PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Doug Raimo (ranked 5092 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Kruger (ranked 5021 p4p, 470 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Raimo
vs
Kruger

175 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Doug Raimo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alexander Kruger!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yuuki Gou and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raimo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kruger swivels and escapes.
Kruger now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kruger changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Raimo tries to avoid it but Kruger manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Raimo to the ground. Raimo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Raimo shoots in and drives through. Kruger sprawls well.
Raimo pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Raimo rushes Kruger and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Raimo as Kruger tries to tie him up.
Kruger has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Raimo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kruger changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Raimo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Doug Raimo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Kruger.
Raimo stuffs the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruger fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kruger misses with a body shot.

Raimo clinches up with Kruger and pushes him back against the cage.

Raimo successfully pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kruger trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kruger preventing the sweep.
Kruger wants to control from the top but Raimo keeps moving.
Kruger passes Raimo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Raimo is controlling Kruger's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Kruger thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kruger is looking to take a break and control but Raimo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kruger tries to stand and escape but Raimo is controlling the position.

Kruger is looking for a kimura but Raimo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kruger to get the leverage.
Raimo gets back to full guard.
Raimo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kruger is in close to Raimo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Raimo has control of Kruger's left arm, preventing Kruger from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kruger changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Raimo tries to avoid it but Kruger manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Raimo to the ground. Raimo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kruger looks winded!
Raimo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kruger is fending him off so far but Raimo persists. Nope, Kruger circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raimo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Raimo clinches.
Raimo pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kruger tries for a takedown but Raimo manages to get underhooks.

Kruger breaks from the clinch.

Raimo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kruger jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Raimo walks away with a smile on his face. Kruger gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Raimo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kruger misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Raimo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Raimo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kruger is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raimo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kruger's efforts to push away.
Kruger blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Raimo pulls Kruger into guard.
Kruger trying to control but Raimo is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kruger is fighting to break Raimo's control of his arms but Raimo is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Doug Raimo dominated that round.
That's time! Raimo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kruger throws a head kick that half lands.
Kruger dives in for a single leg takedown but Raimo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kruger wants to clinch up but Raimo keeps it at a distance.

Raimo moves into range and clinches up with Kruger.
Kruger is looking to control Raimo's arms but Raimo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kruger has his back to the cage.
Raimo is looking to break free of the clinch but Kruger has double underhooks.
Raimo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kruger can do to turn this around?
Raimo gets underhooks to prevent Kruger's takedown attempt.
Kruger tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Raimo smiles and moves away.
Doug Raimo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Kruger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruger rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Raimo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kruger is breathing heavily.
Kruger displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Raimo.
Nice sprawl there from Kruger as Raimo shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raimo clinches up against the cage.
Raimo manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Raimo decides to pull guard.

Raimo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Raimo keeping moving, preventing Kruger from controlling successfully.
Kruger is in close to Raimo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Raimo keeping moving, preventing Kruger from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raimo lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kruger can't keep his opponent in guard - Raimo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Raimo not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Raimo stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Raimo gets a clinch.
Raimo keeps control of Kruger as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Raimo scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kruger misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Raimo.
Still in the clinch, Raimo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Raimo wants to break free but Kruger has control.
Raimo stalling in the clinch.
Raimo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kruger tries for a takedown. No joy.
Raimo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kruger has him pressed against the cage.
Doug Raimo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Raimo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kruger after a bit of a struggle.

Raimo breaks the clinch.
Raimo dives in for a single leg takedown but Kruger sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Raimo lands a head shot.
Kruger shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Raimo defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raimo misses with the combination.
Raimo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kruger is fending him off so far but Raimo persists. Nope, Kruger circles away and we're back to standing.
Kruger appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kruger fails with a takedown attempt.

Raimo clinches up against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Raimo jumps guard.
Kruger trying to control the position from guard on top but Raimo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Doug Raimo dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kruger wants to clinch.

Raimo darts in and clinches Kruger up against the cage.
Kruger tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Raimo is working Kruger over against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruger blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kruger prevents the takedown attempt.
Kruger wants to stall.
Kruger tries to break free but Raimo pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger wants a takedown.
Kruger jumps guard but Raimo stands there with Kruger around his waist. Kruger gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kruger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Raimo pulls Kruger into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Raimo is on top in guard.

Raimo landing some decent shots from guard.
Raimo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Raimo stands up and waves to Kruger to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raimo throws a head kick but Kruger moves out of range.
Kruger shoots in for a takedown but Raimo shows good takedown defense.
Doug Raimo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Kruger.
Raimo throws a head kick but Kruger moves out of range.
Kruger defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Raimo.

Kruger gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Raimo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Raimo postures up in Kruger's guard and throws a big left but Kruger blocks it.
Raimo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raimo pushes down on Kruger's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Raimo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Raimo content to control rather than advance.

Raimo decides to return to a standing position.
Alexander Kruger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Doug Raimo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kruger throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Doug Raimo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Raimo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Doug Raimo!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Doug Raimo!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Doug Raimo!

Doug Raimo wins by unanimous decision!