PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ruslan Danilov (ranked 489 p4p, 273 weight class) and Dougal McCraken (ranked 68 p4p, 38 weight class). McCraken has chosen Bulgine as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Danilov
vs
McCraken

185 cm
29
180
17 - 12 - 0

184 cm
32
170
17 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition
Core Combat

HELLBENT

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 17 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ruslan Danilov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dougal McCraken!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, William Gold and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCraken misses the shot to the body.
Danilov throws a body punch but McCraken moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McCraken! But no joy.
Danilov checks the leg kick.
Danilov misses with a low kick.
McCraken counters with a body kick.
Danilov connects with a body shot that sends McCraken's belly button to the back.
Dougal McCraken seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Danilov moves out of range as McCraken strikes.
A slow jab from McCraken misses its intended target.
Danilov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and McCraken has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Danilov is looking to score with low kicks.
Danilov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Danilov tries to score with a low kick but McCraken moves his leg out of the way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCraken swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Danilov moves away from the strike by McCraken.
McCraken scores with a body shot.
A good leg kick by McCraken.
McCraken lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCraken catches Danilov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
McCraken connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Danilov lands with a hook. McCraken tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Danilov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McCraken.
Danilov misses with an uppercut.
McCraken flicks out a counter leg kick but Danilov steps away.
Danilov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Danilov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Danilov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
McCraken fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Danilov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
McCraken lands with a nice body punch.
Danilov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Danilov slips under a jab from McCraken.
McCraken connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McCraken lands the left hand.
McCraken has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A thudding body kick lands there by Danilov!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from McCraken misses its intended target.
Danilov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and McCraken cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McCraken slips a straight right by Danilov.

Danilov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging McCraken to the ground. Danilov is now in McCraken's guard.
McCraken wants to stand but Danilov is controlling the position.
Danilov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McCraken swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McCraken is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Danilov won't allow McCraken to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCraken trying to control the position.
Danilov throws a strike but McCraken rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

McCraken postures up.
McCraken is fighting to break Danilov's control of his arms but Danilov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
McCraken sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Danilov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McCraken manages to get himself to full guard.

McCraken can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Danilov controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danilov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
McCraken is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Danilov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
McCraken pulls Danilov in close to his closed guard and prevents Danilov from doing any damage or advancing position.

Danilov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
McCraken wants to sweep but no luck.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dougal McCraken dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

McCraken throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
McCraken throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Danilov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McCraken tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Danilov is able to avoid easily.
Danilov throws a leg kick which misses McCraken's front leg but catches the back leg as McCraken tries to avoid it.
Danilov moves out of range of the strikes.
McCraken throws a hook to the side of Danilov's head but Danilov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Danilov misses with a low kick.
McCraken scores with a body shot.
McCraken throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Danilov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McCraken as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCraken cracks a nice hook into Danilov's ribs.
Danilov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A big left from McCraken misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danilov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McCraken dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McCraken blocks a leg kick.
Danilov's hands are dropping dangerously low here and McCraken connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Danilov scrambles back to his feet.
Danilov throws a head kick that misses.
McCraken checks a low kick from Danilov.
McCraken bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McCraken misses the jab.
Danilov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
McCraken misses with a body kick.
McCraken throws a looping overhand right but Danilov ducks down to avoid it.
Danilov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
McCraken has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A slapping leg kick lands for McCraken.
Danilov throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danilov throws a front kick aimed at McCraken's knee but McCraken avoids it well.
Dougal McCraken seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Danilov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Danilov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
McCraken fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Danilov checks a leg kick nicely.
Danilov lands with a hook. McCraken tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A punch lands to the side of Danilov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
McCraken throws a body punch but Danilov moves out of range.
Dougal McCraken is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
That kick from McCraken tenderised Danilov's leg. Danilov is trying to keep his angry face on.
McCraken looks for the body kick but Danilov saw that one coming.
Danilov throws a leg kick
and McCraken counters with a leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Danilov lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and McCraken has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from McCraken and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Danilov throws a leg kick that misses.
A jab from McCraken does it's job there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danilov fails with a takedown attempt.
McCraken wants to land a leg kick but Danilov is out of range.
McCraken throws a body punch but Danilov moves out of range.
Danilov attempts a counter takedown but McCraken avoids it well and moves away.
An inside leg kick from McCraken misses.
Danilov staying out of range there.
McCraken lands a nice looking body shot.
Danilov blocks a head kick by McCraken.
Danilov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A nice inside leg kick there by Danilov. That's going to slow McCraken down.
A low kick from Danilov misses
and McCraken cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Danilov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McCraken scores with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCraken tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Danilov takes a swing at McCraken's ribcage but misses.
McCraken on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
McCraken misses with a series of wild punches.
Danilov blocks a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McCraken dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Danilov. That did some damage!
McCraken connects with a body shot that sends Danilov's belly button to the back.
McCraken misses with a hook.
Danilov attempts a counter takedown but McCraken avoids it well and moves away.
McCraken throws a body shot but no joy.
Danilov throws a sloppy head kick and McCraken moves out of range easily.
McCraken scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Danilov throws a chopping leg kick but McCraken manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
McCraken is looking for the big counter here.
Danilov misses with a body shot
and McCraken cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dougal McCraken showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A jab from McCraken does it's job there.

Danilov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. McCraken looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Danilov scores with a couple of short elbows.
McCraken is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Danilov off and has taken his back!
McCraken not allowing Danilov to control his hands.
Danilov tries to escape but McCraken has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Danilov holding both McCraken 's hands and preventing any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A bit of a pause in the action here. McCraken controlling the positon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danilov turns into McCraken and is now in his guard.
Danilov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Danilov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Danilov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Danilov wants to pass the guard but McCraken is keeping the position.
McCraken not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Danilov wants to control from the top but McCraken keeps moving.
McCraken utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ruslan Danilov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCraken keeping full guard, as Danilov tries to pass.
McCraken controlling Danilov's posture.
McCraken trying to control the position.
McCraken looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Danilov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
McCraken manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Danilov manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCraken would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Danilov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McCraken defends it easily.
McCraken is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Danilov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McCraken defends well.
McCraken tries to free his leg and advance position but Danilov is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Danilov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McCraken would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McCraken cracks Danilov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A nice leg kick from McCraken, right into the meat of the thigh.
Danilov lands a nice leg kick that just misses McCraken's sensitive parts.
Danilov loads up on a big right hand but McCraken slips the punch.
Danilov throws a head kick but McCraken moves out of range.
McCraken let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Danilov takes a swing at McCraken's ribcage but misses.
McCraken blocks a low kick nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Danilov looks to land a right hand but McCraken moved out of range.
Danilov walks into a left hand.
Ruslan Danilov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCraken lands a nice looking body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dougal McCraken.
I've got McCraken winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dougal McCraken!
During a confident post fight interview, Dougal McCraken thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.