PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raja Khanna (ranked 441 p4p, 987 weight class) and Gus McCrae (ranked 61 p4p, 135 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Khanna
vs
McCrae

190 cm
26
185
14 - 6 - 2

189 cm
31
197
20 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

NARCOS
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Raja Khanna!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Gus McCrae!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Dean Styles and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khanna avoids the body shot from McCrae.
Khanna doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
McCrae throws a hook but Khanna avoids it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Khanna on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
McCrae throws a hook but Khanna avoids it easily.
Khanna misses with a hook. McCrae ducked under it nicely.
Khanna clobbers McCrae with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Good standup being displayed there by McCrae as he connects with a hook.

It looks like Raja Khanna has been cut.
Khanna misses with a head kick.
McCrae swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McCrae just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromKhanna.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Khanna.
Khanna moves out of range of the strikes.
A lazy body kick from Khanna
and McCrae connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gus McCrae seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCrae rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Khanna holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McCrae.
Khanna working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Khanna.
Khanna lands a left hand that snaps the head of McCrae backwards.
Khanna lands a nice uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Khanna.
McCrae swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McCrae trying to land knees to the body.
Khanna tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Khanna struggles to land a body shot inside as McCrae controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McCrae.

Khanna has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics McCrae uses from the top position.
McCrae wanted to stand there but Khanna had control of the position.
Khanna seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Khanna has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. McCrae 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 Khanna.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McCrae stands up and we're back to a striking position.
A shot to the liver by McCrae. Beautiful body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Khanna gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McCrae.
A shot to the liver by McCrae. Beautiful body shot.
McCrae swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Khanna throws a jab but it's blocked by McCrae.
Khanna doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCrae swings for the body but Khanna moves out of range.
McCrae lunges at Khanna with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Khanna's hand.
Nice uppercut lands for McCrae. That snapped Khanna's head back.
Khanna uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCrae.
A telegraphed right hand from McCrae misses the target.
Khanna takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
McCrae pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Khanna throws a low kick but it's checked well by McCrae.
Khanna shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
McCrae misses with a body shot.
Khanna just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Khanna.
Khanna misses with a right hand
and McCrae counters with a right hand to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McCrae throws a hook but Khanna blocks it.
McCrae throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Khanna sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Khanna is looking to counter punch.
Khanna staying out of range there.
Khanna is looking to counter with a body kick.
Nice body kick there by Khanna.
Khanna with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling McCrae to score with a decent uppercut.
A big right from McCrae misses.
It appears Khanna was looking to counter with a kick there.
Khanna lands with a straight right. McCrae didn't see that one coming.
Donk. McCrae catches Khanna right on the button with a cross.
McCrae rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Khanna connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gus McCrae dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Raja Khanna's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

McCrae takes a swing at Khanna's ribcage but misses.
Khanna scores with a kick to the body.
Khanna scores with a jab to the head.
Khanna takes one on the button.
Nice defenses there by Khanna.
Khanna throwing a counter right hand but McCrae manages to avoid it.
McCrae scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
McCrae just misses with a punch to the body.
McCrae swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCrae fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Khanna manages to avoid it.
An attempted straight right counter from Khanna misses the target.
McCrae rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Khanna counters with a solid body kick.
A big left from Khanna misses.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Khanna.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCrae's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and McCrae duly obliges.
Khanna misses with the body kick
and McCrae counters with a lovely shot to the body.
McCrae throws a sloppy body shot
and Khanna counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McCrae just misses with a punch to the body.
Khanna has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
McCrae throws a good cross that connects.
McCrae swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Khanna connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Khanna misses with a straight right.
Khanna throws a half hearted mid kick.
McCrae loads up on a big right hand but Khanna slips the punch.
The crowd cheers as McCrae lands an impressive looking overhand right. Khanna doesn't seem phased though.
Khanna takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A swing and a miss from McCrae.
McCrae has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McCrae throws a hook but Khanna blocks it.
Khanna throws a quick counter kick to the body but McCrae avoids it.
Khanna connects with a jab.
Khanna takes a shot right to the bread basket.
McCrae looks to land a right hand but Khanna moved out of range.
Khanna thinks about countering with a body kick.
Khanna on the wrong end of a nice hook.
McCrae swings for the body but Khanna moves out of range.
McCrae misses with a body shot.
McCrae throws a body shot but no joy.
McCrae staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khanna misses with an uppercut. McCrae saw that one coming.
McCrae throws out a counter right but Khanna avoids it with no problem.
McCrae misses with a lunging right hand
and Khanna makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
McCrae changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Khanna takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
McCrae misses the body punch
and Khanna counters with a nice uppercut.
McCrae misses the shot to the body.
It looked like Khanna wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
McCrae misses with a right hand
and Khanna counters with a nice uppercut.
McCrae looks to score with a jab to the body but Khanna is just out of range.
Khanna throws a right hand that misses
and Khanna takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
McCrae takes a swing at Khanna's ribcage but misses.
It looked like Khanna wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Khanna throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khanna misses with a straight right.
Khanna misses with an uppercut.
Khanna with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling McCrae to score with a decent uppercut.

Raja Khanna's cut is getting worse.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Khanna takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
McCrae bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
McCrae throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McCrae misses with a body shot
enabling Khanna to counter with a crisp jab.
Khanna avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Khanna throws a front kick that sends McCrae stumbling back into the cage.
McCrae is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Khanna.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gus McCrae showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Raja Khanna's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

McCrae tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Khanna was well out of range. Poor timing from McCrae.
McCrae lands with a good body shot.
McCrae throws a shot to the body.
Khanna misses with a wild body shot.
It seemed like McCrae was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A swing and a miss from McCrae.
Khanna swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A jab from McCrae misses.
A jab from McCrae misses.
McCrae slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCrae sizes up Khanna with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
McCrae misses with a body shot.
Khanna pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCrae misses with a double jab.
Khanna works over McCrae's head and body with a nice combination.
McCrae throws a body punch but Khanna moves out of range.
Khanna went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
McCrae looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A little feinted left hand from Khanna on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Khanna doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Khanna uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McCrae.
Khanna looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
McCrae scores with a body shot.
McCrae works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
McCrae fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Khanna manages to avoid it.
Khanna misses with a few strikes there.
Raja Khanna has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khanna keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McCrae.
McCrae waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Khanna.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good exchange - Khanna coming out on top.
McCrae throws a body shot but no joy.
Khanna on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
McCrae tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Khanna was well out of range. Poor timing from McCrae.
Khanna takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Khanna misses with a looping right.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCrae. Khanna does a little dance to reset his feet.
McCrae just misses with a punch to the body.
Khanna quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
McCrae bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Khanna's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCrae misses with a lunging right hand
and Khanna counters with a lovely shot to the body.
McCrae swings for the body but Khanna moves out of range.
Khanna moves to clinch but McCrae breaks away
and McCrae counters with a nice uppercut.
Khanna blocks a jab.
Gus McCrae is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McCrae scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
McCrae throws a sloppy body shot
and Khanna cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McCrae jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Khanna moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Gus McCrae seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Khanna tries to land a front kick but McCrae steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Khanna
and McCrae counters with a nice uppercut.
A combination from McCrae does no damage.
Khanna tries a head kick but it misses.
McCrae misses with a left hand
and Khanna counters with a lovely shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McCrae misses with an uppercut. Khanna saw that one coming.
McCrae lands a jab to the nose.
Khanna tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and McCrae is able to avoid easily.
Khanna blocks a jab.
McCrae misses with a few strikes there.
McCrae moves out of range of the body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gus McCrae comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McCrae 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gus McCrae!
After the big win, Gus McCrae made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Brooklyn Apothecary and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.