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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Kruger (ranked 1628 p4p, 2587 weight class) and Chaz Popizicki (ranked 219 p4p, 333 weight class). Chaz Popizicki acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.
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| 181 cm
21
200
5 - 3 - 1 |
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182 cm
21
193
5 - 3 - 0 |
Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Insanely flexible |
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Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank |
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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 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Jesse Kruger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chaz Popizicki!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and Robert Douchet.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kruger scores with a nice head shot.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Popizicki has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Kruger takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nice uppercut lands for Popizicki. That snapped Kruger's head back.
Kruger looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Popizicki lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Popizicki moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kruger closes the distance and pushes Popizicki back into the cage.
Kruger lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kruger fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kruger struggles to land a body shot inside as Popizicki controls his hands.
Popizicki misses with a hook from the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Kruger.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kruger swings wildly with an uppercut but Popizicki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Popizicki scores with a shot to the side of Kruger's head.
Popizicki is trying to pull guard but Kruger turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kruger misses with some punches.
Popizicki has a couple of punches blocked by Kruger.
Popizicki lands with a light punch inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Popizicki.
Popizicki is trying to pull guard but Kruger turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Popizicki blocks an uppercut.
Kruger has a couple of punches blocked by Popizicki.
Popizicki throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Krugers head.
Popizicki blocking some punches.
Kruger throws a head punch that misses.
A short right from Kruger on the inside.
Kruger throws a punch but it's blocked by Popizicki.
Popizicki can't find room to land a body shot as Kruger controls the action.
Popizicki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kruger misses with a punch on the inside.
Popizicki tries to pull guard but Kruger won't allow it.
Jesse Kruger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chaz Popizicki.
Kruger misses with the head strike.
Still in the clinch, Kruger scores with a nice short uppercut.
Popizicki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Popizicki blocks a body shot from Kruger.
Kruger misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kruger throws a punch but it's blocked by Popizicki.
Kruger misses with the head strike.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popizicki blocking some punches.
Kruger misses with the head strike.
Kruger misses with the head strike.
Kruger throws a head punch that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kruger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kruger lands a shoulder strike.
Popizicki scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Popizicki.
Kruger working aggressively here.
Popizicki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kruger misses with the head strike.
Kruger's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kruger misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Kruger.
Popizicki jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kruger walks away with a smile on his face. Popizicki gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kruger doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Popizicki closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Popizicki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Popizicki has Kruger up against the cage in a clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popizicki jumps guard.
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.
Popizicki working a defensive guard here.
Kruger stopping the sweep attempt from Popizicki.
Kruger throws a strike but Popizicki rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Popizicki wants to pass the guard but Kruger is keeping the position.
Kruger has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Popizicki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kruger has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Popizicki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kruger knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Popizicki on the ground.
Kruger working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Popizicki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Popizicki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Popizicki lands a couple of decent looking shots.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popizicki is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Popizicki trying to control but Kruger is working from the bottom.
Kruger is looking for a triangle but Popizicki pushes his legs off easily.
Popizicki looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kruger has an active guard here but Popizicki has managed to pass into half guard.
Popizicki scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Popizicki is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Nice strikes from Popizicki there.
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 Jesse Kruger will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.
Popizicki listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kruger tries to clinch there but Popizicki circles away.
Kruger tries to clinch but Popizicki moves out of range.
Popizicki is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Popizicki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Popizicki looks to land a right hand but Kruger moved out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Popizicki there.
Popizicki throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kruger sees it coming and avoids it easily.
No joy there for Popizicki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kruger seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Popizicki works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Popizicki throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kruger on the side of the head.
Popizicki tries to keep at a distance but Kruger has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kruger lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Popizicki lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kruger backwards.
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!
Kruger doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Popizicki.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Popizicki.
Jesse Kruger has scored more points in the clinch so far.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Popizicki prevents a body shot from Kruger.
Popizicki tries a body shot but Kruger blocks it.
A right hook to the body lands for Kruger.
Kruger lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kruger misses with a punch on the inside.
Popizicki is trying to pull guard but Kruger turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kruger throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Popizickis head.
Popizicki blocking some punches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kruger creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kruger misses with a punch to the body.
Kruger goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Popizicki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kruger misses with a punch on the inside.
Popizicki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Kruger on the inside.
Kruger blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Popizicki throws a head punch that misses.
Popizicki looking for a takedown.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kruger gets through Popizicki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Popizicki swings away with an uppercut that misses.
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!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Popizicki.
Popizicki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kruger pushes Popizicki back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kruger misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kruger.
Popizicki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Popizicki is looking to control Kruger's arms but Kruger gets an underhook and turns him. Now Popizicki has his back to the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Popizicki.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kruger.
Popizicki tries to pull guard but Kruger forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Jesse Kruger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chaz Popizicki.
Popizicki misses with some punches.
Kruger lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kruger swings wildly with an uppercut but Popizicki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Popizicki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Kruger fails to land.
Popizicki is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kruger to keep the fight standing.
Popizicki takes a shot to the head.
Kruger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kruger misses with a hook from the clinch.
Popizicki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kruger misses with a punch on the inside.
Popizicki working aggressively here.
Popizicki scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Popizicki.
Popizicki pulls guard.
Popizicki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kruger keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Popizicki's head.
Kruger is in close to Popizicki's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Popizicki is adopting a defensive guard.
Let's hope that Popizicki has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruger won't allow Popizicki to sweep him here.
Popizicki working a defensive guard here.
Popizicki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Popizicki looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kruger throwing strikes but missing.
Kruger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kruger working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Popizicki's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Jesse Kruger dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!
Kruger connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Popizicki's hands.
A swing and a miss from Popizicki.
Popizicki gets tackled into the cage by Kruger. Kruger maintains the clinch.
Popizicki misses with a punch on the inside.
Kruger lands with a right to the head.
Popizicki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kruger just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kruger scores with a nice hook to the head.
Popizicki lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kruger.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kruger.
Kruger swings wildly with an uppercut but Popizicki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Popizicki manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popizicki missing with a left hand there. Kruger was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Good exchange - Popizicki coming out on top.
Popizicki has closed the distance and engaged Kruger in a clinch.
Popizicki working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
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!
Kruger working aggressively here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger lands a shot to the body.
Kruger has a couple of punches blocked by Popizicki.
Kruger lands an uppercut.
Popizicki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Kruger fails to land.
Kruger misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kruger.
Popizicki blocks an uppercut.
Popizicki tries to work over Kruger's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kruger cracks Popizicki with a nice body shot.
Popizicki lands a nice shot to the body.
Kruger scores with a shot to the side of Popizicki's head.
Popizicki wants a takedown but no success here.
Popizicki is trying to force a seperation but Kruger has the dominant position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Popizicki.
Kruger throws a punch but it's blocked by Popizicki.
Popizicki swings wildly with an uppercut but Kruger uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kruger fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Jesse Kruger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popizicki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Popizicki blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Popizicki jumps into guard, dragging Kruger to the mat.
Popizicki trying to control the position.
Kruger stopping the sweep attempt from Popizicki.
Kruger trying to control but Popizicki is working from the bottom.
Popizicki is trying to control the position but Kruger postures up.
Kruger trying to control the position from guard on top but Popizicki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kruger has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Popizicki keeping full guard, as Kruger tries to pass.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popizicki keeping moving, preventing Kruger from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Popizicki forces Kruger back against the cage and clinches.
Popizicki blocks an uppercut.
Popizicki lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kruger throws a head punch that misses.
Kruger tries to throw a body punch but Popizicki avoids it by throwing Kruger back against the cage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popizicki tries a body shot but Kruger blocks it.
Popizicki throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Krugers head.
Kruger blocks a body shot from Popizicki.
Popizicki lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kruger backwards.
Popizicki throws a punch but it's blocked by Kruger.
Popizicki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kruger just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jesse Kruger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chaz Popizicki.
Kruger throws a punch but it's blocked by Popizicki.
Popizicki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Chaz Popizicki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Popizicki lands an uppercut.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Chaz Popizicki.
I think Kruger 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jesse Kruger!
After winning the bout, Jesse Kruger thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
53% |
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