PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Martin Craftt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Konstantin Ree (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martin Craftt could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Konstantin Ree's chin.

Craftt
vs
Ree

165 cm
24
145 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

150 cm
24
135 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

HERITAGE Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Martin Craftt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Konstantin Ree!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Nard Betker and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Craftt fails with an attempt to clinch.
Craftt tries to clinch up but Ree circles away and keeps his distance.
Craftt tries to clinch but Ree moves out of range.
Ree closes this distance looking for a takedown but Craftt circles away.

Ree feints and as Craftt raises his hands in defense, Ree changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ree stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Craftt swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Ree is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Ree has gone for a leg lock! Craftt slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ree's guard.

Craftt knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ree on the ground.
Craftt wanted to stand there but Ree had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ree keeping full guard, as Craftt tries to pass.

Ree had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Craftt defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ree has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Craftt is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Ree.
Ree is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Craftt wants to stand but Ree is controlling his arm.
Ree sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Craftt trying to control the pace.
Craftt is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Ree looking for submissions off his back.
Craftt will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Ree looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ree regains full guard. Nicely done.
Craftt makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Craftt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ree swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Craftt is looking to stand up but Ree won't let him.

Ree is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ree has his foot on Craftt's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Craftt works his way back into a safe position though.

Ree is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Craftt defends well.

Craftt avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ree wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craftt stands and throws Ree's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ree tries to buck Craftt off but Craftt is having none of it.
Craftt landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Ree is looking for a sweep.
Ree manages to work his way to half guard, despite Craftt's best efforts.
Craftt is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Craftt trying to control but Ree is having none of it.
Ree is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ree slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Craftt tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Ree.
Ree trying to get back to full guard but Craftt takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Ree working to try and regain half guard.
Craftt wants to control the pace but Ree is squirming around nicely.
Ree regains half guard.

Craftt stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Ree to get to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ree or perhaps it was just good defense by Craftt, which made it look bad.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ree circles away from the clinch attempt.
Craftt doesn't manage to clinch there - Ree circles away.
Ree goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Konstantin Ree will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ree fails with a takedown attempt.
Ree fails to land the takedown.
Ree avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Konstantin Ree seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Craftt doesn't manage to clinch there - Ree circles away.
Craftt wants to clinch.
Ree avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Craftt seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Ree darts in looking for a takedown but Craftt gets double underhooks and turns Ree into the cage.
Martin Craftt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konstantin Ree.
Craftt lands an elbow that stopped Ree in his tracks for a moment.

Ree tightens his grip and picks Craftt up, before dumping him to the ground. Craftt manages to land in guard.

Ree drops back, looking for a kneebar! Craftt looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Craftt looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Craftt!

Craftt wants to control but Ree is keeping him busy.
Craftt in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Ree is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craftt trying to control the action but Ree is working from the bottom.
Ree tries to buck Craftt off but Craftt is having none of it.
We've been informed that Ree has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Craftt stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Craftt tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ree swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Craftt tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ree swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ree fails with the takedown.
Craftt is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Craftt showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ree.
Ree avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Craftt tries to clinch there but Ree circles away.
Ree swats away the attempt to clinch by Craftt.
Ree fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Craftt avoids it really well and circles away.
Martin Craftt is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Ree closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ree is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Craftt has escaped the position, nice work there.

Ree tries for a kimura but Craftt is defending well.

Ree is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Craftt knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Craftt is trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ree tries for a kimura but Craftt is defending well.

Ree is trying to get an arm triangle but Craftt is defending well.

Ree goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Craftt rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Ree's guard! Nice work there by Craftt!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ree 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.
Craftt would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Ree throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Craftt trying to control the position from guard on top but Ree is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Craftt wants to stand but Ree is controlling his posture from full guard.

Ree working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Craftt doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Craftt manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Craftt wants to stand but Ree has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Konstantin Ree showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Craftt wants to clinch up but Ree keeps it at a distance.

Ree shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Ree is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Ree is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Craftt defends it well.

Ree seems to be looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ree is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Craftt is just riding it out for now. Ree eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ree is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Craftt slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ree has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ree prevents Craftt from getting back to his feet.

Ree postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Craftt is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ree, into his guard.

Craftt wants to stand but Ree is controlling his posture from full guard.
Konstantin Ree is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ree keeping moving, preventing Craftt from controlling successfully.
Craftt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ree wants to sweep here but Craftt controlling him for the moment.
Ree working a defensive guard here.
Craftt is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Craftt wants to pass the guard but Ree is keeping the position.
Craftt trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ree's guard.
Craftt has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ree controls Craftt momentarily but Craftt frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Craftt stuffs the takedown.
Craftt tries to clinch up but Ree circles away and keeps his distance.
Craftt fails with an attempt to clinch.

Ree closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ree lands in his opponent's guard.
Craftt is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Craftt controlling Ree's posture.
Ree prevents Craftt from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craftt 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.
Ree wants to control from the top but Craftt keeps moving.
Martin Craftt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Craftt is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ree defends well.
Craftt wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Craftt is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ree defends well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Craftt walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ree checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

And that's the end of the fight!
Konstantin Ree comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ree winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Konstantin Ree!