PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Horse Mania (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Knut Kroger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mania comes to the cage accompanied by Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar '98. Horse Mania is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Mania
vs
Kroger

191 cm
23
220 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

200 cm
25
220 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Horse Mania!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Knut Kroger!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kroger walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A head kick misses from Kroger.
Kroger tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mania feints and then cracks Kroger's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kroger down.
Mania throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kroger scores with the left hand. Mania knows he should have avoided that one.
Mania misses with an uppercut. Kroger saw that one coming.
A decent looking cross lands there for Mania.
Mania will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kroger keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mania throws a shot from downtown. Kroger moves away and avoids it.
Kroger scores with a three punch combo!
Mania throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kroger throws a combination that misses
enabling Mania to counter with a crisp jab.

Mania has managed to clinch.
Mania throws a punch but it's blocked by Kroger.
Mania gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mania tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mania throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kroger blocks it with crossed arms.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Mania just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kroger's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mania lands with a short shot to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Mania throws an elbow but misses.
Kroger has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mania is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mania connects with a knee to the head.
Kroger avoids the elbow strike from Mania, against the cage.
Mania is pushing Kroger up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Mania lands a damaging elbow.
Mania with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kroger has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mania is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The referee calls for Mania to work.
Mania scores a nice knee to the body.
Mania's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Kroger is trying to break the clinch but Mania is controlling him.
The referee is keeping an eye on Mania - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mania trying to control the position but instead, Kroger has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mania into the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Horse Mania.
Kroger misses with a double jab.
Mania lands with a shot to the body.
No joy there for Kroger, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Knut Kroger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mania is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kroger.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mania. That's going to slow Kroger down.

Kroger scores with a takedown into Mania's guard.
Kroger throws a strike but Mania rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Mania would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kroger is on top in guard.
Kroger working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mania is trying to keep Kroger in close.
Mania wants to sweep here but Kroger controlling him for the moment.
Mania working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kroger.
Mania looking for a sweep. Not yet Mania, not yet.
Kroger postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kroger with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mania working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kroger.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kroger misses with a two punch combination.
Kroger misses with a series of wild punches.
Horse Mania is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice cross by Mania.
Kroger throws a series of punches but Mania avoids them all with ease.

Mania closes the distance and clinches.
Mania lands a damaging elbow.
Mania looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A bit of stalling here from Mania.
Mania lands an elbow inside that Kroger shrugs off.
Nice elbow from Mania.
Mania trying to land knees to the body.
Kroger changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mania fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Horse Mania has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Knut Kroger.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kroger goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Horse Mania dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mania tries to clinch but Kroger moves out of range.
Kroger throws a right and a left that Mania avoids nicely.
Kroger looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Mania instigates a clinch.
Mania lands an elbow inside that Kroger shrugs off.
Mania lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mania pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Kroger wants a takedown but no success here.
Kroger tries for a takedown but Mania manages to get underhooks.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mania.
Mania pushes off an throws an elbow but Kroger leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Mania.
Mania lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mania scores with a knee to the head.
Kroger avoids a wild elbow strike from Mania.
Kroger is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mania gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Horse Mania has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Knut Kroger.
Kroger dodges an elbow strike from Mania.
Stalling in the clinch from Mania.
Kroger is breathing heavily.
Mania lands with a left to the head.
Mania lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mania creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Mania gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kroger avoids a wild elbow strike from Mania.
Mania using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kroger has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mania misses with a knee strike.
Mania effectively controlling the action here.
Kroger is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mania gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kroger wants to get back to striking at distance but Mania won't allow it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Mania just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kroger's brow.
Mania throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Mania landing knees to the body.
Mania throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kroger blocks it with crossed arms.
Mania looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kroger takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Knut Kroger has been cut.
Mania lands an elbow just above Kroger 's eye.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mania obliges.
Mania creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kroger's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mania lands a damaging elbow.
Mania with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kroger takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kroger avoids the elbow strike from Mania, against the cage.
Kroger dodges an elbow strike from Mania.
Mania pushes off an throws an elbow but Kroger leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kroger blocks the elbow strike.
Kroger wants a takedown but no success here.
Kroger blocks the elbow strike.
Mania stalling in the clinch but Kroger improves position.
Kroger blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mania is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kroger is defending well for now.

Kroger pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kroger misses with a wild combination.
Kroger throws a nice looking combination but Mania bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kroger throws a right and a left that Mania avoids nicely.
Kroger misses with a combination
and Mania counters with an outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Mania!
Mania throws a nice inside leg kick.
A nice combination there by Mania.
Jab, jab by Mania - just one landing.
Kroger throws a series of punches but Mania moves out of range.
Mania scores with a nice head shot.
Mania scores with a nice strike.
Mania misses with the combination.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Mania, right into the meat.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kroger is defended easily by Mania.
Mania cracks a nice hook into Kroger's ribs.
The fighters circling - Kroger throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mania scores with a nice body kick.
Knut Kroger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A nice leg kick lands there from Mania.
Mania tries to bum rush Kroger with a series of wild strikes but Kroger uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kroger on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mania. Mania obviously looking to wear him down.
Kroger gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Mania connects with a right hand. Kroger shakes it off.
Mania lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mania lands with a nice combination. Kroger backs away looking to recover.
Mania connects with a solid leg kick.
Mania lands a really nice looking cross but Kroger seems unphased.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Mania - that will leave a mark!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice cross by Mania.
Horse Mania is winning the standup battle so far.

Mania gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kroger is trying to break the clinch but Mania has him pressed against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mania.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Horse Mania dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Knut Kroger's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kroger shoots for a double leg takedown but Mania sprawls well. He's pushed Kroger's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kroger takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kroger walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kroger throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mania counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Mania scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kroger takes a jab right on the kisser.
Mania lands a jab to the nose.
Mania lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice shot lands for Mania.
Mania lands with a hook. Kroger tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kroger takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mania connects with the punch.
A slapping body kick lands there for Mania.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mania lands a body shot.
Kroger chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mania can pounce on him.

Kroger tries to keep at a distance but Mania has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kroger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mania lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mania lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Mania lands with a short shot to the head.
Mania lands an elbow inside that Kroger shrugs off.
Mania lands an elbow inside.
Kroger dodges an elbow strike from Mania.
Kroger blocks an elbow strike from Mania.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mania.
Mania lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Mania landing knees to the head.
Mania pushes off an throws an elbow but Kroger leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Mania lands a damaging elbow.
Mania is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Mania lands an elbow that stopped Kroger in his tracks for a moment.
Mania lands an elbow just above Kroger 's eye.
Mania gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mania pushes off an throws an elbow but Kroger leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Mania is trying to stall.
Mania is pushing Kroger up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kroger can't break the clinch.
Kroger changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mania fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Mania lands a slapping body shot.
Mania pushes Kroger away with a front kick.
Mania scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mania moves into range and connects with a jab.
Mania fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kroger on the side of the head.
Mania with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nice cross by Mania.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Mania.
Kroger takes one to the chin there.
Kroger takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Mania gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mania looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Mania throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Krogers head.
Mania lands an elbow that stopped Kroger in his tracks for a moment.
Kroger avoids the elbow strike from Mania, against the cage.
Kroger dodges an elbow strike from Mania.
Kroger blocks an elbow strike.
Mania with a knee to the head.
Mania misses with an elbow over the top.
Horse Mania is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mania lands an elbow inside.
Mania creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kroger is trying to force a seperation but Mania has the dominant position.
Mania just leaning against Kroger, taking a breather.
A left hand lands to the body for Mania.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Mania.
Kroger avoids the elbow strike from Mania, against the cage.
Mania lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Mania.
Kroger on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Knut Kroger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mania misses with an elbow over the top.
Mania is pushing Kroger up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kroger goes for a takedown attempt but Mania pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Horse Mania has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Knut Kroger.
Mania on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kroger's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kroger throws a low kick but Mania avoids it.
Kroger uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mania.
Mania drops his hands momentarily and Kroger takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Horse Mania showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mania, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:25
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:25
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Horse Mania!