PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between JD Mckenzie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Braam Cronje (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mckenzie
vs
Cronje

188 cm
25
171 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Dangerous GnP
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, JD Mckenzie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Braam Cronje!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Andrew Berry and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cronje gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mckenzie to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cronje has a closed guard, preventing Mckenzie from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mckenzie throwing strikes but missing.
Cronje wants to sweep but no luck.
Cronje can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mckenzie controls the pace.
Mckenzie tries to free his leg and advance position but Cronje is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mckenzie postures up in Cronje's guard and throws a big left but Cronje blocks it.
Mckenzie trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cronje's guard.
Mckenzie postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mckenzie shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cronje is trying to defend but Mckenzie finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Cronje is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mckenzie stands up and beckons Cronje to join him on the feet.
Cronje avoids the body shot from Mckenzie.
Mckenzie displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cronje throws out the jab.
Cronje swats away the attempt to clinch by Mckenzie.

Mckenzie feints and as Cronje raises his hands in defense, Mckenzie changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mckenzieis looking to pass into half guard but Cronje pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Cronje is in guard.
Cronje looking to sit in guard and control but Mckenzie gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mckenzie gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cronje takes a swing at Mckenzie's ribcage but misses.

Mckenzie is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cronje's half guard.
Mckenzie stops Cronje from getting back to his feet.

Mckenzie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cronje sees it coming and defends easily.
Mckenzie is breathing heavily.
Cronje is looking for a sweep. Mckenzie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Mckenzie is looking for a kimura but Cronje is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mckenzie to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cronje is trying to stand up here but Mckenzie is controlling him well.
Mckenzie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cronje missing with punches from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cronje throws a jab but it's blocked by Mckenzie.
Cronje scores with a nice head shot.
Cronje throws the left hand but Mckenzie avoids the punch easily.
Mckenzie moves away from the strike by Cronje.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JD Mckenzie dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mckenzie changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cronje looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Mckenzie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cronje keeps working.

Mckenzie decides to stand back up.
Cronje looks to land a left hand but Mckenzie moved out of range nicely.
Cronje fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Mckenzie on the side of the head.
Mckenzie misses with a takedown attempt - Cronje sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cronje stuffs the takedown attempt from Mckenzie. Mckenzie gets slowly back to his feet.
Cronje displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cronje throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mckenzie throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cronje counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cronje bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Cronje circles away from the clinch attempt.
A punch combination from Cronje misses.
JD Mckenzie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cronje slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Cronje lands with a good body shot.
Braam Cronje is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cronje slips under a jab from Mckenzie.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Cronje, as that shot connected.
Cronje lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Mckenzie at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mckenzie fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cronje thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mckenzie is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cronje sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JD Mckenzie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cronje avoids the head kick by Mckenzie.
Mckenzie keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cronje.
A slow jab from Cronje misses its intended target.
Cronje avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Cronje throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Mckenzie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Mckenzie stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cronje lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mckenzie takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Cronje lands with a nice body punch.
Cronje cracks Mckenzie with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Cronje throws a series of punches but Mckenzie avoids them all with ease.
Mckenzie dodges the punch combination from Cronje.
Mckenzie fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cronje misses with an uppercut. Mckenzie saw that one coming.
Mckenzie takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Cronje misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cronje stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Cronje scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Mckenzie looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mckenzie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cronje works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mckenzie won't allow Cronje to get back to his feet.
Mckenzie tries to free his leg and advance position but Cronje is retaining full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cronje looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mckenzie is one step ahead there.
Cronje wants to stand and escape but Mckenzie is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Braam Cronje will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Mckenzie throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cronje cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cronje takes a swing at Mckenzie's ribcage but misses.

Mckenzie looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Cronje!
BOOM! Mckenzie connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Mckenzie throwing strikes here but Cronje is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Mckenzie wants to control the pace but Cronje is squirming around nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mckenzie working for a submission but Cronje is keeping him at bay.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mckenzie prevents Cronje from getting the reversal.
Cronje avoids a series of strikes thrown by Mckenzie.
Mckenzie looking to control and managing it successfully.
Cronje is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cronje is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mckenzie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cronje sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Mckenzie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mckenzie wants to control but Cronje is keeping him busy.
Mckenzie prevents Cronje from standing back up.
Cronje is refusing to be controlled, as Mckenzie sits in half guard.
Cronje trying to control but Mckenzie postures up.
Mckenzie content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cronje is looking to control Mckenzie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cronje avoid being mounted?
Mckenzie thows a huge punch but Cronje dodges it nicely.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Mckenzie takes the fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cronje has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mckenzie is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A right hand to the body from Mckenzie.

And that's the end of the fight!
JD Mckenzie showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mckenzie 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JD Mckenzie!