PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zachary Crawford (ranked 6602 p4p, 4736 weight class) and Don Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Crawford
vs
Smith

183 cm
21
145
2 - 3 - 0

168 cm
25
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zachary Crawford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Don Smith!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Michael Johnstone and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith gets tackled into the cage by Crawford. Crawford maintains the clinch.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith'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.

Smith wants the takedown. Crawford is fighting it off but Smith persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Crawford's guard against the cage.
Smith 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.
Crawford will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Crawford wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.
Crawford tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crawford wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith wants to control from the top but Crawford keeps moving.
Crawford is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith preventing the sweep.

Crawford has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Smith is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Crawford.
Smith lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Crawford down.
Smith scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Crawford to see if he's OK.

Smith decides to stand back up.
A clash of legs there as Smith blocks the low kick.
Crawford wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.

Smith gets tackled into the cage by Crawford. Crawford maintains the clinch.
Crawford lands an elbow inside.
Crawford really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Crawford tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Crawford wants a takedown.
Crawford is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Smith to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford avoids the elbow strike from Smith, against the cage.

Smith tightens his grip and picks Crawford up, before dumping him to the ground. Crawford manages to land in guard.
Crawford tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith sitting in guard here, content to control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Crawford wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Crawford is keeping the position for now.
Crawford lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Smith seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Smith is continuing to stall.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to control. Crawford wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Smith is nestled in close to Crawford, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Crawford looks like he's trying to stand up.

Smith is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Crawford is trying to get back to full guard.
Crawford has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Smith keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

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.
Smith is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Crawford is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Crawford is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Smith pulls his head out easily.
Well, if Smith is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Crawford's head.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Crawford is defending well.
Smith prevents Crawford from improving his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Crawford manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Don Smith dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Crawford scores with a decent looking hook.

Smith pushes Crawford up against the cage in a clinch.

Crawford jumps into guard, dragging Smith to the mat.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Crawford.
Crawford trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Smith is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Crawford looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Crawford has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Crawford is looking for a triangle here but Smith uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Crawford is trying to work for a sweep but Smith has mounted him!
Smith sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The adventures of Smith the control monster continue. Boring.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crawford bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Crawford is one step ahead there.
Crawford throwing strikes but missing.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Crawford working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Smith looking to control.
Smith wants to sweep here but Crawford controlling him for the moment.
Smith has control of Crawford's left arm, preventing Crawford from doing any damage.
Crawford throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Crawford missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith can't keep his opponent in guard - Crawford advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Crawford lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Smith is positioning himself well to prevent Crawford advancing to mount.
Don Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Crawford throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.
Crawford missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Crawford is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith is trying to maintain the position but Crawford is very close to passing his half guard.
Crawford not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Crawford is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Smith sees it coming and defends easily.
Crawford not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Smith moves into full guard.
Crawford postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith wants to stand up but Crawford is controlling him.
Smith managing to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Smith moves into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zachary Crawford dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Crawford fails with a takedown attempt.
Smith tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Crawford is able to avoid easily.

Crawford gets caught napping as Smith dives in and scores a takedown. Crawford manages to retain guard.
Crawford is wriggling around but Smith manages to pass to half guard.

Smith prevents Crawford from improving his position.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Crawford looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Crawford is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith is working for a kimura but Crawford is defending it quite comfortably.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Crawford is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Crawford is working hard here to advance position.
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smith content to control rather than advance.
Smith working Crawford over with strikes.
Crawford wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Smith performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Crawford is trying to get back to full guard.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura but Crawford is defending well.
Smith trying to control the action but Crawford is working from the bottom.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Crawford has managed to free his arm - good work.
Smith is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford regains full guard. Nicely done.

Smith decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Crawford, up you get!

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Smith content to stall in guard here.
Crawford has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Smith has passed into side control.
Smith happy to just control the position for now.
Crawford wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Crawford is trying to get back to half guard.

Smith decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Crawford moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Crawford shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.

Crawford gets caught napping as Smith dives in and scores a takedown. Crawford manages to retain guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Don Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Don Smith!