PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Craig Altow (ranked 22464 p4p, 7116 weight class) and Raistlin Majere (ranked 633 p4p, 571 weight class). Raistlin Majere is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Altow
vs
Majere

178 cm
26
160
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
155
5 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

The Stuff
Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Altow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Raistlin Majere!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Altow moves into range and clinches up with Majere.
Altow tries to pull guard but Majere won't allow it.
Majere tries a knee to the head but Altow blocks it.

Altow turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Altow manages to end up in side control.
Majere has one of Altow's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Majere struggling a bit here.
Majere tries to bench press Altow off him but Altow keeps the position.
Majere wants to control but Altow postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Altow tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Altow has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Majere can't do much from the bottom here.
Majere takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Majere wants to control but Altow postures up.
Majere trying his best to control but Altow has mounted him.
Majere is desperately trying to improve his position but Altow has a good base and remains in mount.
Majere tries to hold on but Altow pushes him away.
Majere is trying desperately to improve position.
Majere tries to hold on but Altow pushes him away.
We've been hearing good reports from Altow's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Majere tries to reverse the position but Altow maintains control.
Majere tries to hold on but Altow pushes him away.
Majere felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Altow breaks from Majere's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Majere is looking to improve his position but Altow isn't that keen on the idea.
Majere is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Altow controlling the position easily from mount.
A nice elbow there by Altow.
Altow controlling the pace for now.
Majere is in all sorts of trouble here.

Altow is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Majere to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Majere shrugs it off.
Majere is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Majere takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Altow lands a couple of good shots and Majere has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Altow not allowing Majere to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Majere tries to break free.

Altow is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Majere defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Good control from Altow.
Majere trying to control the action but Altow just sinks the hooks in.
Majere might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Altow haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Altow is looking for the choke from the back position but Majere is controlling his hands well.
Majere trying to control the action but Altow just sinks the hooks in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Majere is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Altow is staying active.

Altow is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Majere looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Majere is keeping busy.
Altow is riding his opponent, not letting Majere buck him off.

Altow is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Majere defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Altow is not going to allow Majere to sit and survive in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Altow dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Majere tries to clinch there but Altow circles away.
Majere fails in his attempt to clinch.
Majere throws a head kick but Altow moves out of range.
Altow seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Majere throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Altow takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Majere misses with a low kick.
Majere pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Majere walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Altow checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
The fight stays on the outside here - Majere looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Altow appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Majere connects with a high kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Altow decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Altow prevents Majere from improving his position.
Altow perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Majere is looking to control Altow's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Majere avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Majere tries to get to full guard but Altow has control of the leg.
Majere gets back to full guard.
Majere trying to control the position.

Majere is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Altow is aware though and is defending well.
Majere wants to sweep but no luck.
Majere trying to keep a closed guard but Altow is proving a slippery customer.
Altow is working Majere over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Altow slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Altow landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Altow is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Altow working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Altow controlling from the top position.
Altow is looking to stand up but Majere won't let him.
Majere is trying to control the position but Altow postures up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Altow is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Majere can do to turn this around?

Majere working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Altow doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Altow manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Majere wants to stand up but Altow is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Majere tries to clinch but Altow is having none of it.
Majere rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Altow counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Altow.
Altow lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Altow scoring with punches to the head and body.

Majere looking for a guillotine here but Altow defends easily.
Majere is pulling down on Altow's head. It's preventing any offense from Altow, at least for the moment.
Majere trying to keep a closed guard but Altow is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Majere is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Majere wants to lay and pray for a moment but Altow keeps working.
Majere controlling the action here.
Majere wants to lay and pray for a moment but Altow keeps working.
Altow trying to hold on to Majere's head to control him but Majere postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Majere is looking to take a break and control but Altow is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
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 Craig Altow will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Majere throws a lazy body kick

and Altow counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Majere looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Altow trying to control the position from guard on top but Majere is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Altow 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.
Majere is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Majere is trying to control the position but Altow postures up.
Altow throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Majere being controlled here, momentarily.
Altow trying to control but Majere is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Majere throws a leg kick

and Altow counters with a nice double leg into side control. Majere won't be happy with that.
Majere is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Altow cracks Majere with a big elbow.
Majere on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Altow tries for a kimura but Majere is defending well.
Altow wants to stand but Majere has his arm trapped.
Majere is trying to control Altow's posture but Altow avoids it.
Majere sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Altow sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Majere is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Altow scores with a couple of nice shots.
Craig Altow overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Majere trying to control but Altow postures up.
Altow 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.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Altow in particular looking to stall.

Majere looking for submissions off his back.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Altow is working for a submission of some sort.
Majere wants to control but Altow is keeping busy.

Majere actively working from the bottom here.
Majere is trying to maintain the position but Altow is very close to passing his half guard.
Altow performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Altow shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Majere manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Altow wanted to stand there but Majere had control of the position.

Majere is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Altow is aware though and is defending well.
Majere has momentary wrist control but Altow slips an elbow through the middle.
Majere can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Altow controls the pace.
Altow's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Majere has momentary wrist control but Altow slips an elbow through the middle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Altow's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Raistlin Majere has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Craig Altow is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Altow showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Altow, 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Altow!