PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frederik Kraus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rodrigo Nogueira
vs
Kraus

185 cm
27
175 lbs
19 - 5 - 0

179 cm
27
178 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 19 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Frederik Kraus!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kraus fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nogueira manages to avoid it.

Nogueira drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nogueira looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nogueira stops Kraus from standing up.
Nogueira stopping the sweep attempt from Kraus.
Kraus keeping moving, preventing Nogueira from controlling successfully.
Kraus keeping full guard, as Nogueira tries to pass.
Nogueira trying to control but Kraus is working from the bottom.
Kraus is trying to control the position but Nogueira postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kraus moves in looking to clinch but Nogueira pushes him off.
Nogueira throws a sloppy head kick and Kraus moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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.

Nogueira 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.
Nogueira is trying to keep Kraus in close.

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

Kraus got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nogueira has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kraus has managed to get both his arms back between Nogueira 's legs - danger averted.
Kraus postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kraus lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kraus working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Nogueira is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kraus trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nogueira is trying to control the position but Kraus postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nogueira keeping full guard, as Kraus tries to pass.
Kraus postures up and lands a big shot to Nogueira 's brow.
Kraus works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nogueira tries to get to full guard but Kraus has control of the leg.
Nogueira slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kraus looking to pass the guard.
Kraus throws a strike but Nogueira rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kraus can't keep his opponent in guard - Nogueira advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kraus tries to roll over but Nogueira keeps him under control.

Nogueira gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kraus tries to clinch there but Nogueira circles away.

Kraus closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nogueira 's guard.
Kraus working some strikes from top position.
Nogueira looking to control.

Nogueira is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Nogueira 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.
Nogueira keeping moving, preventing Kraus from controlling successfully.
Kraus throws and elbow that misses. Nogueira uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kraus's guard. Nice move by Nogueira !
Nogueira postures up.
Kraus manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nogueira keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nogueira is in a horrible position here. Kraus smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Kraus dominating with strikes here.
Nogueira tries to reverse the position but Kraus maintains control.
Nogueira in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Nogueira is desperately trying to improve his position but Kraus has a good base and remains in mount.
Nogueira regains half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Nogueira is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kraus pulls his head out easily.
Nogueira is breathing heavily.
Kraus working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kraus not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Frederik Kraus will probably get the nod.
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.

Kraus drives through and clinches with Nogueira against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Kraus gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Nogueira tries to get to full guard but Kraus has control of the leg.
Kraus lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kraus drops an elbow to the side of Nogueira 's head.
Kraus is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Nogueira looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kraus stands up and beckons Nogueira to join him on the feet.

Nogueira bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraus tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nogueira wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Nogueira working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nogueira wants to control but Kraus is keeping him busy.
Kraus wants to control but Nogueira postures up.
Kraus manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Kraus seems to be working for a kimura but Nogueira defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Nogueira manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

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

Nogueira 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kraus is in close to Nogueira 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kraus scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kraus trying to control but Nogueira is working from the bottom.
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!
Nogueira working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kraus.

Nogueira 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.

Nogueira is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kraus trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Frederik Kraus has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kraus decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Kraus bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Nogueira 's head.
Kraus lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kraus moves in looking to clinch but Nogueira pushes him off.
Kraus wants to clinch.
Nogueira circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kraus throws a head kick that misses.
Kraus misses with a head kick.

Nogueira is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kraus's half guard.

Nogueira is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kraus has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kraus keeping hold of Nogueira 's head, controlling as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kraus is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Nogueira jumps into side control!
Kraus manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Nogueira is trying to control the action in half guard but Kraus is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nogueira stops Kraus from getting back to his feet.

Nogueira is looking for a kimura but Kraus is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nogueira to get the leverage.
Nogueira is looking to stall here but Kraus recovers full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kraus is on top in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kraus's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kraus works over Nogueira with some ground and pound from guard.
Nogueira lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kraus!
Nogueira throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frederik Kraus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nogueira drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nogueira is looking to work some ground and pound but Kraus has wrist control.
Nogueira won't allow Kraus to get back to his feet.
Nogueira stays in close to Kraus's body and controls the position.
Nogueira stops Kraus from standing up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kraus is on top in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kraus accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nogueira 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.

Nogueira throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Nogueira is looking for a triangle but Kraus pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kraus trying to control but Nogueira is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nogueira looking for a sweep. Not yet Nogueira , not yet.
Kraus cracks Nogueira with a solid left hand.

Nogueira looking for a guillotine here but Kraus defends easily.
Kraus wants to stand but Nogueira is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kraus trying to control but Nogueira is working from the bottom.
Kraus passes Nogueira 's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Nogueira looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nogueira manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kraus wants to stand but Nogueira is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kraus chips away with some ground and pound.

Nogueira looking for a guillotine here but Kraus defends easily.
Nogueira lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kraus!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nogueira wants to stand but Kraus is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Kraus is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kraus is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kraus wants to control but Nogueira is having none of it.
Kraus trying desperately to get to his feet.
Nogueira looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Kraus is trying desperately to improve position.
Nogueira breaks from Kraus's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Nogueira misses with a head shot.

Nogueira looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Nogueira lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Kraus regains half guard.
Nogueira is thwarting Kraus's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kraus is looking for a sweep. Nogueira is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nogueira trying to mount his opponent but Kraus defends it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Nogueira is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kraus has managed to free his arm - good work.
Frederik Kraus is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kraus works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kraus wants to get back to his feet but Nogueira is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nogueira with a nice head shot there.

Nogueira stands and steps away. Kraus gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kraus doesn't manage to clinch there - Nogueira circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kraus has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Frederik Kraus!