PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Karibu (ranked 3317 p4p, 42 weight class) and Craig Lafferty (ranked 5145 p4p, 68 weight class). Craig Lafferty has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Karibu
vs
Lafferty

175 cm
18
240 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

205 cm
24
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gabriel Karibu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Craig Lafferty !
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Bart Greer and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lafferty connects with a high kick.

Lafferty has Karibu up against the cage in a clinch.
Lafferty using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Lafferty jumps into guard, dragging Karibu to the mat.
Lafferty 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.
Karibu sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karibu trying to control the position from guard on top but Lafferty is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lafferty wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karibu looking to pass the guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Karibu has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lafferty manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Karibu manages to get himself to full guard.

Lafferty connects with a couple of short punches.

Lafferty gets to his feet - Karibu follows without any prompting.

Karibu tries to sprawl but Lafferty drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Karibu is breathing heavily.
Lafferty is looking to take a break and control but Karibu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Karibu has hold of Lafferty 's hands but Lafferty slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lafferty looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Karibu on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Karibu won't allow Lafferty to pass to mount.

Lafferty gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Karibu looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Lafferty shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Karibu is trying to defend but Lafferty finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lafferty lands with a punch from half guard.
Karibu wants to get back to full guard.
Lafferty looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Lafferty working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Lafferty stands up and beckons Karibu to join him on the feet.

Lafferty feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Lafferty pushing down on Karibu's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lafferty works his way into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karibu tries to buck Lafferty off but Lafferty is having none of it.
Lafferty taking a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Lafferty dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lafferty drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Lafferty moves into full mount!

Lafferty gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Lafferty fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lafferty scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Karibu doesn't seem bothered though.

Lafferty scores with a takedown into Karibu's guard.
Craig Lafferty has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lafferty controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Lafferty advances position into side control!
Lafferty scoring with punches from side control.
Lafferty advances to full mount.
Lafferty has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lafferty takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lafferty cracks Karibu with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Lafferty sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Lafferty lands a couple of good shots and Karibu has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Lafferty controls the position.
Karibu is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Lafferty has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lafferty is riding his opponent, not letting Karibu buck him off.
Let's hope that Lafferty 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.
Karibu might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Lafferty has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lafferty punches Karibu on the ear.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Karibu is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Lafferty gets his way!

Lafferty looking for the RNC.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Lafferty showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lafferty looking to score a takedown here. Karibu is defending well but Lafferty drives through and ends up in Karibu's guard.
Lafferty stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Karibu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lafferty trying to control the position from guard on top but Karibu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lafferty controls from within his opponent's guard.
Lafferty advances to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lafferty trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karibu wants to get back to full guard.
Lafferty tries to pass the half guard into mount. Karibu knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lafferty controlling the pace.
Lafferty is thwarting Karibu's attempts to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lafferty throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Lafferty closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Lafferty manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lafferty is on top in guard.

Lafferty gets to his feet. Karibu looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Lafferty gets a takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Lafferty .
Lafferty is taking a breather. Karibu says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lafferty stands up and beckons Karibu to join him on the feet.
Lafferty lands a nice looking body kick.

Lafferty fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Karibu to the ground. Lafferty is now in Karibu's guard.
Lafferty engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Lafferty avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lafferty working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Karibu being controlled here, momentarily.
Karibu trying to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Lafferty comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lafferty has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

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