PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Harti Kraus (ranked 3967 p4p, 3001 weight class) and Zack Newman (ranked 179 p4p, 148 weight class). Kraus's entrance music is New World Symphony 4th Movement. A fine choice. Zack Newman will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Kraus
vs
Newman

164 cm
19
133
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
140
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Harti Kraus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zack Newman!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Michael Johnstone and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Newman tries to clinch there but Kraus circles away.
Harti Kraus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Newman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kraus manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kraus throws a right hand that Newman ducks under and follows up with a left that Newman also avoids with ease.
Newman shoots in but no luck this time.
Kraus looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Newman wants to counter with a clinch but Kraus pushes him away.
Newman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kraus works over Newman's head and body with a nice combination.
Newman fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kraus throws a hook but Newman avoids it easily.
Newman wants to counter with a clinch but Kraus pushes him away.
Newman is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kraus sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Harti Kraus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zack Newman.
Kraus swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Newman's corner calls for a 1-2. Newman obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kraus tests Newman's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kraus throws a hook but Newman avoids it easily.
Kraus misses with a double jab.
A swing and a miss from Kraus.

Kraus takes the fight into the clinch.
Kraus tries to land knees in the clinch but Newman avoids the damage to the body.
Kraus is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Newman is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraus tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Newman's elbow.
Newman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kraus tries to land knees in the clinch but Newman avoids the damage to the body.
Kraus missing with knees to the body.
Newman tries to land a knee to the head but Kraus blocks with his arms.
Newman jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kraus walks away with a smile on his face. Newman gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kraus stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kraus wants it to stay on the feet.
Kraus dips to his left and cracks Newman with an uppercut!
Kraus throws an overhand right that lands on Newman's shoulder, as Newman tries to avoid the shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kraus misses with a body punch.
Kraus misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kraus lands a nice knee to the body.
Kraus misses with an elbow strike.
Newman missing with knees to the body.
Newman avoiding damage as Kraus throws knees to the body.
Newman looking to slow down the pace here.
Kraus tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Newman avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kraus tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kraus is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Newman is defending well for now.
Kraus is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Newman is defending well for now.
Kraus tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Newman avoids it.
Newman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kraus tries to work over Newman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Newman avoiding damage as Kraus throws knees to the body.
Kraus trying to land knees to the body.
Newman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kraus managing to block the knees to the body from Newman.
Kraus throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kraus misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Kraus fails to land.
Newman trying to control the position but instead, Kraus has worked for underhooks and has pushed Newman into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Kraus fails to land.
Newman working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kraus is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Newman is defending well for now.
Kraus misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Newman.

Kraus lands a takedown into guard.
Newman trying to keep a closed guard but Kraus is proving a slippery customer.
Kraus loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kraus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Newman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kraus trying to control but Newman is working from the bottom.
Kraus stands up over Newman, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Newman is looking for a triangle but Kraus pushes his legs off easily.
Newman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kraus throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kraus with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kraus 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.
Kraus lands a couple of digs.
Newman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Newman keeping moving, preventing Kraus from controlling successfully.
Kraus trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Newman being controlled here, momentarily.
Kraus trying to control the position from guard on top but Newman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kraus throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Newman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kraus trying to control the position from guard on top but Newman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kraus throws a big elbow that misses.
Newman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Newman tries for a takedown but Kraus sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kraus misses with a few strikes there.

Newman gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kraus pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Kraus gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Newman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kraus.
Kraus thows a huge punch but Newman dodges it nicely.
Newman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kraus.
Kraus throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kraus throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kraus thows a huge punch but Newman dodges it nicely.
Kraus controlling the pace.
Kraus throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Newman to regain full guard.
Harti Kraus overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Newman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Newman controls Kraus momentarily but Kraus frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kraus slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraus throwing strikes from guard but Newman blocks nicely.
Newman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Newman has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kraus can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Newman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kraus working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Newman working a defensive guard here.
Kraus passes Newman's left leg - he's now in half guard.

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.
Kraus throwing shots but Newman is blocking nicely.
Kraus not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kraus stalling away here and it's allowed Newman to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Newman is looking for a triangle but Kraus pushes his legs off easily.
Kraus throwing strikes from guard but Newman blocks nicely.
Kraus with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kraus works over Newman with some ground and pound from guard.
Kraus wants to control from the top but Newman keeps moving.
Kraus is stalling in the full guard.

Newman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Newman is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kraus is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Newman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kraus.
Kraus throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Newman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kraus passes Newman's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Newman wants to get back to full guard.
Kraus not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kraus not doing much here.

Newman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kraus throwing shots but Newman is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kraus missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kraus winds up and cracks Newman with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kraus lands with a punch from half guard.
Kraus sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Newman defending well though.
Kraus content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Newman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kraus.
Newman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kraus not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harti Kraus dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Newman bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Newman is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Kraus looks for the body kick but Newman saw that one coming.
Kraus fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Newman checks it well.
A nice combination there by Newman.
Newman throws a leg kick but Kraus sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Newman moves in looking to clinch but Kraus pushes him off.
Newman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Newman tries a head kick but it misses.
Kraus is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Newman can do to turn this around?
Kraus misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Newman.
Kraus misses with a two punch combination.
Newman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kraus shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kraus was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kraus tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kraus has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Newman tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Newman felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraus cracks Newman with a big right hand but Newman just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Newman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kraus is looking to take a break and control but Newman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Newman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kraus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Newman keeps working.
Kraus in side control, throwing shots but Newman defends.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Newman defending against the ground and pound.
Kraus controls the position from side control.
Kraus misses with the ground and pound.
Newman is trying to get back to half guard.
Kraus is looking to take a break and control but Newman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The strikes coming from Kraus are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Harti Kraus is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kraus is staying tight to Newman's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newman is trying to improve his position.
Kraus remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Newman tries to buck Kraus off but Kraus is having none of it.
Newman seems a little lost for a moment, as Kraus dominates the positioning.
Newman is trying to get back to his feet.
Newman takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Kraus works to advance to full mount. Newman defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Newman tries to hold on but Kraus pushes him away.
Kraus controlling his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harti Kraus showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kraus has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harti Kraus!
After winning the bout, Harti Kraus thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.