PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Craig Rave (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Konstantin Khavin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rave comes into the arena with What Happened? blaring out of the sound system. This should be a great matchup!

Rave
vs
Khavin

185 cm
34
193 lbs
25 - 17 - 0

196 cm
34
194 lbs
27 - 16 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Craig Rave!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Konstantin Khavin!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khavin fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rave checks it well.

Rave throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Khavin tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rave is in Khavin's guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Khavin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Khavin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rave might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rave lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rave throws a big right hand that misses.
Rave scoring with some ground and pound.
Khavin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rave postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Khavin keeping moving, preventing Rave from controlling successfully.
Rave is really struggling to control Khavin but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Khavin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khavin keeping moving, preventing Rave from controlling successfully.
Khavin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rave.
Rave loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rave trying to control but Khavin is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Craig Rave just wasn't active enough.
Rave avoids the head kick by Khavin.
Rave moves out of range of the body kick.

Rave shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Rave was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rave trying to control the position but Khavin is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khavin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Khavin taking a bit of punishment here - Rave scoring with strikes.
Rave is looking to take a break and control but Khavin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rave looking to control but instead Khavin has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Khavin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rave.
Rave is pressing down on Khavin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Khavin is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khavin is not content to let Rave control the position.
Khavin is looking to control Rave's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Khavin avoid being mounted?

Rave is looking for a kimura here.
Khavin is staying active underneath Rave, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Khavin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rave.
Rave thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Khavin's head.

Rave wants to work for an arm triangle but Khavin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rave looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khavin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rave is working away from the top position though.
Rave wants to lay and pray for a moment but Khavin keeps working.
Khavin wants to get back to full guard.
Rave lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Rave is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Khavin is just riding it out for now. Rave eventually gives up the hold.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rave passes to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Rave dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rave swinging wildly here.
Khavin misses with a kick to the body

and Rave counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Craig Rave overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Khavin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rave connects with a couple of short punches.
Rave postures up in Khavin's guard and throws a big left but Khavin blocks it.
Our spies down at at Extreme MMA (4 Elites $250/week) inform us that Khavin has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rave accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rave throws an elbow that misses. Khavin uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rave's guard. Nice move by Khavin!
Rave wants to sweep but no luck.
Rave keeping moving, preventing Khavin from controlling successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rave looking to control but Khavin passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Khavin in particular looking to stall.
Rave has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rave trying to control here.
Rave regains full guard. Nicely done.
Khavin trying to control but Rave is working from the bottom.
Khavin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rave has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Khavin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rave is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Khavin defends well.
Rave is trying to control the position but Khavin postures up.
Rave wants to improve his position but instead Khavin has moved into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khavin scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rave is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Khavin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Khavin's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rave looking to break Khavin's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Khavin remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Rave will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Rave struggling to keep hold of the position.

Rave is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Khavin wants to control his opponent's hands but Rave gets his hands free.

Khavin defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Rave's arms.
Rave gets his hands free as Khavin looks to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Khavin fending off the submission attempt from Rave.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rave has got his arm under Khavin's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Khavin has spun round into Rave's guard beautifully! Well done that man!

Rave looking for a guillotine here but Khavin defends easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Khavin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Rave dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Khavin throws a wild body kick that Rave sees coming a mile off.
Khavin lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Khavin swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rave shoots in but no luck this time.
Khavin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Rave looking to score a takedown here. Khavin is defending well but Rave drives through and ends up in Khavin's guard.
We've been hearing that Rave has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Rave makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rave controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rave trying to control the position from guard on top but Khavin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khavin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rave slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The strikes coming from Rave are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khavin pushes Rave away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rave gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Rave working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Khavin prevents Rave from improving position.

Rave goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Khavin rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rave's guard! Nice work there by Khavin!

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

Rave has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Khavin 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 Rave.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rave is trying to get back to half guard.
Rave throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Rave is looking for a sweep.
Rave is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khavin decides to stand back up. Khavin steps back and let's Rave get back to his feet.
Khavin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Khavin throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rave.
Khavin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rave is looking to clinch.
Khavin looks to score with a jab to the body but Rave is just out of range.
Khavin lands a really nice looking cross but Rave seems unphased.
A head kick misses from Khavin.
Rave blocks the body kick.
Rave shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Khavin as he jumps to the side.
Khavin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rave manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Craig Rave is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Konstantin Khavin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Khavin clinches.
Khavin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Khavin tries to throw a body punch but Rave avoids it by throwing Khavin back against the cage.
Konstantin Khavin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Khavin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rave is defending well for now.

Rave pulls guard successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rave is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rave trying to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Khavin stands up and waves to Rave to follow him.
Danga de danga de dang - Khavin scores with a four punch combination!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Konstantin Khavin.
I think Rave has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Rave!
After winning the bout, Craig Rave thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.