PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dave Krawl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Obi Wan King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Krawl
vs
Wan King

225 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dave Krawl!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Obi Wan King!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King slaps away a takedown attempt from Krawl, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Krawl really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
King scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
King shoots in for a double leg but Krawl sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
King tries to clinch but Krawl is having none of it.
King fails with the takedown.
King falls off balance throwing a combination
and Krawl counters with a head kick.
King throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Krawl.
King connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
King throws a combination that misses

and Krawl counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Krawl looking to punish the body of his opponent here but King is avoiding damage well.
Krawl will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Krawl decides to stand back up. Krawl steps back and let's King get back to his feet.
Krawl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but King paws at him with a jab and circles away.
King takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Krawl looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Krawl shoots in and drives through. King sprawls well.
Krawl shoots in looking for a takedown but King manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Krawl's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Krawl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
King throws a leg kick
and Krawl counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Krawl takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The fight stays on the outside here - Krawl looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Krawl punishes King's body with a nice straight punch.
Krawl fails in his attempt to clinch.
King's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and King duly obliges.
King throws an overhand right that lands on Krawl's shoulder, as Krawl tries to avoid the shot.

Krawl gets tackled into the cage by King. King maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Krawl manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
King wants to pass the guard but Krawl is keeping the position.
Krawl manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Krawl takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
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!
Krawl dominating with strikes here.
Krawl wants to control the pace but King is squirming around nicely.
King is looking to improve his position but Krawl isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krawl can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as King is looking to escape.
Krawl misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
King tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Krawl trying to control but King is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krawl controlling his opponent.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Krawl throws some wild stikes that King manages to avoid easily.
Krawl lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Krawl lands a big elbow.
King takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Krawl with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Krawl takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Krawl dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

King lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by King.
Krawl fails to land with a series of punches.
King is looking to clinch but Krawl is avoiding it.
King will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Krawl moves into range and clinches up with King.

Krawl manages to break the clinch.
Krawl rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but King moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
King shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Krawl defends it nicely.

Krawl closes the distance and pushes King back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krawl can't get the takedown.
King blocks an uppercut.
King is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Krawl tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. King just stands there and leans against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by King as Krawl tries to tie him up.
King has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Krawl avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Krawl breaks from the clinch.
King throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Krawl's waist but Krawl gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing King off to one side.
Dave Krawl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Obi Wan King.
King dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Obi Wan King seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Krawl lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Krawl needs to keep his hands up - King had a free shot at his head there.
Krawl displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from King.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King looks for a takedown but Krawl sprawls well.
King is breathing heavily.
Krawl looks for a takedown but King sprawls well.
King's corner calls for a 1-2. King obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Krawl closes the distance and clinches up with King, looking for a takedown. Krawl pushes King against the cage but King circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Krawl shoots in for a takedown but King shows good takedown defense.
King doesn't manage to clinch there - Krawl circles away.
King throws a head kick but Krawl moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
King fails with a takedown attempt.
Krawl tries to clinch
and King counters with a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King misses with a double jab.
No joy there for King, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Krawl is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Krawl connects with a solid leg kick.
Krawl showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from King.
Krawl slips a straight right by King.
King misses with a double jab.
Krawl tries to clinch but King is having none of it.
A slapping body kick lands there for Krawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krawl shoots for a takedown but King saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

King tries to keep at a distance but Krawl has taken the fight into the clinch.
King changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Krawl fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Krawl drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Krawl is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Krawl works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Krawl fails with a takedown attempt.
King misses with a jab, cross combination.
King lands a lovely overhand right.
Krawl pushes King away with a front kick.
Dave Krawl is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Krawl closes the distance and clinches up with King, looking for a takedown. Krawl pushes King against the cage but King circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
King lands a body shot.
King swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
King fails to land with a series of punches.

Krawl closes the distance and clinches.
Krawl takes a shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krawl blocks a punch to the side of the head.
King scores with a hook to the body.
Krawl fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Krawl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
King lands on the inside with an uppercut.
King looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by King as Krawl tries to tie him up.
Krawl misses with a body punch.
Krawl has King pressed against the cage, preventing King from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
King swings wildly with an uppercut but Krawl uses good head movement to avoid it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
King fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Krawl drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Krawl utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
King tries to circle away but Krawl has him pinned against the cage.
King wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
King working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Krawl tries to pull guard but King won't allow it.
Krawl blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
King lands with a short punch from the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, King throws an elbow but misses.
Krawl is trying to drag King to the mat but King just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short body shot lands from King as the two fighters clinch.
Krawl holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krawl misses with an elbow over the top.

Krawl jumps guard and drags King to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
King won't allow Krawl to sweep him here.
Krawl has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
King 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Krawl looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
King throws a big right hand that misses.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Krawl is keeping the position for now.

King stands up from Krawl's guard - King perhaps looking for a knockout.
King fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
King fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
King swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Krawl makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Krawl scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Obi Wan King comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Krawl 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Dave Krawl!
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Dave Krawl!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Dave Krawl!

Dave Krawl wins by unanimous decision!
Dave Krawl is the new bantamweight champion!