PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pico Ibarra (ranked 4623 p4p, 6541 weight class) and Eric Kronke (ranked 530 p4p, 627 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Ibarra
vs
Kronke

186 cm
18
198
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
23
218
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pico Ibarra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Eric Kronke!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Both fighters are only really looking to counter, so after a good 30 seconds of circling each other endlessly, the referee has stepped in and told them both to be more aggressive.
Ibarra uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kronke.
Ibarra tries to counter by clinching up but Kronke breaks away and moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kronke throws a looping overhand right but Ibarra ducks down to avoid it.
Kronke uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ibarra.
Kronke steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ibarra.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kronke jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kronke keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ibarra.
Ibarra throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kronke lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

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.
Decent striking displayed by Kronke there.
A swing and a miss from Kronke.
Ibarra takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ibarra takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kronke ducks under a wild hook from Ibarra.
Kronke steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ibarra.
Ibarra throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ibarra sets himself, and Kronke steps forward looking for the clinch! Ibarra avoids it this time.
Ibarra throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kronke sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kronke tries to counter with a clinch but Ibarra shakes him off and moves away.
Kronke lands with an overhand left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kronke lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kronke misses with a hook. Ibarra ducked under it nicely.
Ibarra throws a jab when Kronke was well out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ibarra takes one on the button.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kronke uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ibarra.
Kronke is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Ibarra misses with a hook.
Ibarra throws a looping overhand right but Kronke ducks down to avoid it.
Kronke wants to counter the offense by Ibarra and move into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kronke takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ibarra ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ibarra wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Kronke has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kronke clobbers Ibarra with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kronke moves out of range as Ibarra strikes.
Kronke is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Ibarra might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Kronke slips a jab from Ibarra.
Kronke wants to counter the offense by Ibarra and move into the clinch position.
Ibarra throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kronke sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kronke wants to counter the offense by Ibarra and move into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kronke defending well as Ibarra loads up on a big left hand.
Kronke wants to counter the offense by Ibarra and move into the clinch position.
Ibarra throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kronke sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ibarra takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nice uppercut there from Kronke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibarra gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Ibarra waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kronke.
Ibarra throws the left hand but Kronke avoids the punch easily.
Kronke is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Ibarra moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kronke thuds his right hand into Ibarra's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kronke misses with an uppercut.
Kronke looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kronke blocks a jab.
Kronke steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ibarra.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ibarra swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Kronke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kronke ducks under a wild hook from Ibarra.
Kronke steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ibarra.
Ibarra throws a lazy right hand but Kronke sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kronke wants to counter with a clinch but Ibarra pushes him away.
Ibarra looks to land a right hand but Kronke moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibarra moves out of range as Kronke strikes.
Ibarra tries to counter by clinching up but Kronke breaks away and moves out of range.
Ibarra is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Kronke connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ibarra's hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kronke throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ibarra on the side of the head.
Kronke darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kronke ducks under a wild hook from Ibarra.
Ibarra on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Pico Ibarra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibarra is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kronke.
Kronke lunges at Ibarra with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Ibarra's hand.
Kronke misses with an uppercut. Ibarra saw that one coming.
Kronke misses with a hook.
Ibarra tries to counter by clinching up but Kronke breaks away and moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Ibarra throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ibarra is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kronke.
Kronke wants to counter the offense by Ibarra and move into the clinch position.
Kronke looks to land a left hand but Ibarra moved out of range nicely.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kronke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ibarra bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kronke lands with an uppercut that bounces Ibarra off the cage and back into range.
Ibarra loads up on a big right hand but Kronke slips the punch.
Kronke steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ibarra.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A big left from Ibarra misses.
Kronke is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Kronke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kronke has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Kronke!
Eric Kronke took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Savage Fightwear for their support in the buildup to the fight.