PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Destin Craven (ranked 1225 p4p, 1765 weight class) and Felix Jaroslav (ranked 99 p4p, 134 weight class). Jaroslav has chosen The Sound of Running Feet as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Craven
vs
Jaroslav

172 cm
35
141
26 - 26 - 1

168 cm
45
148
37 - 29 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Brooklyn Apothecary
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

30th Century Beer Store
Stoner's Killer Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 26 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Destin Craven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 29 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Felix Jaroslav!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Patrick Alders and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Craven uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jaroslav.
We've been hearing reports that Craven has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Jaroslav throws a head kick that misses.
Craven checks a leg kick.
Jaroslav moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A head kick misses from Craven.
Craven throws a head kick but Jaroslav moves out of range.
Craven scores with a kick to the body.
Jaroslav motions for Craven to come forward. Jaroslav throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Jaroslav swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jaroslav waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Craven.
Craven blocks a head kick by Jaroslav.

Craven manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Jaroslav on his heels. He'll look to pass Jaroslav's guard now, I'm sure.
Craven with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jaroslav wants to get back to his feet but Craven is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Craven drops back looking for a leg! Jaroslav is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Jaroslav manages to kick Craven off! Craven jumps back into Jaroslav's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaroslav wants to stand up but Craven is controlling him.
Jaroslav avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Craven passes into half guard.
Craven scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Craven wants to control but Jaroslav is keeping him busy.

Craven is working for a kimura here but Jaroslav manages to reverse the position and he's now in Craven's guard.
Jaroslav pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Craven is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craven has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Jaroslav trying to control but Craven is working from the bottom.
Craven is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Craven is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jaroslav is aware though and is defending well.
Jaroslav is in close to Craven's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jaroslav advances position into side control!
Craven can't do much from the bottom here.
Jaroslav is looking to take a break and control but Craven is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Craven wants to get back to his feet but Jaroslav drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven tries to buck Jaroslav off but Jaroslav is having none of it.

Jaroslav is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Craven knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Craven is trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Jaroslav decides to stand back up.
Craven lands a two punch combo.
Jaroslav throws a half hearted mid kick.
Jaroslav looks to land a right hand but Craven moved out of range.
Craven dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Craven blocks the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaroslav throws a head kick that misses.
Craven plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Felix Jaroslav has been cut.
Jaroslav misses with an attempted mid kick.
Craven throws a series of strikes that have Jaroslav backpedaling.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Craven pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jaroslav takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Destin Craven seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Craven connects with a jab.
Craven lands an overhand right.
Craven blocks the body kick.
Craven feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Jaroslavs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Jaroslav fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Jaroslav swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Craven misses with a head kick.
A shot to the liver by Craven. Beautiful body shot.
Craven feints a jab promting Jaroslav to slip. Craven then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Jaroslav slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Craven throws a nice inside leg kick.
Craven throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Craven looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Jaroslav!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Destin Craven dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Felix Jaroslav's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Craven bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jaroslav looks for the body kick but Craven saw that one coming.
Craven lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Craven scores with a kick to the body.
Jaroslav throws a series of punches but Craven moves out of range.
Jaroslav paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Craven defending well as Jaroslav loads up on a big left hand.
Craven tries to bum rush Jaroslav with a series of wild strikes but Jaroslav uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Craven 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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Craven scoring with some ground and pound.
Craven landing some decent shots from guard.
Jaroslav can't keep his opponent in guard - Craven advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Craven looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jaroslav with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Destin Craven overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaroslav is looking to escape.
Craven is keen to just control but Jaroslav is a slippery customer.

Craven wants to work for an arm triangle but Jaroslav is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Craven trying to control from half guard but Jaroslav is working away.
Jaroslav on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Craven seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jaroslav does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jaroslav is trying to stand.
Craven looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nice strikes from Craven there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaroslav looks like he's trying to stand up.
Jaroslav on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Jaroslav is defending against the submission attempts here by Craven.

Craven is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Jaroslav sees it coming and defends easily.

Craven seems to be working for a kimura but Jaroslav defends the submission attempt.
Craven wants to pass to mount but Jaroslav is defending the position.
Craven is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jaroslav can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven trying to control the action but Jaroslav is working from the bottom.

Craven is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Jaroslav defends it well.
Jaroslav is looking to escape.
Craven is just content to waste time from the top position. Jaroslav takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Craven loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Craven prevents Jaroslav from getting back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.

Craven fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Jaroslav to the ground. Craven is now in Jaroslav's guard.
Jaroslav wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Craven manages to pass to side control.

Craven trying to control from Jaroslav's half guard. Jaroslav has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Craven content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Craven wants to pass the guard but Jaroslav is keeping the position.
Jaroslav is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Craven is controlling him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Craven with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Jaroslav is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Craven is controlling him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Destin Craven dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Felix Jaroslav's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Craven dives in and scores a takedown into Jaroslav's guard.
Craven missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Craven postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Craven stands and throws Jaroslav's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Craven working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Jaroslav is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jaroslav is working to avoid the ground and pound but Craven connects with a decent elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaroslav wants to get back to his feet but Craven drags him back down.
Craven working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Craven working the ground and pound.

Craven goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Jaroslav rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Craven's guard! Nice work there by Jaroslav!
Craven looking for a sweep. Not yet Craven, not yet.
Jaroslav working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Craven looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Craven keeping moving, preventing Jaroslav from controlling successfully.
Jaroslav throws a big elbow that misses.
Jaroslav tries to free his leg and advance position but Craven is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craven tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Craven wants to stand up but Jaroslav is controlling him.
Craven looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jaroslav is one step ahead there.

Craven working for a triangle but Jaroslav defends it easily.
Craven looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jaroslav is one step ahead there.
Jaroslav wants to stand but Craven has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Craven is looking to stand up but Jaroslav isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven keeping full guard, as Jaroslav tries to pass.

Jaroslav stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Jaroslav misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jaroslav lands a front kick.
Craven throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Jaroslav.
Craven lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Jaroslav at a distance.
Jaroslav gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Jaroslav walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Craven checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Craven moves out of range as Jaroslav throws a body kick.
Jaroslav blocks a head kick by Craven.
Jaroslav on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Craven takes a jab right on the kisser.
Craven tests Jaroslav's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Destin Craven is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Destin Craven is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaroslav walks into a left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jaroslav looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Craven avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jaroslav misses with a hook. Craven ducked under it nicely.
Jaroslav misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jaroslav takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jaroslav loads up on a big right hand but Craven slips the punch.
Craven uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jaroslav.
Craven drops down looking for a counter takedown but Jaroslav sprawls and moves away.
Jaroslav misses with an attempted mid kick.
A head kick misses from Jaroslav.
Craven tried to counter with a leg kick but Jaroslav avoided it.
Felix Jaroslav is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jaroslav chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Craven can pounce on him.
Jaroslav throws a leg kick

and Craven counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Craven pushes down on Jaroslav's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Craven keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Felix Jaroslav has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Craven slips a nice elbow through Jaroslav's hands, connecting with Jaroslav's forehead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Destin Craven showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Craven has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... 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.