PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yogi Dhamma (ranked 1316 p4p, 155 weight class) and James Krause (ranked 1304 p4p, 152 weight class). Dhamma comes to the cage accompanied by Power Of Soul. Krause has chosen Heart of a Champion as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Dhamma
vs
Krause

179 cm
32
145 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

180 cm
35
157 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Good kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Granite chin

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yogi Dhamma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, James Krause!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Krause throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Krause uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Dhamma.
Dhamma scores with a jab to the jaw.

It looks like James Krause has been cut.

Dhamma gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Krause prevents Dhamma from breaking the clinch.
Krause tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Dhamma just stands there and leans against the cage.

Dhamma breaks the clinch.
Krause shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dhamma but Dhamma pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dhamma takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Krause showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dhamma.

Dhamma gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Krause to score an easy takedown into full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Krause passes Dhamma's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Krause wants to control but Dhamma is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Krause is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Dhamma is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Krause is looking to advance position but Dhamma won't allow it.
Dhamma tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Krause is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Dhamma!
Krause is trying to take his opponent's back.
Dhamma is wriggling around trying to escape.
Dhamma is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Dhamma wants to hold on but Krause pushes him away.
Krause wants to control the pace but Dhamma is squirming around nicely.
Dhamma is trying to stand up.
Krause wants to take Dhamma's back here but Dhamma is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Krause won't let Dhamma get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Krause wants to control the pace but Dhamma is squirming around nicely.
Dhamma gets back to half guard.

Krause is looking for a kimura but Dhamma is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Krause to get the leverage.
Krause is trying to control the action in half guard but Dhamma is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dhamma wants to get back to his feet.
We've been hearing good reports from Dhamma's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Krause trying to control the action but Dhamma is working from the bottom.
Dhamma wants to get back to his feet.

Krause wants to work for an arm triangle but Dhamma is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krause not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Dhamma manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Dhamma thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dhamma is trying hard to land a takedown here. Krause sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Krause takes one to the side of the head.
Dhamma throws a chopping leg kick but Krause manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A low kick from Dhamma is predictable there

and Krause counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Krause trying to control the position from guard on top but Dhamma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dhamma doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Krause trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dhamma throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Krause stops Dhamma from standing up.
Dhamma 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krause trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dhamma wants to stand and escape but Krause is having none of it.
Krause trying to control but Dhamma is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Dhamma buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dhamma lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Dhamma slaps away a takedown attempt from Krause, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Yogi Dhamma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Krause.
Krause shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Krause moves out of range as Dhamma strikes.
Dhamma shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Krause sprawls well. Krause wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dhamma gets slowly back to his feet.
Krause darts in looking for a takedown but Dhamma gets double underhooks and turns Krause into the cage.
Krause shoots in for a takedown but Dhamma shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Krause gets the takedown into side control.

Dhamma sneaks out the side door and pushes Krause away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yogi Dhamma will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on James Krause's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dhamma dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Krause. That did some damage!
Krause shoots for a takedown but Dhamma saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Krause staying out of range there.
And Krause tries to counter it with a takedown but Dhamma pushes his down on his head and steps out.
No joy there for Dhamma, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And Krause tries to counter it with a takedown but Dhamma pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Dhamma misses with the combination.

Dhamma moves into range and clinches up with Krause.
Dhamma is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Krause can do to turn this around?
A nice right hand lands inside from Dhamma.
Dhamma tries to circle away but Krause has him pinned against the cage.
Krause tries for a takedown but Dhamma manages to get underhooks.
Dhamma can't break the clinch.

Krause has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Dhamma regains guard immediately.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Krause stands and throws Dhamma's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Dhamma is not content to let Krause control the position.
Krause prevents Dhamma from escaping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krause blocks the strikes from Dhamma.

Dhamma throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Krause has a takedown stuffed.
Yogi Dhamma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Krause.

Krause closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Dhamma's guard.
Krause passes into half guard.
Dhamma looks like he's trying to stand up.

Krause 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.
Dhamma wants to improve his position but Krause is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Krause is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dhamma defends it well.
Dhamma wants to stand back up but Krause manages to pass into side control.
Krause takes a little break here. Dhamma wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Dhamma is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Krause is controlling him well.

Krause tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Dhamma tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Krause wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Dhamma prevents Krause from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Krause looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Dhamma is trying to get back to his feet.

Krause working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Dhamma wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Krause moves into full mount!
Dhamma is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Krause wants to control the pace but Dhamma is squirming around nicely.
Krause working Dhamma over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krause tries to control but Dhamma wriggling away.

Krause looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Dhamma is squirming around, avoiding Krause's attempts to control the action.
Krause is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Dhamma keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Krause controlling the position easily from mount.
Krause won't let Dhamma get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Dhamma swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Krause trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Krause will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on James Krause's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Krause.
A looping hook to the body misses from Krause. Dhamma does a little dance to reset his feet.
Krause shoots for a double leg takedown but Dhamma sprawls well. He's pushed Krause's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Krause is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Dhamma throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Dhamma gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Krause to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Dhamma is looking to stand back up but Krause counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Dhamma.

Dhamma is trying to stand.
Krause moves into full mount! Dhamma won't be happy about that!

Krause is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Dhamma has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Krause has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Dhamma's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dhamma is trying to stand but he's just given Krause his back.
Dhamma is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Dhamma looking very determined here, making life difficult for Krause.
Dhamma is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Krause has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Our spies down at at Red Tri-Angle Gym. 15 Coaches/13 Elite inform us that Krause has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Krause is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Dhamma trying to get back to his feet but Krause is in full control for now.

Dhamma is looking to escape but he's done so without protecting himself and Krause manages to counter with a nice rear naked choke! Dhamma is in trouble and he's forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). James Krause!
Jumping up and down and very excited, James Krause waved his t-shirt featuring MayheM sportswear's logo in front of the cameras.