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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Country Grace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yaseen Kruger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Kruger's choice of entrance music: Put The Boots In/ Down By Law. Yaseen Kruger told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!
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| 169 cm
24
138 lbs
10 - 7 - 0 |
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175 cm
25
159 lbs
4 - 4 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine |
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Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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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
10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Country Grace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yaseen Kruger!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Stewart Dunkirk and Cecil Peabody.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grace displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kruger throws out the jab.
A cross from Kruger lands.
Grace shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kruger pinned against the cage. Kruger gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Grace throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kruger tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Grace is in Kruger's guard.
Kruger wants to sweep but no luck.
Grace looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grace throws a big elbow that misses.
Kruger controlling Grace's posture.
Grace cracks Kruger with a solid left hand.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Grace controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kruger looking for a sweep. Not yet Kruger, not yet.
Kruger keeping moving, preventing Grace from controlling successfully.
Grace controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kruger has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Yaseen Kruger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Grace lands a right hook to the body.
Grace takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Grace shoots in for a takedown but Kruger shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kruger steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Grace.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Kruger has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Kruger closes the distance and pushes Grace back into the cage.
Kruger tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Grace's elbow.
Kruger misses with the head strike.
Grace breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Grace feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kruger looking to hit a scissor sweep but Grace is one step ahead there.
Kruger trying to control the position here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruger looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Grace puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Grace wants to free his trapped foot but Kruger is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Grace seems to be looking for submissions.
Grace is looking to advance position but Kruger won't allow it.
Kruger keeping control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Grace wants to take a breather but Kruger is having none of it.
Grace is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Kruger can't escape the position.
Kruger slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Grace sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grace seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kruger for as long as he can get away with.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Country Grace dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Kruger fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Grace sprawls well initially but Kruger persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Country Grace overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Grace trying to hold on to Kruger's head to control him but Kruger postures up.
Kruger is trying to control. Grace wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kruger is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Grace defends it well.
Grace wants to get back to full guard.
Kruger is just content to waste time from the top position. Grace takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grace looking to control.
Kruger in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kruger trying to control the position from guard on top but Grace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kruger is looking to work some ground and pound but Grace has wrist control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger trying to control the position from guard on top but Grace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kruger won't allow Grace to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kruger accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kruger is looking to work some ground and pound but Grace has wrist control.
Kruger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Grace is looking for a triangle but Kruger pushes his legs off easily.
Grace preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kruger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kruger trying to control but Grace is working from the bottom.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Grace gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruger gets underhooks to prevent Grace's takedown attempt.
Grace comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
It looks like Yaseen Kruger has been cut.
Grace stops a takedown attempt from Kruger.
Grace goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kruger prevents it.
Kruger works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Kruger trying to control the position from guard on top but Grace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grace is adopting a defensive guard.
Kruger wants to control from the top but Grace keeps moving.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grace is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kruger is aware though and is defending well.
Grace working a defensive guard here.
Kruger showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Grace wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kruger drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Grace manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kruger has Grace in his guard.
Kruger utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kruger trying to control the position.
Grace throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kruger works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Grace accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Grace wants to pass the guard but Kruger is keeping the position.
Kruger wants to sweep here but Grace controlling him for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Grace 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.
Grace has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Country Grace will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Yaseen Kruger's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!
Kruger looking to score a takedown here. Grace is defending well but Kruger drives through and ends up in Grace's guard.
Kruger stopping the sweep attempt from Grace.
Kruger trying to control the position from guard on top but Grace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grace is adopting a defensive guard.
Kruger connects with a couple of short punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grace not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kruger works over Grace with some ground and pound from guard.
Grace seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Grace 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.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Grace is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kruger defends well.
Kruger trying to control the position from guard on top but Grace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grace not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Grace 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 wants to control from the top but Grace keeps moving.
Kruger lands a couple of digs.
Yaseen Kruger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kruger trying to control the position from guard on top but Grace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kruger throwing strikes from guard but Grace blocks nicely.
Kruger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kruger slaps away a takedown attempt from Grace, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kruger wants to counter the offense by Grace and move into the clinch position.
Kruger doesn't manage to clinch there - Grace circles away.
Kruger closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Grace did well to prevent Kruger getting side control.
Kruger sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Grace defending well though.
Kruger seems to be working for a kimura but Grace defends the submission attempt.
Grace keeping hold of Kruger's head, controlling as best he can.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grace regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Kruger.
Grace is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Grace looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kruger drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kruger jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kruger throwing strikes but missing.
Kruger has gone for a leg lock! Grace slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kruger's guard.
Grace looking to pass the guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grace keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kruger's head.
Grace trying to control but Kruger is working from the bottom.
Kruger trying to keep a closed guard but Grace is proving a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Grace avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Country Grace is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Grace wants to control from the top but Kruger keeps moving.
And that's the end of the fight!
Yaseen Kruger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Grace 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Country Grace!
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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
26% |
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