PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sven Kramer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grant Manawaroa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sven Kramer has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kramer
vs
Manawaroa

187 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sven Kramer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Grant Manawaroa!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Wagner Zegers and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kramer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Manawaroa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kramer is looking to clinch but Manawaroa is avoiding it.
Kramer closes the distance looking to clinch

and Manawaroa counters by moving into the clinch.
Manawaroa throws an elbow but it misses.
Manawaroa looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Manawaroa trying to land knees to the body.
Manawaroa looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kramer is trying to maintain a safe position but Manawaroa gets an underhook and turns Kramer into the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kramer.
Kramer taking a breather.
Manawaroa takes an elbow to the temple.
Kramer is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kramer lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kramer gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kramer gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kramer blocks the elbow strike.
Kramer has Manawaroa pushed against the cage.
Kramer throws a head punch that misses.
Kramer is trying to maintain a safe position but Manawaroa gets an underhook and turns Kramer into the cage.
Kramer can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Manawaroa can't find room to land a body shot as Kramer controls the action.
Manawaroa throws an elbow but it misses.
Manawaroa misses with an elbow over the top.
With the fighters up against the cage, Manawaroa throws an elbow but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Manawaroa throws an elbow but misses.
Manawaroa missing with knees to the body.
Kramer is trying to maintain a safe position but Manawaroa gets an underhook and turns Kramer into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kramer throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Manawaroa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kramer's brow.
Kramer avoids a wild elbow strike from Manawaroa.
Manawaroa lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Sven Kramer has been cut.
Manawaroa misses with an elbow over the top.
Kramer leaning his opponent against the cage.
Kramer creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kramer lands an elbow inside.
Manawaroa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kramer is defending well for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manawaroa pushes off an throws an elbow but Kramer leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Manawaroa misses with an elbow over the top.
Kramer gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Grant Manawaroa has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kramer avoids the elbow strike from Manawaroa, against the cage.
Manawaroa throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kramer dodges an elbow strike from Manawaroa.
Kramer blocks an elbow strike from Manawaroa.
Manawaroa misses with a body punch.
Kramer is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Manawaroa is keeping busy.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Manawaroa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kramer's brow.
Manawaroa creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kramer managing to block the knees to the body from Manawaroa.
Kramer managing to block the knees to the body from Manawaroa.
Manawaroa throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Manawaroa creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kramer is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kramer pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Manawaroa throws an elbow but it misses.
Manawaroa pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Kramer creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kramer creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Manawaroa's defenses.
Kramer comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kramer throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kramer misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manawaroa.
Manawaroa throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kramer blocks an elbow strike from Manawaroa.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Manawaroa blocks the elbow strike.
Kramer dodges an elbow strike from Manawaroa.
Kramer looking to slow down the pace here.
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 Sven Kramer will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kramer moves in looking to clinch but Manawaroa pushes him off.
Kramer tries to clinch up.
Kramer wants to clinch up but Manawaroa keeps it at a distance.
Manawaroa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kramer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Manawaroa misses with a kick to the body.
Kramer wants to clinch up but Manawaroa keeps it at a distance.
Kramer tries to clinch up.
Kramer tries to clinch
and Manawaroa counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kramer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Manawaroa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kramer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kramer tries to clinch but Manawaroa moves out of range.
Kramer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manawaroa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Manawaroa lands with a straight right. Kramer didn't see that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kramer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manawaroa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kramer tries to clinch up but Manawaroa circles away and keeps his distance.
An inside leg kick lands from Manawaroa.
Kramer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manawaroa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sven Kramer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kramer tries to close the distance and clinch but Manawaroa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A leg kick checked by Kramer.
Manawaroa swats away the attempt to clinch by Kramer.
Kramer is looking to clinch but Manawaroa is avoiding it.
Kramer tries to clinch up.
Sven Kramer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kramer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manawaroa swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Manawaroa has closed the distance and engaged Kramer in a clinch.
Kramer blocks an elbow strike from Manawaroa.
Kramer lands a nice elbow.
Manawaroa throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Manawaroa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kramer's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manawaroa misses with an elbow over the top.
Kramer tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Manawaroa avoids it.
Manawaroa tries a body shot but Kramer blocks it.
Kramer blocks an elbow strike from Manawaroa.
Manawaroa avoids the elbow strike from Kramer, against the cage.
Manawaroa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kramer blocks an elbow strike from Manawaroa.
Manawaroa misses with an elbow over the top.
Manawaroa is looking to control Kramer's arms but Kramer gets an underhook and turns him. Now Manawaroa has his back to the cage.
Kramer creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Manawaroa's defenses.
Manawaroa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kramer dodges an elbow strike from Manawaroa.
Manawaroa misses with an elbow strike.
Manawaroa throws an elbow but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kramer tries to stall but Manawaroa uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kramer obliges.
Kramer creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kramer looking to slow down the pace here.
Kramer blocks the elbow strike.
Manawaroa blocks an elbow strike from Kramer.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Manawaroa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kramer's brow.
Kramer gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Manawaroa pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Manawaroa creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kramer dodges an elbow strike from Manawaroa.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manawaroa taking a breather.
Kramer avoids the elbow strike from Manawaroa, against the cage.
Manawaroa misses with an elbow strike.
Kramer is looking to control Manawaroa's arms but Manawaroa gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kramer has his back to the cage.
Manawaroa is trying to maintain a safe position but Kramer gets an underhook and turns Manawaroa into the cage.
Manawaroa throws an elbow but it misses.
Manawaroa trying to land knees to the body.
Manawaroa throws an elbow but it misses.
Kramer lands a damaging elbow.
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!
With the fighters up against the cage, Manawaroa throws an elbow but misses.
Manawaroa throws an elbow but it's blocked.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kramer lands an elbow inside.
Manawaroa pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Manawaroa avoids the elbow strike from Kramer, against the cage.
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 Sven Kramer will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Manawaroa lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Manawaroa looks to throw the jab but Kramer is out of range.
Kramer tries to close the distance and clinch but Manawaroa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kramer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kramer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Manawaroa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kramer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kramer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kramer tries to clinch but Manawaroa moves out of range.
Kramer wants to clinch.
Manawaroa swats away the attempt to clinch by Kramer.
Kramer fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kramer tries to clinch up but Manawaroa circles away and keeps his distance.
Kramer is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kramer is looking to clinch but Manawaroa is avoiding it.
Kramer fails in his attempt to clinch.

Manawaroa fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kramer to the ground. Manawaroa is now in Kramer's guard.
Kramer seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Manawaroa controls from within his opponent's guard.
Manawaroa lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Manawaroa throws a big right hand that misses.
Manawaroa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Manawaroa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Manawaroa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Manawaroa works over Kramer with some ground and pound from guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Kramer wants to stand up but Manawaroa is controlling him.
Manawaroa is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Manawaroa working some strikes from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kramer being controlled here, momentarily.
Manawaroa lands a couple of elbows.
Manawaroa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Manawaroa lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Manawaroa connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manawaroa won't allow Kramer to get back to his feet.
Manawaroa with a nice head shot there.
Kramer can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Manawaroa controls the pace.
Manawaroa stands up over Kramer, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kramer being controlled here, momentarily.
Manawaroa makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Manawaroa advances to half guard.
Manawaroa takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Manawaroa connects with a nice short shot to Kramer's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manawaroa working the head and body with strikes.
Kramer on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Manawaroa sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Manawaroa looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Manawaroa looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ground and pound from Manawaroa.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Manawaroa working the head and body with strikes.
Manawaroa slips a nice elbow through Kramer's hands, connecting with Kramer's forehead.
Grant Manawaroa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sven Kramer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Manawaroa content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grant Manawaroa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kramer has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Sven Kramer!