PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Albert Kraus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Doug Harden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kraus comes to the ring accompanied by Eye of the tiger. Albert Kraus could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Doug Harden's chin.

Kraus
vs
Harden

176 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

186 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Albert Kraus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Doug Harden!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Dean Styles and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kraus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Harden keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Harden misses with a body shot.
Kraus is trying hard to land a takedown here. Harden sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kraus fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Albert Kraus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kraus closes this distance looking for a takedown but Harden circles away.
Kraus shoots in looking for a takedown. Harden tries to sprawl out of it but Kraus keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Harden manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kraus fails with a takedown attempt.
Harden lands a two punch combo.

Kraus gets a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kraus missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kraus trying to control from half guard but Harden is working away.
Harden is looking for a sweep. Kraus is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harden avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kraus.
Harden is refusing to be controlled, as Kraus sits in half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Harden can do anything to dispel that myth.
Harden controlling the position for now.
Kraus is keen to just control but Harden is a slippery customer.
Kraus not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kraus closes the distance and clinches up with Harden, looking for a takedown. Kraus pushes Harden against the ropes but Harden circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Kraus feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Harden holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kraus drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kraus jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kraus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Harden is keeping the position for now.
Kraus trying to control but Harden is working from the bottom.

Kraus drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kraus jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kraus is breathing heavily.
Harden keeping full guard, as Kraus tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harden wants to sweep but no luck.
Kraus wants to control from the top but Harden keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kraus has a takedown stuffed.
Horrible takedown by Kraus or perhaps it was just good defense by Harden which made him look bad.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Harden. Kraus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kraus walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kraus closes this distance looking for a takedown but Harden circles away.
Harden looks to score with a jab to the body but Kraus is just out of range.
Harden misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kraus.
Harden misses with a wild body shot.
Harden throws a body punch but Kraus moves out of range.

That's four 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.

Kraus decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Kraus is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Harden defends it well.
Harden wants to get back to full guard.

Kraus is working for a submission of some sort.
Harden wants to get back to full guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kraus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Harden keeps working.

Kraus is working for a submission of some sort.

Kraus looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Harden scores with a sloppy right hand. Kraus should have avoided that one.
Harden throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kraus swinging wildly here.
Harden scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Harden fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kraus manages to avoid it.
Kraus shoots for a double leg takedown but Harden sprawls well. He's pushed Kraus's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Harden punishes Kraus's body with a nice straight punch.
Harden lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kraus at a distance.
Harden throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Harden ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kraus avoids the body shot from Harden.
Harden is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kraus rather than just go for the knockout.
Kraus looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Harden is fending him off so far but Kraus persists. Nope, Harden circles away and we're back to standing.
Kraus moves forwards but Harden connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Harden fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kraus manages to avoid it.
Harden lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Harden slaps away a takedown attempt from Kraus, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kraus misses with a takedown attempt - Harden sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kraus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Harden throws a body punch but Kraus moves out of range.
Harden misses with a body shot.
Kraus avoids the body shot from Harden.
Kraus shoots in but Harden avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kraus takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Harden scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Harden swings for the body but Kraus moves out of range.
Harden tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kraus was well out of range. Poor timing from Harden.
Harden takes a swing at Kraus's ribcage but misses.
Kraus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Harden.
Kraus showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Harden.
Harden defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kraus.
Harden throws a body punch but Kraus moves out of range.
Harden keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Harden tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kraus was well out of range. Poor timing from Harden.
A looping hook to the body misses from Harden. Kraus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Harden scores with a shot to the body.
Harden swings for the body but Kraus moves out of range.
Harden misses the shot to the body.
Doug Harden is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Harden lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kraus backs up against the ropes.
Harden digs a good hook to Kraus's body.
Kraus looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Harden swings for the body but Kraus moves out of range.
Harden scores with a shot to the body.
Kraus fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Harden fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Harden comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Harden lands a nice hook to Kraus's body. Kraus takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Harden jabs at Kraus's body.
Harden throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kraus stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Harden scores with a shot to the body.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Harden lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kraus backs up against the ropes.
Harden changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Harden takes a swing at Kraus's ribcage but misses.
Harden misses with a wild body shot.
Harden cracks a nice hook into Kraus's ribs.
Harden fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kraus shoots for a double leg takedown but Harden sprawls well. He's pushed Kraus's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Harden takes a swing at Kraus's ribcage but misses.
Kraus avoids a punch combination nicely.
Harden lands a jab to Kraus's midsection.
Harden jabs at Kraus's body.
Harden lands a body shot.
Kraus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Harden looks to score with a jab to the body but Kraus is just out of range.
Kraus fails with the takedown.
Harden throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Harden jabs at Kraus's body.
Harden scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kraus on the wrong end of a nice jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Doug Harden dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Harden lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Harden.
Harden connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kraus's hands.
Kraus dodges the punch combination from Harden.
Kraus takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Harden misses with a wild body shot.
Kraus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Harden takes a swing at Kraus's ribcage but misses.
Kraus fails with the takedown.
Harden just misses with a punch to the body.
Kraus fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Harden bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kraus's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harden lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Albert Kraus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kraus misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Albert Kraus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Harden cracks Kraus with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kraus is trying hard to land a takedown here. Harden sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Harden throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Harden swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Harden. Kraus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Harden ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kraus moves away.
Harden changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Harden misses with a body shot.
Kraus tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Harden swivels and escapes.
Harden just misses with a punch to the body.
Harden throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Harden misses with a wild body shot.
Harden just misses with a punch to the body.
Harden misses with a body shot.
Harden ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kraus moves away.
Harden throws a series of punches but Kraus avoids them all with ease.
Harden swings for the body but Kraus moves out of range.
Harden misses the shot to the body.
Kraus tries for a takedown but Harden sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kraus dives in and grabs Harden's left leg, looking for a takedown. Harden pushes down on Kraus's head and hops out.
Nice takedown defense from Harden. No joy for Kraus on that attempt.
Kraus takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Harden misses with a wild body shot.
Harden throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harden scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Harden has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Harden jabs at Kraus's body.
Harden throws a body punch but Kraus moves out of range.
Harden stuns Kraus with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nice body punch from Harden.
Harden misses with a wild body shot.
Harden scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Harden misses with a jab, cross combination.
A punch combination from Kraus misses.
Doug Harden seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Harden thows a body shot but no joy.
Left hook, right uppercut from Harden.
Harden tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kraus was well out of range. Poor timing from Harden.
Kraus shoots in looking for a takedown. Harden tries to sprawl out of it but Kraus keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Harden manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Harden lands a nice shot to the body.
Harden leaves Kraus with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Decent striking displayed by Harden there.
Harden digs a good hook to Kraus's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kraus throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Harden.
Kraus looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Harden misses with a body shot.
Harden cracks Kraus with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Harden tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kraus was well out of range. Poor timing from Harden.
Harden thuds a left hand into Kraus's body.
Harden misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kraus.
Harden swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Harden takes a swing at Kraus's ribcage but misses.
Harden tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kraus was well out of range. Poor timing from Harden.
Harden will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Harden tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kraus was well out of range. Poor timing from Harden.
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.
Kraus throws a nice looking combination but Harden bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Harden fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kraus manages to avoid it.

Kraus closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Harden to the mat! Harden manages to get full guard.
Harden working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kraus.
Kraus throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kraus stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harden swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Harden wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kraus looking to pass the guard.
Kraus with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kraus is pushing down on Harden's leg trying to pass to half guard. Harden is fighting to maintain full guard but Kraus has managed to sneak the leg through.

Kraus is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Harden blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kraus.
Harden is not content to let Kraus control the position.

That's six 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.
Kraus trying to mount his opponent but Harden defends it.

Kraus seems to be looking for submissions.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Harden fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kraus manages to avoid it.
Harden digs a good hook to Kraus's body.
Harden ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kraus moves away.
Kraus takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kraus avoids the body shot from Harden.
Harden misses with a body shot.
Harden thuds his right hand into Kraus's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Harden thows a body shot but no joy.
Kraus misses with a takedown attempt - Harden sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Harden just misses with a punch to the body.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kraus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Harden swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Harden tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kraus was well out of range. Poor timing from Harden.
A decent looking cross lands there for Harden.
Harden just misses with a punch to the body.
Kraus lands a jab to the head.
Kraus shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Harden sprawls well. Harden wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kraus gets slowly back to his feet.
Harden throws a series of punches but Kraus avoids them all with ease.
Harden lands with a good body shot.
Harden lands with an uppercut that bounces Kraus off the ropes and back into rage.
Harden scores with a hook to the body. Kraus takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Harden throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kraus shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Harden pinned against the cage. Harden gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Harden punishes Kraus's body with a nice straight punch.
Harden looks to score with a jab to the body but Kraus is just out of range.
No luck for Kraus with that takedown attempt.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Kraus takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Harden just misses with a punch to the body.
Kraus takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Harden misses the shot to the body.
Kraus tries to score a power double leg takedown but Harden sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kraus somewhat.
Harden lands with a shot to the body.
Harden throws a body punch but Kraus moves out of range.
Kraus takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Harden misses with a wild body shot.
Harden is working the combinations to good effect here.
Harden ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Harden punishes Kraus's body with a nice straight punch.
Kraus avoids the body shot from Harden.
Kraus fails with a takedown attempt.
Kraus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Harden.
Kraus closes this distance looking for a takedown but Harden circles away.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Harden swings for the body but Kraus moves out of range.
Harden thows a body shot but no joy.
Kraus has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Albert Kraus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Harden tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kraus was well out of range. Poor timing from Harden.
Harden throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Harden lands with a good body shot.
Harden throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Harden lands a two punch combo.
Kraus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Harden just misses with a punch to the body.
Kraus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Harden just misses with a punch to the body.

Kraus gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A frustrated look appears on Harden's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Kraus lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Harden is trying to get back to full guard.
Harden won't allow Kraus to pass to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Doug Harden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Harden has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge David Schapiro scores the fight for Doug Harden!
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight for Doug Harden!
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight for Doug Harden!

Doug Harden wins by unanimous decision!