PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dustin Kruger (ranked 260 p4p, 239 weight class) and Hellas Pankratios (ranked 4 p4p, 10 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kruger
vs
Pankratios

193 cm
37
243
40 - 17 - 2

200 cm
37
294
16 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 40 - 17 - 2, fighting out of London, Dustin Kruger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hellas Pankratios!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pankratios shoots in looking for a takedown but Kruger manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pankratios's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kruger with a nice cross.
A big left from Kruger misses.
Pankratios ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kruger moves away.

Pankratios gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Pankratios has picked Kruger up - he's going for a ride! Pankratios dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Pankratios working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Kruger wants to get back to his feet.
Kruger pushes Pankratios off but Pankratios dives into side control.

Pankratios is trying to get an arm triangle but Kruger is defending well.
Pankratios prevents Kruger from escaping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruger taking a bit of punishment here - Pankratios scoring with strikes.
Kruger wants to get back to his feet but Pankratios drags him back down.
Kruger is not content to let Pankratios control the position.
Kruger wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Pankratios tries to advance to mount but Kruger denies him.
Pankratios trying to control the position but Kruger is working away.
Kruger is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The strikes coming from Pankratios are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Pankratios in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Pankratios content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Pankratios misses with the ground and pound.
Pankratios throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Kruger pushes Pankratios away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Pankratios gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Pankratios scores with a couple of short elbows.
Pankratios is trying to move to mount but Kruger reverses beautifully and ends up in Pankratios's guard.
Pankratios trying to keep a closed guard but Kruger is proving a slippery customer.
Kruger wanted to stand there but Pankratios had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pankratios is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pankratios lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kruger is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Pankratios wants to control from the top but Kruger keeps moving.
Pankratios throws a big right hand that misses.
Pankratios trying to control the position from guard on top but Kruger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pankratios has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pankratios won't allow Kruger to get back to his feet.
Pankratios wants to control from the top but Kruger keeps moving.
Kruger is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pankratios is controlling him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Pankratios closes the distance and clinches up with Kruger, looking for a takedown. Pankratios pushes Kruger against the cage but Kruger circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hellas Pankratios dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pankratios fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kruger looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kruger misses with a looping right.
And Pankratios tries to counter it with a takedown but Kruger pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Pankratios dives in and scores a takedown into Kruger's guard.

Kruger kicks Pankratios off and gets to his feet.
Kruger with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A swing and a miss from Kruger.
Kruger bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Pankratios tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kruger defends well and Pankratios ends up having to push Kruger into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kruger throws a quick counter kick to the body but Pankratios avoids it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pankratios shoots in but Kruger avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Dustin Kruger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hellas Pankratios.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pankratios with a poor takedown

and Kruger counters with a nice right hand that sends Pankratios toppling to the canvas! Pankratios scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Kruger finish him?!

Pankratios is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kruger lands a nice hook to Pankratios's body. Pankratios takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kruger keeps the fight on the outside.
Kruger cracks Pankratios with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Kruger drops Pankratios with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Pankratios looks back up at him and smiles so Kruger waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Pankratios is still on wobbly legs! Can Kruger finish him?
Kruger measures up his opponent and throws a superman punch that connects to the jaw! Down goes Pankratios! The ref steps in, and that's the ball game folks!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Superman Punch). Dustin Kruger!
After winning the bout, Dustin Kruger thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.