PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steven Gerrard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Kristoff (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.

Gerrard
vs
Kristoff

168 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

214 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Powder for your success

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steven Gerrard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Danny Kristoff!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Dean Styles and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gerrard lands the left hand.

Kristoff closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gerrard to the mat! Gerrard manages to get full guard.
Gerrard might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gerrard 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.
Gerrard working a defensive guard here.
Kristoff trying to control but Gerrard is working from the bottom.
Gerrard trying to control the position here.
Gerrard wants to sweep but no luck.
Gerrard controls Kristoff momentarily but Kristoff frees himself.
Kristoff tries to stand but Gerrard is controlling from the bottom.
Gerrard on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gerrard tries to get out of the position.

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

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Gerrard has closed the distance and engaged Kristoff in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kristoff manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kristoff bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gerrard's guard.

Kristoff thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gerrard thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Gerrard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gerrard thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Gerrard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gerrard looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kristoff puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Kristoff is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gerrard trying to control but Kristoff postures up.
Gerrard is trying to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kristoff defending well as Gerrard loads up on a big left hand.
Kristoff will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gerrard swinging wilding here.
A head kick misses from Kristoff.
Kristoff looks gassed!
Gerrard scores with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard lunges at Kristoff with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kristoff's hand.
Gerrard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gerrard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kristoff moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gerrard thuds a left hand into Kristoff's body.

Gerrard gets the takedown into side control.
Gerrard throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gerrard in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Gerrard trying to control the position but Kristoff is working away.
Kristoff manages to get back to half guard.
Gerrard stalling.
Gerrard working Kristoff over with strikes.
Gerrard trying to pass the guard but Kristoff defending well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gerrard is thwarting Kristoff's attempts to control the position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kristoff trying to control from the bottom.
Kristoff blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gerrard.
Kristoff is looking to improve his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nice sprawl there from Gerrard as Kristoff shoots in.
Kristoff with a poor takedown
and Gerrard counters with a straight right hand.
Steven Gerrard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Kristoff.
Nice takedown defense from Gerrard. No joy for Kristoff on that attempt.
Kristoff tries to clinch there but Gerrard circles away.
Steven Gerrard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kristoff gets a clinch.
Gerrard is trying to break the clinch but Kristoff has him pressed against the cage.
Gerrard has had enough of the clinch but Kristoff keeps him there for the moment.

Kristoff pulls guard effortlessly.
Gerrard postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gerrard wants to control from the top but Kristoff keeps moving.
Kristoff looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kristoff is trying to keep Gerrard in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kristoff escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gerrard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gerrard trying to control but Kristoff is working from the bottom.
Kristoff is looking to stand up but Gerrard isn't so interested in that idea.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Gerrard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kristoff lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kristoff shoots in looking for a takedown. Gerrard tries to sprawl out of it but Kristoff keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gerrard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice shot lands for Gerrard.
Kristoff avoids the body shot from Gerrard.
Kristoff showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gerrard.
Gerrard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kristoff fails with a takedown attempt.
Kristoff shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gerrard as he jumps to the side.
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 Steven Gerrard will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gerrard throws a shot to the body.
Kristoff tries to close the distance and clinch but Gerrard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gerrard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kristoff.
Kristoff misses with a takedown
and Gerrard counters with a right hand to the body.

Gerrard shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Gerrard was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gerrard avoids the attempt from Kristoff to control.
Gerrard blocks Kristoff's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Kristoff is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kristoff bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Kristoff passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Gerrard is staying active underneath Kristoff, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kristoff controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Kristoff 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.
Kristoff thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kristoff wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gerrard keeps working.
Gerrard is looking to improve his position.
Kristoff takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kristoff is tying to control. Gerrard wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Despite being in the dominant position, Danny Kristoff just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gerrard misses with a lunging right hand

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kristoff trying to control the position from guard on top but Gerrard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gerrard tries to strike from the bottom.
Gerrard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kristoff.
Kristoff wants to pass the guard but Gerrard is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gerrard is on top in guard.
Gerrard looking to sit in guard and control but Kristoff gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kristoff content to stall in guard here.
Kristoff trying to control but Gerrard is working from the bottom.
Kristoff throwing strikes from guard but Gerrard blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard 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.
Kristoff trying to control but Gerrard is working from the bottom.
Gerrard has his hands on Kristoff's head, controlling the position.
Kristoff trying to control but Gerrard is working from the bottom.

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

Gerrard decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kristoff is in trouble now - Gerrard has advanced to mount!
Gerrard working Kristoff over with strikes here.
Kristoff is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gerrard looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Gerrard with a couple of short strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gerrard landing strikes, looking to finish!

Kristoff is rocked!
Gerrard in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Kristoff is still in real trouble! Can Gerrard finish him?
Gerrard throwing strikes here but Kristoff is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Gerrard misses with a head shot.
Kristoff is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Gerrard thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Gerrard throws some wild stikes that Kristoff manages to avoid easily.
Gerrard throwing strikes here but Kristoff is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Poor strikes thrown by Gerrard there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kristoff holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gerrard tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Gerrard looking to finish with strikes here!
Kristoff wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Gerrard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Gerrard dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gerrard drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kristoff seems to have recovered his senses.
Gerrard working the ground and pound.
Kristoff is looking to regain half guard here but Gerrard keeps moving and retains side control.
Gerrard is working Kristoff over with some ground and pound from side control.
Kristoff struggling a bit here.
Gerrard tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Gerrard working the body and head with strikes.
Kristoff is trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gerrard trying to control the action but Kristoff is working from the bottom.
Gerrard in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gerrard decides to stand back up.

Gerrard changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kristoff looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gerrard is trying to move to mount but Kristoff reverses beautifully and ends up in Gerrard's guard.
Steven Gerrard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gerrard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kristoff manages to get himself to full guard.
Gerrard controlling from the top position.

Kristoff looking for a guillotine here but Gerrard defends easily.
Kristoff working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gerrard.
Gerrard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gerrard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gerrard trying to control but Kristoff is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kristoff throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Gerrard stops Kristoff from standing up.
Kristoff controlling Gerrard's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gerrard swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Kristoff counters with a head kick. That will keep Gerrard thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Gerrard is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kristoff fails with a takedown attempt.

Gerrard gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gerrard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gerrard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gerrard tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kristoff smiles and moves away.
Gerrard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gerrard falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kristoff counters with a left and a right that stings Gerrard.
Horrible takedown by Kristoff or perhaps it was just good defense by Gerrard which made him look bad.

Gerrard scores a takedown into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerrard cracks Kristoff with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Gerrard avoids the attempt from Kristoff to control.
Kristoff working to try and regain half guard.
Gerrard tries to control but Kristoff wriggling away.
Kristoff keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kristoff flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Gerrard pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Gerrard thowing shots but they're missing.
Kristoff is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kristoff is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gerrard dominating with strikes here.
Gerrard trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kristoff really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gerrard scoring with strikes but Kristoff is staying in there.
Gerrard throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Kristoff because Gerrard loaded up on that one.
Kristoff holds on for dear life.
Kristoff takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
A nice elbow there by Gerrard.
Gerrard unloading with bombs!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gerrard cracks Kristoff with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kristoff is in a horrible position here. Gerrard smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Gerrard can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kristoff is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Gerrard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gerrard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Gerrard!