PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Craig Patton (ranked 6311 p4p, 693 weight class) and Roman Vaginov (ranked 5686 p4p, 651 weight class). Patton's entrance music is Heart of a Champion - Nelly. A fine choice. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Roman Vaginov enters the cage!

Patton
vs
Vaginov

174 cm
26
174 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Patton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Roman Vaginov!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Roger Salmon and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Patton closes the distance and clinches.

Vaginov turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Vaginov manages to end up in side control.
You can see the frustration on Patton's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Patton is looking to reverse the position.
Patton regains half guard.
Vaginov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vaginov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Patton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Patton looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Patton is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Patton keeping hold of Vaginov's head, controlling as best he can.
Vaginov is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patton is holding on to half guard well.
Patton is trying to stand back up but Vaginov is controlling him
Patton flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Patton is positioning himself well to prevent Vaginov advancing to mount.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.

Vaginov moves into range and clinches up with Patton.

Patton jumps guard.
Patton pulls Vaginov in to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Patton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Patton working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Vaginov has passed into half guard!
Patton wants to control the action here but instead Vaginov manages to pass to full mount!
Vaginov is looking to stand but Patton has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Patton holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Vaginov tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Patton tries to lock up and control but Vaginov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Patton sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Patton is doing well to control the position and prevent Vaginov from advancing to side control.
Patton trying to control here.

Patton looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Patton keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Patton is pressing down on Vaginov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Vaginov wants to get up but he can't break Patton's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Vaginov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vaginov trying to control the position from guard on top but Patton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Patton wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roman Vaginov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Patton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Patton moves into the clinch successfully.

Vaginov drags the fight down to the ground.
Roman Vaginov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Patton stands up and waves to Vaginov to follow him.
Vaginov takes one on the button.

Patton drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vaginov working a defensive guard here.
Vaginov looking to control but Patton passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patton lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Vaginov is trying to maintain the position but Patton is very close to passing his half guard.
Vaginov tries to get to full guard but Patton has control of the leg.
Patton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vaginov keeps working.

Vaginov is defending against the submission attempts here by Patton.

Patton is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Vaginov taking some punishment here, with Patton in his half guard.
Patton moves nicely into side control.

Patton decides to stand back up. Patton steps back and let's Vaginov get back to his feet.

Patton clinches with his opponent.

Vaginov drags the fight down to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaginov pulls Patton in close to prevent any damage.
Patton seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Patton stands and steps away. Vaginov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Patton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Patton is looking to clinch but Vaginov is avoiding it.

Patton has Vaginov up against the cage in a clinch.

Patton jumps guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Patton is controlling Vaginov's posture.
Vaginov throws a big elbow that misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Patton trying to control the position here.
Patton keeping moving, preventing Vaginov from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Patton dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Vaginov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Patton's guard.
Vaginov prevents Patton from getting back to his feet.
Patton keeping full guard, as Vaginov tries to pass.

Vaginov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Patton has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vaginov has managed to get both his arms back between Patton's legs - danger averted.
Vaginov is pushing down on Patton's leg trying to pass to half guard. Patton is fighting to maintain full guard but Vaginov has managed to sneak the leg through.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Patton is holding on to half guard well.
Vaginov is thwarting Patton's attempts to control the position.
Patton keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Patton looking for submissions off his back.
Patton is looking to improve his position.

Patton actively working from the bottom here.
Patton is pressing down on Vaginov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

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.

Patton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vaginov defends it easily.

Patton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vaginov is aware though and is defending well.
Patton has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Patton is looking to cinch up a triangle. Vaginov throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Patton's body to avoid the submission. Patton has instead reached around Vaginov's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Patton arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Craig Patton!
An out of breath Craig Patton thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.