PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Russ Ramford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Craven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Justin Craven will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Ramford
vs
Craven

191 cm
26
195 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

187 cm
21
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Zombie Nutrition - LOD

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Russ Ramford!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Justin Craven!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksandr Martynov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ramford tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Craven was well out of range. Poor timing from Ramford.
A punch combination from Ramford misses.
Ramford moves in looking to clinch but Craven pushes him off.
Ramford tries to clinch but Craven moves out of range.
Ramford tries to close the distance and clinch but Craven swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ramford leaves Craven with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Craven gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Craven takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Craven fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Craven is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ramford can't find room to land a body shot as Craven controls the action.
Craven tries to work over Ramford's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ramford has Craven pressed against the cage.
Ramford is trying to maintain a safe position but Craven gets an underhook and turns Ramford into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramford working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Craven.
Craven pressing his opponent against the cage.
Craven tries to pull guard but Ramford holds him up against the cage and eventually Craven drops back down to his feet.
Russ Ramford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Craven.
Craven tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ramford smiles and moves away.

Craven gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ramford struggles to land a body shot inside as Craven controls his hands.
Craven is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ramford is keeping busy.
Ramford leaning against his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Craven manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Craven pulls Ramford in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Craven is trying to control the position but Ramford postures up.
Craven preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ramford controls from within his opponent's guard.

Craven throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ramford looking to sit in guard and control but Craven gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Craven trying to control the position from guard on top but Ramford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ramford's guard.
Craven pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ramford is keeping the position for now.
Craven sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ramford has a closed guard, preventing Craven from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Justin Craven hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Ramford has Craven up against the cage in a clinch.
Craven is struggling to control the position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ramford misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ramford leaning his opponent against the cage.
Craven can't break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Craven is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Craven dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ramford misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Craven thuds a left hand into Ramford's body.

Craven shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ramford manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Craven would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ramford pulls Craven in close to prevent any damage.
Craven trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Ramford manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Craven had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ramford defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craven trying to control the position.
Craven is adopting a defensive guard.

Craven escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ramford gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Ramford avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Craven looking for a sweep. Not yet Craven, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramford looking to sit in guard and control but Craven gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Craven in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ramford controlling Craven's posture.
Craven postures up in Ramford's guard and throws a big left but Ramford blocks it.
Ramford trying to keep a closed guard but Craven is proving a slippery customer.
Craven stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ramford swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven advances position into side control!
Craven tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Ramford seems a little lost for a moment, as Craven dominates the positioning.
You can see the frustration on Ramford's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ramford prevents Craven from improving position.

Craven is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ramford is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Ramford struggling a bit here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Craven throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Craven is working to tighten his grip on Ramford's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Ramford has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Craven is really squeezing tight and eventually Ramford passes out! Craven breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Justin Craven!
Justin Craven is the new middleweight champion!
A very excited looking Justin Craven made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.