PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Destin Craven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Mann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Craven
vs
Mann

173 cm
27
184 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

194 cm
30
193 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Destin Craven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alexander Mann!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Viktor Lagutenko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mann looks to land a combination. Craven sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Mann throws a series of punches but Craven avoids them all with ease.
Craven keeps the fight on the outside.
Mann takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Craven checks the leg kick.
Craven fails with the takedown.
Mann throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mann walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Mann tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Craven throws a nice inside leg kick.

Craven gets a takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Mann trying to hold on to Craven's head to control him but Craven postures up.

Craven wants to work for an arm triangle but Mann is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mann wants to get back to full guard.
Craven trying to pass the guard but Mann defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mann trying to control but Craven postures up.
Craven is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Craven takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Mann looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Craven is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mann is just riding it out for now. Craven eventually gives up the hold.
Craven wants to pass to mount but Mann is defending the position.

Craven seems to be looking for submissions.
Mann keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mann is looking to improve his position.
Craven looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Craven moves into full mount! Mann won't be happy about that!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Craven looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mann wants to hold on but Craven pushes him away.
Mann is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Craven looking to control and managing it successfully.
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 with good strikes from the mount here!

Craven working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Mann is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven controlling from the full mount.
Craven tries to control but Mann wriggling away.

Craven has control of Mann's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Mann regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Craven thowing shots but they're missing.
Craven sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Craven tries to control but Mann wriggling away.
Mann tries to lock up and control but Craven gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Craven trying to control but Mann is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craven raining down hammerfists from mount.
Mann slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Mann is trying to get back to full guard.

Mann looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Craven looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Craven has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Craven looking to secure an arm triangle but Mann defends it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Craven raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Destin Craven dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Craven avoids the head kick by Mann.
Mann misses with a head kick.
Craven checks a low kick from Mann.
Craven just misses with a punch to the body.
Craven fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Craven shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mann pinned against the cage. Mann gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mann fails in his attempt to clinch.
Craven tries for a takedown but Mann circles away easily
and Craven takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Destin Craven. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mann throws a nice outside leg kick.
Craven shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mann as he avoids it easily.
Destin Craven is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Craven fails to land with a series of punches.
Craven shoots in for a takedown but Mann shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Mann closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mann lands in his opponent's guard.
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!
Mann tries to free his leg and advance position but Craven is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Destin Craven overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Craven keeping moving, preventing Mann from controlling successfully.
Mann might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Craven haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Mann preventing the sweep.
Mann trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Craven wants to stand but Mann is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mann stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Craven swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mann sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Craven's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mann tries to pass to full mount but Craven defends it.

Mann is looking for a kimura but Craven is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mann to get the leverage.
Mann trying to pass the guard but Craven defending well.
Craven tries to roll over but Mann keeps him under control.

Mann seems to be looking for submissions.
Mann frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Craven is looking to improve his position but Mann isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mann tries to control but Craven wriggling away.
Craven prevents Mann from taking his back.
Craven wants to hold on but Mann pushes him away.
Craven is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Mann tries to control but Craven wriggling away.
Mann controlling the position easily from mount.
Mann looking to control but Craven is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Craven wants to hold on but Mann pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mann looking to control but Craven is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mann fails to take his opponent's back.
Craven tries to hold on but Mann pushes him away.

Mann jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Craven is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Craven and Mann has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Craven regains half guard there - taking advantage of Mann's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mann wants to control but Craven is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Mann showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mann gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Craven preventing the sweep.
Mann keeping full guard, as Craven tries to pass.
Mann lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Craven!
Mann can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Craven is looking to escape.
Craven wants to hold on but Mann pushes him away.

Mann is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Craven is surviving well by controlling Mann's body position as best he can.
Craven has given up his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mann looking to break Craven's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Craven remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Mann will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Mann avoiding Craven 's attempts to control his hands.

Craven defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Mann's arms.

Mann is looking for a choke. Craven gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Craven manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.

Craven postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mann is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Craven, into his guard.
Craven manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mann manages to get himself to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mann working for a triangle but Craven defends it easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Craven engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Craven slips nicely into half guard.
Craven moves nicely into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Craven is looking to take a break and control but Mann is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mann tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mann prevents Craven from moving into mount.
Craven misses with the ground and pound.

Craven is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mann knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Craven looks up at the clock and then as Mann takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Craven smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Mann tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Craven has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Mann regains half guard.

Craven is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mann sees it coming and defends easily.
Mann is trying to maintain the position but Craven is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mann wants to improve his position but Craven is controlling well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Craven is keen to just control but Mann is a slippery customer.
Mann has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Craven is working away from the top position though.

Craven is working for a kimura but Mann is defending it quite comfortably.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mann trying to control 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Destin Craven!