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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nick Folignus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Kruger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Folignus comes into the arena with Laces Out blaring out of the sound system. Kruger has chosen Tnt as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.
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| 186 cm
30
193 lbs
15 - 13 - 0 |
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187 cm
33
197 lbs
20 - 12 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nick Folignus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Kruger!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Jonathan Paton and Eddie Farnsworth.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Kruger. Folignus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kruger drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Folignus escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kruger gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kruger keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Folignus's head.
Kruger is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Folignus trying to control the position.
Kruger trying to control the position from guard on top but Folignus 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.
Folignus has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kruger is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Folignus.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Folignus tries to buck Kruger off but Kruger is having none of it.
Kruger cracks Folignus with a big right hand but Folignus just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kruger in side control, throwing shots but Folignus defends.
Folignus is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Kruger trying to control the position but Folignus is working away.
Folignus stops Kruger from passing to mount.
Folignus tries to get back to half guard but can't.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Folignus regains half guard.
Folignus trying to control here.
Folignus wants to improve his position but Kruger is controlling well.
Folignus is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kruger pulls his head out easily.
Kruger wants to control but Folignus is keeping him busy.
Folignus keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Folignus wants to improve his position but Kruger is controlling well.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kruger trying to control from half guard but Folignus is working away.
Folignus is looking to control Kruger's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Folignus avoid being mounted?
Kruger seems to be working for a kimura but Folignus defends the submission attempt.
Kruger is trying to control. Folignus wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Folignus trying to control here.
Kruger lands with a punch from half guard.
Folignus gets back to full guard.
Folignus manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kruger manages to get himself to full guard.
Folignus looking to pass the guard.
Kruger had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Folignus defends it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Folignus wants to control from the top but Kruger keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but John Kruger will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Kruger moves forwards but Folignus connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kruger misses with an uppercut. Folignus saw that one coming.
Kruger misses with a kick to the body.
Folignus throws a jab but it's blocked by Kruger.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kruger. That's going to slow Folignus down.
Folignus moves out of range of the strikes.
Folignus throws a sloppy head kick and Kruger moves out of range easily.
Good leg kick by Kruger there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kruger stuffs the takedown.
Nick Folignus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Folignus misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kruger.
The fighters circling - Kruger throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Folignus fails with the takedown.
A swing and a miss from Kruger.
Kruger keeps the fight on the outside.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Folignus throws a nice outside leg kick.
Folignus pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kruger finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kruger jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Folignus throws a big shot that misses.
Nice defenses there by Kruger.
Folignus throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Folignus avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Folignus walks forward, straight into a front kick from Kruger.
Kruger feints and then cracks Folignus's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Folignus down.
Kruger throws a shot from downtown. Folignus moves away and avoids it.
Kruger swats away the attempt to clinch by Folignus.
Kruger lands an overhand right.
Folignus thows a body shot but no joy.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruger takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kruger darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kruger darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kruger's coach down at MMA Warrior (1000$ / 15 Elite Coaches) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Kruger's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Folignus lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
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!
Kruger connects with the punch.
Folignus ducks under a wild hook from Kruger.
Folignus moves out of range of the body kick from Kruger.
Folignus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kruger.
Kruger fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Folignus lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kruger backs up against the cage.
Kruger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Folignus swings for the body but Kruger moves out of range.
Kruger looks for the body kick but Folignus saw that one coming.
Folignus just misses with a punch to the body.
A solid body kick from Kruger.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Folignus scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kruger lands a glancing blow to the side of Folignus's head.
Kruger misses with a body shot.
Folignus connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Folignus looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Folignus throws a series of punches but Kruger avoids them all with ease.
A jab from Kruger misses.
Kruger fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Folignus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kruger chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Folignus can pounce on him.
Kruger looks to land a body kick but Folignus moved away.
Folignus throws a head kick that misses.
Folignus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kruger.
John Kruger seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Folignus has taken the fight to the clinch.
Folignus blocking some punches.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Kruger goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Folignus makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Folignus is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kruger pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Folignus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Folignus creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kruger.
Kruger turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Kruger scoring with punches from side control.
Folignus is trying to control Kruger's posture but Kruger avoids it.
Kruger just content to control the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kruger tries to move into full mount but can't pass Folignus's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but John Kruger will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!
Folignus checks a leg kick nicely.
Jab by Kruger.
Folignus steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kruger.
Kruger looks to land a left hand but Folignus moved out of range nicely.
Folignus goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kruger looks to score with a jab to the body but Folignus is just out of range.
Kruger closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Folignus did well to prevent Kruger getting side control.
Kruger prevents Folignus from improving his position.
Folignus trying to hold on to Kruger's head to control him but Kruger postures up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger controlling the pace.
Folignus makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Folignus.
Folignus controlling Kruger's posture.
Kruger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Folignus is keeping the position for now.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruger is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Folignus looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Folignus misses with a low kick.
Nice defenses there by Kruger.
Kruger scores with a punch to the head.
Kruger attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kruger throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A big right from Kruger misses.
Kruger scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kruger connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Folignus's hands.
Kruger takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruger throws out a leg kick but Folignus moves out of range and Kruger only half commits.
Kruger closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kruger lands in his opponent's guard.
Folignus looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kruger is one step ahead there.
Folignus is looking to sweep but instead, Kruger has passed into half guard.
Kruger prevents Folignus from improving his position.
Folignus trying to hold on to Kruger's head to control him but Kruger postures up.
John Kruger is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruger perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Nick Folignus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kruger seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Folignus does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Folignus is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kruger's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kruger's back!
Folignus has the hooks in. Kruger is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Folignus working for a choke but Kruger is defending well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Folignus looking for the choke but no joy.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nick Folignus.
I think Kruger has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Kruger!
A very excited looking John Kruger made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
64% |
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