PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dunning Kruger (ranked 2385 p4p, 329 weight class) and Kari Krossi (ranked 3393 p4p, 440 weight class). Krossi has chosen Blümchen - Ich bin wieder hier as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kruger
vs
Krossi

190 cm
25
212 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

191 cm
28
215 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dunning Kruger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kari Krossi!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Krossi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Kruger tries to buck Krossi off but Krossi is having none of it.
Krossi is looking to take a break and control but Kruger is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Krossi tries to stand but Kruger is controlling his head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kruger struggling a bit here.
Krossi slows the pace down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krossi working away.
Kruger is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Krossi slows the pace down.
Kruger is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kruger sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kruger wants to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kruger throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Krossi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Krossi throws a fast counter high kick but Kruger manages to duck under it in time.
Krossi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kari Krossi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kruger gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kruger is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Krossi is trying to stand back up but Kruger is controlling him
Kruger trying to mount his opponent but Krossi defends it.
Krossi flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Krossi trying to hold on to Kruger's head to control him but Kruger postures up.
Kruger scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krossi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kruger throws an elbow that misses. Krossi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kruger's guard. Nice move by Krossi!

Krossi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kruger controls Krossi momentarily but Krossi frees himself.
Krossi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kruger works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Krossi stands up over Kruger, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Krossi trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kruger's guard.
Krossi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Krossi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kruger wants to slow Krossi down by chopping away at his legs.

Krossi moves into the clinch.
Kruger tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Krossi jumps guard.
Krossi has his hands on Kruger's head, controlling the position.
Kruger stopping the sweep attempt from Krossi.
Krossi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruger content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kari Krossi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Krossi working a defensive guard but Kruger passes into half guard.
Kruger wants to control but Krossi is keeping him busy.
Kruger seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Krossi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kruger seems to be looking for submissions.
Kruger is thwarting Krossi's attempts to control the position.
Kruger throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Krossi has his hands clasped together around Kruger's back. He's all about the action.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kruger connects with a nice short shot to Krossi's temple.

Kruger is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Krossi is positioning himself well to prevent Kruger advancing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Krossi throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Krossi wants to improve his position but Kruger is controlling well.
Krossi works his way to full guard. Good work.
Krossi is trying to keep Kruger in close.
Kruger stops Krossi from standing up.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruger looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Krossi blocks a low kick nicely.

Krossi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Krossi tries to score with some ground and pound. Kruger controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Kruger tries to bench press Krossi off him but Krossi keeps the position.
Krossi is staying tight to Kruger's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Krossi throws an elbow but Kruger slips to the side and avoids it well.
Kruger manages to work his way to half guard, despite Krossi's best efforts.
Kruger is staying active underneath Krossi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krossi tries to stand but can't do so whilst Kruger controls his leg.
Krossi controlling the pace.

Kruger looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Krossi with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Krossi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kruger manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Krossi clinches up with Kruger and pushes him back against the cage.

Krossi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Krossi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Krossi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kruger's head.

It looks like Dunning Kruger has been cut.
Kruger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Krossi.
Kruger throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kruger ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Krossi moves away.

Krossi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kruger napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Krossi wants to control but Kruger is keeping him busy.
Krossi working the head with strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruger controls the position for a moment.
Krossi trying to control the position but Kruger is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krossi has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Krossi wants to control the pace but Kruger is squirming around nicely.
Kruger keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kruger manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Kruger is defending against the submission attempts here by Krossi.
Dunning Kruger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krossi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kruger keeps working.
Kruger trying to control but Krossi postures up.
Krossi seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Krossi passes into side control, despite Kruger's attempt to control the position.
Krossi tries to stand but Kruger is controlling his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruger is looking for a sweep.
Krossi taking a breather here.
Kruger stops Krossi from passing to mount.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kari Krossi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Krossi is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Krossi gets tackled into the cage by Kruger. Kruger maintains the clinch.

That's four 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.
Kruger presses Krossi against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Krossi pulls Kruger into guard.
Krossi controlling Kruger's posture.
Kruger passes into half guard.

Kruger is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kruger sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Krossi defending well though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kari Krossi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Krossi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kari Krossi!
In his post fight interview, Kari Krossi started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.