PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Justin Craven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Villa Lobos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Villa Lobos has chosen Plug In Baby - Muse as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Craven
vs
Villa Lobos

187 cm
22
200 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

188 cm
24
186 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Justin Craven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Villa Lobos!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Dillan Fox and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Villa Lobos works the jab nicely.
Craven tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Villa Lobos was well out of range. Poor timing from Craven.
Villa Lobos just misses with a punch to the body.
Villa Lobos cracks a nice hook into Craven's ribs.
Craven looks to land a right hand but Villa Lobos moved out of range.
Villa Lobos scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Craven fails in his attempt to clinch.
Villa Lobos has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Craven is landing a low percentage of strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Craven gets caught napping as Villa Lobos dives in and scores a takedown. Craven manages to retain guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Villa Lobos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Villa Lobos thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Craven has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Villa Lobos can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Villa Lobos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Villa Lobos drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Villa Lobos jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Villa Lobos thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villa Lobos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Craven is keeping the position for now.

Villa Lobos has gone for a leg lock! Craven slips out almost immediately though and dives into Villa Lobos's guard.

Villa Lobos working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Craven doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Craven manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Villa Lobos is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Villa Lobos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craven passes Villa Lobos's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Villa Lobos is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Craven pulls his head out easily.
Craven is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Villa Lobos looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are battling for position here. Villa Lobos manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Villa Lobos looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Craven passes into side control.
Craven moves into full mount!
Villa Lobos manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Villa Lobos moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Craven avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Villa Lobos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Villa Lobos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Craven.

Villa Lobos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Craven wants to pass the guard but Villa Lobos is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Villa Lobos dominated that 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.

Craven fails to land with a series of punches.
Craven throws a hook but Villa Lobos avoids it easily.
Nice defenses there by Craven.
Villa Lobos slips a jab from Craven.

Villa Lobos rushes Craven and presses him up against the cage.
Villa Lobos drops down looking for an ankle pick but Craven pulls his leg out and moves away.
Craven slips under a jab.
Villa Lobos throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Craven throws a series of punches but Villa Lobos avoids them all with ease.
Justin Craven is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Craven misses with a combination
and Villa Lobos cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Craven walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Craven takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craven doesn't manage to clinch there - Villa Lobos circles away.
Villa Lobos just misses with a punch to the body.

Villa Lobos looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Craven seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Craven looking to control.
Villa Lobos wants to pass the guard but Craven is keeping the position.
Villa Lobos is looking to pass into half guard but Craven pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Craven is in guard.

Villa Lobos looking for subs off his back but Craven has passed one foot through into half guard.

Villa Lobos actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villa Lobos gets full guard.
Villa Lobos is looking to sweep but instead, Craven has passed into half guard.
Villa Lobos makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Villa Lobos.
Villa Lobos keeping moving, preventing Craven from controlling successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Villa Lobos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Craven trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Villa Lobos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Craven trying to control but Villa Lobos is working from the bottom.
Craven preventing the sweep.
Carlos Villa Lobos has got the better of the ground game so far.

Villa Lobos looking for a guillotine here but Craven defends easily.

Craven avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craven advances to half guard.
Villa Lobos is not content to let Craven control the position.

Craven moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Villa Lobos.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Craven goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Villa Lobos has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Craven but great work by Villa Lobos.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Villa Lobos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Craven tries to clinch but Villa Lobos is having none of it.
Villa Lobos fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Craven looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Craven swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Villa Lobos to counter with a crisp jab.
Villa Lobos lands a nice shot to the body.
Villa Lobos getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Villa Lobos uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Craven.
Villa Lobos throws a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Villa Lobos fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Craven to the ground. Villa Lobos is now in Craven's guard.

Villa Lobos drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Villa Lobos jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Villa Lobos looking to pass the guard.

Craven had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Villa Lobos defends it easily.
Villa Lobos makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villa Lobos is pushing down on Craven's leg trying to pass to half guard. Craven is fighting to maintain full guard but Villa Lobos has managed to sneak the leg through.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Villa Lobos is working for a kimura but Craven is defending it quite comfortably.

Villa Lobos is working for a submission of some sort.
Villa Lobos has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Villa Lobos is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Craven defends it well.

Villa Lobos is working for a submission of some sort.

Villa Lobos is working for an americana but Craven has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Villa Lobos was thinking about the submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villa Lobos connects with a couple of short punches.

Villa Lobos drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Craven manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Villa Lobos has Craven in his guard.
Craven forces his way into half guard.
Craven throwing shots but Villa Lobos is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villa Lobos is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Villa Lobos is pressing down on Craven's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Villa Lobos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Villa Lobos is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Craven got a little sloppy there for a moment and Villa Lobos has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Craven has managed to get both his arms back between Villa Lobos's legs - danger averted.

Villa Lobos throws his legs up looking for a submission but Craven uses it to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craven working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Craven wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Villa Lobos, who protects the arm well.
Villa Lobos is trying to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlos Villa Lobos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Villa Lobos has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlos Villa Lobos!
Carlos Villa Lobos spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.