PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Destin Craven (ranked 1858 p4p, 1401 weight class) and Aleksi Heimo (ranked 107 p4p, 79 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Craven
vs
Heimo

172 cm
29
141
15 - 12 - 0

169 cm
33
146
14 - 26 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

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 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Destin Craven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 26 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleksi Heimo!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Albert Achterberg and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Craven looking to score a takedown here. Heimo is defending well but Craven drives through and ends up in Heimo's guard.
Heimo is controlling Craven's posture.
Heimo wants to sweep but no luck.
Heimo is pulling down on Craven's head to control his posture.
Heimo looking to control.
Craven trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Craven cracks Heimo with a solid left hand.
Heimo has control of Craven's left arm, preventing Craven from doing any damage.
Heimo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heimo working a defensive guard here.
Heimo has momentary wrist control but Craven slips an elbow through the middle.
Heimo looking for a sweep. Not yet Heimo, not yet.
Craven postures up.
Craven tries to free his leg and advance position but Heimo is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craven throws a big right hand that misses.
Craven trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Heimo manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Craven looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Heimo wants to control from the top but Craven keeps moving.
Heimo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Craven's guard.

Heimo seems to be working for a kimura but Craven defends the submission attempt.

Heimo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Craven is looking for a sweep. Heimo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Heimo stops Craven from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craven is not content to let Heimo control the position.
Heimo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Craven knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Heimo stops Craven from getting back to his feet.

Heimo is working for a submission of some sort.
Craven wants to improve his position but Heimo is controlling well.
Craven is working hard here to advance position.
Heimo is looking to advance position but Craven won't allow it.

Craven is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Heimo pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Heimo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Craven sees it coming and defends easily.
Craven is looking for a sweep. Heimo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Craven tries to kick Heimo off but Heimo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Craven is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Craven manages to get to full guard.
Craven keeping moving, preventing Heimo from controlling successfully.
Craven can't keep his opponent in guard - Heimo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Heimo tries to pass to full mount but Craven defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craven pushes Heimo off looking to stand but Heimo dives back in and keeps control.
Craven tries to roll over but Heimo keeps him under control.

Craven actively working from the bottom here.

Heimo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Craven is just riding it out for now. Heimo eventually gives up the hold.
Heimo wants to pass the guard but Craven is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Heimo stalling away here and it's allowed Craven to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Destin Craven will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Heimo lands a head kick!

Craven is rocked!
Heimo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Craven ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Craven bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Heimo throws Craven to one side and escapes!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Craven scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Craven prevents Heimo from improving his position.
Heimo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Heimo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Craven is working away from the top position though.
Heimo is doing well to control the position and prevent Craven from advancing to side control.
Craven moves nicely into side control.
Heimo is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heimo is still trying to improve position.
Heimo takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Craven tries to advance to mount but Heimo denies him.
Destin Craven overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Craven lands an elbow.

Craven is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Heimo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Heimo regains half guard.

Craven is looking for a kimura here.
Heimo trying to control here.

Craven is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
We've been hearing that Craven has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heimo is trying to get back to full guard.
Craven lands strikes from half guard.
Heimo gets back to full guard.
Heimo trying to control the position.
Craven chips away with some ground and pound.
Craven working some strikes from top position.
Heimo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Craven trying to control the position from guard on top but Heimo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Heimo wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Craven trying to control but Heimo is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven won't allow Heimo to sweep him here.
Heimo trying to keep a closed guard but Craven is proving a slippery customer.
Craven working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Heimo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Heimo looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Craven trying to control but Heimo is working from the bottom.

Craven drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Craven jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Heimo is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craven lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Craven stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Heimo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Heimo is trying to keep Craven in close.
Craven stopping the sweep attempt from Heimo.
Craven trying to control but Heimo is working from the bottom.
Craven looking to sit in guard and control but Heimo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Craven wants to sweep but no luck.
Heimo wants to pass the guard but Craven is keeping the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Destin Craven will probably get the nod.
That's time! Craven's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Craven blocks a head kick by Heimo.
Heimo just misses with a punch to the body.
Destin Craven seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Craven misses with a jab, cross combination.
Craven shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Heimo but Heimo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Heimo scores with a push kick.
Heimo jabs at Craven's body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Heimo.
Craven throws out a loose jab but Heimo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Craven's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Craven duly obliges.
Heimo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Craven thinks about countering with a head kick.
Heimo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Craven.
Craven connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Heimo momentarily.
Destin Craven is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Craven misses the body punch
and Heimo counters with a left to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Heimo throws a body shot but no joy.
Heimo moves out of range of the leg kick from Craven.
Heimo misses with a wild body shot.
Craven lands a two punch combo.
Craven looks to throw the jab but Heimo is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craven staying out of range there.
Heimo staying out of range there.
Heimo is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Craven rather than just go for the knockout.
Heimo throws a hook but Craven blocks it.
Craven avoids the body shot from Heimo.
Craven with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Heimo to score with a decent uppercut.
Craven misses with a double jab.
Heimo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A jab lands there for Craven.

Heimo is rocked!
Heimo has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Craven circles and sees the opportunity to plant his feet and throw a really nice straight left hand that drops Heimo to the canvas! Heimo doesn't know where he is but he's trying to survive - Craven keeps piling on the pressure and forces the referee to step in! This one is aaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Destin Craven!
After the fight, Destin Craven was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.