PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Simon Craig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sindre Somme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Craig
vs
Somme

180 cm
21
172 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Simon Craig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Sindre Somme!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Somme with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sindre Somme seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Craig tries for a takedown but Somme circles away easily
and Somme counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Somme throws a combination that misses

and Craig counters with a single leg into guard. Somme didn't expect that.
Craig has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Somme is proving hard to escape from.
Craig is breathing heavily.
Craig stops Somme from standing up.
Craig trying to control but Somme is working from the bottom.
Craig won't allow Somme to get back to his feet.
Craig wanted to stand there but Somme had control of the position.
Somme is looking to stand up but Craig isn't so interested in that idea.
Somme really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Craig. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Somme gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Somme breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Craig changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Somme looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Somme is pushing Craig's head away, looking to escape. Craig manages to hold on to the position though.
Craig trying to control the position but Somme is working away.
Somme is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craig trying to control the action but Somme is working from the bottom.
Somme is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Craig decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Somme changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Craig tries to avoid it but Somme manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Craig to the ground. Craig escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Somme throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Craig.
Craig shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Somme as he avoids it easily.

Somme moves into the clinch.
Somme lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Somme is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Craig pulls Somme into guard.
Craig 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.
Somme slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Craig takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Craig tries to bench press Somme off him but Somme keeps the position.
Somme laying and praying for a moment but Craig takes advantage and regains half guard.
Somme tries to stand but can't do so whilst Craig controls his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craig trying to control here.

Somme stands up out of the half guard.
Somme misses with a double jab

and Craig moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Craig dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Craig clinches with his opponent.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Somme wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Craig has him pressed against the cage.
Somme's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Somme using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Craig has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Somme has had enough of the clinch but Craig keeps him there for the moment.

Somme breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Somme tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Somme throws a left and a right that both miss

and Craig counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Craig.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Craig throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Somme wants to stand but Craig is controlling the position.
Somme keeping moving, preventing Craig from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig tries to free his leg and advance position but Somme is retaining full guard.

Somme scrambles and gets back to his feet.
No joy there for Somme, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Craig tries for a takedown but Somme sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Somme throws a series of strikes that have Craig backpedaling.
Somme tries a head kick but it misses.
A shot to the body from Somme misses
letting Craig counter with a right hand.
Simon Craig is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Somme tries to sprawl but Craig drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Somme is refusing to be controlled, as Craig sits in half guard.
Craig controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craig working Somme over with strikes.
Somme is not content to let Craig control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Somme wants to get back to his feet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Craig perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Somme is trying to stand.

We're going to have a standup here because Simon Craig wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Somme tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Somme throws a sloppy head kick
and Craig counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Somme is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Craig checks a leg kick.

Craig gets a double leg takedown into Somme's guard.
Somme is looking to stand up but Craig isn't so interested in that idea.

Craig thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Somme is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Craig is controlling him.
Craig trying to control but Somme is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craig tries to free his leg and advance position but Somme is retaining full guard.

Somme has his feet on Craig's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Left hook, right uppercut from Somme.

Craig scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Somme wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Craig dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Somme throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Craig clinches with his opponent.
Somme will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Craig up against the cage.
Craig goes for a takedown attempt but Somme pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Craig clinches up with Somme and pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Somme is trying to break the clinch but Craig has him pressed against the cage.
Somme leaning against his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Craig is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Somme manages to pull guard.

Somme pushes Craig off and gets back to his feet.
Craig misses with a double jab.
Somme misses with a head kick.
Somme swings widly with a right hand

so Craig counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Somme wants to get back to his feet but Craig is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Craig wants to control from the top but Somme keeps moving.

Craig stands and steps away. Somme gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Somme throws a series of punches but Craig moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Craig fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Somme sprawls well initially but Craig persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Somme scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Craig manages to mount him!
Craig wants to control the pace but Somme is squirming around nicely.
Simon Craig overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Craig looking to control and managing it successfully.
Somme trying desperately to get to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Craig lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig looking to control and managing it successfully.

Craig is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Somme has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Craig looking to control but Somme is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Somme wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Craig controlling the pace for now.
Craig trying to control but Somme is having none of it.
Somme tries to buck Craig off but he can't manage it.
Craig controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simon Craig showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Craig, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight for Simon Craig!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Simon Craig!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Simon Craig!

Simon Craig wins by unanimous decision!