PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Russian Bear (ranked 2386 p4p, 5942 weight class) and Samwel Nkruma (ranked 312 p4p, 523 weight class). Nkruma has chosen The Imperial March - Pegboard Nerds as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Bear
vs
Nkruma

184 cm
25
191
4 - 4 - 0

185 cm
21
184
1 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Fantasy Threads

Furnace Performance 🔥
Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Russian Bear!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Samwel Nkruma!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nkruma misses with a lunging right hand

and Bear counters with a takedown into side control.
Bear cracks Nkruma with a big right hand but Nkruma just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Nkruma wants to control but Bear postures up.

Bear tries for a kimura but Nkruma is defending well.
Bear creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Nkruma sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Nkruma is trying to control Bear's posture but Bear avoids it.
Nkruma is trying to buck Bear off.
Nkruma can't do much from the bottom here.
Nkruma avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Bear.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bear wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nkruma keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Nkruma's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
I wouldn't like to be where Nkruma is right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nkruma is pushing Bear's head away, looking to escape. Bear manages to hold on to the position though.

Bear is trying to get an arm triangle but Nkruma is defending well.
Nkruma stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Bear happy to just control the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bear working away.
Nkruma gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nkruma manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Nkruma avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bear passes Nkruma's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nkruma is trying to maintain the position but Bear is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nkruma is defending against the submission attempts here by Bear.
Nkruma wants to improve his position but Bear is controlling well.
Nkruma looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Bear trying to control from half guard but Nkruma is working away.
Nkruma keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Nkruma is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Bear jumps into side control!
Bear wants to control but Nkruma is keeping him busy.
Bear working away.
Nkruma prevents Bear from improving position.
You can see the frustration on Nkruma's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nkruma is looking to reverse the position.
Nkruma holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Bear throws a strike aimed at the side of Nkruma's head but Nkruma avoids it well.
Nkruma stops Bear from passing to mount.
Nkruma is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Nkruma tries to get to full guard but Bear has control of the leg.
Bear passes into side control, despite Nkruma's attempt to control the position.
Nkruma sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Nkruma moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nkruma looking to control.
Nkruma seems keen to control Bear's posture.
Nkruma keeping full guard, as Bear tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bear trying to control the position from guard on top but Nkruma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bear stands up over Nkruma, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bear landing some decent shots from guard.
Nkruma controlling the position.
Bear is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Nkruma controls Bear momentarily but Bear frees himself.
Bear looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nkruma trying to keep a closed guard but Bear is proving a slippery customer.
Bear tries to free his leg and advance position but Nkruma is retaining full guard.
Bear controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Russian Bear dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bear on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Nkruma. Nkruma obviously looking to wear him down.
Nkruma tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bear manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nkruma lands a head kick!

It looks like Russian Bear has been cut.
Bear looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nkruma lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bear circles away quickly and effectively.
Nkruma turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Bear gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Bear is trying to pull guard but Nkruma has him pressed against the cage.
Bear on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bear is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Nkruma to keep the fight standing.
Bear is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nkruma can do to turn this around?
Bear being controlled against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bear.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bear is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Nkruma gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russian Bear. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nkruma throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bear blocks it with crossed arms.
Nkruma stalling in the clinch but Bear improves position.
Bear content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Nkruma misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bear.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nkruma tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Nkruma is trying to maintain a safe position but Bear gets an underhook and turns Nkruma into the cage.
Nkruma leaning his opponent against the cage.
Bear drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nkruma gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A head punch on the inside from Nkruma fails to land.
Nkruma looking to slow down the pace here.
Nkruma gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bear.
Nkruma landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nkruma wants to stall.
Bear is trying to pull guard but Nkruma turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nkruma lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bear as Nkruma tries to tie him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bear as Nkruma tries to tie him up.
Nkruma is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Bear has denied him.
Nkruma looking to slow down the pace here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Samwel Nkruma.

Bear fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Nkruma to the ground. Bear is now in Nkruma's guard.

Nkruma uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Russian Bear seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nkruma looks to score with a jab to the body but Bear is just out of range.
Bear misses with a right hand
and Bear takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nkruma throws an overhand right that lands on Bear's shoulder, as Bear tries to avoid the shot.
Bear attempts a counter takedown but Nkruma avoids it well and moves away.
Nkruma takes a swing at Bear's ribcage but misses.
Bear 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.
Bear fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nkruma walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Bear checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bear closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Bear working the head and body with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bear tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Nkruma tries to escape but Bear is in control.
You can see the frustration on Nkruma's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ground and pound from Bear seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Bear trying to control the action but Nkruma is working from the bottom.
Nkruma is looking to reverse the position.
Nkruma is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Bear's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Bear perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bear's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Nkruma is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bear is looking to advance position but Nkruma won't allow it.
Bear seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nkruma does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Nkruma manages to get to full guard.
Nkruma keeping moving, preventing Bear from controlling successfully.
Nkruma controls Bear momentarily but Bear frees himself.
Bear is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bear trying to control the position from guard on top but Nkruma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nkruma is trying to keep Bear in close.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Samwel Nkruma showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Russian Bear's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bear has managed to clinch.
Nkruma is struggling to control the position.
Nkruma is trying to stall.
Nkruma stalling in the clinch but Bear improves position.
Bear prevents a body shot from Nkruma.
Nkruma misses with a knee to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Nkruma - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Nkruma prevents the takedown attempt.
Stalling in the clinch from Nkruma.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nkruma displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bear up against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Samwel Nkruma.
Nkruma throws a head kick that misses.

Bear fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Nkruma to the ground. Bear is now in Nkruma's guard.
Bear content to stall in guard here.
Bear loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bear is stalling in the full guard.
Nkruma tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nkruma trying to keep a closed guard but Bear is proving a slippery customer.
Bear controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Nkruma is trying to control the position but Bear postures up.
Bear trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nkruma is trying to control the position but Bear postures up.
Bear sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nkruma keeping full guard, as Bear tries to pass.
Nkruma keeping moving, preventing Bear from controlling successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nkruma wants to sweep but no luck.
Nkruma is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bear looks to land a left hand but Nkruma moved out of range nicely.
Samwel Nkruma is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nkruma takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Bear scores with a takedown into Nkruma's guard.
Nkruma being controlled here, momentarily.
Bear trying to control but Nkruma is working from the bottom.
Nkruma is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Bear postures up.
Bear throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nkruma working a defensive guard but Bear manages to pass into side control anyway.
Nkruma is trying to control Bear's posture but Bear avoids it.
Nkruma is trying to improve his position.

Bear in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Nkruma is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Russian Bear!
After the big win, Russian Bear made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Un-Kaged Nutrition and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.