PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Destin Craven (ranked 1776 p4p, 1197 weight class) and Carlos Narvaez (ranked 107 p4p, 80 weight class). Narvaez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Ã‘etas for Life - Anvesh Mallick kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Craven
vs
Narvaez

172 cm
30
141
18 - 16 - 0

172 cm
26
145
12 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

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 18 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Destin Craven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carlos Narvaez!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Aafke Stam and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Craven throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Craven lands a two punch combo.
Craven throws out a powerful jab.
Destin Craven seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Narvaez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Craven was well out of range. Poor timing from Narvaez.
Craven throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Narvaez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Narvaez lands with a shot to the body.
Craven tries for a takedown but Narvaez circles away easily
and Narvaez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Craven swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Narvaez counters with a left and a right that stings Craven.
Narvaez dodges the punch combination from Craven.
Narvaez only half commits to the counter leg kick.
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!
Craven swinging wildly here.
Narvaez slips a straight right by Craven.
Narvaez looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Craven on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Jab from Narvaez.
Narvaez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Craven throws a right and a left that Narvaez avoids nicely.
Narvaez scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Craven looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Narvaez throws a leg kick which misses Craven's front leg but catches the back leg as Craven tries to avoid it.
Craven fails with a takedown attempt.
Narvaez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Craven. Craven circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Craven scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Craven waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Narvaez.
A good leg kick by Narvaez.
Narvaez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Craven was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Narvaez throws a quick inside leg kick.
Narvaez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Craven throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Craven fakes the leg kick and cracks Narvaez in the body.
Narvaez is looking to slow Craven down with leg kicks.
Craven keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Narvaez has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Craven manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Narvaez on his heels. He'll look to pass Narvaez's guard now, I'm sure.
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.
Narvaez 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 wants to pass the guard but Narvaez is keeping the position.
Craven trying to control but Narvaez is working from the bottom.
Craven loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Craven looking to pass the guard.
Craven forces his way into half guard.
Narvaez won't allow Craven to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Craven is working for a kimura but Narvaez is defending it quite comfortably.
Craven tries to pass to full mount but Narvaez defends it.
Craven works his way into side control.

Craven wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Narvaez, who protects the arm well.
Narvaez managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Craven.

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.
Craven advances to mount.

Craven jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Narvaez is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Narvaez and Craven has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Narvaez prevents Craven from moving into mount.

Craven is trying to get an arm triangle but Narvaez is defending well.
Craven cracks Narvaez with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Craven taking a break here but Narvaez is having none of it and regains half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Destin Craven will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Narvaez lands a nice leg kick that just misses Craven's sensitive parts.

Craven scores with a takedown into Narvaez's guard.
Craven wants to control from the top but Narvaez keeps moving.
Craven throws an elbow that misses. Narvaez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Craven's guard. Nice move by Narvaez!

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Narvaez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Narvaez stops Craven from standing up.
Narvaez stopping the sweep attempt from Craven.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Narvaez trying to control but Craven is working from the bottom.
Narvaez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Narvaez preventing the sweep.
Craven has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Narvaez has passed into side control.
Narvaez in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Craven manages to work his way to half guard, despite Narvaez's best efforts.

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.
Craven is trying to stand up here but Narvaez is controlling him well.
Narvaez prevents Craven from improving his position.
Narvaez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Craven moves into full guard.

Craven working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Narvaez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Narvaez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Craven looking to control but Narvaez passes into half guard.
Craven is trying to maintain the position but Narvaez is very close to passing his half guard.
Craven is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven wants to get back to full guard but Narvaez has mounted him!
Craven tries to reverse the position but Narvaez maintains control.
Craven is working hard here to advance position.
Craven regains half guard.
Narvaez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Craven is looking for a sweep. Narvaez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Narvaez passes into side control, despite Craven's attempt to control the position.
Craven is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Narvaez is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Craven is looking to improve his position.
Craven pushes Narvaez off looking to stand but Narvaez dives back in and keeps control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Narvaez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Craven does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Craven works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Narvaez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Narvaez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Craven manages to avoid it.
Jab, jab by Craven - just one landing.
Narvaez misses the shot to the body.
Narvaez just misses with a punch to the body.
Narvaez defending well as Craven loads up on a big left hand.
Narvaez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Craven. Craven circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Craven keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Narvaez.
Craven misses with a body shot.
Narvaez takes a swing at Craven's ribcage but misses.
Craven has his takedown stuffed
and Narvaez counters with a straight right hand.
Narvaez throws a big shot that misses.
Craven looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Narvaez - that will leave a mark!
Narvaez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Craven has time to react.

Craven closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Craven lands in his opponent's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Craven pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Narvaez is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craven trying to control the position from guard on top but Narvaez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Craven drops back, looking for a kneebar! Narvaez looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Narvaez looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Narvaez!

Craven is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Craven wants to stand back up but Narvaez manages to pass into side control.
You can see the frustration on Craven's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craven is looking to reverse the position.
Craven is letting Narvaez control him for a moment.
Narvaez working away.
A lull in the action here.
Craven is looking to reverse the position.
Craven is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Narvaez off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Narvaez is trying to break free.

Narvaez defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Craven's arms.
Narvaez wants to escape the position.

Narvaez defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Destin Craven overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Craven keeps control of the position as Narvaez tries to break free.
Narvaez looking very determined here, making life difficult for Craven.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Craven patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Craven missing with punches from the back.

Craven tightening his grip on Narvaez, looking for the choke.

Craven has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Craven patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Destin Craven.
I think Craven has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!