PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sanjay Craig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kieta Vivian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kieta Vivian will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Craig
vs
Vivian

163 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sanjay Craig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kieta Vivian!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Michael Johnstone and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Craig feints and as Vivian raises his hands in defense, Craig changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Vivian utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Craig 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.
Craig is looking to work some ground and pound but Vivian has wrist control.
Craig scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Vivian working for a triangle but Craig defends it easily.
Craig wants to control from the top but Vivian keeps moving.
Craig landing with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craig wants to pass the guard but Vivian is keeping the position.
Craig working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Vivian's head.
Craig cracks Vivian with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig passes Vivian's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Craig trying to control the action but Vivian is working from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Vivian manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Craig pushes down on Vivian's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Vivian wants to get back to his feet.
Craig lands with a punch from half guard.
Craig lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Craig misses with a head shot. Vivian uses the momentum to regain guard.

Craig avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craig is working Vivian over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Craig stands up over Vivian, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Craig scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Craig definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Craig stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vivian swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Craig might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Craig has gone for a leg lock! Vivian slips out almost immediately though and dives into Craig's guard.

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

This has been an exciting period of action!

Vivian working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Craig doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Craig manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig throws a strike but Vivian rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Vivian trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Vivian is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Vivian looks winded!
Craig has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Craig is on top in guard.

Craig scoring with punches to the head and body.
Craig postures up and lands a big shot to Vivian's brow.
Craig with a flurry of punches that miss.
Craig is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craig trying to control the position from guard on top but Vivian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Craig is in close to Vivian's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Craig postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Craig missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Craig scoring with punches to the head and body.
Craig scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Craig is looking to work some ground and pound but Vivian has wrist control.
Vivian utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Craig is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
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!
Craig advances position into side control!
Craig cracks Vivian with an elbow. That is naaassty.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sanjay Craig dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Craig scores with a takedown into Vivian's guard.
Vivian is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Craig dives into side control.

Craig working the ground and pound.
Craig sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Vivian is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Vivian is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Craig is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vivian has escaped the position, nice work there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craig wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vivian keeps working.
Craig scores with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig working the body and head with strikes.
Craig lands a decent elbow from side control.
Craig is trying to ground and pound but Vivian uses the momentary lack of control by Craig to regain half guard.

Vivian looking for submissions off his back.
Vivian is breathing heavily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Craig lands a nice short elbow.

Craig is working for a kimura but Vivian is defending it quite comfortably.
Nice strikes from Craig there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craig lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Vivian looking for submissions off his back.

Craig is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Vivian is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Craig pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vivian on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Craig is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Craig is trying to work for a kimura but Vivian is defending well.
Craig slips a nice elbow through Vivian's hands, connecting with Vivian's forehead.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Craig lands a nice short elbow.
Craig looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Vivian with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sanjay Craig overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Craig is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Vivian doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Craig.
Craig working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Craig there.
Vivian is trying to maintain the position but Craig is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Craig lands a nice short elbow.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Craig lands a nice short elbow.
Craig seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Vivian does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Craig is looking for a kimura but Vivian is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Craig to get the leverage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Craig scoring with strikes to the body and head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ground and pound from Craig.

Craig is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vivian has managed to free his arm - good work.
Craig landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sanjay Craig dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Vivian tries for a takedown but Craig sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Craig fails with a takedown attempt.
Vivian changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Vivian avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vivian drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Craig defends it well.

Craig looking to score a takedown here. Vivian is defending well but Craig drives through and ends up in Vivian's guard.
Vivian looking for a sweep. Not yet Vivian, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craig throws an elbow that misses. Vivian uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Craig's guard. Nice move by Vivian!

Craig could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Craig looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vivian is one step ahead there.
Vivian passes Craig's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig works his way to full guard. Good work.
Vivian trying to control but Craig is working from the bottom.
Vivian takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Craig seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Vivian looking to pass the guard.
Craig is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vivian can do to turn this around?
Craig managing to control the position.
Craig wants to sweep but no luck.
Craig bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vivian's guard.

Craig scoring with some ground and pound.
Craig cracks Vivian with a solid left hand.
Vivian keeping full guard, as Craig tries to pass.
Craig not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sanjay Craig is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Craig misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vivian.
Vivian feints the counter takedown.
Craig misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Vivian drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Craig defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Craig misses with a looping right.
And Vivian tries to counter it with a takedown but Craig pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Craig scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Craig slows the pace down.
Craig seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Vivian for as long as he can get away with.
Kieta Vivian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Craig's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Sanjay Craig showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Craig 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sanjay Craig!
A very excited looking Sanjay Craig 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.