PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Allan Omega (ranked 2444 p4p, 120 weight class) and Malcolm Craig (ranked 6012 p4p, 288 weight class). Omega comes to the cage accompanied by OMEGA NJPW. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Omega
vs
Craig

170 cm
27
143 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

169 cm
27
136 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Allan Omega!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Malcolm Craig!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice combination there by Omega.
Omega goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Omega tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Craig was well out of range. Poor timing from Omega.

Craig has closed the distance and engaged Omega in a clinch.
Craig pushes Omega back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Craig misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short left from Craig.
Omega wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Craig has him pressed against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Craig.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Craig manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Craig stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The crowd are getting on Craig's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Omega tries to break the clinch but Craig is controlling the position.
Omega can't break the clinch.
Omega is trying to force a seperation but Craig has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Omega wants to break the clinch but can't.

Omega breaks from the clinch.
Omega looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Omega lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Craig circles away quickly and effectively.
Craig lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Craig tries to close the distance and clinch up but Omega swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Craig tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Craig closes the distance and clinches.
Omega is trying to break the clinch but Craig is controlling him.
Craig lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Omega tries to circle away but Craig has him pinned against the cage.
A short uppercut from Craig.
Omega tries to break free but Craig pushes him back against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Craig.
Craig lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Omega is trying to push Craig away but Craig has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Omega is trying to break the clinch but Craig is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Omega is trying to break the clinch but Craig is controlling him.
Craig dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Omega wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Craig has him pressed against the cage.
Craig stalling the fight.
Omega blocking some punches.
Omega has had enough of the clinch but Craig keeps him there for the moment.

Omega escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Omega punishes Craig's body with a nice straight punch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Craig looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Omega goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Omega tries to bum rush Craig with a series of wild strikes but Craig uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Craig instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Craig misses with the head strike.
Omega is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Craig lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Craig prevents Omega from breaking the clinch.
Craig working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Omega is looking to break free of the clinch but Craig has double underhooks.
Omega tries to break free but Craig pushes him back against the cage.
Omega is trying to push Craig away but Craig has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Craig lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Omega.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craig misses with the head strike.
Stalling in the clinch from Craig.
Craig misses with a punch on the inside.
Craig stalls.
Omega is trying to break the clinch but Craig has him pressed against the cage.
Omega is trying to break free.
Craig scores with a shot to the side of Omega's head.
Craig doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Craig lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Craig fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Omega is looking to break free of the clinch but Craig has double underhooks.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Craig.
Craig lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Omega tries to break the clinch but Craig is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Craig dominated that round.
That's time! Omega's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Craig tries to close the distance and clinch but Omega swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Omega throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Omega throws a half hearted mid kick.
Omega throws a combination that misses
and Craig connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A looping hook to the body misses from Omega. Craig does a little dance to reset his feet.
Craig missing with a left hand there. Omega was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Craig tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It looked like Omega wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Nice body punch from Omega.
Craig moves away from the strike by Omega.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Omega lunges at Craig with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Craig's hand.
Omega avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Omega throws a hook to the side of Craig's head but Craig sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Craig pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Omega back to the cage. Craig follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Omega sizes up Craig with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Craig rushes Omega and presses him up against the cage.
Omega is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Craig.
Omega is trying to break the clinch but Craig has him pressed against the cage.
Craig has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Omega is trying to break the clinch but Craig is controlling him.
Craig fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Craig misses with a body punch.
Craig tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Omega's elbow.
Craig slowing the pace effectively.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Craig.
Omega wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Craig has him pressed against the cage.
Omega has had enough of the clinch but Craig keeps him there for the moment.
Omega wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Malcolm Craig seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Omega breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Craig forces Omega back against the cage and clinches.
Craig struggles to land a body shot inside as Omega controls his hands.
Omega blocking some punches.
Omega wants to break the clinch but can't.
Omega is trying to push Craig away but Craig has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Craig is stalling here.
Omega is trying to force a seperation but Craig has the dominant position.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Omega is trying to break the clinch but Craig is controlling him.
Omega blocks an uppercut.
Craig throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Omegas head.
Omega wants to get back to striking at distance but Craig won't allow it.
Craig lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Omega has had enough of the clinch but Craig keeps him there for the moment.
Omega wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Craig has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Craig to work.
The referee calls for Craig to work.
Craig lands a hook to the side of the head.
Craig leaning his opponent against the cage.
Craig prevents Omega from breaking the clinch.
Omega wants to get back to striking at distance but Craig won't allow it.
Craig is struggling to control the position.
Craig working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Craig scores with a shoulder strike.
Craig keeps control of Omega as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craig tries to work over Omega's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Omega is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Omega is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Craig lands a body shot in the clinch.
Craig misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Omega.
Craig tries a body shot but Omega blocks it.
Omega is looking to break free of the clinch but Craig has double underhooks.
Omega is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Craig effectively controlling the action here.
Craig lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Omega has had enough of the clinch but Craig keeps him there for the moment.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Craig.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Craig.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Craig showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Craig dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Omega ducks right into an uppercut from Craig.
Craig takes one to the chin there.
Omega throws a series of punches but Craig avoids them all with ease.
Craig unleashes a big counter combination but Omega bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Craig connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Craig clinches up with Omega and pushes him back against the cage.
Craig throws a head punch that misses.
Craig has Omega pressed against the cage, preventing Omega from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Omega is trying to push Craig away but Craig has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Omega has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Craig pressing his opponent against the cage.
Craig works on Omega's body with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Omega is trying to push Craig away but Craig has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Omega dodges an elbow strike from Craig.
The referee calls for Craig to work.
Craig tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Omega wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Omega looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Craig has Omega pressed against the cage, preventing Omega from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Omega tries to circle away but Craig has him pinned against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Craig has Omega pushed against the cage.
Craig slows down the pace here.
Malcolm Craig is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Craig has Omega pressed against the cage, preventing Omega from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Omega looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Craig keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Omega's efforts to push away.
Omega is looking to break free of the clinch but Craig has double underhooks.
Craig keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Omega's efforts to push away.
A bit of stalling here from Craig.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Omega can't break the clinch.
Craig prevents Omega from breaking the clinch.
Omega is looking to break free of the clinch but Craig has double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Omega's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Omega is trying to break the clinch but Craig has him pressed against the cage.
Craig swings wildly with an uppercut but Omega uses good head movement to avoid it.
Craig prevents Omega from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Omega is looking to break free of the clinch but Craig has double underhooks.
Omega wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Omega is trying to break free.
Craig keeps control of Omega as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Omega working hard to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Omega's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Omega wants to break the clinch but can't.
Allan Omega has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Omega is looking to break free of the clinch but Craig has double underhooks.
Omega is trying to break the clinch but Craig is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malcolm Craig comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Craig winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

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