the clinch.
Kuster is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kuster misses with a punch on the inside.
Kuster misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Crul.
Kuster has a couple of punches blocked by Crul.
Crul tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kuster smiles and moves away.
Kuster circles away from the clinch attempt.
A counter left hand to the body from Kuster misses its target.
A shot to the liver by Kuster. Beautiful body shot.
Kuster is looking to wear down Crul with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Crul wants to clinch up but Kuster keeps it at a distance.
Kuster throwing a counter right hand but Crul manages to avoid it.
Kuster jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Crul throws a counter combo.
Ains Crul has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maicon Kuster is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Crul avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Crul steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Kuster.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maicon Kuster showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kuster 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maicon Kuster!