PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Destin Craven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Holm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Craven
vs
Holm

178 cm
20
170 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

175 cm
27
166 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Destin Craven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mark Holm!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Ren Mimura and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holm throws a solid leg kick but Craven takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Holm.
Craven changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Holm will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Craven gets a clinch.
Holm wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Craven breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Craven throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Holm takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Holm avoids a kick to the body.
Holm misses with the combination.

Craven instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holm tries to break the clinch but Craven is controlling the position.
Holm tries to stall but Craven uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Craven's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Craven breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Craven scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Craven tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Holm tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Craven wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Holm is trying to get back to his feet.
Holm tries to bench press Craven off him but Craven keeps the position.
The ground and pound from Craven seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Holm is trying to improve his position.

Craven tries for a kimura but Holm is defending well.
Craven throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craven slows the pace down.
Holm prevents Craven from moving into mount.
Craven cracks Holm with a big right hand but Holm just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Holm is looking for a sweep.
Holm managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Craven.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holm manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Craven keeping hold of Holm's head, controlling as best he can.
Craven throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Craven slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Craven looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Craven continues to stall.
Holm trying to control but Craven is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Craven 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.
Holm throws a big elbow that misses.
Craven wants to sweep but no luck.
Holm trying to control the position from guard on top but Craven is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Craven wants to sweep here but Holm controlling him for the moment.
Craven pulls Holm in close to his closed guard and prevents Holm from doing any damage or advancing position.
Craven bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Holm's guard.

Craven has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Craven has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Holm is proving hard to escape from.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Craven accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Craven wants to control from the top but Holm keeps moving.

Holm working for a triangle but Craven defends it easily.
Craven preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Destin Craven dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Holm swinging wildly here.
Holm avoids the body shot from Craven.
Holm throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Craven.

Craven rushes Holm and presses him up against the cage.
Craven trying to land knees to the body.
Holm being controlled against the cage.

Holm escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Destin Craven is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Holm lands an overhand right.
Some bone on bone action there as Craven checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Craven drops down looking for a counter takedown but Holm sprawls and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holm throws a body punch but Craven moves out of range.
Holm throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Craven drops down looking for a counter takedown but Holm sprawls and moves away.
Holm tries to work over Craven's front leg with a kick but Craven checks it.

Craven closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Holm is trying to break the clinch but Craven has him pressed against the cage.
Holm blocks an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craven lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Holm or not.
A shot in the inside from Craven.
Holm working aggressively here.
Good body shot from Craven.
Holm tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Holm tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Holm has had enough of the clinch but Craven keeps him there for the moment.
Craven tries a knee to the head but Holm blocks it.
Craven keeps control of Holm as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Craven is working Holm over against the cage.
Craven taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Craven gets control of Holm's arms and successfully pulls guard. Craven will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
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 tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Holm postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Craven is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Holm, into his guard.

Craven is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craven advances position into side control!
Craven is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Holm can do to turn this around?
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Craven in side control, throwing shots but Holm defends.
Holm is looking for a sweep.
Holm felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Craven has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Holm!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Holm blocking the ground and pound.
Destin Craven overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Craven working for a guillotine from mount but Holm is in no mood to give up.
Holm's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Holm is desperately trying to improve his position but Craven has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Craven looking to ground and pound but Holm is blocking nicely.
Craven with a couple of short strikes.
Craven 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.
Craven connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Craven sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Holm keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Craven looking to ground and pound but Holm is blocking nicely.
Holm is in all sorts of trouble here.
Holm wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Craven.

Craven looking to secure an arm triangle but Holm defends it well.
Holm can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craven content just to control the position here.

Craven has hold of Holm's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Holm manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Holm is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Holm really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Craven sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Craven looking to finish with strikes here!
Craven controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Destin Craven dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Good work by Craven as he checks the leg kick.
Holm throws a nice looking combination but Craven bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Craven shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Holm as he avoids it easily.
Craven walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Good standup being displayed there by Holm as he connects with a hook.
Some wild striking there from Craven.
Holm is looking to score with low kicks.
Craven walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Holm checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A punch combination from Holm misses.
Holm throws a series of punches but Craven moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Craven gets a clinch.
Craven lands a nice elbow.
Holm's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Holm tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Craven's elbow.

Craven pulls guard successfully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Craven keeping moving, preventing Holm from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holm works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Craven works his way to full guard. Good work.
Craven seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Craven is on top in guard.

Holm preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Craven tries to free his leg and advance position but Holm is retaining full guard.

Craven postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Holm is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Craven, into his guard.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Holm accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holm won't allow Craven to sweep him here.
Craven wants to get back to his feet but Holm is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Craven looking for a sweep. Not yet Craven, not yet.

Holm postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Craven is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Holm, into his guard.

Holm not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Craven trying to control but Holm is working from the bottom.
Craven sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craven trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Holm is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Craven is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Destin Craven is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Craven seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Holm for as long as he can get away with.

Holm looking for a guillotine here but Craven defends easily.

Holm is looking for a triangle but Craven pushes his legs off easily.
Mark Holm has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Holm takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Craven 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Craven shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Holm's guard.
Holm wants to control but Craven passes easily into half guard.
Craven is controlling the pace.
Holm wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Craven with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Holm is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Destin Craven showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Craven, 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Destin Craven!
Destin Craven bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.