PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Krauss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samuel Banten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Samuel Banten is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Krauss
vs
Banten

188 cm
21
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

222 cm
25
223 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Krauss!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Samuel Banten!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shirou Masuda and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Krauss fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Banten avoids it really well and circles away.
Krauss showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Banten.

Krauss changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Banten looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Krauss trying to control the position but Banten is working away.
Krauss looks up at the clock and then as Banten takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Krauss smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Krauss working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Banten wants to get back to his feet but Krauss drags him back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Krauss stands up.
Banten looks gassed!
A combination from Banten does no damage.

Krauss gets a takedown into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Banten can do anything to dispel that myth.
Krauss takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Krauss winds up and cracks Banten with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Krauss seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krauss throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Krauss missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Krauss seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Krauss tries to pass to full mount but Banten defends it.
Krauss frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krauss controlling his opponent.
Krauss has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Krauss could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Michael Krauss.

Krauss changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Banten looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Krauss is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Banten knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Krauss decides to stand up, so the ref orders Banten to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Krauss dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Krauss looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Banten wants to get back to his feet but Krauss is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Krauss trying to control but Banten is working from the bottom.
Krauss controls from within his opponent's guard.
Banten is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michael Krauss has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Krauss is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Banten's half guard.
Krauss content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Krauss scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Krauss looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Krauss's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

We're going to have a standup here because Michael Krauss wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Krauss shoots in and bounces Banten off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Krauss with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krauss controls from within his opponent's guard.
Krauss trying to control but Banten is working from the bottom.
Krauss is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Krauss working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Banten's head.
Krauss sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Michael Krauss.

Krauss fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Banten sprawls well initially but Krauss persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Krauss works his way into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Krauss dominated that second 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. And we move into the final round!

Krauss bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Krauss controlling the position from side mount.
Krauss advances to mount.
Krauss controlling his opponent.
Banten takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krauss can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Banten is looking to escape.
Krauss looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two 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.
Krauss landing strikes from the mount.

Krauss jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Banten manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Banten is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Banten trying to remain calm as Krauss controls from the top position.
Krauss wants to lay and pray for a moment but Banten keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Krauss seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Krauss wants to lay and pray for a moment but Banten keeps working.
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.

Michael Krauss has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Banten fails to land with a series of punches.

Krauss bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Banten's face as Krauss controls the position.

Krauss has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Krauss decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Krauss lands a nice short elbow.
Krauss passes to side control.
Krauss working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Krauss is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Banten will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Samuel Banten has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Krauss has knee on belly and moves into mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Krauss showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Krauss, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:26
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Krauss!