PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shannon Craig (ranked 9860 p4p, 0 weight class) and Suayngarm Pumphanmuang (ranked 6073 p4p, 0 weight class). Shannon Craig has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Craig
vs
Pumphanmuang

212 cm
26
162 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

178 cm
23
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shannon Craig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Suayngarm Pumphanmuang!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Craig clinches up against the cage.
Pumphanmuang can't get the takedown.
Pumphanmuang is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Pumphanmuang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Craig will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Craig avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pumphanmuang takes the fight into the clinch.
Come on Pumphanmuang - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pumphanmuang breaks the clinch.

Pumphanmuang pushes Craig up against the cage in a clinch.
Pumphanmuang drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Craig gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Craig has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pumphanmuang is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Pumphanmuang tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Craig just stands there and leans against the cage.
Shannon Craig has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Suayngarm Pumphanmuang.
Pumphanmuang stops a takedown attempt from Craig.

Pumphanmuang breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Pumphanmuang misses
and Craig counters with a two punch combo.

Pumphanmuang fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Craig, pushing him back against the cage.
Pumphanmuang is stalling here.
Craig can't get the takedown.

Pumphanmuang breaks the clinch.
A left lands for Craig.
Pumphanmuang misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Craig is looking to counter the offense by Pumphanmuang and move into the clinch.

Pumphanmuang takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pumphanmuang drops down looking for an ankle pick but Craig pulls his leg out and moves away.
Pumphanmuang dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Craig looks for a takedown but Pumphanmuang sprawls well.
Craig sets himself, and Pumphanmuang steps forward looking for the clinch! Craig avoids it this time.
Craig takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Pumphanmuang tries to bum rush Craig with a series of wild strikes but Craig uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Craig misses with a takedown

and Pumphanmuang counters by clinching up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pumphanmuang fails to pull guard.
Craig wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pumphanmuang has him pressed against the cage.

Pumphanmuang escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice takedown defense from Pumphanmuang. No joy for Craig on that attempt.

Pumphanmuang moves into the clinch.
Pumphanmuang tries for a takedown. No joy.

Pumphanmuang breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Craig shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pumphanmuang pinned against the cage. Pumphanmuang gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Suayngarm Pumphanmuang dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Pumphanmuang.

Pumphanmuang closes the distance and clinches.

Pumphanmuang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pumphanmuang misses with the combination.

Pumphanmuang moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pumphanmuang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Craig blocks a head kick by Pumphanmuang.
Pumphanmuang tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Craig swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Craig changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pumphanmuang looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
A control attempt from Pumphanmuang but he's now mounted!
Craig dominating with strikes here.
Pumphanmuang tries to buck Craig off but he can't manage it.
Craig misses with a head shot.
Pumphanmuang is desperately trying to improve his position but Craig has a good base and remains in mount.
Craig working the ground and pound effectively.
Craig throwing strikes here but Pumphanmuang is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Craig goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Pumphanmuang turns into him and now he's in Craig's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Craig is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pumphanmuang pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Craig is keeping the position for now.
Pumphanmuang has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Craig avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pumphanmuang prevents Craig from getting back to his feet.
Craig looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pumphanmuang loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pumphanmuang sitting in guard here, content to control.
Pumphanmuang being controlled here momentarily.
Craig is looking to sweep but instead, Pumphanmuang has passed into half guard.
Craig tries to roll over but Pumphanmuang keeps him under control.
Pumphanmuang controlling the action here.
Craig is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four 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.
Craig blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pumphanmuang.
Pumphanmuang stalling.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Craig leaves Pumphanmuang with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shannon Craig has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Suayngarm Pumphanmuang.
Pumphanmuang misses with a head kick.
Pumphanmuang looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Craig is fending him off so far but Pumphanmuang persists. Nope, Craig circles away and we're back to standing.
Craig drops down looking for a counter takedown but Pumphanmuang sprawls and moves away.
Pumphanmuang is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Craig fails with the takedown.
Pumphanmuang dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Suayngarm Pumphanmuang showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Craig's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Craig gets the takedown into side control.
Pumphanmuang tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Craig presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Pumphanmuang is in all sorts of trouble here.
Pumphanmuang tries to improve his position but instead Craig has taken his back!
Pumphanmuang tries to break free.
Pumphanmuang controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad spot.
Craig will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pumphanmuang is really stuck here.

Pumphanmuang preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Craig.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Craig tightening his grip on Pumphanmuang, looking for the choke.
Pumphanmuang holding on to Craig's left wrist, preventing the choke.

Craig looking for the RNC.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Pumphanmuang defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Craig's arms.
Craig throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Pumphanmuang!
Craig throwing sloppy strikes.

Craig looking for the choke from the back.
I really don't envy Pumphanmuang right now.
Pumphanmuang trying to control the hands but Craig won't let him.
Pumphanmuang breaks Craig's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig trying to keep a closed guard but Pumphanmuang is proving a slippery customer.
Shannon Craig overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Craig keeping moving, preventing Pumphanmuang from controlling successfully.
Craig not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pumphanmuang prevents Craig from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pumphanmuang looking to pass the guard.
Craig is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Craig is on top in guard.

Craig postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Craig drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Pumphanmuang manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Craig has Pumphanmuang in his guard.

Pumphanmuang gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Shannon Craig has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Suayngarm Pumphanmuang is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Craig really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pumphanmuang lets loose with a powerful body kick. Craig will feel that in the morning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shannon Craig showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pumphanmuang has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Suayngarm Pumphanmuang!