PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Craig Kraig (ranked 7271 p4p, 4363 weight class) and Ellis Rowards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Craig Kraig has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kraig
vs
Rowards

175 cm
22
190
1 - 1 - 0

195 cm
26
190
2 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Craig Kraig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ellis Rowards!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, David Hoff and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kraig changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rowards looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rowards sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kraig is nestled in close to Rowards, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kraig thows a huge punch but Rowards dodges it nicely.
Kraig missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kraig wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rowards keeps working.
Rowards trying to hold on to Kraig's head to control him but Kraig postures up.
Well, if Kraig is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Kraig not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowards is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kraig missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kraig wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rowards keeps working.
Ground and pound from Kraig.
Kraig is nestled in close to Rowards, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rowards wants to get back to his feet.
Rowards is not content to let Kraig control the position.
Rowards wants to control but Kraig is keeping busy.

Rowards is defending against the submission attempts here by Kraig.
Kraig knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rowards on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowards is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kraig's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kraig's back!
Kraig wants to control his opponent's hands but Rowards gets his hands free.
Kraig is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Kraig is trying to stand back up.

Kraig defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Rowards's arms.
Rowards gets his hands free as Kraig looks to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kraig is keeping busy.
Kraig tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rowards throws a strike there. Kraig manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Kraig trying to control from the bottom.
Kraig is looking to improve his position.
Kraig is working hard here to advance position.

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.

Rowards is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kraig has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kraig on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kraig tries to get out of the position.
Kraig wants to get back to his feet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kraig is trying to control but can't.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rowards keeps the fight on the outside.
Rowards wants to counter the offense by Kraig and move into the clinch position.
Decent striking displayed by Rowards there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ellis Rowards will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kraig shoots in for a takedown but Rowards shows good takedown defense.

Kraig closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rowards did well to prevent Kraig getting side control.
Rowards tries to roll over but Kraig keeps him under control.
Kraig not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kraig is thwarting Rowards's attempts to control the position.
Nice strikes from Kraig there.
Kraig throws a strike but Rowards avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rowards 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.
Kraig is working Rowards over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rowards wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rowards throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kraig landing some decent shots from guard.
Kraig might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kraig postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rowards throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Rowards working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kraig.
Kraig lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rowards keeping moving, preventing Kraig from controlling successfully.
Kraig postures up and lands a big shot to Rowards's brow.

Rowards is rocked!
Kraig lands a couple of elbows.
Rowards is still in real trouble! Can Kraig finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rowards is looking for a triangle but Kraig pushes his legs off easily.
Rowards can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kraig controls the pace.
Kraig throws an elbow that misses. Rowards uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kraig's guard. Nice move by Rowards!

Rowards seems to have recovered his senses.
Kraig is looking to sweep but instead, Rowards has passed into half guard.

Kraig manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Rowards keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Kraig lands a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rowards has his foot on Kraig's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kraig works his way back into a safe position though.
Kraig working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rowards's head.
Kraig with a flurry of punches that miss.
Our spies down at at Cozad The Island inform us that Rowards has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kraig accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kraig is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rowards can do to turn this around?
Kraig looking to sit in guard and control but Rowards gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kraig looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rowards looking to pass the guard.
Kraig trying to control the position here.

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.
Kraig wants to get back to his feet but Rowards passes into half guard.
Kraig controlling the position well.
Rowards tries to pass to full mount but Kraig defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Kraig dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kraig tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rowards sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kraig somewhat.
Rowards moves in looking to clinch but Kraig pushes him off.

Kraig closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rowards to the mat! Rowards manages to get full guard.
Craig Kraig overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rowards wants to sweep here but Kraig controlling him for the moment.
Rowards keeping moving, preventing Kraig from controlling successfully.
Kraig won't allow Rowards to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kraig looking to sit in guard and control but Rowards gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kraig seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowards trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kraig's guard.
Rowards throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kraig trying to control the position here.
Rowards wants to stand and escape but instead Kraig has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Rowards keeping moving, preventing Kraig from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rowards tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kraig postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rowards keeping full guard, as Kraig tries to pass.
Kraig working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kraig trying to control the position from guard on top but Rowards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kraig content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kraig is in close to Rowards's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kraig being controlled here momentarily.
Kraig with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kraig thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kraig stands up over Rowards, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rowards is looking to stand up but Kraig isn't so interested in that idea.
Kraig makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kraig throws a big right hand that misses.
Rowards wants to stand and escape but Kraig is having none of it.

Rowards has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kraig can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rowards is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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.

Rowards has his foot on Kraig's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kraig works his way back into a safe position though.
Rowards takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kraig with a nice head shot there.
Kraig makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kraig accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kraig lands a couple of elbows.
Kraig postures up, still in guard. A huge hammer fist lands that bounces Rowards's head off the mat! Rowards is out! He's out! Kraig jumps to his feet and celebrates with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Craig Kraig!