PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Andrey Lapis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Destin Craven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lapis kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Once Solemn . Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lapis
vs
Craven

178 cm
23
185 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

173 cm
30
184 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Lapis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Destin Craven!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lapis blocks a head kick by Craven.

Lapis looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Lapis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Craven looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Craven keeps trying to improve his position.
Lapis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lapis is stalling in the full guard.
Lapis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapis 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.

We're going to have a standup here because Andrey Lapis wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Lapis shoots for a double leg takedown but Craven sprawls well. He's pushed Lapis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lapis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Craven.

Craven rushes Lapis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Craven lands an elbow just above Lapis 's eye.
Lapis tries to pull guard but Craven won't allow it.
Craven misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lapis.
Lapis tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrey Lapis. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Craven breaks the clinch.
Craven fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Lapis on the side of the head.

Craven closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Craven lands in his opponent's guard.
Craven engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Craven works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapis is trying to control but can't.

Craven seems to be looking for submissions.
Lapis trying to control but Craven postures up.
Lapis is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Lapis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Craven pulls his head out easily.
Craven trying to pass the guard but Lapis defending well.
Lapis keeping hold of Craven's head, controlling as best he can.
Craven seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lapis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapis is pressing down on Craven's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Lapis looking for a guillotine here but Craven defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lapis trying to control the position here.
Lapis keeping moving, preventing Craven from controlling successfully.
Craven is fighting to break Lapis's control of his arms but Lapis is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Craven told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

Lapis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Craven is aware though and is defending well.
Craven postures up.

Lapis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Lapis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Craven is aware though and is defending well.

Lapis has his foot on Craven's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Craven works his way back into a safe position though.
Craven must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Craven trying to control but Lapis is working from the bottom.
Craven engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Craven got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lapis has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Craven has managed to get both his arms back between Lapis's legs - danger averted.
Lapis pulls Craven in close to prevent any damage.
Lapis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lapis keeping full guard, as Craven tries to pass.
Lapis can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Craven controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Lapis dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Craven throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Lapis ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Craven moves away.
Lapis walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Craven throws a leg kick which misses Lapis's front leg but catches the back leg as Lapis tries to avoid it.
Lapis throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Craven's waist but Craven gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lapis off to one side.
Lapis blocks a head kick by Craven.
Lapis looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Craven throws a series of strikes that have Lapis backpedaling.

Craven gets tackled into the cage by Lapis. Lapis maintains the clinch.
Lapis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Craven just stands there and leans against the cage.

Craven breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Andrey Lapis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Craven clinches up with Lapis and pushes him back against the cage.

Craven breaks the clinch.
Lapis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Craven sprawls well. Craven wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lapis gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrey Lapis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Craven slips under a jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Craven stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Craven wants it to stay on the feet.
Craven scoring well with a low kick there.

Craven rushes Lapis and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Craven pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lapis blocks a head kick by Craven.
Lapis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Craven sprawls well. Craven wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lapis gets slowly back to his feet.
Craven connects with an inside leg kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Lapis scores with a four punch combination!
Craven throws a head kick but Lapis moves out of range.
Craven lands a head kick. Lapis smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Lapis drives through with a takedown into Craven's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Craven is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lapis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Lapis wants to control from the top but Craven keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lapis being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Lapis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Craven swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Craven closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Craven is taking a breather. Lapis says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Lapis actively working from the bottom here.
Lapis is trying to maintain the position but Craven is very close to passing his half guard.
Lapis is staying active underneath Craven, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Craven really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lapis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Lapis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Craven wants to work for an arm triangle but Lapis is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven trying to control from half guard but Lapis is working away.
Craven perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Craven thows a huge punch but Lapis dodges it nicely.

Lapis looking for submissions off his back.

Lapis looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Craven wants to take a breather but Lapis is having none of it.
Craven wants to pass the guard but Lapis is defending well.
Craven throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Andrey Lapis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Craven wants to control but Lapis is keeping him busy.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Lapis trying to hold on to Craven's head to control him but Craven postures up.
Craven controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lapis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Craven is working away from the top position though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lapis.

Craven moves into range and clinches up with Lapis.

Lapis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lapis looks to land a combination. Craven sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lapis punishes Craven's body with a nice straight punch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Craven darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Craven seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lapis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Craven trying to control the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Destin Craven 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!

Lapis stuns Craven with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Craven gets the takedown into side control.
Craven trying to control the action but Lapis is working from the bottom.
Craven tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Craven is trying to get an arm triangle but Lapis is defending well.
Lapis is trying to improve his position.
Lapis struggling a bit here.
Craven trying to control the action but Lapis is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapis manages to work his way to half guard, despite Craven's best efforts.
Lapis tries to roll over but Craven keeps him under control.
Craven is controlling the pace.
Lapis taking some punishment here, with Craven in his half guard.
Lapis trying to control here.
Lapis is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Craven's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Craven's back!
Craven is really stuck here.

Craven wants to get back to his feet. He's half way up but Lapis drags him back down with a jolt, managing to get his forearm deep under Craven 's chin! Craven is in real trouble! His face is turning bright red and he's forced to tap! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Andrey Lapis!
Our winner, Andrey Lapis, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.