PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lio Rush (ranked 6689 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caden Krikland Iii (ranked 4081 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Rush
vs
Krikland Iii

180 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

176 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lio Rush!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Caden Krikland Iii!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Daniel Franklin and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Krikland Iii shoots in for a double leg but Rush sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rush doesn't manage to clinch there - Krikland Iii circles away.
Krikland Iii tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rush gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Krikland Iii counters by clinching up.
Rush misses with a punch on the inside.
Rush throws a head punch that misses.
Rush misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Rush fails to land.
Krikland Iii blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Rush fails to land.
Rush misses with some punches.
Krikland Iii lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Lio Rush has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Krikland Iii tries to land knees in the clinch but Rush avoids the damage to the body.
Rush swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rush misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rush has a couple of punches blocked by Krikland Iii.
Krikland Iii blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Krikland Iii blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Krikland Iii has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rush is trying to keep an underhook but Krikland Iii manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Rush throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Krikland Iii wants to take a breather but Rush is having none of it.
Rush is looking for a sweep. Krikland Iii is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rush makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rush.
Rush will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Krikland Iii pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rush is keeping the position for now.
Rush striking off his back but it's not causing Krikland Iii any problems.

Krikland Iii stands up from Rush's guard - Krikland Iii perhaps looking for a knockout.
Krikland Iii swats away the attempt to clinch by Rush.

Krikland Iii clinches up against the cage.
Krikland Iii blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Krikland Iii jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rush walks away with a smile on his face. Krikland Iii gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krikland Iii avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Rush drives through and clinches with Krikland Iii against the cage.
Rush working aggressively here.
Rush throws a punch but it's blocked by Krikland Iii.
Rush throws a punch but it's blocked by Krikland Iii.
Krikland Iii blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Krikland Iii blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Krikland Iii pressing his opponent against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Krikland Iii.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rush.
Rush throws a punch but it's blocked by Krikland Iii.
Krikland Iii blocks an uppercut.
Rush working aggressively here.
Krikland Iii lands a nice elbow.

Krikland Iii gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Krikland Iii blocks the strikes from Rush.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krikland Iii blocks the strikes from Rush.

Krikland Iii decides to stand up.
Lio Rush seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rush closes the distance and clinches.

Rush pulls guard effortlessly.
Rush throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Rush throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Rush is striking off his back. Krikland Iii thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Rush works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rush is breathing heavily.
Krikland Iii trying to control but Rush is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Krikland Iii postures up and lands a big shot to Rush's brow.

Krikland Iii gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Rush tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Krikland Iii drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Rush defends it well.
Rush is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush wants to clinch up but Krikland Iii keeps it at a distance.
Rush tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Krikland Iii paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rush tries to close the distance and clinch but Krikland Iii swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Krikland Iii circles away from the clinch attempt.
Krikland Iii dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Krikland Iii darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rush is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
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!
Krikland Iii putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Krikland Iii controlling his opponent.
Rush is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Krikland Iii can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rush is looking to escape.

Krikland Iii working for a submission but Rush is keeping him at bay.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caden Krikland Iii dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lio Rush's cut.
That's time! Rush's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Krikland Iii clinches up with Rush and pushes him back against the cage.
Rush lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rush tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rush lands a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Krikland Iii.
Krikland Iii blocks an uppercut.
Rush gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Krikland Iii.
Krikland Iii has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rush avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rush working aggressively here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rush misses with the head strike.
Lio Rush has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rush misses with a punch on the inside.
Krikland Iii leaning his opponent against the cage.
Krikland Iii blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Krikland Iii backwards.

Krikland Iii jumps guard.
Rush postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rush postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Krikland Iii kicks Rush off and gets to his feet.
Rush tries to clinch but Krikland Iii moves out of range.
Krikland Iii shoots in for a takedown but Rush shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lio Rush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Caden Krikland Iii.
Krikland Iii digs a good body shot into Rush's ribs.
Rush defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Krikland Iii.
Caden Krikland Iii is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rush tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Krikland Iii manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rush is looking to clinch but Krikland Iii is avoiding it.
Krikland Iii throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rush's waist but Rush gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Krikland Iii off to one side.
Krikland Iii is breathing heavily.
Rush tries to clinch up

and Krikland Iii counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rush wants to control but Krikland Iii is keeping busy.
Rush flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Rush missing with punches from the bottom.
Krikland Iii keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rush missing with punches from the bottom.
Rush tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rush tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rush tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rush doesn't manage to clinch there - Krikland Iii circles away.
Rush tries to clinch up but Krikland Iii circles away and keeps his distance.
Krikland Iii darts in looking for a takedown but Rush gets double underhooks and turns Krikland Iii into the cage.
Rush doesn't manage to clinch there - Krikland Iii circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Krikland Iii clinches.
Rush has a couple of punches blocked by Krikland Iii.
Rush misses with a punch on the inside.
Rush misses with some punches.
A short right from Rush.
A head punch on the inside from Rush fails to land.
Rush swings wildly with an uppercut but Krikland Iii uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rush working aggressively here.

Krikland Iii pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rush gets tackled into the cage by Krikland Iii. Krikland Iii maintains the clinch.
Rush has a couple of punches blocked by Krikland Iii.
Krikland Iii wants to break the clinch but can't.
Krikland Iii blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Krikland Iii blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rush misses with the head strike.
Krikland Iii has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush throws a punch but it's blocked by Krikland Iii.
Rush swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rush lands an uppercut.
Krikland Iii blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rush misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rush is pressed up against the cage. Krikland Iii has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rush down to the mat. Rush avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rush tries for a takedown but Krikland Iii sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rush moves in looking to clinch but Krikland Iii pushes him off.

Krikland Iii closes the distance and clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Krikland Iii blocking some punches.
Krikland Iii blocking some punches.
Rush misses with some punches.

Krikland Iii has hold of one of Rush's legs. Rush is fighting the takedown attempt but Krikland Iii gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Krikland Iii lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Krikland Iii stands and steps away. Rush gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Rush gets caught napping as Krikland Iii dives in and scores a takedown. Rush manages to retain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caden Krikland Iii showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lio Rush's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rush displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Krikland Iii.
Rush stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rush wants it to stay on the feet.
Rush is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Rush has managed to clinch.
Rush working aggressively here.
Krikland Iii blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rush has a couple of punches blocked by Krikland Iii.
Rush has a couple of punches blocked by Krikland Iii.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rush tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Krikland Iii is looking for a takedown.
Lio Rush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Caden Krikland Iii.
Krikland Iii landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rush wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rush swings wildly with an uppercut but Krikland Iii uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Krikland Iii lands a takedown into guard.
Rush striking off his back but it's not causing Krikland Iii any problems.
Krikland Iii preventing the sweep.
Krikland Iii showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Krikland Iii chips away with some ground and pound.
Krikland Iii with a nice head shot there.
Rush trying to control the position.
Krikland Iii makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rush is striking but Krikland Iii is not phased and passes to half guard.
Rush is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lio Rush has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krikland Iii blocks the strikes from Rush.
Rush is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Krikland Iii blocks the strikes from Rush.
Rush is refusing to be controlled, as Krikland Iii sits in half guard.
Krikland Iii not doing much here.
Let's hope that Krikland Iii has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Rush tries to roll over but Krikland Iii keeps him under control.
Rush throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush punching from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Krikland Iii blocks the strikes from Rush.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Krikland Iii closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rush did well to prevent Krikland Iii getting side control.
Krikland Iii content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rush is trying to get back to full guard.
Krikland Iii moves nicely into side control.
Krikland Iii lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Rush down.

Krikland Iii is trying to get an arm triangle but Rush is defending well.
Rush is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Krikland Iii working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Krikland Iii slows the pace down.

Krikland Iii tries for a kimura but Rush is defending well.
Rush manages to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rush tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rush 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.
Rush missing with punches from the bottom.
Caden Krikland Iii is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Krikland Iii content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Caden Krikland Iii comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Krikland Iii winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Caden Krikland Iii!