PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Justin Craven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexandr Loshkarev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Justin Craven has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Craven
vs
Loshkarev

187 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

165 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Zombie Nutrition - LOD

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Justin Craven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexandr Loshkarev!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Craven feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Loshkarevs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Craven swats away the attempt to clinch by Loshkarev.
Craven throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Craven throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Loshkarev forces Craven back against the cage and clinches.
Loshkarev is trying to pull guard but Craven has him pressed against the cage.
Loshkarev has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Loshkarev decides to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Loshkarev keeping moving, preventing Craven from controlling successfully.
Craven will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Loshkarev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Craven's guard.
Craven is trying to keep Loshkarev in close.
Craven keeping moving, preventing Loshkarev from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craven wants to get back to his feet but Loshkarev is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Craven isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Loshkarev stacks Craven 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 Loshkarev!
Loshkarev trying to control the action but Craven is working from the bottom.
Loshkarev controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craven is not content to let Loshkarev control the position.
Loshkarev tries to stand but Craven is controlling his head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Craven is looking for a sweep.
Loshkarev trying to control the action but Craven is working from the bottom.
Craven tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loshkarev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Craven keeps working.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alexandr Loshkarev.

Loshkarev shoots in and bounces Craven off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Craven is adopting a defensive guard.
Loshkarev tries to free his leg and advance position but Craven is retaining full guard.
Craven seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Craven is looking for a triangle but Loshkarev pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Loshkarev looking to sit in guard and control but Craven gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Loshkarev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Loshkarev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Craven's guard.
Loshkarev is fighting to break Craven's control of his arms but Craven is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Loshkarev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Craven is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandr Loshkarev dominated that round.
That's time! Craven's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nice defenses there by Loshkarev.
Craven tries to close the distance and clinch but Loshkarev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A punch combination from Craven misses.
Craven lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Loshkarev circles away quickly and effectively.
Loshkarev throws an overhand right that lands on Craven's shoulder, as Craven tries to avoid the shot.

Loshkarev closes the distance and clinches.
Loshkarev jumps guard but Craven turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Loshkarev tries to pull guard but Craven holds him up against the cage and eventually Loshkarev drops back down to his feet.
Craven slows down the pace here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Loshkarev breaks the clinch.
Craven swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Craven slips a jab and a cross from Loshkarev.
The fight stays on the outside here - Craven looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Loshkarev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Craven tries to avoid it but Loshkarev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Craven to the ground. Craven escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Justin Craven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexandr Loshkarev.
Loshkarev on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Loshkarev displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Craven throws out the jab.
Craven waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Loshkarev.

Craven moves into the clinch successfully.
Craven swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Craven misses with a punch on the inside.
Loshkarev is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loshkarev is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Craven is keeping busy.
Craven tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Loshkarev smiles and moves away.
Craven throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Loshkarev stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Loshkarev moves in looking to clinch but Craven pushes him off.
Craven throws a series of strikes that have Loshkarev backpedaling.
Craven tries to clinch but Loshkarev is having none of it.
Loshkarev wants to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Craven throws a one two combo.

Loshkarev darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven trying to control but Loshkarev postures up.
Loshkarev is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Craven blocking the ground and pound attempt from Loshkarev.
Loshkarev with the ground and pound but Craven uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Loshkarev wants to get up but he can't break Craven's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Craven looking to control.
Loshkarev passes Craven's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craven is trying to get back to full guard.
It looks like Loshkarev is going to stand back up.
Craven blocking the ground and pound attempt from Loshkarev.
Loshkarev wants to pass the guard but Craven is defending well.
Loshkarev wants to take a breather but Craven is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Loshkarev shoots in for a double leg but Craven sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alexandr Loshkarev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Craven throws a right and a left that both miss.
Craven fails to land with a series of punches.

Loshkarev scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Loshkarev working away.
Loshkarev in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Craven is looking to regain half guard here but Loshkarev keeps moving and retains side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Loshkarev.
Loshkarev tries to stand but Craven is controlling his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craven can't do much from the bottom here.
Loshkarev laying and praying for a moment but Craven takes advantage and regains half guard.
Craven trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Loshkarev manages to pass to mount!
Loshkarev prevents Craven from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loshkarev content just to control the position here.
Poor strikes thrown by Loshkarev there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Loshkarev trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Loshkarev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Craven taking shots to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Loshkarev misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Loshkarev thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Loshkarev thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loshkarev throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Craven because Loshkarev loaded up on that one.
Craven is wriggling around trying to escape.
Loshkarev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Craven is looking to escape.
Loshkarev thowing shots but they're missing.
Loshkarev avoids the attempt from Craven to control.
Alexandr Loshkarev has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Loshkarev misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Loshkarev misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Loshkarev avoids the attempt from Craven to control.
Loshkarev trying to control but Craven is having none of it.
Loshkarev is trying to control here but Craven has managed to regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Loshkarev works his foot free and advances to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexandr Loshkarev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Loshkarev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Alexandr Loshkarev!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Alexandr Loshkarev!
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Alexandr Loshkarev!

Alexandr Loshkarev wins by unanimous decision!