PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Craft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Pushkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frankie Craft has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Craft
vs
Pushkin

182 cm
18
177 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

185 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frankie Craft!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Pushkin!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Craft enables Pushkin to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Craft manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Craft looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pushkin wants to control from the top but Craft keeps moving.
Pushkin prevents Craft from getting back to his feet.
Pushkin wants to stand and escape but instead Craft has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Craft throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Craft seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Pushkin working for submissions but it's allowed Craft to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craft seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Pushkin is trying to control but Craft manages to pass to mount!
Pushkin wants to try and get back to his feet.
Craft landing shots from mount.
Craft controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pushkin is looking to improve his position but Craft isn't that keen on the idea.
Pushkin is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Craft with the ground and pound from mount.
Craft content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craft blocks Pushkin's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Pushkin is looking to improve his position but Craft isn't that keen on the idea.
Pushkin wants to hold on but Craft pushes him away.
Pushkin is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Pushkin that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Craft breaks from Pushkin's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Pushkin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Craft takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Craft lands a couple of good shots and Pushkin has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pushkin tries to escape but Craft has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Craft is landing with strikes from the back.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Pushkin is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Craft dominated that 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.

Craft misses with a hook.
Pushkin fails in his attempt to clinch.

Pushkin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Pushkin looking to control but instead Craft has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pushkin blocks the strikes from Craft.

Craft is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pushkin pulls his head out easily.
Pushkin misses with a head shot. Craft uses the momentum to regain guard.
Craft wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craft bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pushkin's guard.
Craft controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

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

Pushkin looking for a kimura from the bottom but Craft passes into side control!
Pushkin throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Craft trying to control the action but Pushkin is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craft happy to just control the position for now.
Pushkin is looking for a sweep.
Craft scores with punches from side control.
Craft is looking to take a break and control but Pushkin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pushkin is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Craft asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Pushkin tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Craft presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Craft landing strikes from the mount and Pushkin is in trouble!
Craft avoids the attempt from Pushkin to control.
Craft looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craft breaks from Pushkin's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Craft is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Pushkin can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
A nice elbow there by Craft.
Pushkin wants to control but Craft is having none of it.
Craft scoring with strikes but Pushkin is staying in there.
Pushkin is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Craft connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Craft connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Pushkin can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Craft dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Pushkin is looking to clinch.
Pushkin tries to clinch but Craft is having none of it.
Pushkin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pushkin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Craft connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Craft avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pushkin closes the distance but Craft moves to the side
and Craft counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Pushkin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Craft gets a clinch.
Pushkin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Craft drags the fight down to the ground.

Craft looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pushkin wants to stand and escape but instead Craft has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craft trying to control but Pushkin is working from the bottom.
Craft sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Pushkin looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Craft passes into half guard.
Craft slips a nice elbow through Pushkin's hands, connecting with Pushkin's forehead.
Frankie Craft overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Craft seems content to control.
Pushkin tries to roll over but Craft keeps him under control.
Craft perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Pushkin trying to get back to full guard but Craft takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Craft controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pushkin wants to hold on but Craft pushes him away.
Craft controlling the pace for now.
Alexander Pushkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pushkin is wriggling around trying to escape.
Craft 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.
Pushkin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Craft tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pushkin tries to buck Craft off but he can't manage it.
Pushkin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Craft avoids the attempt from Pushkin to control.
Craft trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Craft controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frankie Craft showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Craft, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frankie Craft!