PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tom Kruiz (ranked 2589 p4p, 0 weight class) and Konstantin Manison (ranked 3399 p4p, 0 weight class). Kruiz's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, ZARILA KANDZE. Manison has chosen Wherever I May Roam as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Konstantin Manison told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Kruiz
vs
Manison

185 cm
39
193 lbs
29 - 9 - 0

185 cm
39
200 lbs
36 - 29 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tom Kruiz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 29 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Konstantin Manison!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Illya Tyunina and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kruiz misses with a straight left.
Nice defenses there by Kruiz.
Manison getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Manison takes a swing at Kruiz's ribcage but misses.
Kruiz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Good leg kick by Kruiz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kruiz avoids the body shot from Manison.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Manison misses with a series of wild punches.
Kruiz misses with a double jab.
Kruiz tests Manison's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kruiz blocks a jab.
Kruiz drops down looking for a counter takedown but Manison sprawls and moves away.
Kruiz throws a jab but it's blocked by Manison.
A head kick misses from Kruiz.
Manison scoring well with a low kick there.
A big right from Kruiz misses.
Kruiz walks into a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manison wants to land a leg kick but Kruiz is out of range.
Manison with a nice cross.
Manison throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruiz tried to score with a low kick but Manison checks it.
Manison throws a front kick aimed at Kruiz's knee but Kruiz avoids it well.
Manison scores with a sloppy right hand. Kruiz should have avoided that one.
Kruiz is looking to clinch but Manison is avoiding it.
Manison feints a counter leg kick.
Manison lands with a cross.
Kruiz moves out of range of the strikes.
Manison gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Kruiz counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Manison!
Manison wants to get back to his feet but Kruiz is dominant here and he's now got Manison's back!
I really don't envy Manison right now.
Kruiz throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
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!

Manison defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Kruiz is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Manison has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Kruiz looking for the RNC.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manison tries to escape the position.
Manison is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kruiz working for a choke but Manison reverses nicely into Kruiz 's guard.
Manison trying to control the position from guard on top but Kruiz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kruiz looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Kruiz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kruiz tries to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Manison stands up and waves to Kruiz to follow him.
Manison just misses with a punch to the body.
Manison looks to land a right hand but Kruiz moved out of range.
Kruiz moves away from the strike by Manison.
Manison throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Manison avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Manison gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kruiz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Manison throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kruiz checks a leg kick.
Manison wants to slow Kruiz down by chopping away at his legs.
Manison keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Manison rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kruiz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Manison misses with a series of wild punches.
Manison fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kruiz looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Manison misses.
A big left from Manison misses.
Kruiz avoids the head kick by Manison.
Kruiz misses with a hook. Manison ducked under it nicely.
Kruiz drops his hands momentarily and Manison takes advantage with a crisp shot 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!
Manison swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kruiz throws a body shot but no joy.
Kruiz just misses with a punch to the body.
Manison has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kruiz finds it's way round the side to connect with Manison's head.
Kruiz misses with a lunging right hand
and Kruiz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Manison scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Manison jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Manison throws out a loose jab but Kruiz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kruiz takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nice shot lands for Manison.
Manison throws a body shot but no joy.
Manison thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Konstantin Manison dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kruiz misses with a low kick as Manison jumps back.
A little jabbing left from Manison on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Manison has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Kruiz fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Manison to the ground. Kruiz is now in Manison's guard.

Manison pushes Kruiz off and gets back to his feet.
Kruiz checks the leg kick.
Good exchange - Manison coming out on top.
Manison tries to bum rush Kruiz with a series of wild strikes but Kruiz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kruiz half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Manison chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nice defenses there by Kruiz.
Kruiz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A big left from Kruiz misses.
Manison will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manison is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Manison looks to land a right hand but Kruiz moved out of range.
Manison takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Manison staying out of range there.
Manison tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Manison throws a leg kick

and Kruiz counters with a single leg into guard. Manison didn't expect that.
Manison is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruiz wants to control from the top but Manison keeps moving.
Manison wants to hit a switch here but Kruiz passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Manison there!
Kruiz controlling the position easily from mount.
Kruiz throws some wild stikes that Manison manages to avoid easily.
Kruiz lands a big elbow.
The referee warns Manison that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kruiz thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Kruiz has control of Manison's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Manison regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manison is desperately trying to improve his position but Kruiz has a good base and remains in mount.
Kruiz raining down hammerfists from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kruiz throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Kruiz working for a submission but Manison is keeping him at bay.
Kruiz avoids the attempt from Manison to control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Manison taking shots to the head.
Manison tries to hold on but Kruiz postures up.
Manison is desperately trying to improve his position but Kruiz has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruiz looking to finish with strikes here!
Manison is wriggling around trying to escape.

Kruiz moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Manison has worked his arm free - good work by Manison!
Manison tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ground and pound from Kruiz seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Tom Kruiz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kruiz prevents Manison from escaping the position.
Kruiz creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Manison sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kruiz is putting a hurting on Manison here, landing some big shots from side control.
Manison is looking for a sweep.

Kruiz is trying to get an arm triangle but Manison is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manison is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Kruiz has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Manison tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kruiz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kruiz working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Kruiz tries to move into full mount but can't pass Manison's legs.

Kruiz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Manison knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Manison is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Kruiz takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Kruiz is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Kruiz dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Manison on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Konstantin Manison seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Manison throws the left hand but Kruiz avoids the punch easily.
Manison throws a hook but Kruiz avoids it easily.
Manison uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kruiz.
Kruiz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Manison throws an off balance right hand
and Kruiz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Manison throws a sloppy head kick and Kruiz moves out of range easily.
Manison throws a body punch but Kruiz moves out of range.
Some bone on bone action there as Kruiz checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Manison misses the target.
Kruiz lands with an overhand left.
Manison tries to land a leg kick but Kruiz saw it coming and moves away.
Kruiz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kruiz scores with a punch to the head.
Kruiz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruiz closes the distance and clinches up with Manison, looking for a takedown. Kruiz pushes Manison against the cage but Manison circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kruiz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Manison's waist but Manison gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kruiz off to one side.
Manison throws out a counter right but Kruiz avoids it with no problem.
Manison misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Manison throws a body shot but no joy.
Good standup being displayed there by Kruiz as he connects with a hook.
Manison throws the left hand but Kruiz avoids the punch easily.
Manison misses with an uppercut.
Nice defenses there by Kruiz.
Manison dodges the punch combination from Kruiz.
Manison looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kruiz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Kruiz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manison pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kruiz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kruiz misses with a looping right.
Manison jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kruiz dives in for a single leg takedown but Manison sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Manison only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Kruiz connects with a nice looking jab.
Kruiz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Manison defends well and Kruiz ends up having to push Manison into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manison lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kruiz lands a jab.
Kruiz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Manison is looking to score with low kicks.
Kruiz throws a hook but Manison avoids it easily.
Kruiz connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kruiz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Konstantin Manison is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kruiz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Manison misses the shot to the body.
Manison thows a left - swing and a miss!
Manison uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kruiz.
A slow jab from Manison misses its intended target.
Kruiz swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Manison looks to land a right hand but Kruiz moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Manison. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Manison.
Kruiz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Manison avoids it really well and circles away.
Manison waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kruiz.
Manison loads up on a big right hand but Kruiz slips the punch.
Manison uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kruiz.
Manison on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kruiz walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Manison looks to land a right hand but Kruiz moved out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Kruiz misses the target.
Kruiz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Manison lands a nice hook to Kruiz's body. Kruiz takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Jab by Kruiz.
Kruiz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Manison throws out the jab.
Kruiz lands a nice shot that snaps Manison's head back.
An inside leg kick lands from Manison.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kruiz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Kruiz.
Kruiz slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kruiz loads up on a big right hand but Manison slips the punch.
Manison bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Manison throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kruiz changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
The crowd cheers as Kruiz lands an impressive looking overhand right. Manison doesn't seem phased though.
Manison cracks Kruiz with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Manison connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Manison ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kruiz moves away.
Manison checks a leg kick nicely.
Manison misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kruiz.
Kruiz connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Manison. Kruiz does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kruiz dodges the punch combination from Manison.
Kruiz connects with a looping right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Konstantin Manison.
I think Manison has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Konstantin Manison!
Konstantin Manison decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.