PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Stefan De Jong (ranked 3369 p4p, 3353 weight class) and Craig Kraig (ranked 439 p4p, 436 weight class). De Jong comes into the arena with Nipsey Hussle - I Don't Stress blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

De Jong
vs
Kraig

178 cm
28
189
8 - 7 - 0

175 cm
25
190
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stefan De Jong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Craig Kraig!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Ron Honeybunn and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kraig shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kraig was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
De Jong wants to control but Kraig postures up.
De Jong regains half guard.
De Jong is trying to maintain the position but Kraig is very close to passing his half guard.
Kraig scoring with strikes to the body and head.
De Jong regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Kraig.
Kraig postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kraig is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kraig engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kraig working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraig with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
De Jong controls Kraig momentarily but Kraig frees himself.
Kraig really doesn't want to stay on the ground with De Jong. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Kraig stands and steps away. De Jong gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Kraig gets a double leg takedown into De Jong's guard.
De Jong preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kraig working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kraig throwing strikes from guard but De Jong blocks nicely.
Kraig throws a big right hand that misses.
Kraig throws a strike but De Jong rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

De Jong sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kraig's guard.

De Jong wants to work for an arm triangle but Kraig is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Jong controlling the action here.
De Jong prevents Kraig from improving his position.
De Jong throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
De Jong is figuring out what he wants to do next.
De Jong seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kraig does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
De Jong is pressing down on Kraig's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kraig is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kraig has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. De Jong is working away from the top position though.
De Jong wants to take a breather but Kraig is having none of it.

De Jong seems to be working for a kimura but Kraig defends the submission attempt.
Kraig is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

De Jong is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kraig has managed to free his arm - good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kraig tries to regain full guard. Instead though, De Jong has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kraig is looking to get to half guard.

De Jong working for a guillotine from mount but Kraig is in no mood to give up.
Kraig working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kraig is squirming around, avoiding De Jong's attempts to control the action.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Craig Kraig will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

De Jong scores with a takedown into Kraig's guard.
De Jong postures up in Kraig's guard and throws a big left but Kraig blocks it.
De Jong is working Kraig over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
De Jong wants to control from the top but Kraig keeps moving.
Kraig can't keep his opponent in guard - De Jong advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kraig wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kraig is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kraig can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kraig manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
De Jong is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
De Jong scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
De Jong being controlled here momentarily.
De Jong wants to pass the guard but Kraig is keeping the position.
De Jong trying to control the position from guard on top but Kraig is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kraig avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
De Jong wants to pass the guard but Kraig is keeping the position.
Kraig is trying to control the position from the bottom.
De Jong trying to control the position from guard on top but Kraig is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
De Jong tries a head kick but it misses.
Craig Kraig seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kraig tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but De Jong defends well and Kraig ends up having to push De Jong into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kraig tries to score a power double leg takedown but De Jong sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kraig somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kraig fails to land the takedown.
Stefan De Jong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Kraig.
De Jong fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

De Jong gets caught napping as Kraig dives in and scores a takedown. De Jong manages to retain guard.
Kraig throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kraig must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kraig being controlled here momentarily.
Kraig trying to control the position from guard on top but De Jong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kraig got a little sloppy there for a moment and De Jong has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kraig has managed to get both his arms back between De Jong's legs - danger averted.
De Jong avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
De Jong trying to keep a closed guard but Kraig is proving a slippery customer.
De Jong keeping moving, preventing Kraig from controlling successfully.
Kraig throwing strikes but missing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kraig is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stefan De Jong dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kraig is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in De Jong's half guard.

Kraig is looking for a kimura but De Jong is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kraig to get the leverage.
Kraig is thwarting De Jong's attempts to control the position.
Kraig misses with a head shot. De Jong uses the momentum to regain guard.
Kraig trying to control the position from guard on top but De Jong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kraig scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kraig stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. De Jong swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kraig won't allow De Jong to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraig lands a couple of elbows.
Kraig lands a couple of digs.
De Jong is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kraig connects with a couple of short punches.
Kraig is working De Jong over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kraig postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Kraig avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kraig postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kraig content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
De Jong wants to get back to his feet but Kraig is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kraig wants to control from the top but De Jong keeps moving.
De Jong trying to control the position.
Kraig connects with a couple of short punches.
De Jong looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kraig is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kraig connects with a couple of short punches.
Kraig in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kraig showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kraig throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kraig trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A lazy body kick from De Jong

so Kraig counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kraig throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kraig preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kraig loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
De Jong wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Kraig content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because De Jong has locked up a guillotine! De Jong's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Kraig is holding on here and De Jong must be using up a lot of energy. Kraig has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! De Jong gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Stefan De Jong!
As Stefan De Jong got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: Yeaaah, boy! This is what it all comes down to. Been putting in the work, y'know, going hard every day. But The Marathon Continues, always. See you guys soon.'.