PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shaq Hoang (ranked 6204 p4p, 25439 weight class) and Zachary Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hoang
vs
Crawford

164 cm
25
130
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
22
135
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shaq Hoang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zachary Crawford!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hoang throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Crawford doesn't manage to clinch there - Hoang circles away.
Hoang dives in and grabs Crawford's left leg, looking for a takedown. Crawford pushes down on Hoang's head and hops out.

Crawford gets a clinch.
Hoang jumps guard but Crawford stands there with Hoang around his waist. Hoang gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Crawford is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hoang blocking some punches.
Hoang has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Crawford after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaq Hoang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hoang keeps control of Crawford as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Crawford breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoang misses with a kick to the body

and Crawford counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Crawford trying to control but Hoang is working from the bottom.
Hoang throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hoang had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Crawford defends it easily.
Hoang wants to stand and escape but Crawford is having none of it.
Hoang seems keen to control Crawford's posture.
Hoang 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.
Crawford has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hoang is proving hard to escape from.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.

Crawford gets the takedown into side control.

Hoang explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Some wild striking there from Hoang.

Hoang moves into the clinch.
Hoang slows down the pace here.
Hoang jumps guard but Crawford stands there with Hoang around his waist. Hoang gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Hoang breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hoang but Hoang pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Crawford drives through and clinches with Hoang against the cage.
Crawford taking a breather.
Crawford misses with a short punch on the inside.
Crawford fails to pull guard.
Crawford fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Crawford jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hoang walks away with a smile on his face. Crawford gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Crawford lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hoang has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hoang throwing a counter right hand but Crawford manages to avoid it.
Crawford lets loose with a powerful body kick. Hoang will feel that in the morning.
Crawford looks to clinch
and Hoang counters with a one-two to the body.

Hoang clinches up with Crawford and pushes him back against the cage.
Hoang wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Crawford tries to pull guard but Hoang won't allow it.
Crawford taking a breather.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Crawford tries to pull guard but Hoang won't allow it.
Hoang drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Crawford gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hoang is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Crawford gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shaq Hoang will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Crawford tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shaq Hoang is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Crawford tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hoang sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Crawford somewhat.
Hoang shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Crawford as he avoids it easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Crawford pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Crawford keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crawford stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Crawford wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaq Hoang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hoang connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hoang shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Crawford sprawls well. Crawford wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hoang gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoang tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Crawford swivels and escapes.
Hoang lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Crawford backs up against the cage.
Hoang throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Crawford is rocked!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hoang throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Crawford's waist but Crawford gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hoang off to one side.
Crawford is still on wobbly legs! Can Hoang finish him?
Crawford leaves Hoang with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hoang gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Crawford manages to break the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hoang.

Crawford darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Crawford is keen to just control but Hoang is a slippery customer.

Crawford seems to be working for a kimura but Hoang defends the submission attempt.
Hoang wants to get back to full guard but Crawford has passed into side control.
Hoang struggling a bit here.
Hoang takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Crawford is looking to take a break and control but Hoang is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Crawford seems to have recovered his senses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford grinds an elbow into Hoang's temple.

Crawford tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Crawford working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crawford looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Crawford is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hoang is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hoang defending against the ground and pound.
Crawford has control of an arm but Hoang manages to advance to Crawford's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford is trying to stand back up.
Hoang has good solid back control here.
Hoang trying to control.

Crawford fending off the submission attempt from Hoang.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Crawford is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Hoang gets his way!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Shaq Hoang will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A nice inside leg kick there by Crawford. That's going to slow Hoang down.
Hoang jabs Crawford right on the nose. Crawford blinks but takes it well.
Hoang gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Crawford counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Crawford.
Crawford tries to pull guard but Hoang holds him up against the cage and eventually Crawford drops back down to his feet.
Crawford misses with a hook to the ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crawford fails to pull guard.
Crawford is trying to maintain a safe position but Hoang gets an underhook and turns Crawford into the cage.
Crawford jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hoang walks away with a smile on his face. Crawford gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Shaq Hoang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zachary Crawford.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hoang is defended easily by Crawford.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoang tries for a takedown but Crawford sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hoang throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hoang looks for a takedown but Crawford sprawls well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hoang circles away from the clinch attempt.
Crawford shoots in for a takedown but Hoang shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hoang went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Hoang sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Hoang tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Crawford swivels and escapes.
Hoang shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Crawford defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoang shoots in for a takedown but Crawford shows good takedown defense.
Crawford misses with a wild body shot.
Crawford shoots in for a takedown but Hoang shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Crawford misses with a few strikes there.

Crawford has Hoang up against the cage in a clinch.
Hoang effectively controlling the action here.
Hoang takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hoang goes for a takedown in the clinch but Crawford prevents it.
Crawford dodges an elbow strike from Hoang.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoang fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hoang is pressed up against the cage. Crawford has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hoang down to the mat. Hoang avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Crawford throws a series of punches but Hoang moves out of range.
Hoang appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Hoang gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Crawford is pressed up against the cage. Hoang has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Crawford down to the mat. Crawford avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Crawford closes the distance and clinches up with Hoang, looking for a takedown. Crawford pushes Hoang against the cage but Hoang circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Crawford fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hoang misses with a wild body shot.
Crawford shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hoang defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford dives in and grabs Hoang's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hoang pushes down on Crawford's head and hops out.
Crawford shoots in but no luck this time.
Hoang misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hoang.
Crawford takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice sprawl there from Crawford as Hoang shoots in.
Zachary Crawford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shaq Hoang is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hoang avoids the body shot from Crawford.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zachary Crawford comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hoang has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!