PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Claus Haba (ranked 1139 p4p, 63 weight class) and Kris Jakua (ranked 1475 p4p, 89 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Haba
vs
Jakua

150 cm
19
138 lbs
4 - 0 - 1

180 cm
21
145 lbs
12 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Claus Haba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kris Jakua!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Lou da Vinci and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jakua keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Haba misses.
Jakua tries to bum rush Haba with a series of wild strikes but Haba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Haba tries to counter with a takedown but Jakua is quick to defend against it.
Jakua misses with a combination

and Haba counters by moving into the clinch.

Haba has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Jakua is trying to keep an underhook but Haba manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Haba trying to mount his opponent but Jakua defends it.
Haba is controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jakua is trying to maintain the position but Haba is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jakua keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jakua is holding on to half guard well.
Jakua is looking for a sweep. Haba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Haba in particular looking to stall.

Haba is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Haba trying to control the pace.

Haba is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jakua controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Jakua is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Haba jumps into side control!
Jakua is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Haba creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Jakua sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jakua defending against the ground and pound.
Jakua is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Haba wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Jakua, who protects the arm well.
Jakua stops Haba from passing to mount.

Haba tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Haba has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Haba tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Haba is looking to take a break and control but Jakua is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Haba throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Haba is staying tight to Jakua's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Haba working away.
Haba passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Jakua!
Haba thowing shots but they're missing.
Haba misses with a head shot.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Haba with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Haba looking to finish with strikes here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claus Haba dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jakua blocks a low kick nicely.
A nice side step and Jakua releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Haba is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jakua can do to turn this around?
Haba misses with a body shot.
A countering left hand to the body from Jakua misses.

Haba is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Jakua's half guard.
Haba not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Haba trying to mount his opponent but Jakua defends it.
Haba is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Claus Haba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Haba is looking for a kimura but Jakua is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Haba to get the leverage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jakua scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Haba manages to mount him!

Haba looking to secure an arm triangle but Jakua defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Haba looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Haba content just to control the position here.
Jakua holds on for dear life.
Haba thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Jakua is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Haba jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Jakua is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Jakua and Haba has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jakua keeps working.

Haba working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Haba looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Jakua stops Haba from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Haba tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Haba has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The ground and pound from Haba seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Haba has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Haba is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Jakua has escaped the position, nice work there.
Jakua can't do much from the bottom here.
Jakua is trying to improve his position.

That's four 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.
Haba tries to move into full mount but can't pass Jakua's legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haba working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Haba trying to control the position but Jakua is working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A lull in the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claus Haba dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Haba takes a swing at Jakua's ribcage but misses.
Jakua has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Jakua moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Claus Haba has been cut.
Haba takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Haba moves into range and clinches up with Jakua.
Haba misses with a hook from the clinch.
Haba looking for a takedown.
Haba prevents a body shot from Jakua.
Haba looking for a takedown.

Haba has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Jakua clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
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!

Jakua defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Haba's arms.

Haba is looking for the choke from the back position but Jakua is controlling his hands well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haba not allowing Jakua to control his hands.
Haba misses with a punch to the head.

Haba working for a choke but Jakua is defending well.

Haba looking for the choke from the back.
Jakua is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
I really don't envy Jakua right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jakua trying to control the action but Haba just sinks the hooks in.
Jakua has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Haba.

Jakua showing good submission defense here.
Haba misses with a punch to the head.
Jakua wants to escape the position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Jakua tries to escape but Haba has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Haba is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Jakua defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Haba is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Jakua defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Haba's arms.

Haba is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Haba is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Jakua has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Haba missing with strikes.
Claus Haba is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Haba struggling to land strikes to the head as Jakua covers up.
Haba is riding his opponent, not letting Jakua buck him off.
Kris Jakua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Haba working for the choke.
Haba controlling from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Claus Haba showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Haba, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Claus Haba!