PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Will Craig (ranked 5301 p4p, 517 weight class) and Giuseppe Cuccureddu (ranked 5466 p4p, 525 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Craig
vs
Cuccureddu

190 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

The Juice

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Will Craig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Giuseppe Cuccureddu!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Reed Andrews and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cuccureddu avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cuccureddu feints the counter takedown.
Craig looks to land a combination but Cuccureddu avoids it well.
Craig's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Craig duly obliges.
Cuccureddu checks the leg kick nicely there.
Craig lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Craig.

It looks like Giuseppe Cuccureddu has been cut.
Craig misses with a few strikes there.
Sloppy strikes from Craig. Those never looked like landing.
Cuccureddu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Craig thows a leg kick but Cuccureddu checks it

and Cuccureddu counters with a nice double leg into side control. Craig won't be happy with that.

Craig bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cuccureddu throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Craig was covering up waiting for the punch and Cuccureddu finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Cuccureddu passes Craig's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cuccureddu controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cuccureddu is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Craig is trying to escape back to his feet but Cuccureddu uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Cuccureddu slows the pace down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig prevents Cuccureddu from improving position.
A lull in the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Craig dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Giuseppe Cuccureddu's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Craig throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cuccureddu.
Craig pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Cuccureddu back to the cage. Craig follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Craig is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cuccureddu can do to turn this around?
Craig lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Cuccureddu is rocked!
Craig swinging wildly here.
Cuccureddu with the counter takedown but Craig avoids it easily.
Cuccureddu is still on wobbly legs! Can Craig finish him?
Cuccureddu dodges the punch combination from Craig.
Cuccureddu seems to have recovered his senses.
Will Craig seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craig throws a right and a left that Cuccureddu avoids nicely.
Craig throws a leg kick

and Cuccureddu counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cuccureddu.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cuccureddu sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Cuccureddu advances to half guard.
Cuccureddu seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Cuccureddu's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Cuccureddu is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Craig is trying to stand.

Cuccureddu is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Craig is just riding it out for now. Cuccureddu eventually gives up the hold.
Cuccureddu controlling the action here.
Cuccureddu is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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.
Cuccureddu tries to pass the half guard into mount. Craig knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Cuccureddu content to control rather than advance.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Craig throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Craig dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Giuseppe Cuccureddu's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Craig misses with a series of wild punches.
Cuccureddu changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Craig throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cuccureddu.
Cuccureddu drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Craig defends it well.
Cuccureddu closes this distance looking for a takedown but Craig circles away.
Craig throws a right and a left that Cuccureddu avoids nicely.
Cuccureddu changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Craig swings for the body but Cuccureddu moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craig throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cuccureddu.
Craig scores with a jab to the body.
Craig throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cuccureddu.
Will Craig is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig connects with a solid leg kick.
Craig throws a leg kick that is checked

and Cuccureddu decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Craig's guard.
Cuccureddu controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Cuccureddu pushing down on Craig's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Cuccureddu is taking a breather. Craig says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Cuccureddu is continuing to stall.
Let's hope that Cuccureddu 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Craig looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuccureddu tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Craig swivels and escapes.
Cuccureddu checks a low kick from Craig.
And Cuccureddu tries to counter it with a takedown but Craig pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Craig misses with a double jab.
Craig displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Will Craig is winning the standup battle so far.
Craig tries to score with a low kick but Cuccureddu moves his leg out of the way.
Craig fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Craig falls off balance throwing a combination

and Cuccureddu counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cuccureddu's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Giuseppe Cuccureddu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Will Craig showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Craig, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Will Craig!