PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Clifton Craft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rakka Haibane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Craft
vs
Haibane

183 cm
22
140 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

165 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Clifton Craft!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rakka Haibane!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Craft looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Haibane is fending him off so far but Craft persists. Nope, Haibane circles away and we're back to standing.
Craft fails with the takedown
and Haibane cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Craft fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Haibane avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clifton Craft. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Haibane throws a series of punches but Craft moves out of range.

Haibane closes the distance and clinches.
Haibane is pushing Craft up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Haibane connects with a nice short shot to Craft's temple.
Haibane controlling the pace.
It looks like Haibane might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Haibane seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Haibane perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Haibane looks to land a strike but Craft avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Haibane has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Craft striking off his back but it's not causing Haibane any problems.
Haibane is stalling in the full guard.
Craft really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two 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.
Let's hope that Haibane has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Haibane passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Craft tries to buck Haibane off but Haibane is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haibane laying and praying for a moment but Craft takes advantage and regains half guard.
Haibane not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haibane is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Craft manages to get to full guard.
Craft keeping full guard, as Haibane tries to pass.
Haibane is stalling in the full guard.

Craft is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Haibane defends well.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Haibane is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Craft is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Craft has escaped and now he's on top!

Craft is looking to stand up but Haibane won't let him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Craft prevents Haibane from getting back to his feet.
Craft postures up and lands a big shot to Haibane's brow.
Haibane avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Haibane throws a combination that misses
and Craft cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Craft shoots in but no luck this time.
Haibane leaves Craft with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Haibane misses the shot to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Haibane.
Craft takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Haibane leaves Craft with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Haibane only half commits to the counter leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clifton Craft. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haibane throws out a loose jab but Craft uses good head movement to avoid it.

Haibane shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Craft napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haibane fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haibane blocks the strikes from Craft.
Craft sneaks back into half guard.
Haibane perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Craft wants to control but Haibane is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Haibane is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Haibane wants to pass the guard but Craft is defending well.
Haibane is breathing heavily.
Haibane stalling.
Haibane looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Haibane is working for a submission of some sort.
Craft is staying active underneath Haibane, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Craft tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Clifton Craft is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Craft fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Craft shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craft shoots in for a takedown but Haibane shows good takedown defense.
Haibane defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Craft.

Haibane gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Craft to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Haibane kicks Craft off and gets to his feet.

Haibane feints and as Craft raises his hands in defense, Haibane changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Craft wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Haibane is now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Haibane seems to be working for a kimura but Craft defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haibane looks to land a strike but Craft avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Craft strikes from his own guard.
Craft is trying to control the position but Haibane postures up.
Craft keeping moving, preventing Haibane from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Craft is looking to stand up but Haibane isn't so interested in that idea.
Haibane trying to control but Craft is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rakka Haibane showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! 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.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Craft is defended easily by Haibane.

Haibane shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Craft is wriggling around but Haibane manages to pass to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Haibane trying to control from half guard but Craft is working away.
Ground and pound from Haibane.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haibane trying to control from half guard but Craft is working away.
Craft is looking to improve his position.
Haibane is looking to pass Craft's guard but actually Craft recovers to full guard.
Haibane has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Haibane takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Craft can't keep his opponent in guard - Haibane advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Craft is not content to let Haibane control the position.

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.
Haibane tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Craft.
Craft is refusing to be controlled, as Haibane sits in half guard.
Rakka Haibane has got the better of the ground game so far.
Haibane wants to stand up but Craft manages to regain full guard.
Craft is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Haibane throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craft keeping full guard, as Haibane tries to pass.
Haibane looking to sit in guard and control but Craft gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Craft postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Haibane is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Craft, into his guard.

Haibane slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haibane throws an elbow that misses. Craft uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Haibane's guard. Nice move by Craft!

Craft will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Haibane is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rakka Haibane is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Craft is looking to work some ground and pound but Haibane has wrist control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Craft thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Craft is looking to stand up but Haibane won't let him.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rakka Haibane.
Well Haibane has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rakka Haibane!