PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Techno Viking (ranked 3971 p4p, 3428 weight class) and Burt Craig (ranked 424 p4p, 384 weight class). Viking's entrance music is Save, Change and Exit - Winstan. A fine choice. Burt Craig told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Viking
vs
Craig

188 cm
17
219
1 - 5 - 0

185 cm
26
212
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Techno Viking!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Burt Craig!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Santiago Holmes and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Craig shoots in and bounces Viking off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Viking keeping moving, preventing Craig from controlling successfully.
Viking is trying to keep Craig in close.
Craig looking to pass the guard.
Viking looking to control.
Craig is looking to work some ground and pound but Viking has wrist control.
Viking keeping moving, preventing Craig from controlling successfully.
Craig pushes down on Viking's leg and manages to get into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craig trying to mount his opponent but Viking defends it.
Viking is looking for a sweep. Craig is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig moves nicely into side control.
Viking managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Craig.
Viking is not content to let Craig control the position.
Viking manages to work his way to half guard, despite Craig's best efforts.
Craig not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Viking is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Craig wants to advance to full mount but Viking doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Craig trying to control the position from guard on top but Viking is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Viking tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Craig really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Viking. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viking has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Craig postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Viking seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Craig working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Viking's head.
Viking looking to hit a scissor sweep but Craig is one step ahead there.
Viking trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Craig stopping the sweep attempt from Viking.
Viking is trying to keep Craig in close.
Craig 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.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Craig is working Viking over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Viking is on top in guard.

Viking trying to control but Craig is working from the bottom.
Craig 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.
Craig keeping moving, preventing Viking from controlling successfully.
Craig 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Viking postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Viking chips away with some ground and pound.
Viking won't allow Craig to sweep him here.
Viking stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Craig swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Viking wants to control from the top but Craig keeps moving.
Craig has Viking pulled in close to control his posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Craig wants to stand up but Viking is controlling him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Viking or perhaps it was just good defense by Craig, which made it look bad.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Viking throws a head kick that misses.
Craig slaps away a takedown attempt from Viking, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Craig on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Viking misses the jab.

Craig looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craig postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Viking looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Burt Craig has got the better of the ground game so far.
Viking has his hands on Craig's head, controlling the position.

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

Viking isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Craig stacks Viking on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Craig!
Viking can't do much from the bottom here.
Craig wants to lay and pray for a moment but Viking keeps working.
Craig lands a nice forearm strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Craig fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Viking is working to avoid the ground and pound but Craig connects with a decent elbow.
A lull in the action here as Craig stalls from top position.
Craig working the head with strikes.

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

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

Craig is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Viking has escaped the position, nice work there.
Craig has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Viking is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Craig wants to lay and pray for a moment but Viking keeps working.
Craig cracks Viking with a big elbow.
Viking taking punishment in the form of punches.
Craig creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Viking sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Viking manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Viking is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Craig reverses the position - he's now on top in Viking's guard.
Craig distracts Viking with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Craig looking to sit in guard and control but Viking gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Viking passes Craig's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Viking trying to pass the guard but Craig defending well.
Viking missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Viking wants to take a breather but Craig is having none of it.
Viking is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Craig is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Viking wants to pass the guard but Craig is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Burt Craig 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! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Viking scores with a hook.
Viking wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Craig tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Viking paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Techno Viking seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Viking connects with the punch.

It looks like Burt Craig has been cut.
Nice shot by Viking.
Decent striking displayed by Viking there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Viking lands with a kick to the temple. Craig shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Craig tries to clinch up but Viking circles away and keeps his distance.
Viking changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Craig tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viking slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Craig closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Viking's guard.
Viking manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Craig manages to get himself to full guard.

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

Craig throwing strikes but missing.
Viking looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Techno Viking has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craig trying to control but Viking is working from the bottom.
Viking is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Craig slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Craig landing some decent shots from guard.
Viking can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Craig controls the pace.
Viking trying to keep a closed guard but Craig is proving a slippery customer.
Viking is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig is looking to control Viking's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Craig avoid being mounted?
Craig keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Viking moves into full mount! Craig won't be happy about that!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Craig can do anything to dispel that myth.
Viking lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Viking throwing strikes here but Craig is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Craig tries to lock up and control but Viking gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Viking looking to control but Craig is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Viking is looking to work his way around to Craig's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Viking cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Viking scoring with strikes but Craig is staying in there.
Viking postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Craig looks a forlorn figure.
Viking with a couple of short strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Techno Viking showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Craig has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Burt Craig!
Post fight, Burt Craig took to the microphone: 'Yeehaw baby down with the Viking, techno sucks.'.