PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steven Kraft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arthur Green (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Kraft
vs
Green

180 cm
26
183 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

177 cm
22
180 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steven Kraft!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Arthur Green!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Vladimir Khabensky and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kraft throws a left and a right that both miss
and Green counters with a stiff right hand.

Kraft closes the distance and clinches.
Kraft lands a shot to the body.

Green manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Green pushes Kraft off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Kraft will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Green uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kraft.
Kraft misses with a hook to the body
and Green makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Green pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kraft misses with a hook to the body
and Green makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Kraft has Green up against the cage in a clinch.
Green looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kraft works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A right hand to the body from Kraft.
Green is trying to force a seperation but Kraft has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraft lands a right hand that snaps the head of Green backwards.
Green tries to circle away but Kraft has him pinned against the cage.
Green wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kraft has him pressed against the cage.
Green goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kraft prevents it.

Green manages to break the clinch.
Kraft tries to clinch up.
Kraft thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kraft tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Green counters with a low kick, right behind Kraft 's knee.
Kraft scores with a jab. Green acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Green shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Green showed some decent athleticism there.
Green throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kraft is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Green wants to get back to his feet.
Kraft wants to control but Green is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Green thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Kraft to regain full guard.
Kraft 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.
Green throwing strikes from guard but Kraft blocks nicely.
Green forces his way into half guard.
Green wants to stand up but Kraft has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Green missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Green wants to stand up but Kraft is controlling the position.

Green is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Green is working for an americana but Kraft has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Green was thinking about the submission.
Green trying to control the position from guard on top but Kraft is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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.
Green wants to stand but Kraft is controlling his posture from full guard.

Green stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Kraft clobbers Green with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The fighters circling - Green throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kraft throws a right hand that misses
and Green counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Green fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kraft lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Green backs up against the cage.
Green's corner calls for a 1-2. Green obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Green dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kraft misses the shot to the body.
Green shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kraft defends it nicely.
Kraft swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Green throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kraft throws a poor cross that misses
and Green counters with a right hand to the body.
A slow jab from Kraft misses its intended target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kraft looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Green fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kraft manages to avoid it.
Kraft throws a looping overhand right but Green ducks down to avoid it.
Kraft scores with a jab to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kraft moves into range and clinches up with Green.
Green blocks an uppercut.

Green breaks the clinch.
Green misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kraft.
Kraft moves in looking to clinch but Green pushes him off.
Green keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kraft lands with an uppercut that bounces Green off the cage and back into rage.
Green keeps the fight on the outside.
Kraft lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Green circles away quickly and effectively.
Green looks for a takedown but Kraft sprawls well.
Green steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kraft.
Kraft ducks under a wild hook from Green.
A big right from Kraft misses.
Steven Kraft seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kraft takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A shot to the body from Kraft misses
and Green cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Green connects with a body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kraft needs to keep his hands up - Green had a free shot at his head there.

It looks like Steven Kraft has been cut.
Green looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kraft is fending him off so far but Green persists. Nope, Kraft circles away and we're back to standing.
Steven Kraft has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur Green.
Kraft defending well as Green loads up on a big left hand.
Green misses with the combination.
Steven Kraft is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kraft checks a leg kick nicely.
Kraft misses with the combination.
Arthur Green seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kraft wants to clinch but Green slips to the side
letting Green counter with a right hand.
Kraft scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Green misses with the combination.
Kraft tries to clinch
and Green counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A combination from Green does no damage.
Kraft tries to clinch but Green moves away
and Green counters with a series of strikes. Kraft will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kraft tries to clinch up but Green circles away and keeps his distance.
Green slips a jab and a cross from Kraft.
Some wild striking there from Green.
Kraft swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Green counters with a series of strikes. Kraft will be more careful next time no doubt.
Green lands a nice looking body shot.

Green scores with a takedown into Kraft's guard.

Green is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Green is looking to stand up but Kraft won't let him.
Green trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Green throws a strike but Kraft rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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!
Kraft wants to get up but he can't break Green's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Green manages to escape and get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kraft tries to close the distance and clinch but Green swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kraft showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Green.
Arthur Green is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kraft misses with a body shot
and Green counters with an outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arthur Green showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Steven Kraft's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A combination from Green does no damage.

Kraft instigates a clinch.
Kraft softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Green blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kraft misses with the head strike.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kraft.
Kraft throws a head punch that misses.
Kraft pushes Green back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Green wants to break free but Kraft has control.
Green wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kraft prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kraft lands a hook to the side of the head.
Green is trying to break the clinch but Kraft is controlling him.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Green.
Kraft just leaning against Green, taking a breather.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kraft doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kraft working aggressively here.
A body shot lands from Kraft.
Kraft misses with a punch to the body.
Green tries to break free but Kraft pushes him back against the cage.
Kraft is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Green tries to break the clinch but Kraft is controlling the position.
Green is trying to force a seperation but Kraft has the dominant position.
Kraft works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Green wants to break free but Kraft has control.
Kraft softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kraft throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kraft lands a left hand that snaps the head of Green backwards.
Green has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Green is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kraft has Green pressed against the cage.
Kraft keeps control of Green as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kraft lands a nice shot to the body.
Kraft prevents Green from breaking the clinch.
Kraft is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kraft.

Green breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kraft misses with a shot to the body
and Green counters with a nice uppercut.
Green circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kraft is looking to clinch but Green is avoiding it.
Kraft falls off balance throwing a combination
and Green counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kraft stuffs the takedown attempt from Green. Green gets slowly back to his feet.
Green slips under a jab from Kraft.
Green dodges the punch combination from Kraft.
Kraft needs to keep his hands up - Green had a free shot at his head there.
Kraft falls off balance throwing a combination
and Green counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kraft thinking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Green swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kraft counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kraft tries to clinch but Green is having none of it.
Kraft wants to clinch but Green slips to the side
and Green counters with a left and a right that stings Kraft.
Kraft misses with an uppercut
and Green counters with a two punch combo.
Arthur Green is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kraft is looking to clinch but Green is avoiding it.
Green scores with a jab to the body.
Steven Kraft has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kraft swings away with a body shot that misses
and Green counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Green drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kraft throws a combination that misses
letting Green counter with a right hand.
Kraft closes the distance but Green moves to the side
and Green counters with a three punch combo that has Kraft backing up. Kraft nods at Green to acknowledge the strikes.
Green punishes Kraft's body with a nice straight punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kraft wants to clinch up but Green keeps it at a distance.
A combination from Green does no damage.
Green misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kraft checks a low kick from Green.
Green lands with a straight right. Kraft didn't see that one coming.
Green misses with a two punch combination.
A shot to the body from Kraft misses

and Green counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kraft's guard now.
Green is stalling in the full guard.
Green wanted to stand there but Kraft had control of the position.
Kraft trying to strike off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arthur Green comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Green winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arthur Green!