PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Justin Craven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). William Johnson has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Craven
vs
Johnson

187 cm
24
200 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

186 cm
29
202 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 - 6 - 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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, William Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Aleksandr Martynov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Craven manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Craven wants to sweep but no luck.
Craven can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Johnson controls the pace.
Johnson won't allow Craven to sweep him here.
Craven is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnson trying to control but Craven is working from the bottom.
Johnson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Johnson tries to free his leg and advance position but Craven is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Johnson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Craven is proving hard to escape from.
Johnson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Craven. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Craven is keeping the position.
Johnson controlling from the top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Craven as he jumps to the side.
Craven looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Craven fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnson, pushing him back against the cage.
Johnson can't get the takedown.

Craven jumps guard and drags Johnson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Johnson stands up from Craven's guard - Johnson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Justin Craven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Johnson.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Craven sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Craven has taken the fight to the clinch.
Johnson is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Craven.

Craven manages to pull guard.
Johnson wanted to stand there but Craven had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Craven is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Craven looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Craven looking for a sweep. Not yet Craven, not yet.
Craven looking to control.

Craven looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Craven is keeping the position.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Craven escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Craven holds on and takes a little breather.
Johnson 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.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson trying to control but Craven is working from the bottom.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Craven won't let him.
Johnson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Craven is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Johnson wants to stand up but Craven is controlling him.
Craven controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Craven stands and throws Johnson's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Craven thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Craven wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Johnson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Craven has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Craven 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.

Johnson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Craven swivels and escapes.

Johnson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Craven manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Johnson trying to control but Craven is working from the bottom.
Craven is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Craven not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Craven is trying to control the action in half guard but Johnson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craven prevents Johnson from standing back up.
Craven is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Craven stands up and beckons Johnson to join him on the feet.
Johnson fails with the takedown
and Craven counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson shoots for a takedown but Craven saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Justin Craven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Johnson.
Johnson is trying to force a seperation but Craven has the dominant position.
Johnson is trying to stall.
Johnson is looking to break free of the clinch but Craven has double underhooks.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Craven takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Johnson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Craven after a bit of a struggle.
Johnson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Johnson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Craven pulls guard.
Johnson stays in close to Craven's body and controls the position.

Craven is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johnson defends well.
Craven is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Johnson can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Craven keeps moving.

Craven escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Craven manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnson manages to get himself to full guard.

Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Craven is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Justin Craven overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Craven trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Craven is really struggling to control Johnson but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson keeping full guard, as Craven tries to pass.
Johnson being controlled here, momentarily.
Craven trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Craven stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Johnson is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Craven ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Craven no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Johnson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johnson showed some decent athleticism there.
Johnson is stalling here. Craven is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Johnson seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Craven has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Johnson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Craven tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Craven has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Johnson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Craven has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Craven just content to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Craven dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
Craven seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Craven wants to clinch.
Craven fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Johnson goes for a double leg but Craven avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Craven continues to drive forward.
Johnson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Justin Craven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Johnson.
Johnson shoots in for a double leg but Craven sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Craven appears to be looking for a big counter.
Johnson darts in looking for a takedown but Craven gets double underhooks and turns Johnson into the cage.
Craven doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Craven has Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Craven manages to get underhooks.

Craven jumps guard and drags Johnson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Craven had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Johnson defends it easily.
Craven has control of Johnson's left arm, preventing Johnson from doing any damage.
Johnson tries to stand but Craven is controlling from the bottom.
Johnson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Craven looking to hit a scissor sweep but Johnson is one step ahead there.
Craven is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Johnson pushes Craven off looking to stand but Craven dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craven looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Craven is trying to work for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson tries to kick Craven off but Craven keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Johnson is staying active underneath Craven, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Johnson is looking to escape.

Craven is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Craven stops Johnson from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven is trying to control. Johnson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Johnson drops his hands momentarily and Craven takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Johnson tries for a takedown but Craven circles away easily
letting Craven counter with a right hand.
Johnson dives in for a single leg takedown but Craven sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A little feinted left hand from Craven on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Johnson with a poor takedown
and Craven counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Craven shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Craven clinches up against the cage.

Craven pulls guard effortlessly.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Craven is on top in guard.

Craven prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.
Craven 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.
Craven stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craven controlling from the top position.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Craven isn't so interested in that idea.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Craven controlling from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Craven showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Craven 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:26
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Craven!
A very excited looking Justin Craven made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.