PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Don Cragen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Nobonenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Cragen might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Captain Cragen. Nobonenko has chosen Fire Head as his entrance music. Yuri Nobonenko has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Cragen
vs
Nobonenko

182 cm
23
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
18
173 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Don Cragen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yuri Nobonenko!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cragen throws a series of punches but Nobonenko avoids them all with ease.
Nobonenko misses with a series of wild punches.
No joy there for Nobonenko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Cragen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cragen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cragen is stalling in the full guard.
Cragen won't allow Nobonenko to sweep him here.
Nobonenko is trying to control the position but Cragen postures up.
Nobonenko manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Nobonenko controlling his opponent.
Nobonenko trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Nobonenko has control of Cragen's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Cragen regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cragen is looking to improve his position but Nobonenko isn't that keen on the idea.
Nobonenko throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Cragen because Nobonenko loaded up on that one.
Cragen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Cragen is working hard here to advance position.
Nobonenko controlling from the full mount.
Cragen is looking to improve his position but Nobonenko isn't that keen on the idea.

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.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nobonenko trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nobonenko thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Nobonenko manages to capitalize on a mistake by Cragen to take his back!
Cragen is covering up but some of the strikes from Nobonenko are getting through and doing damage.

Cragen is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Nobonenko fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Cragen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nobonenko wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Cragen steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Nobonenko. That one must have hurt.
Cragen looks for a takedown but Nobonenko sprawls well.
Don Cragen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cragen misses with the combination.
Cragen dives in and grabs Nobonenko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nobonenko pushes down on Cragen's head and hops out.
Cragen is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nobonenko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Cragen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Cragen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nobonenko is trying to stand.
Nobonenko gets back to full guard.
Nobonenko tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Nobonenko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nobonenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nobonenko keeping moving, preventing Cragen from controlling successfully.

Nobonenko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cragen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nobonenko throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cragen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cragen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cragen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nobonenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cragen trying to control but Nobonenko is working from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cragen postures up.
Cragen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Nobonenko had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cragen defends it easily.
Cragen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cragen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nobonenko has momentary wrist control but Cragen slips an elbow through the middle.
Cragen thows a big elbow that misses.
Cragen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nobonenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cragen trying to control the position from guard on top but Nobonenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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 Don Cragen will probably get the nod.
That's time! Cragen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Horrible takedown by Cragen or perhaps it was just good defense by Nobonenko which made him look bad.
Nobonenko shoots in for a takedown but Cragen shows good takedown defense.
Cragen moves out of range of the leg kick from Nobonenko.
Cragen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nobonenko's waist but Nobonenko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cragen off to one side.

Cragen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Nobonenko is trying to defend but Cragen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cragen working the head and body with strikes.
Nobonenko works his way to full guard. Good work.
Nobonenko trying to keep a closed guard but Cragen is proving a slippery customer.
Nobonenko tries to strike from the bottom.
Cragen stands up over Nobonenko, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nobonenko is trying to keep Cragen in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cragen cracks Nobonenko with a solid left hand.
Cragen trying to control but Nobonenko is working from the bottom.
Cragen throwing strikes but missing.
Nobonenko tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
No joy there for Nobonenko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nobonenko scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Cragen.
Don Cragen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cragen throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Cragen connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Nobonenko some visible discomfort.
Nobonenko struggling a bit here.
Cragen trying to control the action but Nobonenko is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nobonenko can't do much from the bottom here.
Nobonenko is looking to regain half guard here but Cragen keeps moving and retains side control.
Cragen scoring with punches and elbows.
Nobonenko takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Cragen in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Cragen lands a few punches from side control.
Nobonenko wants to control but Cragen postures up.
Nobonenko tries to bench press Cragen off him but Cragen keeps the position.
Nobonenko is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cragen is putting a hurting on Nobonenko here, landing some big shots from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cragen lands a nice forearm strike.
Cragen is working Nobonenko over with some ground and pound from side control.
Cragen lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Nobonenko down.
Cragen lands a nice forearm strike.
Nobonenko is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cragen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Cragen is nestled in close to Nobonenko, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Cragen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nobonenko keeps working.
Cragen thows a huge punch but Nobonenko dodges it nicely.
Cragen trying to control the action but Nobonenko is working from the bottom.
Nobonenko is trying to control but Cragen passes into side control!
Nobonenko manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cragen drops an elbow to the side of Nobonenko's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cragen lands a nice short elbow.
Nobonenko manages to get to full guard.

Nobonenko looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cragen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Cragen trying to control the position from guard on top but Nobonenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cragen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Don Cragen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cragen tries for a takedown but Nobonenko circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Cragen dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cragen gets caught flat footed, as Nobonenko shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Cragen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cragen looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Nobonenko puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Cragen is trying to stand up here but Nobonenko is controlling him well.

Nobonenko looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Nobonenko throwing shots but Cragen is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cragen is looking for a sweep. Nobonenko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Cragen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nobonenko pulls his head out easily.
Nobonenko is trying to control. Cragen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nobonenko throws a shot to the body.
Cragen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nobonenko but Nobonenko pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nobonenko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nobonenko moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Nobonenko pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nobonenko lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A slapping body kick lands there for Nobonenko.
Cragen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nobonenko sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nobonenko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nobonenko tries to clinch up.

Nobonenko pushes Cragen up against the cage in a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Cragen is trying to break free.
Nobonenko slowing the pace effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nobonenko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cragen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nobonenko misses with the combination.
Cragen fails with the takedown

and Nobonenko counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Cragen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nobonenko working over Cragen with some ground and pound. Cragen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Nobonenko is thwarting Cragen's attempts to control the position.
Cragen is looking to improve his position.

Nobonenko is working for a submission of some sort.

Cragen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cragen is in trouble now - Nobonenko has advanced to mount!
Nobonenko lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Cragen wants to get back to his feet.
Cragen is working to get back to half guard.
Cragen wants to hold on but Nobonenko pushes him away.
Nobonenko thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four 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.

Nobonenko looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Yuri Nobonenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cragen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cragen is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Nobonenko raining down shots from the mount!
Nobonenko is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Cragen can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Don Cragen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cragen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Nobonenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cragen 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Don Cragen!