PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paul Stanley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacob Craig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Stanley
vs
Craig

170 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Stanley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of London, Jacob Craig!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Craig blocks a head kick by Stanley.
Stanley shoots in for a double leg but Craig sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Stanley shoots in and drives through. Craig sprawls well.
Stanley is breathing heavily.
Stanley shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Stanley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stanley misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Craig feints and as Stanley raises his hands in defense, Craig changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Craig landing some decent shots from guard.
Craig must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Craig trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Craig lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Craig is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Craig landing with the ground and pound.
Craig postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Stanley can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Craig controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Let's hope that Craig has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jacob Craig just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Stanley gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Craig is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Craig thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stanley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Craig is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Craig's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Craig scoring with some ground and pound.

Stanley has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Craig can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Craig connects with a couple of short punches.
Craig really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stanley. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig works over Stanley with some ground and pound from guard.
Craig controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Craig landing with the ground and pound.
Craig is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Stanley looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Craig seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jacob Craig just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Craig fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Stanley sprawls well initially but Craig persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Craig in particular looking to stall.
Stanley wants to get back to full guard.
Craig takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Craig 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.

Craig bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Stanley tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Craig wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Craig looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Craig is chipping away with strikes.
Craig is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Stanley's shoulder. That is not cool.
Stanley tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Craig wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Craig content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stanley tries to buck Craig off but Craig is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanley regains half guard.

Craig decides to return to a standing position.
Stanley misses with a head kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Craig.
Craig scores with punches from side control.
Craig controls the position.
Stanley is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Stanley regains half guard.

Stanley looking for submissions off his back.

Stanley actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Craig seems content to control.

Stanley looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Stanley looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Stanley looking for a kimura from the bottom but Craig passes into side control!
Craig is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Stanley's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jacob Craig just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Stanley with a lazy takedown attempt

and Craig counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Craig is in close to Stanley's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Craig not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Craig wants to control from the top but Stanley keeps moving.
Craig slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Stanley has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Craig can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Stanley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Craig gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Craig is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craig has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stanley is proving hard to escape from.

Stanley looking for a guillotine here but Craig defends easily.

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

Stanley looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Craig has picked Stanley up and slammed him! Stanley can't keep hold of the triangle and Craig manages to pass to side control!
Craig scoring with punches from side control.
Craig is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Stanley's shoulder. That is not cool.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Craig showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Stanley falls off balance throwing a combination

and Craig counters with a shoot takedown. Stanley fights it but they end up in guard.
Craig not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Stanley tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Craig connects with a couple of short punches.
Stanley can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Craig controls the pace.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jacob Craig just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Craig forces Stanley back against the cage and clinches.

Craig escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Craig shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Stanley actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stanley looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Craig winds up and cracks Stanley with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Craig tries to pass the half guard into mount. Stanley knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Craig lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
It looks like Craig is going to stand back up.
Craig is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Craig not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stanley misses with a takedown attempt

and Craig counters with a single leg into guard. Stanley didn't expect that.
Craig pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stanley is keeping the position for now.

Stanley had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Craig is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Stanley Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Craig's back instead.

Craig defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Stanley's arms.
Stanley avoiding Craig 's attempts to control his hands.

Craig defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Craig is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Paul Stanley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Despite being in a bad position, Craig is controlling the hands, preventing any submission attempts.

Stanley has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Craig is in real trouble here. Stanley gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Craig is tapping out! Stanley wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Paul Stanley!