PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antwan Craig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Jr Rabago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Adam Jr Rabago has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Antwan Craig's chin.

Craig
vs
Jr Rabago

177 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Antwan Craig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Adam Jr Rabago!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Craig clinches up with Rabago and pushes him back against the cage.
Craig stalling against the cage.
Craig wants to take the fight to the mat but Rabago manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Craig leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rabago is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rabago misses with a hook from the clinch.

Craig lands a takedown into guard.
Rabago keeping moving, preventing Craig from controlling successfully.
Craig throwing strikes but missing.
Rabago can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Craig controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Antwan Craig wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Good standup being displayed there by Rabago as he connects with a hook.
Rabago swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Craig looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rabago is fending him off so far but Craig persists. Nope, Rabago circles away and we're back to standing.
Sloppy strikes from Rabago. Those never looked like landing.
Craig misses with a takedown attempt - Rabago sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antwan Craig. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Craig is looking to clinch.
Rabago throws a series of punches but Craig moves out of range.
Craig uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rabago.
Craig tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rabago was well out of range. Poor timing from Craig.
Rabago slips a jab and a cross from Craig.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabago misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Craig scores with a takedown into Rabago's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Craig pushing down on Rabago's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Antwan Craig.
Rabago misses with the combination.
Craig tries to clinch up.
The fighters circle momentarily. Rabago darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sloppy strikes from Rabago. Those never looked like landing.
Rabago throws out a powerful jab.
Rabago scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rabago will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Adam Jr Rabago is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rabago connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Craig momentarily.
Craig slips a jab and a cross from Rabago.
Rabago misses with a double jab.
Rabago looks winded!
Rabago misses with a series of wild punches.
Craig connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Craig has managed to clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Craig - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Rabago tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rabago has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rabago misses with some punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Craig blocking some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antwan Craig dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rabago moves out of range as Craig throws a body kick.
Rabago looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Craig is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Rabago swinging wildly here.
Craig looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rabago is fending him off so far but Craig persists. Nope, Rabago circles away and we're back to standing.
Craig shoots in for a takedown but Rabago shows good takedown defense.
Rabago throws a series of punches but Craig avoids them all with ease.
Craig fails in his attempt to clinch.
Craig slips a jab and a cross from Rabago.
Rabago misses with the combination.
Rabago has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Craig dodges the punch combination from Rabago.
Rabago is breathing heavily.
Rabago bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Craig's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabago rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Craig moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rabago throws an overhand right that lands on Craig's shoulder, as Craig tries to avoid the shot.
Craig fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antwan Craig. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Craig rushes Rabago and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Craig pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Craig's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rabago connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Craig scrambles back to his feet.
Rabago throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Craig looks for a takedown but Rabago sprawls well.

Craig gets a takedown into half guard.
Rabago is staying active underneath Craig, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rabago 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 two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Craig lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Craig seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rabago does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Craig missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Antwan Craig has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Craig fails with the takedown.
Rabago misses with a double jab.
Rabago throws a combination. Craig tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Craig throws a half hearted mid kick.
Craig tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rabago manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rabago lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Craig backs up against the cage.

Craig drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Craig chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rabago is looking to stand up but Craig isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craig sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rabago can do anything to dispel that myth.

We're going to have a standup here because Antwan Craig wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Craig tries to clinch but Rabago moves out of range.
Rabago throws a nice looking combination but Craig bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rabago throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Craig.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rabago misses with an uppercut. Craig saw that one coming.

Craig clinches with his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Craig gets a trip takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antwan Craig dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Rabago circles away from the clinch attempt.
Adam Jr Rabago seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rabago avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rabago misses with a two punch combination.

Craig looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Craig prevents Rabago from standing back up.
Craig winds up and cracks Rabago with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Craig looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rabago with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rabago takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rabago won't allow Craig to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig is keen to just control but Rabago is a slippery customer.

Craig decides to return to a standing position.
Rabago fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Craig gets a double leg takedown into Rabago's guard.
Craig wants to stand but Rabago has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Craig drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Craig seems to have locked his on tight now - Rabago screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Craig, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Antwan Craig!