PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marat Gafurov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Krause (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Krause has chosen Heart of a Champion as his entrance music. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gafurov
vs
Krause

175 cm
26
154 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

180 cm
27
157 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Mohito Fightwear
GREEN!160

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marat Gafurov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, James Krause!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Krause avoids the body shot from Gafurov.

Krause drives through with a takedown into Gafurov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Gafurov has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Krause has passed into side control.
Gafurov is trying to work for a sweep but Krause has mounted him!
Gafurov gets back to half guard.
Gafurov is trying to get back to full guard.
Gafurov gets full guard.
Krause advances position into side control!
Gafurov tries to buck Krause off but Krause is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Krause trying to control the action but Gafurov is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gafurov is looking to regain half guard here but Krause keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Krause working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gafurov is not content to let Krause control the position.
Gafurov is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gafurov is trying to control Krause's posture but Krause avoids it.
Gafurov gets back to half guard.
Gafurov is pressing down on Krause's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two 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.
Gafurov looking for a sweep. Not yet Gafurov, not yet.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gafurov keeping moving, preventing Krause from controlling successfully.
Gafurov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Gafurov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gafurov trying to control the position from guard on top but Krause is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Krause has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gafurov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Krause is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gafurov is trying to maintain the position but Krause is very close to passing his half guard.
Krause trying to pass the guard but Gafurov defending well.

Krause is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gafurov is looking to improve his position.

Krause is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Krause seems to be looking for submissions.
Krause trying to mount his opponent but Gafurov defends it.
Gafurov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gafurov.
Gafurov looking for a sweep. Not yet Gafurov, not yet.
Gafurov trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gafurov 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.
Gafurov is trying to keep Krause in close.
Krause trying to control the position from guard on top but Gafurov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Gafurov lands a body shot.
Gafurov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Krause drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Krause works to advance to full mount. Gafurov defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Krause throws some wild stikes that Gafurov manages to avoid easily.
Gafurov tries to lock up and control but Krause gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Krause will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Krause takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Gafurov misses with a body shot.
Krause feints the counter takedown.
Krause wants to clinch.

Krause looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gafurov wants to improve his position but Krause is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gafurov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Gafurov looking for a guillotine here but Krause defends easily.
Krause sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gafurov has his foot on Krause's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Krause works his way back into a safe position though.
Gafurov controls Krause momentarily but Krause frees himself.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Gafurov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Krause has passed into half guard!

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Krause gets caught flat footed, as Gafurov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Krause looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gafurov trying to control the position from guard on top but Krause is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Krause is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gafurov is aware though and is defending well.
Gafurov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Krause has an active guard here but Gafurov has managed to pass into half guard.
Gafurov is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Krause wants to hold on but Gafurov pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krause working to try and regain half guard.
Krause stops Gafurov from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Gafurov looking to control but Krause is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Krause is looking to improve his position but Gafurov isn't that keen on the idea.
Gafurov manages to capitalize on a mistake by Krause to take his back!
Gafurov trying to control.
Krause trying to control the hands but Gafurov breaks the grip.

Gafurov has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Krause has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
I really don't envy Krause right now.

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

Krause preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Gafurov.

Gafurov is looking for the choke from the back position but Krause is controlling his hands well.
A lull in the action here.

Gafurov working for the choke.
Gafurov wants to control but Krause is keeping busy.
Krause tries to escape but Gafurov has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Gafurov working for a choke but Krause is defending well.
I really don't envy Krause right now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gafurov is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Krause defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Marat Gafurov will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Krause closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gafurov did well to prevent Krause getting side control.
Krause is trying to control the action in half guard but Gafurov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Krause frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Gafurov is trying desperately to improve position.
Gafurov throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Gafurov is wriggling around trying to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Krause is working for a guillotine from mount but Gafurov frees his head quite easily.
Gafurov is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Krause quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Krause but it's paid off an Gafurov is forced to tap! Nice work by Krause.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). James Krause!
Marat Gafurov was interviewed post fight and said 'I need a rematch! Its impossible...'.