PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Craig Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Opele Fuimaono (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Opele Fuimaono has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Knight
vs
Fuimaono

160 cm
25
170 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

190 cm
26
168 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Craig Knight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Opele Fuimaono!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Knight shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Fuimaono's guard.
Knight really is a fat lump.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Fuimaono is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Knight is aware though and is defending well.
Knight tries to stand but Fuimaono is controlling from the bottom.

Fuimaono looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Knight trying to stand up but can't free himself from Fuimaono's guard.
Fuimaono looking for a sweep. Not yet Fuimaono, not yet.
Knight might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Knight wants to stand but Fuimaono is controlling his posture from full guard.
Fuimaono is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Knight trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuimaono looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Fuimaono working for a triangle but Knight defends it easily.

Fuimaono working for submissions but it's allowed Knight to get to half guard.

Fuimaono looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fuimaono looking for submissions off his back.
Fuimaono is looking for a sweep. Knight is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Knight wants to stand but Fuimaono has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Fuimaono is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Knight pulls his head out easily.

Knight decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Knight closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Knight tries to stand and escape but Fuimaono is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fuimaono is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Fuimaono manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Fuimaono throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Knight trying to stand up but can't free himself from Fuimaono's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fuimaono looking for subs off his back but Knight has passed one foot through into half guard.
Fuimaono moves into full guard.

Fuimaono has an active guard here but Knight has managed to pass into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knight prevents Fuimaono from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Craig Knight will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Fuimaono throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Fuimaono connects with a good right hand that stumbles Knight. Knight circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Knight decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Fuimaono looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Knight pushes past his half guard into mount!
Knight wants to stand but Fuimaono is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Fuimaono is trying to escape the mount.
Fuimaono keeps trying to improve his position.
Knight looking to control and managing it successfully.
Knight wants to stand but Fuimaono is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuimaono is looking to improve his position but Knight isn't that keen on the idea.

Knight stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Knight shoots in and gets a takedown into Fuimaono's guard.

Fuimaono working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Knight has passed into half guard!

Fuimaono actively working from the bottom here.

Fuimaono looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Fuimaono is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Knight decides to stand and escape the position.

Fuimaono gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Knight to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fuimaono has a closed guard, preventing Knight from standing up.

Fuimaono has an active guard here but Knight has managed to pass into half guard.
Knight seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Craig Knight overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knight stands up from half guard.

Knight shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Fuimaono's guard.

Fuimaono looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Knight has picked Fuimaono up and slammed him! Fuimaono can't keep hold of the triangle and Knight manages to pass to side control!
Knight wants to stand but Fuimaono has his arm trapped.
Fuimaono is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuimaono sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Knight seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Fuimaono wants to get back to full guard but Knight has mounted him!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knight controlling the pace for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knight prevents Fuimaono from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Knight dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Knight looking to score a takedown here. Fuimaono is defending well but Knight drives through and ends up in Fuimaono's guard.
Knight wants to stand and escape but instead Fuimaono has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Knight manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Fuimaono is trying to pull guard but Knight has him pressed against the cage.

Knight has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Fuimaono regains guard immediately.

Fuimaono has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Knight is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Fuimaono.

Knight decides to stand up, so the ref orders Fuimaono to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight tries to move into range but Fuimaono moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Craig Knight seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Knight scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Fuimaono looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Fuimaono takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Knight tries to stand but can't do so whilst Fuimaono controls his leg.

Fuimaono is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Knight pulls his head out easily.
It looks like Knight is going to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fuimaono is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Knight pulls his head out easily.
Knight tries to stand but can't do so whilst Fuimaono controls his leg.

Fuimaono looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Knight is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Fuimaono is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight tries to stand and escape but Fuimaono is controlling the position.
Fuimaono wants to improve his position but Knight is controlling well.

Fuimaono is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and Knight has latched onto it... Big trouble! Knight pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it Fuimaono is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from Knight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Craig Knight!