PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Markus Kray (ranked 2709 p4p, 309 weight class) and Mahmoud Modaro (ranked 2910 p4p, 322 weight class). Mahmoud Modaro has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kray
vs
Modaro

180 cm
21
173 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Paradise Health and Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Markus Kray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mahmoud Modaro!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kray lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kray stuffs the takedown attempt from Modaro. Modaro gets slowly back to his feet.
Kray scores with a punch to the head.
Modaro tries for a takedown but Kray sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Modaro dodges the punch combination from Kray.
Modaro closes the distance and clinches up with Kray, looking for a takedown. Modaro pushes Kray against the cage but Kray circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Markus Kray has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mahmoud Modaro.
Kray swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Modaro.
Kray tries to clinch but Modaro moves out of range.
Modaro is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Nice shot by Kray.
Kray doesn't manage to clinch there - Modaro circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Modaro feints and as Kray raises his hands in defense, Modaro changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kray is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Modaro is controlling him.
Kray trying to control the position.
Kray wants to stand and escape but Modaro is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kray looking to control.
Modaro is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Modaro closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Kray's guard.
Kray on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kray tries to get out of the position.
Kray is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Modaro stays in close to Kray's body and controls the position.
Kray is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kray is looking to stand up but Modaro isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Modaro circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kray fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kray fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kray misses with a few strikes there.
Kray looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kray ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Modaro moves away.
Modaro shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kray defends it nicely.
Kray tries to counter by clinching up but Modaro breaks away and moves out of range.
Mahmoud Modaro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Modaro will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Kray rushes Modaro and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Modaro taking a breather.
Kray is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kray with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Modaro has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kray working Modaro over with knees to the body.
Modaro looks winded!
Modaro takes an elbow to the forehead.
Kray taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Kray misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Modaro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kray gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kray lands a damaging elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kray with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Modaro'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.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kray.
Kray misses with a knee strike.
Kray connects with a nasty looking knee right to Modaro's face.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kray comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kray lands an elbow that stopped Modaro in his tracks for a moment.
Modaro stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Modaro jumps guard but Kray turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Kray dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Modaro shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kray sprawls well. Kray wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Modaro gets slowly back to his feet.
Modaro fails to land the takedown.
Kray lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Modaro throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kray's waist but Kray gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Modaro off to one side.
Markus Kray has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mahmoud Modaro.
Kray displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Modaro.

Modaro gets a takedown into half guard.
Kray is trying to stand up here but Modaro is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kray wants to control but Modaro is keeping busy.
Kray tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Modaro manages to move to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Modaro prevents Kray from getting the reversal.
Modaro looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kray tries to lock up and control but Modaro gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kray can't escape the position.
Modaro avoids the attempt from Kray to control.
Kray is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Modaro controlling the pace for now.
Kray bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Kray controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Modaro wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kray stays in close to Modaro's body and controls the position.
Kray missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kray being controlled here momentarily.
Kray trying to control the position from guard on top but Modaro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Modaro holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Modaro throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kray's waist but Kray gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Modaro off to one side.

Kray tries to sprawl but Modaro drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Kray manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Modaro keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Modaro jumps guard but Kray stands there with Modaro around his waist. Modaro gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Kray.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kray tries a knee to the head but Modaro blocks it.
Modaro is trying to pull guard but Kray has him pressed against the cage.
Kray lands an elbow just above Modaro 's eye.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Kray dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Modaro shoots in but Kray avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Modaro scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kray struggling a bit here.
Kray tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Kray working to try and regain half guard.
Kray tries to hold on but Modaro pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kray is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kray wants to hold on but Modaro pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Modaro controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kray is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Modaro controlling from the full mount.
Kray wants to hold on but Modaro pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kray tries to reverse the position but Modaro maintains control.
Modaro controlling from mount.
Modaro avoids the attempt from Kray to control.
Modaro controlling the pace for now.
Kray squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kray is trying to escape the mount.
Mahmoud Modaro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Modaro controlling the position easily from mount.
You get the feeling that Kray really doesn't like being in this position too much.

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.
Modaro tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kray is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kray is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Kray keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kray is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mahmoud Modaro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Markus Kray is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kray wants to try and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mahmoud Modaro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kray has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Markus Kray!
A very excited looking Markus Kray 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.