PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Harti Kraus (ranked 1287 p4p, 1249 weight class) and Mordecai Dabingyaba (ranked 75 p4p, 71 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kraus might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to New World Symphony 4th Movement. Dabingyaba has chosen Welcome To The Jungle as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Kraus
vs
Dabingyaba

164 cm
23
137
10 - 5 - 0

180 cm
27
145
7 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Money Inc. (160Q with Proof ) 165$

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Harti Kraus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mordecai Dabingyaba!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kraus is looking to land body kicks.
Kraus throws a head kick but Dabingyaba moves out of range.
Dabingyaba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kraus.
A decent looking cross lands there for Dabingyaba.
Kraus missing with a left hand there. Dabingyaba was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Dabingyaba moves into the clinch.
Dabingyaba blocks a body shot from Kraus.
Kraus misses with a body punch.
Dabingyaba blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kraus gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Mordecai Dabingyaba has been cut.
Knees to the body from Dabingyaba.
Dabingyaba stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Dabingyaba can't find room to land a body shot as Kraus controls the action.
Kraus tries a body shot but Dabingyaba blocks it.
Dabingyaba scores with a shoulder strike.
Dabingyaba struggles to land a body shot inside as Kraus controls his hands.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Dabingyaba.
Kraus is trying to break free.
Dabingyaba doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraus blocks a body shot from Dabingyaba.
We've been hearing reports that Kraus has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Dabingyaba scores with a nice hook to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Dabingyaba misses with a punch to the body.
Dabingyaba lands a knee to the head.
Kraus blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kraus is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dabingyaba is defending well for now.
Dabingyaba tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kraus scores with a nice hook to the head.
Dabingyaba tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kraus lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dabingyaba lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dabingyaba crunches a lovely knee into Kraus's ribcage.
Kraus unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Dabingyaba tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kraus's elbow.
Kraus misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dabingyaba can't find room to land a body shot as Kraus controls the action.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dabingyaba letting Kraus take a breather here.
Dabingyaba blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Dabingyaba.
Kraus prevents a body shot from Dabingyaba.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kraus takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Dabingyaba working aggressively here.
Dabingyaba lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kraus backwards.
Kraus missing with knees to the body.
We've been informed that Dabingyaba has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Dabingyaba doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kraus displaying some good clinch control by pressing Dabingyaba up against the cage.
Kraus prevents a body shot from Dabingyaba.
Dabingyaba lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kraus lands a good knee to the midsection. Dabingyaba won't want to take too many of those.
Kraus misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kraus struggles to land a body shot inside as Dabingyaba controls his hands.
Kraus blocks a body shot from Dabingyaba.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dabingyaba can't find room to land a body shot as Kraus controls the action.
Kraus lands an uppercut.
Kraus slowing the pace effectively.
Dabingyaba managing to block the knees to the body from Kraus.
Dabingyaba tries to throw a body punch but Kraus avoids it by throwing Dabingyaba back against the cage.
A short right from Dabingyaba on the inside.
Kraus unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kraus blocks a body shot from Dabingyaba.
Dabingyaba stalling in the clinch but Kraus improves position.
Dabingyaba throws a punch but it's blocked by Kraus.
Dabingyaba working aggressively here.
Dabingyaba doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dabingyaba tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kraus's elbow.
Dabingyaba throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Krauss head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Dabingyaba goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kraus prevents a body shot from Dabingyaba.
Kraus lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dabingyaba backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dabingyaba being controlled against the cage.
Dabingyaba misses with a punch to the body.
Dabingyaba blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kraus is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dabingyaba is defending well for now.
Kraus scores with a shot to the side of Dabingyaba's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kraus tries to break free but Dabingyaba pushes him back against the cage.
Dabingyaba avoiding damage as Kraus throws knees to the body.
Dabingyaba is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Dabingyaba scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Dabingyaba swings wildly with an uppercut but Kraus uses good head movement to avoid it.

Kraus breaks the clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Dabingyaba.
Kraus falls off balance throwing a combination
and Dabingyaba counters with a nice body shot.
Kraus works Dabingyaba's body with a nice hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mordecai Dabingyaba will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mordecai Dabingyaba's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

A jab from Kraus misses.
Dabingyaba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kraus misses with a looping left.
Harti Kraus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dabingyaba scores with a jab.
Kraus moves forwards but Dabingyaba connects with a nice, crisp jab.
No joy there for Kraus, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kraus drops his hands momentarily and Dabingyaba takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kraus misses with a head kick.
Kraus misses with a jab to the body
and Dabingyaba counters with a nice uppercut.
Dabingyaba walks into a jab.
Kraus misses with a double jab
and Dabingyaba counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kraus misses with a hook
and Dabingyaba counters with a straight right hand.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kraus takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kraus on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Dabingyaba. Dabingyaba obviously looking to wear him down.
Kraus lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Kraus tries to move into range but Dabingyaba moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Mordecai Dabingyaba seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A solid leg kick lands there for Dabingyaba.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraus takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Dabingyaba bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kraus takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Dabingyaba throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kraus sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kraus fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Dabingyaba on the side of the head.
Dabingyaba is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Dabingyaba ducks under a wild hook from Kraus.
Dabingyaba chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kraus can pounce on him.
Kraus throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dabingyaba fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kraus throws an overhand right that lands on Dabingyaba's shoulder, as Dabingyaba tries to avoid the shot.
Kraus throws a leg kick that is checked
and Dabingyaba makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Dabingyaba moves out of range of the strikes.
Dabingyaba moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Dabingyaba lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sloppy strikes from Kraus. Those never looked like landing.
Harti Kraus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kraus throws a leg kick but Dabingyaba moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kraus pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The fighters circling - Kraus throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Dabingyaba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kraus manages to avoid it.
Dabingyaba blocks the body kick.
Dabingyaba scores with a nice right hand.
Dabingyaba slips under a jab.
Kraus walks into a jab.
An inside leg kick lands from Dabingyaba.
Kraus misses with a leg kick.
Dabingyaba scoring well with a low kick there.
Dabingyaba connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Dabingyaba scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kraus tries a head kick but it misses.
Dabingyaba avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kraus takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kraus scores with a nice strike.
Dabingyaba chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Dabingyaba lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kraus's sensitive parts.
Kraus throws a head kick that misses.
Dabingyaba let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Dabingyaba lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kraus with a hook.
Kraus misses with a body punch
and Dabingyaba connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dabingyaba throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Dabingyaba bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Dabingyaba tries a low kick but Kraus avoids it.
Kraus throws a quick counter head kick but Dabingyaba was just out of range.
A low kick from Kraus is predictable there
and Dabingyaba counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kraus throws a body shot but no joy.
Kraus throws a body kick that misses
and Dabingyaba cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dabingyaba connects with an inside leg kick.
Dabingyaba connects with an inside leg kick.
Dabingyaba is looking to chop away at Kraus's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kraus misses with the body kick
and Dabingyaba counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kraus drops his hands momentarily and Dabingyaba takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Dabingyaba misses the shot to the body.
Kraus drops his hands momentarily and Dabingyaba takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kraus walks into a straight right hand from Dabingyaba.
Kraus 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.
A decent looking cross lands there for Dabingyaba.
Dabingyaba lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kraus has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Kraus throws a combination that misses
enabling Dabingyaba to counter with a crisp jab.
A slapping leg kick lands for Dabingyaba.
Kraus misses with a series of wild punches.
A nice side step and Dabingyaba releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kraus is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kraus misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Dabingyaba counters with a stiff right hand.
Kraus misses with a hook
and Dabingyaba counters with a nice body shot.
Kraus swings widly with a right hand
and Dabingyaba counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Dabingyaba scores with a hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mordecai Dabingyaba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mordecai Dabingyaba's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Dabingyaba scores with a nice head shot.
Kraus throws a lazy uppercut
and Dabingyaba counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kraus thinking.
Dabingyaba lands with a good body shot.
Kraus misses with a right hand
and Kraus takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kraus throws a looping overhand right but Dabingyaba ducks down to avoid it.
Kraus throws an off balance right hand
and Dabingyaba counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kraus misses with the combination.
A punch combination from Kraus misses.
Kraus falls off balance throwing a combination
and Dabingyaba counters with a left to the body.
Kraus takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kraus takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kraus misses with a lunging right hand
and Dabingyaba counters with a thumping low kick.
Kraus looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Dabingyaba buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Dabingyaba throws a leg kick which misses Kraus's front leg but catches the back leg as Kraus tries to avoid it.
Kraus throws a sloppy head kick and Dabingyaba moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dabingyaba.
Kraus is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
A nice leg kick from Dabingyaba, right into the meat of the thigh.
Dabingyaba punishes Kraus's body with a nice straight punch.
Dabingyaba stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kraus throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kraus throws a left and a right that both miss
and Dabingyaba counters with a good low kick that Kraus was not able to check.
Dabingyaba fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kraus misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Dabingyaba connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dabingyaba moves out of range of the body kick.
Kraus keeps the fight on the outside.
Kraus throws a series of punches but Dabingyaba moves out of range.
Kraus connects with a solid leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Dabingyaba. That's going to slow Kraus down.
Dabingyaba connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Dabingyaba has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dabingyaba lands a nice shot to the body.
Kraus misses with a two punch combination.
Mordecai Dabingyaba is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dabingyaba connects with an inside leg kick.
Jab by Dabingyaba.
Dabingyaba moves into range and connects with a jab.
Dabingyaba lands a jab to the nose.
A jab from Dabingyaba finds it's way through Kraus's defenses.
That kick from Dabingyaba tenderised Kraus's leg. Kraus is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kraus looks to land a right hand but Dabingyaba moved out of range.
Dabingyaba has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dabingyaba works the jab nicely.

Dabingyaba moves into the clinch.
Dabingyaba misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kraus.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kraus.
Mordecai Dabingyaba seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kraus trying to stall but Dabingyaba improves his position.
Kraus wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kraus prevents a body shot from Dabingyaba.

Kraus breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kraus rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Dabingyaba counters with a straight right hand.
Dabingyaba scoring well with a low kick there.
Dabingyaba looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kraus misses with a body punch
and Dabingyaba counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kraus throws a right and a left that Dabingyaba avoids nicely.
Harti Kraus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dabingyaba throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Dabingyaba tries to clinch up.
Kraus throws a left and a right that both miss
and Dabingyaba counters with a nice uppercut.
A combination from Kraus does no damage.
Kraus closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Dabingyaba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dabingyaba jabs at Kraus's body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kraus.
Dabingyaba only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Kraus looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dabingyaba thuds a left hand into Kraus's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dabingyaba connects with a jab.
Kraus takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Dabingyaba connects with a solid leg kick.
Kraus connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kraus scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Dabingyaba lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A head kick misses from Kraus.
Dabingyaba throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kraus has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Dabingyaba.
Dabingyaba lands a nice shot to the body.
Dabingyaba lands with an overhand left.
Kraus is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Dabingyaba's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Dabingyaba lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Donk. Dabingyaba catches Kraus right on the button with a cross.
Dabingyaba works Kraus's body with a nice hook.
Kraus connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A combination from Kraus does no damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mordecai Dabingyaba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dabingyaba has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mordecai Dabingyaba!
Harti Kraus spoke after the fight, saying 'Congratulations to Denisov. Not my night tonight, nothing more to add to that. The story isn't done, it's not even close. You'll see me soon.'.