PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ryszard Duch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Kruger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duch's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, John Cage's 4'33". Kruger has chosen Tnt as his entrance music. Ryszard Duch had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Duch
vs
Kruger

199 cm
30
191 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

187 cm
31
197 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ryszard Duch!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Kruger!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That kick from Kruger tenderised Duch's leg. Duch is trying to keep his angry face on.
Duch keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kruger.
Kruger fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Duch checks it well.
Duch tries for a takedown but Kruger circles away easily
and Kruger makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kruger wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kruger lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kruger jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kruger, as that shot connected.
Kruger stuns Duch with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kruger lands a really nice looking cross but Duch seems unphased.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kruger misses with an uppercut

and Duch counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kruger won't be happy with that.

Duch is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kruger has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kruger is trying to control Duch's posture but Duch avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Duch is trying to get an arm triangle but Kruger is defending well.
Kruger regains half guard.
Kruger wants to improve his position but Duch is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Duch is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kruger sees it coming and defends easily.
Kruger trying to control from the bottom.

Kruger is defending against the submission attempts here by Duch.
Kruger tries to get to full guard but Duch has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Duch seems to be looking for submissions.
Kruger is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Duch is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Duch is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruger is looking for a sweep. Duch is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Duch is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Kruger to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Duch is fighting to break Kruger's control of his arms but Kruger is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Duch postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kruger is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Duch, into his guard.
Duch really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kruger trying to control the position from guard on top but Duch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Kruger dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Duch throws a right hand that Kruger ducks under and follows up with a left that Kruger also avoids with ease.
Duch ducks under a wild hook from Kruger.
Kruger shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kruger keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Duch is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Kruger fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Duch on the side of the head.
Kruger lands a body shot.
Kruger throws a hook but Duch blocks it.
Kruger misses with a low kick.
Kruger throws a head kick that misses.
Duch shoots in looking for a takedown. Kruger tries to sprawl out of it but Duch keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kruger manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kruger with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger lands a nice leg kick that just misses Duch's sensitive parts.
Kruger digs a good hook to Duch's body.
Kruger has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Duch is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Kruger throws a shot to the body.
Duch looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Duch stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kruger.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Duch doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kruger counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Ryszard Duch has been cut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryszard Duch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Duch is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kruger with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kruger throws a hook but Duch avoids it easily.
Duch moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruger connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
John Kruger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kruger lands a nice leg kick that just misses Duch's sensitive parts.
Kruger throws a looping overhand right but Duch ducks down to avoid it.
Kruger scores with a nice right hand.
Nice takedown defense from Kruger. No joy for Duch on that attempt.
Kruger throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Duch.
Kruger lands a nice looking body shot.
Duch takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kruger lands a nice looking body shot.
Kruger scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Duch misses with a takedown attempt - Kruger sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kruger lands a lovely overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duch on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Duch walks into a left hand.
Kruger looks to land a right hand but Duch moved out of range.
Ryszard Duch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kruger misses with a looping right.
Kruger throws a nice inside leg kick.
Duch takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Kruger lands the left hand.
An inside leg kick lands from Kruger.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Duch tries to move into range but Kruger moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Duch takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A jab from Kruger finds it's way through Duch's defenses.
John Kruger is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruger swinging wildly here.
The fighters circling - Kruger throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kruger lands a nice shot that snaps Duch's head back.
Kruger takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kruger waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Duch.
Duch has his takedown stuffed
and Kruger counters with a good low kick that Duch was not able to check.
Duch doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Duch walks into a jab.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kruger darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kruger cracks Duch with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Kruger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ryszard Duch's cut.
That's time! Duch's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kruger with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nice sprawl there from Kruger as Duch shoots in.
Duch takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kruger connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kruger fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Duch on the side of the head.
Kruger swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Duch.
Kruger connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
John Kruger seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kruger swings for the body but Duch moves out of range.
Kruger connects with a solid leg kick.
Kruger has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kruger scores with a jab to the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Duch shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kruger counters with an inside leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Duch takes one on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger lands the left hand.
A big left from Kruger misses.
Duch takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kruger misses the jab.
Duch throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kruger's waist but Kruger gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Duch off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryszard Duch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kruger lands with a nice body punch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kruger.
Duch sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Kruger throws a nice outside leg kick.
Duch on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kruger. Kruger obviously looking to wear him down.
Kruger bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Duch's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Duch shoots and misses
and Kruger counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kruger with a jab.

Duch is rocked!

Ryszard Duch's cut is getting worse.
Kruger connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Oh Duch is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A head kick misses from Kruger.
Duch with a poor takedown
and Kruger counters with a straight right hand.
Kruger paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Duch uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kruger.
Kruger lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Duch tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kruger manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Duch seems to have got his legs back now.
Kruger misses with a double jab.
Duch looks to score with a jab to the body but Kruger is just out of range.
Duch looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruger throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice cross by Kruger.
Duch shoots and misses
and Duch takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice sprawl there from Kruger as Duch shoots in.
Kruger uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Duch has time to react.
Kruger moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kruger stalks Duch and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Duch's face. Duch staggers backwards, shaken.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kruger. That's going to slow Duch down.
Kruger misses with an uppercut.
Kruger lands a jab to Duch's midsection.
Duch showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kruger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruger fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Duch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kruger.
Kruger lands a jab to Duch's midsection.
Kruger changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Duch on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kruger. Kruger obviously looking to wear him down.
Duch takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kruger jabs at Duch's body.
Kruger lands a nice hook to Duch's body. Duch takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kruger lands a glancing blow to the side of Duch's head.
Kruger connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Duch momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Kruger really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ryszard Duch's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nice shot by Kruger.
Duch walks into a straight right hand from Kruger.
A slow jab from Kruger misses its intended target.
Kruger thumps Duch with a low kick.
Kruger tries a head kick but it misses.
Duch doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kruger cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A lazy left from Kruger finds it's target.
Duch takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kruger.
Duch on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kruger changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duch takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Duch has a takedown stuffed.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Duch keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kruger.
Kruger uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Duch shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kruger but Kruger pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryszard Duch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Duch takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kruger scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kruger slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Duch takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruger pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kruger scores with a nice right hand.
Duch is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Duch shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kruger counters with a low kick, right behind Duch 's knee.
Kruger is looking to slow Duch down with leg kicks.
Jab from Kruger.
Kruger throws the left hand but Duch avoids the punch easily.
Kruger throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kruger connects with a solid leg kick.
Kruger misses with a series of wild punches.
Kruger throws a jab when Duch was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruger jabs Duch to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Good leg kick by Kruger there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A jab from Kruger misses.
Duch tries to move into range but Kruger moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kruger scores with a punch to the head.
Kruger throws a hook but Duch avoids it easily.
Kruger scoring well with a low kick there.
Duch keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kruger.
Kruger fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Duch has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kruger misses with an uppercut.
Nice sprawl there from Kruger as Duch shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duch has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kruger.
Kruger scores with a one two! Duch had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kruger.
Nice cross by Kruger.
Kruger lands with a straight right. Duch didn't see that one coming.
Duch misses with a series of wild punches.
Duch takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Duch takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kruger misses with a straight right.
Kruger lands an overhand right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Kruger dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Ryszard Duch's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kruger jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Duch uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kruger.
Duch uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kruger.
Kruger thumps Duch with a low kick.
Kruger is looking to slow Duch down with leg kicks.
Duch on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Duch shoots in but no luck this time.
Kruger just misses with a punch to the body.
Duch throws the left hand but Kruger avoids the punch easily.
Duch fails with the takedown
and Kruger counters with a low kick, right behind Duch 's knee.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Kruger throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger lands a really nice looking cross but Duch seems unphased.
Kruger lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kruger buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Duch gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Duch has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kruger finds it's way round the side to connect with Duch's head.
Kruger punishes Duch's body with a nice straight punch.
Duch defending well as Kruger loads up on a big left hand.
Duch takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kruger lands with a thumping leg kick.
Duch walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kruger throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Duch slips a jab from Kruger.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kruger.
No luck for Duch with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryszard Duch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Duch slips under a jab from Kruger.
Kruger scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from Kruger as Duch shoots in.
Duch walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kruger thows a body shot but no joy.
Duch walks into a left hand.
Kruger scores with a crisp jab that stopped Duch in his tracks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duch walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kruger moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kruger connects with a looping right hand.
Duch takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Duch has his takedown stuffed
letting Kruger counter with a right hand.
Crunch! Kruger slams his shin into Duch's torso.
Kruger connects with a leg kick. Duch looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kruger.
Kruger ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Ryszard Duch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruger connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
John Kruger is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
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 plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kruger cracks Duch with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Duch moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kruger scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kruger throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nice shot by Kruger.
Duch throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kruger sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kruger connects with a right hand. Duch shakes it off.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kruger lands a body shot.
Kruger scores with the left hand. Duch knows he should have avoided that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Kruger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kruger winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 41:50
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 41:50
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 41:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Kruger!
John Kruger is the new middleweight champion!
An out of breath John Kruger thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.