PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eric Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lee Craig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eric Anderson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Anderson
vs
Craig

168 cm
18
151 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

172 cm
18
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Eric Anderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lee Craig!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Donald Grub and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Craig gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Craig has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Anderson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Craig missing with knees to the body.

Craig escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Craig fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craig misses with a body punch

and Anderson counters by moving into the clinch.

Anderson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Craig misses with a takedown attempt
and Anderson counters with a good, hard body kick but Craig shrugs it off.
Eric Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Craig.
Craig looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Anderson is fending him off so far but Craig persists. Nope, Anderson circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig misses with a takedown attempt

and Anderson moves into the clinch.
Craig looking to throw knees to the head but Anderson is blocking nicely.

Anderson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Craig fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Anderson avoids it really well and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Craig tries to pull guard but Anderson holds him up against the cage and eventually Craig drops back down to his feet.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Craig wants to get back to striking at distance but Anderson won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anderson manages to break the clinch.
Craig shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Anderson but Anderson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Craig shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Craig looks winded!
Craig wants to clinch up but Anderson keeps it at a distance.
Anderson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Craig fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Craig tries to close the distance and clinch up but Anderson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig wants to clinch.
Craig has his takedown stuffed

and Anderson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Craig won't be happy with that.
Anderson wants to stand but Craig has his arm trapped.
Anderson staying calm.
Anderson lands a few punches from side control.
Anderson moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Anderson is trying to get an arm triangle but Craig is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craig is looking to regain half guard here but Anderson keeps moving and retains side control.
Craig seems a little lost for a moment, as Anderson dominates the positioning.

Anderson decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Craig lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Craig tries to clinch but Anderson is having none of it.
Craig shoots and misses
and Anderson makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Craig really felt that one!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Anderson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Anderson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Craig to the mat! Craig manages to get full guard.
Craig has momentary wrist control but Anderson slips an elbow through the middle.
Anderson 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.

Anderson gets to his feet - Craig follows without any prompting.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anderson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Anderson counters with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Anderson defends it nicely.
Craig with a poor takedown

and Anderson moves into the clinch.
Craig is breathing heavily.

Anderson breaks the clinch.
Craig fails with a takedown attempt.
Eric Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Craig.
Anderson fails with a takedown attempt.
Anderson shoots for a takedown but Craig saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Craig dives in and grabs Anderson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Anderson pushes down on Craig's head and hops out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Anderson with that takedown attempt.

Craig closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Anderson to the mat! Anderson manages to get full guard.
Craig sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Anderson is adopting a defensive guard.
Craig trying to control the position from guard on top but Anderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson managing to control the position.
Craig trying to control the position from guard on top but Anderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anderson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Craig trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Craig tries to close the distance and clinch but Anderson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Anderson blocks a head kick by Craig.
Craig throws a leg kick but Anderson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Anderson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Anderson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Craig to the mat! Craig manages to get full guard.
Craig wants to sweep here but Anderson controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Anderson dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Craig lands with an overhand left.
Anderson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Craig throws a sloppy head kick and Anderson moves out of range easily.
Craig lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Eric Anderson has been cut.
Eric Anderson is winning the standup battle so far.

Craig clinches with his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craig is trying to break the clinch but Anderson is controlling him.
Craig is trying to maintain a safe position but Anderson gets an underhook and turns Craig into the cage.
Craig drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Craig - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Anderson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Craig can do to turn this around?
Craig takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Anderson breaks from the clinch.

Craig gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Anderson throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anderson wants to control from the top but Craig keeps moving.
Anderson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Craig looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Anderson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Craig's head.
Craig not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Anderson tries to stand but Craig is controlling from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Anderson stays in close to Craig's body and controls the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Craig fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A head kick misses from Craig.
Craig looks to throw a body kick
and Anderson counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson shoots for a takedown but Craig saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Anderson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Craig manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Anderson swats away the attempt to clinch by Craig.

Anderson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Craig is trying to defend but Anderson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Anderson slows the pace down in half guard.
Anderson tries to pass to full mount but Craig defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Anderson decides to stand and escape the position.
Anderson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Craig.
Craig shoots in but no luck this time.
Eric Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Craig.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Anderson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Craig!
Lee Craig has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Eric Anderson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Anderson stands up and beckons Craig to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Anderson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Anderson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Anderson!