PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lee Crawford (ranked 4375 p4p, 4322 weight class) and Billy Bishop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Crawford
vs
Bishop

176 cm
25
165
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lee Crawford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Billy Bishop!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Patrick Alders and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bishop clinches up against the cage.
Bishop changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Crawford fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Bishop rushes Crawford and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Crawford has Bishop pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bishop manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bishop is looking to take this one to the mat.
Crawford avoids a wild elbow strike from Bishop.
A frustrated look appears on Bishop's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Crawford manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Bishop changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Crawford fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Lee Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Bishop.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crawford fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Crawford stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bishop rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Crawford moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Bishop clinches.

Crawford breaks the clinch.
Crawford changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bishop tries to avoid it but Crawford manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bishop to the ground. Bishop escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Crawford fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bishop, pushing him back against the cage.

Crawford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Bishop takes the fight into the clinch.
Bishop tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Crawford avoids it.
Bishop wants a takedown.
Bishop changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Crawford fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A nice leg kick lands there from Crawford.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bishop or perhaps it was just good defense by Crawford, which made it look bad.

Crawford moves into the clinch.
Bishop wants to get back to striking at distance but Crawford won't allow it.
Crawford is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bishop is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Crawford escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bishop moves to clinch but Crawford breaks away
and Crawford counters with a straight right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bishop falls off balance throwing a combination

and Crawford moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bishop gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Crawford.
Crawford drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bishop pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bishop misses with a takedown attempt - Crawford sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Bishop closes the distance and clinches.

Bishop breaks the clinch.
Bishop doesn't manage to clinch there - Crawford circles away.
Crawford throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Bishop clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford wants to break free but Bishop has control.
Bishop changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Crawford fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Bishop shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Crawford shoots in but no luck this time.
Bishop is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Crawford shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bishop pinned against the cage. Bishop gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Crawford leaves Bishop with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Bishop gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Crawford lands a shoulder strike.
Crawford is trying to pull guard but Bishop turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
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 Lee Crawford will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bishop misses with a takedown attempt - Crawford sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Crawford looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bishop is fending him off so far but Crawford persists. Nope, Bishop circles away and we're back to standing.
Bishop throws the left hand but Crawford avoids the punch easily.

Crawford has closed the distance and engaged Bishop in a clinch.
Bishop is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Crawford to keep the fight standing.
Crawford looking to slow down the pace here.
Crawford wants to take the fight to the mat but Bishop manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crawford looking to slow down the pace here.
Bishop jumps guard but Crawford turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lee Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Bishop.
Bishop misses with a body punch.

Bishop pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bishop can do anything to dispel that myth.

Bishop throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Crawford escapes and throws Bishop's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Bishop is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Crawford's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Crawford is looking to take a break and control but Bishop is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bishop wants to control but Crawford is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Crawford is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Crawford tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bishop knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Crawford keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Crawford is looking for a kimura but Bishop is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Crawford to get the leverage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bishop avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Crawford.
Bishop avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Crawford.
Crawford is trying to control the action in half guard but Bishop is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bishop trying to control here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Crawford looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Crawford lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bishop circles away quickly and effectively.
Bishop will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Crawford misses with a takedown attempt - Bishop sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Bishop breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford shoots in but Bishop avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bishop looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Crawford is fending him off so far but Bishop persists. Nope, Crawford circles away and we're back to standing.
Crawford tries to counter by clinching up but Bishop breaks away and moves out of range.
Bishop closes this distance looking for a takedown but Crawford circles away.
Bishop is looking to clinch.
Crawford was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Crawford tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bishop swivels and escapes.
Crawford tries for a takedown but Bishop circles away easily
and Bishop cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bishop thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Crawford if he has to take too many more of those.
Bishop darts in looking for a takedown but Crawford gets double underhooks and turns Bishop into the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bishop tries to clinch but Crawford moves away
and Crawford makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Bishop really felt that one!
Lee Crawford is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Crawford closes the distance and clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bishop is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Crawford is defending well.
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 Lee Crawford will probably get the nod.
That's time! Crawford's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Crawford doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bishop counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bishop shoots in looking for a takedown but Crawford manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bishop's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Crawford tries to keep at a distance but Bishop has taken the fight into the clinch.

Bishop manages to break the clinch.
Crawford fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Crawford misses with a head kick.
And Bishop tries to counter it with a takedown but Crawford pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bishop looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Crawford is fending him off so far but Bishop persists. Nope, Crawford circles away and we're back to standing.
Crawford tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bishop sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Crawford somewhat.
Bishop lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Crawford. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford dives in and grabs Bishop's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bishop pushes down on Crawford's head and hops out.
Crawford tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bishop sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Crawford somewhat.

Bishop darts in and clinches Crawford up against the cage.

Bishop breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bishop shoots in and drives through. Crawford sprawls well.
Crawford lands with a shot to the body.
Bishop will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Crawford misses with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bishop changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Crawford tries to avoid it but Bishop manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Crawford to the ground. Crawford escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A head kick misses from Bishop.
Bishop takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bishop closes the distance and pushes Crawford back into the cage.
Bishop cracks Crawford with a nice body shot.

Bishop's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Crawford misses with a head kick.
Bishop avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bishop tries for a takedown but Crawford circles away easily
letting Crawford counter with a right hand.
A thudding body kick lands there by Bishop!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bishop changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Crawford tries to avoid it but Bishop manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Crawford to the ground. Crawford escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Crawford fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bishop tries a head kick but it misses.
Crawford tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Crawford throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Bishop closes the distance and clinches.
Crawford wants a takedown.
Bishop is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Crawford pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bishop is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bishop goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Crawford breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Crawford looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bishop is fending him off so far but Crawford persists. Nope, Bishop circles away and we're back to standing.
Bishop tries to close the distance and clinch but Crawford swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Crawford.
Bishop tries for a takedown but Crawford sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bishop goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bishop leaves Crawford with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bishop tries to score a power double leg takedown but Crawford sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bishop somewhat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Crawford fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Bishop comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Crawford 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 28:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Lee Crawford!