PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frederik Kraus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arthur Pandora (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pandora is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Layla. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Kraus
vs
Pandora

179 cm
25
178 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

180 cm
20
171 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Frederik Kraus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Arthur Pandora!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Saam Ante and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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.

Pandora has his foot on Kraus's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kraus works his way back into a safe position though.
Pandora is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kraus throws and elbow that misses. Pandora uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kraus's guard. Nice move by Pandora!
Kraus manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pandora manages to get himself to full guard.

Pandora is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kraus defends well.
Pandora looking for a sweep. Not yet Pandora, not yet.

Pandora is looking for a triangle but Kraus pushes his legs off easily.

Pandora working for a triangle but Kraus defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraus trying to control but Pandora is working from the bottom.

Pandora is working an open guard so Kraus takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kraus tries to clinch up but Pandora circles away and keeps his distance.
Kraus avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kraus shoots in but Pandora avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pandora wants to clinch

and Kraus counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Pandora's guard now.
Kraus won't allow Pandora to sweep him here.
Kraus has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pandora is proving hard to escape from.
Pandora working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kraus working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kraus is looking to work some ground and pound but Pandora has wrist control.
Kraus wanted to stand there but Pandora had control of the position.

Pandora has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kraus can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pandora keeping moving, preventing Kraus from controlling successfully.
Kraus postures up.

Pandora throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kraus chips away with some ground and pound.
Pandora looks gassed!
Kraus trying to stand up but can't free himself from Pandora's guard.
Pandora utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kraus works over Pandora with some ground and pound from guard.
Kraus pushing down on Pandora's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Pandora has hold of Kraus's hands but Kraus slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kraus takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kraus thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pandora's head.
Pandora blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kraus.

Kraus stands up out of the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pandora has managed to clinch.
Kraus dodges an elbow strike from Pandora.
Kraus lands a left hand.
Pandora with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pandora tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kraus smiles and moves away.
Kraus circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Kraus to counter with a crisp jab.
Pandora throws a low kick but Kraus moves out of range easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kraus is defended easily by Pandora.
Pandora slaps away a takedown attempt from Kraus, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frederik Kraus. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pandora instigates a clinch.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Pandora lands a damaging elbow.
Kraus stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Pandora looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kraus has had enough of the clinch but Pandora keeps him there for the moment.

Kraus gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Kraus trying to stand up but can't free himself from Pandora's guard.
Kraus stands up over Pandora, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kraus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kraus working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kraus trying to control but Pandora is working from the bottom.
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.
Pandora not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pandora wants to control the position but Kraus says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Kraus wants to stand up but Pandora is controlling the position.
Kraus thows a huge punch but Pandora dodges it nicely.
Kraus wants to advance to full mount but Pandora doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Kraus trying to control but Pandora is working from the bottom.
Kraus tries to stand but Pandora is controlling from the bottom.
Pandora trying to control the position.
Pandora is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Pandora lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kraus!
Pandora avoids the attempt from Kraus to control.
Pandora dominating with strikes here.
Kraus tries to lock up and control but Pandora gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The referee warns Kraus that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kraus is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kraus is working hard here to advance position.

Pandora goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kraus is on top in guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Kraus decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Arthur Pandora is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
An inside leg kick lands from Pandora.
Pandora looks to clinch

and Kraus counters with a takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pandora manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kraus's best efforts.
Pandora avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kraus.
Pandora trying to control from the bottom.
Kraus winds up and cracks Pandora with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Pandora manages to get to full guard.
Kraus is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kraus with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kraus wants to get up but he can't break Pandora's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kraus throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pandora works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kraus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kraus wants to control from the top but Pandora keeps moving.
Kraus is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kraus is looking to stand up but Pandora won't let him.
Pandora looking for a sweep. Not yet Pandora, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frederik Kraus dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Kraus tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pandora swivels and escapes.
Kraus has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Pandora.
Nice sprawl there from Pandora as Kraus shoots in.
Kraus shoots for a double leg takedown but Pandora sprawls well. He's pushed Kraus's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frederik Kraus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kraus dives in and grabs Pandora's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pandora pushes down on Kraus's head and hops out.
Pandora bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Kraus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice takedown defense from Pandora. No joy for Kraus on that attempt.
Pandora is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Pandora closes the distance and clinches.
Knees to the body from Pandora.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pandora with a knee to the head.

Pandora breaks the clinch.
An inside leg kick lands from Pandora.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pandora lands with a kick to the temple. Kraus shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Pandora stuffs the takedown attempt from Kraus. Kraus gets slowly back to his feet.
An inside leg kick lands from Pandora.
That kick from Pandora tenderised Kraus's leg. Kraus is trying to keep his angry face on.
A left and a right from Pandora both land. Nice combination.
Kraus shoots in looking for a takedown but Pandora manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kraus's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kraus circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pandora with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Pandora connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Pandora buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Pandora lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Pandora throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pandora keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pandora tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pandora throws a front kick that sends Kraus stumbling back into the ropes.
Pandora throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Pandora has closed the distance and engaged Kraus in a clinch.
Kraus tries to circle away but Pandora has him pinned against the ropes.
Kraus is trying to force a seperation but Pandora has the dominant position.

Pandora breaks from the clinch.
No luck for Kraus with that takedown attempt.
Kraus tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Pandora scores with a head kick.
Pandora moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Pandora darts in trying to clinch

and Kraus counters with a shoot takedown. Pandora fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pandora trying to control the position.

Kraus avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Frederik Kraus overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Pandora working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kraus doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kraus manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kraus preventing the sweep.
Kraus is in close to Pandora's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kraus has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kraus throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pandora works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Pandora escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kraus gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kraus's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kraus with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kraus trying to control but Pandora is working from the bottom.
Kraus cracks Pandora with a solid left hand.
Pandora has a closed guard, preventing Kraus from standing up.

Pandora looking for a guillotine here but Kraus defends easily.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kraus is looking to stand up but Pandora won't let him.
Kraus looking to pass the guard.
Pandora looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kraus trying to control the position from guard on top but Pandora is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pandora can't keep his opponent in guard - Kraus advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kraus slips a nice elbow through Pandora's hands, connecting with Pandora's forehead.

That's six 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.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kraus lands a nice short elbow.
Pandora has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kraus is working away from the top position though.
Pandora is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pandora on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kraus lands a nice short elbow.
Pandora has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kraus is working away from the top position though.
Pandora is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kraus scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kraus slips a nice elbow through Pandora's hands, connecting with Pandora's forehead.
Kraus is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kraus is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Pandora looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kraus looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Pandora wants to control but Kraus is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kraus drops an elbow to the side of Pandora's head.

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.
Kraus wants to take a breather but Pandora is having none of it.

That's eight 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.
Kraus drops an elbow to the side of Pandora's head.
Kraus seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Kraus throwing shots but Pandora is blocking nicely.
Pandora is trying to maintain the position but Kraus is very close to passing his half guard.
Kraus is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Kraus lands strikes from half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Pandora keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pandora gets back to full guard.
Kraus throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pandora works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kraus wants to stand and escape but instead Pandora has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Kraus preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kraus knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pandora on the ground.
Kraus will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Pandora postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kraus trying to keep a closed guard but Pandora is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Arthur Pandora.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight for Frederik Kraus!
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight for Frederik Kraus!
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight for Frederik Kraus!

Frederik Kraus wins by unanimous decision!