PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Eta Knox (ranked 1375 p4p, 73 weight class) and Peter Kropotkin (ranked 1550 p4p, 88 weight class). Knox comes to the cage accompanied by David Dallas | Runnin'. 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.

Knox
vs
Kropotkin

172 cm
24
146 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

168 cm
30
142 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

One stop shop

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Eta Knox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Peter Kropotkin!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knox tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kropotkin was well out of range. Poor timing from Knox.

Kropotkin instigates a clinch.
Knox misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kropotkin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kropotkin lands a body shot in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Knox.
Kropotkin is trying to pull guard but Knox has him pressed against the cage.
Kropotkin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kropotkin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Kropotkin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Knox misses with a body shot
and Kropotkin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knox swats away the attempt to clinch by Kropotkin.
Knox wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Kropotkin ducks right into an uppercut from Knox.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox throws an overhand right that lands on Kropotkin's shoulder, as Kropotkin tries to avoid the shot.
Kropotkin tries to counter with a clinch but Knox shakes him off and moves away.
Kropotkin looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Knox throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Knox drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Knox scores with a body shot.
Kropotkin misses with a low kick.
Kropotkin avoids the body shot from Knox.
Kropotkin slips a straight right by Knox.
Knox ducks under a wild hook from Kropotkin.
Knox throws a lazy right hand but Kropotkin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kropotkin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kropotkin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Knox sprawls well. Knox wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kropotkin gets slowly back to his feet.

Kropotkin has taken the fight to the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Knox softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Knox escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kropotkin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Knox counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knox jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kropotkin is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Knox instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kropotkin lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kropotkin stalling against the cage.
Knox lands a nice uppercut.
Knox goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A left hand lands to the body for Knox.
Kropotkin can't break the clinch.
Knox scores with a shoulder strike.
Knox misses with a short punch on the inside.
Knox lands a shoulder strike.
Knox misses with a hook to the ribs.
Knox lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kropotkin wants to stall.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Knox.
Kropotkin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Knox fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Eta Knox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peter Kropotkin.
A low kick from Kropotkin misses
enabling Knox to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox misses with a double jab
and Kropotkin counters with a two punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A looping hook to the body misses from Kropotkin. Knox does a little dance to reset his feet.
Knox ducks right into an uppercut from Kropotkin.

Knox gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kropotkin.

Kropotkin decides to pull guard.

Kropotkin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Knox looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kropotkin lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eta Knox dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Knox jabs Kropotkin right on the nose. Kropotkin blinks but takes it well.

It looks like Peter Kropotkin has been cut.
A big right from Knox misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Knox. Kropotkin does a little dance to reset his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kropotkin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Knox stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kropotkin takes one on the button.
Knox thows a left - swing and a miss!
Knox throws the left hand but Kropotkin avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox scores with a nice right hand.
Peter Kropotkin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Knox digs a good body shot into Kropotkin's ribs.
Knox digs a good hook to Kropotkin's body.
Knox connects with a body shot.
Kropotkin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Knox.
Kropotkin changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kropotkin defending well as Knox loads up on a big left hand.
Kropotkin misses with a few strikes there.
Knox throws a body shot but no joy.

Kropotkin gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knox is trying to improve his position.
Kropotkin grinds an elbow into Knox's temple.
Knox looks to move to half guard but instead Kropotkin has passed into mount! Damn!
Kropotkin prevents Knox from getting the reversal.
Knox wants to hold on but Kropotkin pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knox regains half guard.
Knox wants to get back to full guard.
Kropotkin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Knox does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Kropotkin is looking for a kimura but Knox is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kropotkin to get the leverage.
Knox is staying active underneath Kropotkin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Knox wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kropotkin thows a huge punch but Knox dodges it nicely.

Kropotkin 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.
Kropotkin trying to control the action but Knox is working from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Knox manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Knox 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kropotkin slips nicely into half guard.
Kropotkin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kropotkin wants to pass the guard but Knox is defending well.
Knox keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Knox is looking to control Kropotkin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Knox avoid being mounted?
Kropotkin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Knox tries to roll over but Kropotkin keeps him under control.
Knox is trying to maintain the position but Kropotkin is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eta Knox dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Peter Kropotkin's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kropotkin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Knox looks to clinch

and Kropotkin counters with a takedown into side control.
Knox manages to get back to half guard.
Knox tries to get to full guard but Kropotkin has control of the leg.
Kropotkin is thwarting Knox's attempts to control the position.

Kropotkin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Knox is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kropotkin is trying to control the action in half guard but Knox is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Knox wants to sweep here but Kropotkin controlling him for the moment.
Knox controlling Kropotkin's posture.
Knox 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.
Knox controlling Kropotkin's posture.
Kropotkin wants to pass the guard but Knox is keeping the position.

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.
Knox wants to sweep here but Kropotkin controlling him for the moment.
Knox keeping full guard, as Kropotkin tries to pass.
Kropotkin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Knox trying to control the position here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Kropotkin shoots in and gets a takedown into Knox's guard.
Knox working a defensive guard but Kropotkin passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kropotkin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Knox sees it coming and defends easily.
Kropotkin trying to pass the guard but Knox defending well.

Kropotkin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Knox defends it well.
Knox is trying is best to control the position here.
Peter Kropotkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Knox is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kropotkin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kropotkin's back!
You can see the frustration on Kropotkin's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Kropotkin trying to get back to his feet but Knox is in full control for now.
Knox has the hooks in. Kropotkin is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Knox trying to control.
Peter Kropotkin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kropotkin trying to get back to his feet but Knox is in full control for now.
Knox is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Peter Kropotkin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Knox 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eta Knox!
Eta Knox thanked the fans post fight for their support.