PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Stephan Kruger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tuukka Rask (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tuukka Rask has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kruger
vs
Rask

178 cm
25
164 lbs
3 - 14 - 0

188 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephan Kruger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tuukka Rask!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kruger forces Rask back against the cage and clinches.
Rask blocks an elbow strike from Kruger.
Kruger gets underhooks to prevent Rask's takedown attempt.
Rask tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kruger is pressed up against the cage. Rask has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kruger down to the mat. Kruger avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Stephan Kruger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tuukka Rask.

Rask scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Rask is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kruger misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Rask is looking for a kimura but Kruger is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rask to get the leverage.
Rask wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kruger keeps working.
Kruger is looking for a sweep. Rask is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kruger slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rask pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kruger is keeping the position for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rask trying to control the position from guard on top but Kruger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger managing to control the position.

Kruger working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rask doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rask manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kruger keeping moving, preventing Rask from controlling successfully.
Rask loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kruger looking for a sweep. Not yet Kruger, not yet.
Rask trying to control the position from guard on top but Kruger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rask looking to pass the guard.
Rask throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruger wants to sweep here but Rask controlling him for the moment.
Rask stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kruger swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kruger looking to control.
Rask postures up and lands a big shot to Kruger's brow.
Rask wants to pass the guard but Kruger is keeping the position.
Rask wants to control from the top but Kruger keeps moving.

Kruger throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kruger is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kruger keeping full guard, as Rask tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rask is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rask sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kruger's guard.
Kruger missing with punches from the bottom.

Rask maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Kruger could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Rask has cracked it and Kruger is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Rask!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tuukka Rask!