PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hans Kruger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Eldridge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kruger comes to the cage accompanied by American Idiot. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Kruger
vs
Eldridge

188 cm
22
212 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hans Kruger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Eldridge!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Chad Campbell and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eldridge showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kruger.
Kruger fails to land with a series of punches.
Eldridge shoots for a takedown but Kruger saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Eldridge is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kruger sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kruger with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Some wild striking there from Kruger.
Kruger throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Eldridge shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Eldridge was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Eldridge tries to control but Kruger wriggling away.
Kruger is working to get back to half guard.
Kruger manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Kruger looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Eldridge landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kruger works his way to full guard. Good work.

Kruger is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eldridge trying to control the position from guard on top but Kruger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Eldridge pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kruger is keeping the position for now.

Kruger throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kruger not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Eldridge is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kruger utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Eldridge wants to control from the top but Kruger keeps moving.
Kruger looking for a sweep. Not yet Kruger, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Kruger is looking for a triangle but Eldridge pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kruger looking for a sweep. Not yet Kruger, not yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Eldridge closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kruger to the mat! Kruger manages to get full guard.
Eldridge wants to pass the guard but Kruger is keeping the position.
Eldridge scoring with some ground and pound.
Eldridge connects with a couple of short punches.
Eldridge slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kruger is trying to keep Eldridge in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kruger working for a triangle but Eldridge defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eldridge's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Eldridge pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kruger is keeping the position for now.
Eldridge postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Eldridge got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kruger has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Eldridge has managed to get both his arms back between Kruger's legs - danger averted.
Eldridge pushing down on Kruger's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Eldridge uses his free foot to push down on Kruger's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Kruger.
Eldridge trying to control but Kruger is having none of it.
Eldridge might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kruger kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruger tries to reverse the position but Eldridge maintains control.
Kruger is working hard here to advance position.
Eldridge working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Kruger really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kruger regains half guard.
Eldridge performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Eldridge looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hans Kruger will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kruger throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Eldridge tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kruger swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Eldridge shoots in for a takedown but Kruger shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kruger throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kruger swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kruger throws a right and a left that both miss.

Eldridge has closed the distance and engaged Kruger in a clinch.

Eldridge gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Kruger regains guard.
Kruger being controlled here, momentarily.
Kruger keeping moving, preventing Eldridge from controlling successfully.
Kruger working a defensive guard here.
Kruger looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Eldridge throws a big right hand that misses.
Eldridge stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kruger swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kruger controls Eldridge momentarily but Eldridge frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kruger looks to land a combination but Eldridge avoids it well.
Kruger throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kruger is trying hard to land a takedown here. Eldridge sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Eldridge misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kruger.

Eldridge fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kruger, pushing him back against the cage.
Kruger misses with some punches.
Kruger jumps guard but Eldridge stands there with Kruger around his waist. Kruger gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kruger has Eldridge pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Eldridge manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hans Kruger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Eldridge prevents Kruger from breaking the clinch.
Kruger tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kruger tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Eldridge smiles and moves away.
Eldridge walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kruger throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Eldridge shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kruger napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Eldridge wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kruger keeps working.
Eldridge is breathing heavily.
Kruger is trying to improve his position.
Eldridge controls the position from side control.
Eldridge wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kruger keeps working.
Kruger can't do much from the bottom here.
Eldridge trying to control the action but Kruger is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Kruger's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kruger lands a head shot.
Kruger throws a series of strikes that have Eldridge backpedaling.
A nice combination there by Kruger.
Kruger throws a combination. Eldridge tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Eldridge drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kruger keeping full guard, as Eldridge tries to pass.
Kruger is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kruger manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Eldridge manages to get himself to full guard.
Kruger wants to get up but he can't break Eldridge's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Kruger thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Kruger postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Eldridge is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kruger, into his guard.

Kruger escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Eldridge gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kruger keeping moving, preventing Eldridge from controlling successfully.
Kruger working a defensive guard but Eldridge manages to pass into side control anyway.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hans Kruger will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kruger's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kruger throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Eldridge.
A combination from Kruger does no damage.

Eldridge closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kruger tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Eldridge wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kruger is trying to control Eldridge's posture but Eldridge avoids it.
Kruger dodges the ground and pound from Eldridge.
Kruger tries to bench press Eldridge off him but Eldridge keeps the position.
Kruger looking for a sweep but Eldridge has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Eldridge looking to control but Kruger is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Eldridge takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kruger is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kruger wants to hold on but Eldridge pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eldridge looking to control but Kruger is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Eldridge controlling his opponent.
Eldridge takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Eldridge trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Eldridge scoring with strikes but Kruger is staying in there.
Kruger is trying desperately to improve position.
Eldridge can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kruger is looking to escape.
Kruger regains half guard.
Eldridge trying to control from half guard but Kruger is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kruger is trying to maintain the position but Eldridge is very close to passing his half guard.
Kruger moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Eldridge postures up.

Kruger has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Eldridge can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kruger looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Eldridge slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruger keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kruger tries to get to full guard but Eldridge has control of the leg.
Eldridge frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Eldridge content just to control the position here.
Eldridge with the ground and pound from mount.
Kruger tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Eldridge landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Eldridge landing strikes, looking to finish!
Eldridge lands a heavy elbow.
Eldridge avoids the attempt from Kruger to control.
Eldridge controlling from mount.
Kruger is squirming around, avoiding Eldridge's attempts to control the action.
Kruger is wriggling around trying to escape.
Michael Eldridge has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kruger tries to hold on but Eldridge postures up.
Hans Kruger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Eldridge comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Hans Kruger!