PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gemechu McKraken (ranked 253 p4p, 352 weight class) and Bernhard River (ranked 15 p4p, 22 weight class). River has chosen Metallica: Enter Sandman as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McKraken
vs
River

170 cm
31
140
18 - 9 - 1

170 cm
29
135
14 - 7 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

SynCity Fightwear
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Gemechu McKraken!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bernhard River!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Alyssa Summers and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McKraken tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but River paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McKraken dodges the punch combination from River.
River moves out of range as McKraken strikes.
River turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
McKraken misses the shot to the body.
River misses with a low kick.
McKraken half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
McKraken listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
McKraken takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
McKraken on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
McKraken chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before River can pounce on him.
McKraken takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
McKraken lunges at River with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by River's hand.

McKraken gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
I was talking to McKraken's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch blocked on the inside by McKraken.
With the fighters up against the cage, River throws an elbow but misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from River.
River lands a body shot in the clinch.
River lands a left hand that snaps the head of McKraken backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from McKraken.
McKraken is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McKraken has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by River after a bit of a struggle.
McKraken tries for a takedown. No joy.
River stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
River blocking some punches.
River lands on the inside with an uppercut.
River tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McKraken avoids it.
River fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by River as McKraken tries to tie him up.
River blocks a punch to the side of the head.
River tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
River trying to control the position but instead, McKraken has worked for underhooks and has pushed River into the cage.
A body shot lands from River.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McKraken gets control of River's arms and successfully pulls guard. McKraken will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
McKraken looking for a sweep. Not yet McKraken, not yet.

McKraken is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and River defends well.
River trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
River throwing strikes but missing.
McKraken has control of River's left arm, preventing River from doing any damage.
River stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McKraken swivels though and keeps the full guard.

River thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McKraken trying to keep a closed guard but River is proving a slippery customer.
McKraken looking for a sweep. Not yet McKraken, not yet.
McKraken is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

River looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
McKraken is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

River looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKraken looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks River with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

McKraken is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
River wants to get back to full guard but McKraken has passed into side control.

McKraken swings around for an armbar but River sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into McKraken's guard.
McKraken bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in River's guard.

River is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
River avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McKraken wants to control from the top but River keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

River throws a leg kick that is checked

and McKraken counters with a nice double leg into guard.
McKraken controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
River is trying to keep McKraken in close.
McKraken works a leg free and moves into half guard.

River looking for submissions off his back.
River is in trouble now - McKraken has advanced to mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McKraken can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as River is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McKraken working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
McKraken wants to control the pace but River is squirming around nicely.
River tries to reverse the position but McKraken maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McKraken trying to control but he's not successful this time.
River tries to reverse the position but McKraken maintains control.
McKraken wants to control the pace but River is squirming around nicely.
McKraken scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish River?
McKraken in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
McKraken can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as River is looking to escape.
McKraken landing strikes from the mount.
River sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
River tries to roll over but McKraken keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

River is defending against the submission attempts here by McKraken.
McKraken lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Gemechu McKraken overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

McKraken is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and River defends it well.

McKraken wants to work for an arm triangle but River is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
McKraken is just content to waste time from the top position. River takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
McKraken throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McKraken wants to control from the top but River keeps moving.
McKraken keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of River's head.
McKraken wants to pass the guard but River is keeping the position.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Bernhard River!
An out of breath Bernhard River thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.