PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Destin Craven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charlie Theron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Craven
vs
Theron

178 cm
21
167 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

175 cm
36
165 lbs
11 - 13 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Victory Fight Wear

Mizuko

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Destin Craven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Charlie Theron!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Theron misses with an uppercut
and Craven cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Craven closes the distance and clinches.

Craven drags the fight down to the ground.
Theron content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Theron stopping the sweep attempt from Craven.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Theron accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Theron stopping the sweep attempt from Craven.
Theron wants to pass the guard but Craven is keeping the position.
Craven looking for a sweep. Not yet Craven, not yet.
Craven manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Theron manages to get himself to full guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Craven drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Craven jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Craven stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Theron swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Craven trying to control the position from guard on top but Theron is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Craven definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Theron is on top in guard.

Theron with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Theron wants to control from the top but Craven keeps moving.
Theron throws a big right hand that misses.
Craven controls Theron momentarily but Theron frees himself.
Craven pulls Theron in to control the position.
Craven keeping moving, preventing Theron from controlling successfully.
Theron sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Craven's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craven tries to get to full guard but Theron has control of the leg.
Theron working over Craven with some ground and pound. Craven looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Craven trying to control from the bottom.
Theron prevents Craven from improving his position.
Theron not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Craven wants to get back to full guard.
Craven is looking to control Theron's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Craven avoid being mounted?
Craven makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Craven.
Theron wants to pass the guard but Craven is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Theron throwing strikes but missing.
Craven 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.
Theron trying to control the position from guard on top but Craven is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Craven has momentary wrist control but Theron slips an elbow through the middle.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Craven is on top in guard.

Craven wants to pass the guard but Theron is keeping the position.
Theron is pulling down on Craven's head. It's preventing any offense from Craven, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craven looking to pass the guard.
Craven postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Theron looking to control.
Theron looking to hit a scissor sweep but Craven is one step ahead there.
Theron keeping moving, preventing Craven from controlling successfully.
Craven is stalling in the full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Craven sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Theron's guard.
Craven wants to pass the guard but Theron is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Destin Craven dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Craven throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Theron was covering up waiting for the punch and Craven finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Theron controls Craven momentarily but Craven frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Craven trying to control the position from guard on top but Theron is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Theron trying to keep a closed guard but Craven is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Theron wants to sweep here but Craven controlling him for the moment.
Theron utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craven tries to free his leg and advance position but Theron is retaining full guard.
Theron can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Craven controls the pace.
Craven stopping the sweep attempt from Theron.
Theron keeping moving, preventing Craven from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Craven instigates a clinch.
Craven lands a nice uppercut.
Theron goes for a takedown attempt but Craven pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Craven closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Theron quickly recovers to half guard.
Craven tries to pass to full mount but Theron defends it.
Craven thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craven trying to control the action but Theron is working from the bottom.

Craven is working for a kimura but Theron is defending it quite comfortably.
Theron keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Theron wants to control but Craven is keeping busy.
Theron is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Craven's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Craven's back!

Theron working for the choke.
Craven tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Theron tries to get the hooks in deep but Craven pushed the leg off.
Theron connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Craven to escape the position.
Craven manages to reverse the position and now he's in Theron's guard. Nice work there by Craven.
Theron is trying to keep Craven in close.
Craven wants to control from the top but Theron keeps moving.
Theron working a defensive guard here.
Craven throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Theron is pulling down on Craven's head. It's preventing any offense from Craven, at least for the moment.
Theron wants to sweep here but Craven controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Theron looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Theron is trying to control the position but Craven postures up.
Craven pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Theron is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Craven accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Theron is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are battling for position here. Craven manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Theron trying to control but Craven is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Craven not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Theron stopping the sweep attempt from Craven.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Destin Craven dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Craven tries to close the distance and clinch but Theron swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Craven moves in looking to clinch but Theron pushes him off.
Theron takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Craven throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Craven takes the fight into the clinch.

Craven tightens his grip and picks Theron up, before dumping him to the ground. Theron manages to land in guard.
Theron working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Craven.
Destin Craven overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Theron working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Craven doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Craven manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Theron is trying to keep Craven in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craven wants to control from the top but Theron keeps moving.
Theron is trying to keep Craven in close.
Theron looking to hit a scissor sweep but Craven is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craven stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Theron swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Theron is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Theron avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Craven tries to free his leg and advance position but Theron is retaining full guard.
Craven postures up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Theron holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Craven moves into range and connects with a jab.
Theron throws a jab but it's blocked by Craven.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craven is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Theron has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Craven finds it's way round the side to connect with Theron's head.

Craven drives through with a takedown into guard.

Theron is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Craven defends well.
Craven wants to control from the top but Theron keeps moving.
Theron 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Craven accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Theron keeping moving, preventing Craven from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven won't allow Theron to sweep him here.
Theron has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Destin Craven is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Craven slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Theron keeping full guard, as Craven tries to pass.
Craven sitting in guard here, content to control.
Craven stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Theron swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Craven is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Craven pushes Theron up against the cage in a clinch.
Theron is trying to drag Craven to the mat but Craven just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Theron pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Theron fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Craven presses Theron against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Craven.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Theron fails to pull guard.
Destin Craven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charlie Theron.
Craven gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Theron.
Charlie Theron has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Theron misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Destin Craven showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Craven has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Destin Craven!
Destin Craven decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.