PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Destin Craven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Milan Vukovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vukovic comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Yellow Claw - DJ Turn It Up kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Milan Vukovic will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Craven
vs
Vukovic

178 cm
19
170 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
195 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Pitt Nutrition 160Q!
Lion Fightwear

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 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Destin Craven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Milan Vukovic!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Ryoma Takatsuka and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Craven takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Craven lands a nice hook to Vukovic's body. Vukovic takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Vukovic pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Craven back to the cage. Vukovic follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Craven jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Craven jabs at Vukovic's body.
Vukovic fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Craven checks it well.
Craven gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Vukovic shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Craven pinned against the cage. Craven gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Vukovic walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
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!
Vukovic darts in looking for a takedown but Craven gets double underhooks and turns Vukovic into the cage.
Vukovic throws a hook but Craven avoids it easily.
Vukovic just misses with a punch to the body.
Vukovic uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Craven.
Vukovic is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Craven scores with a takedown into Vukovic's guard.
Craven advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craven trying to control the position but Vukovic is working away.
Craven tries to move to mount but Vukovic blocks the move with his legs.
Vukovic 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.
Vukovic is not content to let Craven control the position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Vukovic parries the strikes from Craven easily there. Craven is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Vukovic to escape.

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!
Craven misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Craven is looking to take a break and control but Vukovic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
An elbow from Craven crashes against the mat.
Vukovic prevents Craven from improving position.

Craven looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Vukovic defending against the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vukovic can do anything to dispel that myth.
Craven postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Craven tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The strikes coming from Craven are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Craven trying to control the action but Vukovic is working from the bottom.
Craven is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Vukovic is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Craven working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Craven throws an elbow but Vukovic slips to the side and avoids it well.
Craven is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Craven thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Craven wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vukovic, who protects the arm well.
Craven 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.

Craven is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vukovic is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vukovic is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Some wild striking there from Craven.
Vukovic shoots in looking for a takedown but Craven manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Vukovic's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Craven looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Craven checks a leg kick nicely.
Craven avoids the body shot from Vukovic.
Vukovic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vukovic fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Vukovic throws a body shot but no joy.
Vukovic throws a body punch but Craven moves out of range.
Vukovic connects with a body shot that sends Craven's belly button to the back.
Craven has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Vukovic finds it's way round the side to connect with Craven's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Craven misses.
Milan Vukovic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Craven goes for a double leg but Vukovic avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Vukovic continues to drive forward.
Vukovic cracks Craven with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Vukovic circles away from the clinch attempt.

Craven gets tackled into the cage by Vukovic. Vukovic maintains the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Craven can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Craven.
Craven lands a good knee to the midsection. Vukovic won't want to take too many of those.
A shot in the inside from Craven.
Vukovic blocks a body shot from Craven.
Craven lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Vukovic backwards.
Vukovic lands a left hand.

Craven is rocked!
Craven is trying to drag Vukovic to the mat but Vukovic just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Oh Craven is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Destin Craven. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head punch on the inside from Vukovic fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vukovic.
Vukovic misses with some punches.
Vukovic creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Vukovic misses with some punches.
Vukovic has a couple of punches blocked by Craven.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vukovic.
Vukovic fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vukovic misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Vukovic fails to land.
Vukovic misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vukovic misses with some punches.
Craven blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vukovic misses with a hook from the clinch.
Craven blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vukovic misses with the head strike.
Vukovic working aggressively here.
Vukovic throws a punch but it's blocked by Craven.
Milan Vukovic seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Craven is trying to drag Vukovic to the mat but Vukovic just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Craven misses with a short punch on the inside.
Craven blocks an elbow strike.
Craven seems to have got his legs back now.

Craven pulls guard successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craven is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Craven might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Vukovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Craven is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Craven wants to sweep here but Vukovic controlling him for the moment.
Craven manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vukovic manages to get himself to full guard.

Craven stays in close to Vukovic's body and controls the position.
Craven tries to free his leg and advance position but Vukovic is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven wants to control from the top but Vukovic keeps moving.
Craven works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Vukovic avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Craven.
Craven content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Craven is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Vukovic is just riding it out for now. Craven eventually gives up the hold.

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

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.
Vukovic avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Craven.
Destin Craven overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vukovic is positioning himself well to prevent Craven advancing to mount.

Craven is trying to work for a kimura but Vukovic is defending well.

Craven is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vukovic has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Milan Vukovic 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Craven takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Vukovic slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Vukovic is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Craven goes for a double leg but Vukovic avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Vukovic continues to drive forward.
Craven misses with a straight right.
Vukovic drops Craven with a big left hand! Craven is injured, injured bad! Vukovic jumps in and finished him with strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Milan Vukovic!
Milan Vukovic bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.