PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Kruger (ranked 2958 p4p, 3918 weight class) and Bobby Flay (ranked 358 p4p, 443 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Kruger
vs
Flay

181 cm
19
200
2 - 2 - 0

191 cm
26
194
2 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jesse Kruger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bobby Flay!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flay swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kruger closes the distance and clinches up with Flay, looking for a takedown. Kruger pushes Flay against the cage but Flay circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Flay wants to counter with a clinch but Kruger pushes him away.
Flay closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kruger circles away.

Flay scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Flay content to control rather than advance.

Kruger looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kruger looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Flay is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kruger is staying active underneath Flay, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruger wants to get back to full guard but Flay has passed into side control.
Kruger taking a bit of punishment here - Flay scoring with strikes.
Flay landing strikes.
Flay cracks Kruger with a big right hand but Kruger just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kruger tries to improve position but can't.
Flay is staying tight to Kruger's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flay lands a few punches from side control.
Kruger tries to bench press Flay off him but Flay keeps the position.
Flay really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kruger. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Flay scores with punches from side control.
Flay in side control lands a decent elbow.
Flay cracks Kruger with a big right hand but Kruger just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kruger is trying to improve his position.
Flay is working Kruger over with some ground and pound from side control.
Kruger tries to buck Flay off but Flay is having none of it.
Flay looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Flay scoring with punches from side control.
Kruger manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Flay is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kruger scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruger wants to lay and pray for a moment but Flay keeps working.
Flay avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kruger.
Flay is looking to improve his position.
Kruger trying to control the action but Flay is working from the bottom.
Flay is looking for a sweep. Kruger is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Flay keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Flay tries to get to full guard but Kruger has control of the leg.
Kruger seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Flay does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kruger throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kruger is trying to control. Flay wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flay is positioning himself well to prevent Kruger advancing to mount.
Kruger is looking to take a break and control but Flay is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kruger takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Flay desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Kruger seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Flay does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kruger missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Kruger is looking for a kimura here.
Kruger thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four 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.
Flay regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kruger postures up in Flay's guard and throws a big left but Flay blocks it.
Flay working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kruger.
Kruger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Flay wants to sweep here but Kruger controlling him for the moment.
Kruger looking to pass the guard.
Kruger throws a strike but Flay rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kruger keeping full guard, as Flay tries to pass.
Flay landing with the ground and pound.

Flay avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Kruger is looking for a triangle but Flay pushes his legs off easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bobby Flay will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Flay takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kruger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jesse Kruger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Flay looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kruger tries to counter with a takedown but Flay is quick to defend against it.
Kruger seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Flay shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kruger pinned against the cage. Kruger gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kruger has a takedown stuffed.
The fight stays on the outside here - Flay looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice sprawl there from Flay as Kruger shoots in.
Kruger circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kruger tries for a takedown but Flay sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesse Kruger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kruger shoots in looking for a takedown but Flay manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kruger's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kruger shoots in and drives through. Flay sprawls well.
Flay with the counter takedown but Kruger avoids it easily.
Flay scores with a nice strike.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kruger fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Flay misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger shoots for a double leg takedown but Flay sprawls well. He's pushed Kruger's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kruger tries for a takedown but Flay sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Flay fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kruger sprawls well initially but Flay persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Kruger actively working from the bottom here.
Flay is taking a breather. Kruger says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Kruger looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Flay is controlling the pace.

Kruger looking for submissions off his back.

Kruger looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kruger 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kruger wants to improve his position but Flay is controlling well.

Kruger has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Flay escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Flay!
Flay scoring with punches from side control.
Flay is working Kruger over with some ground and pound from side control.
Flay in side control lands a decent elbow.
Kruger is looking for a sweep.
Kruger gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kruger has hold of Flay's hands but Flay slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Kruger looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kruger looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Flay connects with a nice short shot to Kruger's temple.

Kruger looking for submissions off his back.
Kruger has hold of Flay's hands but Flay slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kruger is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Flay scores with a couple of nice shots.
Flay is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Flay's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Kruger actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kruger actively working from the bottom here.
Flay is looking to take a break and control but Kruger is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Flay working Kruger over with strikes.

Kruger actively working from the bottom here.
Flay is taking a breather. Kruger says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Kruger looking for submissions off his back.

Kruger actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Flay scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Flay is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Flay lands with a punch from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Flay showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kruger looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kruger gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kruger looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Flay is fending him off so far but Kruger persists. Nope, Flay circles away and we're back to standing.
Kruger loads up on a big right hand but Flay slips the punch.
Flay dives in for a single leg takedown but Kruger sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kruger dives in for a single leg takedown but Flay sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesse Kruger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kruger tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Flay smiles and moves away.
Bobby Flay seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Flay closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kruger quickly recovers to half guard.
Flay wants to take a breather but Kruger is having none of it.
Bobby Flay has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kruger looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Flay in particular looking to stall.
Ground and pound from Flay.
Flay passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flay lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kruger hang on?
Flay wants to control the pace but Kruger is squirming around nicely.
Kruger sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Kruger looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Flay has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Flay landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Flay is controlling the pace.
Flay lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Kruger looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Jesse Kruger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flay is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kruger gets back to full guard.

Kruger looking for a triangle here. Flay is fighting it but it looks tight! Kruger pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Flay is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Jesse Kruger!
A very excited looking Jesse Kruger made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.