PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Anzor Azhiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matheo Kranc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azhiev's entrance music is Czeczen Team. A fine choice. Anzor Azhiev had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Azhiev
vs
Kranc

170 cm
23
152 lbs
3 - 11 - 0

183 cm
18
135 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 11 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Anzor Azhiev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Matheo Kranc!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Bart Greer and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kranc dives in and scores a takedown into Azhiev's guard.
Azhiev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kranc.
Azhiev trying to keep a closed guard but Kranc is proving a slippery customer.
Kranc content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kranc forces his way into half guard.
Kranc working the head and body with strikes.
Kranc landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Kranc is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Azhiev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Azhiev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kranc pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Azhiev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Azhiev is looking to control Kranc's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Azhiev avoid being mounted?
Azhiev is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kranc is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kranc is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Azhiev defends it well.
Kranc working Azhiev over with strikes.

Kranc is looking for a kimura here.
Kranc wants to take a breather but Azhiev is having none of it.

Azhiev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kranc works his way into side control.
Azhiev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kranc wants to control but Azhiev is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kranc is trying to get an arm triangle but Azhiev is defending well.

Kranc tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kranc has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kranc scoring with punches from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kranc works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Kranc scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kranc trying to control the position but Azhiev is working away.
Kranc has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kranc in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Azhiev taking punishment in the form of punches.
Kranc has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Azhiev!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev tries to lock up and control but Kranc gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kranc lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Kranc lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Azhiev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kranc lands a big elbow.
Kranc postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Azhiev looks a forlorn figure.
Azhiev is looking to improve his position but Kranc isn't that keen on the idea.
Kranc landing strikes from the mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kranc cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Kranc landing strikes from the mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kranc prevents Azhiev from getting the reversal.
Azhiev is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kranc with a couple of short strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kranc has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Azhiev's face.
Kranc fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kranc unloading with bombs!
Azhiev is working to get back to half guard.
Kranc lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Kranc raining down hammerfists from mount.

Kranc looking for a guillotine from mount but Azhiev is having none of it.
Kranc looks winded!

Kranc working for a submission but Azhiev is keeping him at bay.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kranc landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matheo Kranc dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Azhiev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kranc can do anything to dispel that myth.
Azhiev looking to sit in guard and control but Kranc gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Azhiev looking for subs off his back but Kranc has passed one foot through into half guard.

Kranc is working for a kimura but Azhiev is defending it quite comfortably.

Kranc wants to work for an arm triangle but Azhiev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kranc slips a nice elbow through Azhiev's hands, connecting with Azhiev's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhiev is pressing down on Kranc's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kranc lands a couple of elbows.
Kranc postures up in Azhiev's guard and throws a big left but Azhiev blocks it.

Azhiev has his foot on Kranc's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kranc works his way back into a safe position though.

Azhiev working for a triangle but Kranc defends it easily.
Kranc connects with a couple of short punches.
Kranc trying to control the position from guard on top but Azhiev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kranc drops back looking for a leg! Azhiev is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Azhiev manages to kick Kranc off! Kranc jumps back into Azhiev's guard.
Kranc stands up over Azhiev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kranc postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kranc throws a big elbow that misses.

Kranc drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kranc jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kranc is breathing heavily.
Azhiev looking for a sweep. Not yet Azhiev, not yet.
Azhiev looking to control.

Kranc drops back looking for a leg! Azhiev is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Azhiev manages to kick Kranc off! Kranc jumps back into Azhiev's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kranc postures up and lands a big shot to Azhiev's brow.
Kranc is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kranc chips away with some ground and pound.
Kranc landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kranc accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Azhiev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Azhiev has momentary wrist control but Kranc slips an elbow through the middle.
Kranc 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 step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Kranc. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Azhiev wants to sweep here but Kranc controlling him for the moment.
Kranc postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kranc throws a strike but Azhiev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Azhiev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kranc swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Matheo Kranc has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev looking to sit in guard and control but Kranc gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kranc trying to control the position from guard on top but Azhiev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Azhiev looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kranc passes into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kranc seems to be working for a kimura but Azhiev defends the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matheo Kranc showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kranc gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kranc controlling the position.
Azhiev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Azhiev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kranc swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Kranc pulls Azhiev in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Anzor Azhiev wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Kranc shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Azhiev is trying to defend but Kranc finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Azhiev is trying to maintain the position but Kranc is very close to passing his half guard.
Kranc lands strikes from half guard.
Azhiev tries to roll over but Kranc keeps him under control.
Kranc looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Azhiev tries to roll over but Kranc keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kranc drops an elbow to the side of Azhiev's head.
Azhiev taking some punishment here, with Kranc in his half guard.
Kranc trying to control the action but Azhiev is working from the bottom.

Kranc moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Azhiev.
Azhiev wants to control but Kranc postures up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kranc looks up at the clock and then as Azhiev takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kranc smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Kranc is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Azhiev knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Well,Azhiev is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Kranc working the body and head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kranc lands a few punches from side control.
Azhiev is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Kranc working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kranc takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Check out the look on Kranc's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Azhiev sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Kranc is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Azhiev is just riding it out for now. Kranc eventually gives up the hold.
Kranc working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Azhiev is defending against the submission attempts here by Kranc.

Azhiev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kranc pulls his head out easily.
Azhiev moves into full guard.
Matheo Kranc is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kranc trying to control the position from guard on top but Azhiev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kranc pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Azhiev is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azhiev keeping moving, preventing Kranc from controlling successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matheo Kranc comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kranc has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight for Matheo Kranc!
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight for Matheo Kranc!
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight for Matheo Kranc!

Matheo Kranc wins by unanimous decision!
An out of breath Matheo Kranc thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.