PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Harti Kraus (ranked 3503 p4p, 1873 weight class) and Hakuna Matata (ranked 188 p4p, 116 weight class). Kraus comes to the cage accompanied by New World Symphony 4th Movement. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Kraus
vs
Matata

164 cm
19
133
3 - 1 - 0

169 cm
26
138
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Harti Kraus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hakuna Matata!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Bart Greer and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matata slips under a jab.
A little jabbing left from Matata on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kraus avoids the body shot from Matata.
We've been hearing reports that Kraus has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Kraus throws a body shot but no joy.
Matata lunges at Kraus with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kraus's hand.
A left lands for Matata.
Matata feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Krauss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kraus misses with a wild body shot.
Matata has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Kraus takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Matata digs a good hook to Kraus's body.
Kraus swinging wildly here.
Matata connects with a single shot there.
Sloppy strikes from Kraus. Those never looked like landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big left from Kraus misses.
Kraus takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kraus's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Kraus duly obliges.
Kraus throws a hook but Matata avoids it easily.
Matata wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kraus blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matata avoids the body shot from Kraus.
Matata lunges at Kraus with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kraus's hand.
Kraus moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kraus takes a swing at Matata's ribcage but misses.
Jab by Matata.
Kraus throws a head kick but Matata moves out of range.
Kraus will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matata waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kraus.
Kraus throws a hook but Matata blocks it.
Nice uppercut lands for Matata. That snapped Kraus's head back.

Matata gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matata preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Matata looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kraus is one step ahead there.
Kraus throwing strikes from guard but Matata blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kraus stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Matata swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kraus throws a big right hand that misses.
Kraus 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.
Kraus throwing strikes but missing.
Kraus working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kraus slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kraus prevents Matata from getting back to his feet.
Kraus with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kraus throws a strike but Matata rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

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

Kraus looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Matata passes into half guard.
Kraus keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Kraus tries to roll over but Matata keeps him under control.
Matata wants to stand but Kraus has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kraus looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kraus missing with punches from the bottom.
Kraus trying to hold on to Matata's head to control him but Matata postures up.

Kraus looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kraus controlling the position well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakuna Matata dominated that round.
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 shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kraus misses with a combination
and Matata counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Matata avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A punch lands to the side of Kraus 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kraus looks to land a left hand but Matata moved out of range nicely.
Kraus shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kraus ducks under a wild hook from Matata.
Kraus on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Kraus is rocked!
Harti Kraus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matata looks to land a left hand but Kraus moved out of range nicely.
Oh Kraus is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kraus takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Matata takes a swing at Kraus's ribcage but misses.
Kraus throws a body kick that misses.
Kraus fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Matata lands a nice shot to the body.
Kraus seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraus takes a swing at Matata's ribcage but misses.
Matata just misses with a punch to the body.
Matata connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Matata digs a good hook to Kraus's body.
Nice body punch from Matata.
Matata fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kraus manages to avoid it.
Matata connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kraus moves forwards but Matata connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kraus throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Matata counters with a right hand to the body.
Kraus throws a hook but Matata avoids it easily.
Matata slips a straight right by Kraus.
Matata throws out a counter right but Kraus avoids it with no problem.
Matata lands an overhand right.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kraus misses with a series of wild punches.
Matata throws out a counter right but Kraus avoids it with no problem.
Matata has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kraus shoots in for a double leg but Matata sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harti Kraus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matata connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kraus gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kraus throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hakuna Matata is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A low kick from Kraus is predictable there
and Matata counters with a straight right hand.
Kraus looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Matata looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Matata cracks Kraus with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Kraus tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Matata pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Kraus is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hakuna Matata!