PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rudi Philips (ranked 4606 p4p, 7360 weight class) and David Cranswick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Philips
vs
Cranswick

174 cm
25
144
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
135
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rudi Philips!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, David Cranswick!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Steve Erwin and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Philips scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

It looks like David Cranswick has been cut.
Cranswick fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Philips connects with the punch.
Philips looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Philips ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cranswick moves away.
Cranswick looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Philips doesn't manage to clinch there - Cranswick circles away.
Some wild striking there from Cranswick.
An attempted straight right counter from Philips misses the target.
No joy there for Cranswick, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Philips is looking to counter with head kicks.
Philips looks to land a combination. Cranswick sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Cranswick is rocked!
Philips dives in and grabs Cranswick's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cranswick pushes down on Philips's head and hops out.
Cranswick is still on wobbly legs! Can Philips finish him?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cranswick throws a head kick that misses.
Philips closes the distance and clinches up with Cranswick, looking for a takedown. Philips pushes Cranswick against the cage but Cranswick circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cranswick seems to have recovered his senses.
Cranswick misses with a double jab.
Cranswick throws a shot to the body.
Cranswick misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cranswick takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Cranswick scores with a hook to the body. Philips takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Philips throws a front kick aimed at Cranswick's knee but Cranswick avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Philips thuds a left hand into Cranswick's body.
David Cranswick seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Philips tries to land a front kick but Cranswick steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Philips lands the left hand.
Cranswick checks a leg kick nicely.
Philips throws a nice looking combination but Cranswick bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Philips throws out a loose jab but Cranswick uses good head movement to avoid it.
Philips's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Cranswick connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Philips scrambles back to his feet.
Cranswick throws a right and a left that Philips avoids nicely.
Philips misses with a looping right.
Cranswick lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Cranswick tries to keep at a distance but Philips has taken the fight into the clinch.

Philips breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Philips looks to score with a jab to the body but Cranswick is just out of range.
Philips lands with a nice combination. Cranswick backs away looking to recover.
David Cranswick is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Philips tries to close the distance and clinch but Cranswick swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cranswick misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cranswick scores with a one two! Philips had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Philips misses the jab.
Cranswick lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
A jab from Philips does it's job there.
Cranswick stuffs the takedown attempt from Philips. Philips gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rudi Philips. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Philips is breathing heavily.
Cranswick ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cranswick keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Philips.
Philips showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cranswick.
Cranswick misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cranswick paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Nice uppercut lands for Cranswick. That snapped Philips's head back.

Philips rushes Cranswick and presses him up against the cage.

Philips pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cranswick lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Cranswick bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cranswick scores with a one two! Philips had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Philips throws a hook to the side of Cranswick's head but Cranswick sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Despite the aggression on Cranswick's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A big left from Philips misses.
Cranswick fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Philips looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Philips checks a low kick from Cranswick.
Philips avoids the body shot from Cranswick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Cranswick darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Philips shoots in for a takedown but Cranswick shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cranswick misses with a double jab.
An inside leg kick from Cranswick misses.
Cranswick cracks Philips with an open hand slap.
Philips misses with a body shot.
Philips throws a series of punches but Cranswick avoids them all with ease.
Cranswick throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cranswick avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cranswick lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Philips circles away quickly and effectively.
A left and a right from Cranswick both land. Nice combination.
Cranswick throws a right and a left that both miss.
Philips seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Cranswick throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cranswick throws a sloppy head kick and Philips moves out of range easily.
Philips throws a right hand that Cranswick ducks under and follows up with a left that Cranswick also avoids with ease.
Philips swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A big left from Philips misses.
It seemed like Cranswick was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Cranswick's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Cranswick duly obliges.
Philips throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Cranswick misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Philips.
Cranswick looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cranswick looks to throw the jab but Philips is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Cranswick dominated that round.
The cut man is working on David Cranswick's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cranswick scores with a nice head shot.
Cranswick is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Philips.
Philips connects with a looping right hand.

Philips decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Philips thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Philips sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cranswick defending well though.
Cranswick regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Philips.
Philips missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Philips postures up in Cranswick's guard and throws a big left but Cranswick blocks it.
Cranswick working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Philips.
Philips in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Philips accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Philips postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Philips postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cranswick is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Philips is controlling him.
Philips working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Philips 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.
Cranswick is looking to stand up but Philips isn't so interested in that idea.

Philips stands up from Cranswick's guard - Philips perhaps looking for a knockout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Philips is defended easily by Cranswick.
Philips tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Philips misses with a wild combination.
Cranswick is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Cranswick avoids the body shot from Philips.
Danga de danga de dang - Cranswick scores with a four punch combination!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Philips!
Philips misses with the combination.
Cranswick throws a combination. Philips tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Philips fails to land with a series of punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cranswick lands a jab to the head.
Cranswick looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cranswick lands a jab to the head.
David Cranswick seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Philips takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Cranswick swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Cranswick throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Philips doesn't manage to clinch there - Cranswick circles away.
A nice combination there by Cranswick.
Cranswick ducks under a wild hook from Philips.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Philips has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Philips there as he acknowledges the shot.
Philips moves out of range as Cranswick strikes.
Cranswick looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Philips ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cranswick moves away.
Philips is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cranswick.
Cranswick looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A cross from Cranswick lands.
Cranswick thuds a left hand into Philips's body.
Cranswick throws a nice looking combination but Philips bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
As Cranswick looks to move away, Philips throws a big counter combo but Cranswick just gets out of the way.
Philips misses with a takedown attempt - Cranswick sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cranswick uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Philips.

Philips has taken the fight to the clinch.

Philips's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Philips fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cranswick throws a one two combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Philips lands a really nice looking cross but Cranswick seems unphased.
Cranswick fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Philips throws an overhand right that lands on Cranswick's shoulder, as Cranswick tries to avoid the shot.
Cranswick ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cranswick fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Cranswick dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Philips swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cranswick jabs at Philips's body.
Cranswick blocks a leg kick.
Cranswick connects with a nice looking jab.
Cranswick lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Cranswick ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Cranswick tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Philips is able to avoid easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Cranswick showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on David Cranswick's cut.
That's time! Philips's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Philips doesn't manage to clinch there - Cranswick circles away.
Philips shoots in but no luck this time.
Cranswick looks to land a combination but Philips avoids it well.
Philips was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Cranswick throws a right hand that Philips ducks under and follows up with a left that Philips also avoids with ease.
Philips misses with a double jab.
Cranswick defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Philips.
Philips looks to land a left hand but Cranswick moved out of range nicely.
Cranswick works Philips's body with a nice hook.
Philips throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cranswick moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Cranswick looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Philips swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A decent looking cross lands there for Cranswick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cranswick throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Philips.
Cranswick scores with a sloppy right hand. Philips should have avoided that one.
Cranswick misses with a wild body shot.
As Cranswick looks to move away, Philips throws a big counter combo but Cranswick just gets out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cranswick stalks Philips and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Philips's face. Philips staggers backwards, shaken.
Cranswick swats away the attempt to clinch by Philips.
Cranswick slips under a jab from Philips.
Philips ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cranswick throws a right hand that Philips ducks under and follows up with a left that Philips also avoids with ease.
The crowd cheers as Cranswick lands an impressive looking overhand right. Philips doesn't seem phased though.
A jab from Cranswick does it's job there.
Cranswick's jab looks to have found its range, popping Philips under the eye.
Philips tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cranswick manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cranswick unleashes a big counter combination but Philips bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Nice shot by Philips.
Philips shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cranswick pinned against the cage. Cranswick gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rudi Philips. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cranswick throws a series of strikes that have Philips backpedaling.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Philips blocks a head kick by Cranswick.
Philips is looking for a counter combo.
Philips avoids the body shot from Cranswick.
Philips bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cranswick fails to land with a series of punches.
Cranswick throws a right and a left that both miss.
Philips throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cranswick.
Philips is looking to chop away at Cranswick's legs.
Philips misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cranswick goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Cranswick looks to land a left hand but Philips moved out of range nicely.
Philips is looking to counter punch.
Philips throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cranswick has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Philips misses with a takedown attempt
and Cranswick counters with a series of strikes. Philips will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cranswick just misses with a punch to the body.
Philips was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rudi Philips is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cranswick lands with a good body shot.
A cross from Cranswick lands.
Some wild striking there from Philips.
A lazy left from Philips finds it's target.
Cranswick ducks under a wild hook from Philips.
Cranswick moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A big left from Cranswick misses.
Philips cracks Cranswick with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Philips misses with a straight right.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cranswick lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Philips at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cranswick scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Philips fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cranswick manages to avoid it.
Philips looks to score with a jab to the body but Cranswick is just out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cranswick! But no joy.
Cranswick throws a one two combo.
Philips throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Philips slips a jab and a cross from Cranswick.

Cranswick gets tackled into the cage by Philips. Philips maintains the clinch.

Cranswick pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cranswick throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Philips.
Philips lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Philips.
Cranswick throws a nice looking combination but Philips bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Philips.
Rudi Philips has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
David Cranswick is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Philips is looking to score with low kicks.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Cranswick comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cranswick 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Cranswick!