PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Niko Alzate (ranked 575 p4p, 582 weight class) and Gemechu McKraken (ranked 31 p4p, 33 weight class). 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.

Alzate
vs
McKraken

168 cm
30
135
11 - 7 - 0

170 cm
30
140
16 - 9 - 1

Great wrestler
World class MT
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

FUClothing
Conviction

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Niko Alzate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Gemechu McKraken!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Skip Squint and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alzate just misses with a punch to the body.
Alzate throws a chopping leg kick but McKraken manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
McKraken connects with a single shot there.

McKraken instigates a clinch.
McKraken goes for a takedown attempt but Alzate pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
McKraken keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Alzate.
Alzate fails in his attempt to clinch.
Alzate lands a jab-cross combination.
Alzate misses with a hook

and McKraken counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
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!
McKraken throwing shots but Alzate is blocking nicely.
McKraken has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ground and pound from McKraken.
Alzate is looking for a sweep. McKraken is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Alzate looking for submissions off his back.
Alzate avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McKraken.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKraken sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Alzate is refusing to be controlled, as McKraken sits in half guard.
Alzate wants to get back to full guard.
McKraken is looking to advance position but Alzate won't allow it.
Alzate has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

McKraken seems to be looking for submissions.
McKraken controlling the action here.

Alzate looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
McKraken wants to take a breather but Alzate is having none of it.

Alzate is defending against the submission attempts here by McKraken.
Alzate controlling the position for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Alzate trying to control but McKraken postures up.
Alzate has his hands clasped together around McKraken's back. He's all about the action.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alzate moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from Alzate as McKraken shoots in.
Horrible takedown attempt by McKraken or perhaps it was just good defense by Alzate, which made it look bad.
Niko Alzate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gemechu McKraken.
Alzate misses the shot to the body.
Niko Alzate seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

McKraken closes the distance and clinches.
McKraken tries to pull guard but Alzate forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
McKraken throws a head punch that misses.
McKraken blocks a punch to the side of the head.
McKraken is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Alzate pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Alzate has McKraken pushed against the cage.
McKraken's coach down at McGrady FT was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on McKraken's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Alzate blocks a body shot from McKraken.
McKraken misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Alzate throws a punch but it's blocked by McKraken.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKraken tries to throw a body punch but Alzate avoids it by throwing McKraken back against the cage.
Alzate effectively controlling the action here.
McKraken lands with a light punch inside.
McKraken lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
McKraken throws a head punch that misses.
Alzate swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Alzate lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Alzate misses with a short punch on the inside.
Alzate blocking some punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alzate struggles to land a body shot inside as McKraken controls his hands.
McKraken tries to work over Alzate's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Alzate goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Alzate tries to work over McKraken's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Niko Alzate will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

McKraken feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Alzates jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Alzate throws a solid leg kick but McKraken takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Alzate.
McKraken is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Alzate looks to throw the jab but McKraken is out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from McKraken.
Alzate misses with a left hand

and McKraken counters with a nice double leg into side control. Alzate won't be happy with that.
McKraken working away.
McKraken wants to take a breather but Alzate manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for McKraken.
Alzate trying to keep a closed guard but McKraken is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McKraken throwing strikes from guard but Alzate blocks nicely.
Alzate working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKraken with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
McKraken landing some decent shots from guard.
Alzate has his hands on McKraken's head, controlling the position.
McKraken is looking to work some ground and pound but Alzate has wrist control.
McKraken wants to pass the guard but Alzate is keeping the position.
McKraken trying to control but Alzate is working from the bottom.
Alzate trying to control the position.
Alzate looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Alzate has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but McKraken has passed into side control.
Alzate tries to buck McKraken off but McKraken is having none of it.
Alzate takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

McKraken has an Americana. Alzate didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! McKraken is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if McKraken hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Gemechu McKraken!
A very excited looking Gemechu McKraken made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.