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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Craft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harris Akram (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 225 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0 |
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190 cm
21
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut |
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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
1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Nathan Craft!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Harris Akram!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, William Gold and James Ackerman.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akram clinches with his opponent.
Craft is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Akram to keep the fight standing.
Craft misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Akram.
Craft tries to break free but Akram pushes him back against the cage.
A short right from Akram.
Craft tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Akram just stands there and leans against the cage.
Akram manages to pull guard.
Akram is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Craft defends well.
Craft in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craft throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Akram is controlling Craft's posture.
Akram had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Craft defends it easily.
Craft will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Akram wants to sweep but no luck.
Craft tries to stand but Akram is controlling from the bottom.
Akram is trying to keep Craft in close.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Akram throws a lazy body kick
and Craft decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Akram's guard.
Akram is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Craft tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Craft. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craft tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Craft stops a takedown attempt from Akram.
Akram pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Akram stuns Craft with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Akram will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Craft drops down looking for a counter takedown but Akram sprawls and moves away.
Craft displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Akram.
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!
Akram has a takedown stuffed.
Craft is looking to counter the offense by Akram and move into the clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craft leaves Akram with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Craft slaps away a takedown attempt from Akram, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A little feinted left hand from Craft on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Akram tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Craft counters with a single leg into guard. Akram didn't expect that.
Akram not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Craft tries to stand but Akram is controlling from the bottom.
Craft throwing strikes but missing.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akram looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Craft is looking to stand up but Akram won't let him.
Craft in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Akram drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Craft is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Harris Akram will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Akram darts in and clinches Craft up against the cage.
Akram tries to pull guard but Craft won't allow it.
Craft with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Akram is looking for a takedown.
A knee to the head by Craft.
Craft really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Akram is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Akram is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Craft gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Nathan Craft has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harris Akram.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akram doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Craft successfully pulls guard.
Craft wants to stand up but Akram is controlling him.
Akram trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Akram passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Harris Akram has got the better of the ground game so far.
Akram misses with the ground and pound.
Craft is letting Akram control him for a moment.
Craft is not content to let Akram control the position.
Craft sneaks back into half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Akram is controlling the pace.
Craft is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Akram performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craft trying to control but Akram postures up.
Akram is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Craft defends it well.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Craft looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Akram shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Craft sprawls well. Craft wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Akram gets slowly back to his feet.
Craft feinted with a counter takedown.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Craft keeps the fight on the outside.
Craft throws a nice head kick!
Craft checks the leg kick nicely there.
It looked like Craft wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A jab from Akram misses.
Akram throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Akram fails with a takedown attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Craft on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Nathan Craft will probably get the nod.
That's time! Craft's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Akram changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Craft tries to avoid it but Akram manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Craft to the ground. Craft escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Akram connects with a good right hand that stumbles Craft. Craft circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Harris Akram seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akram shoots in but Craft avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Akram throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Craft's waist but Craft gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Akram off to one side.
Nathan Craft has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harris Akram.
Akram wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Akram dives in for a single leg takedown but Craft sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craft throws a body punch but Akram moves out of range.
Akram shoots in and drives through. Craft sprawls well.
Akram takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Craft scores with a jab. Akram acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Akram dives in for a single leg takedown but Craft sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Craft will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Akram tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Craft manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Craft stuffs the takedown.
Craft feinted with a counter takedown.
Akram shoots for a double leg takedown but Craft sprawls well. He's pushed Akram's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Craft tries to counter by clinching up but Akram breaks away and moves out of range.
Craft closes the distance and clinches up with Akram, looking for a takedown. Craft pushes Akram against the cage but Akram circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nathan Craft is winning the standup battle so far.
Akram shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Craft sprawls well. Craft wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Akram gets slowly back to his feet.
Craft swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craft fails in his attempt to clinch.
Craft dives in and grabs Akram's left leg, looking for a takedown. Akram pushes down on Craft's head and hops out.
Akram falls off balance throwing a combination
and Craft moves into the clinch.
Akram goes for a takedown in the clinch but Craft prevents it.
Craft pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Craft shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Akram sprawls well. Akram wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Craft gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Akram.
Akram shoots in but Craft avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Akram tries to clinch but Craft moves out of range.
Akram shoots in looking for a takedown but Craft manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Akram's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Harris Akram is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Craft fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Akram avoids it really well and circles away.
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.
Akram tries to clinch but Craft moves out of range.
Akram shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Craft counters with a stiff right hand.
Akram gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Craft counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Craft throwing strikes but missing.
Akram is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Craft is aware though and is defending well.
And that's the end of the fight!
Nathan Craft showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Craft has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan Craft!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
28% |
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