PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Neck Cranka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Augusto Ricardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cranka
vs
Ricardo

165 cm
24
140 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

155 cm
24
140 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Neck Cranka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Augusto Ricardo!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Skip Squint and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ricardo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cranka was well out of range. Poor timing from Ricardo.
A slow jab from Ricardo misses its intended target.
Augusto Ricardo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cranka looks to land a body kick but Ricardo moved away.
Ricardo thows a body shot but no joy.
Cranka fails with a takedown attempt.
Cranka swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ricardo looks to land a combination but Cranka avoids it well.
Cranka shoots in for a double leg but Ricardo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cranka misses with a straight right.
Ricardo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cranka was well out of range. Poor timing from Ricardo.
Cranka avoids the body shot from Ricardo.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Cranka looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Cranka not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cranka not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cranka not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ricardo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ricardo is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Cranka jumps into side control!
Ricardo tries to improve position but can't.
Cranka lands a decent elbow from side control.
Ricardo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ricardo is looking for a sweep. Cranka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cranka throwing shots but Ricardo is blocking nicely.
Ricardo is looking to improve his position.
Cranka throwing shots but Ricardo is blocking nicely.
Cranka trying to pass the guard but Ricardo defending well.
Cranka looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cranka missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Cranka is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ricardo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cranka. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Ricardo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cranka's half guard.
Cranka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ricardo.
Ricardo drops an elbow to the side of Cranka's head.
Ricardo thows a huge punch but Cranka dodges it nicely.
Cranka works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ricardo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cranka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ricardo.
Cranka keeping moving, preventing Ricardo from controlling successfully.
Cranka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ricardo lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Cranka 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.
Ricardo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ricardo with a nice head shot there.
Ricardo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ricardo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cranka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ricardo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cranka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cranka looking for a sweep. Not yet Cranka, not yet.
Cranka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cranka keeping moving, preventing Ricardo from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ricardo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cranka sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Cranka lands with a kick to the ribs.
Ricardo sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Cranka gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cranka wants to hit a switch here but Ricardo passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Cranka there!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cranka is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cranka bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Cranka stands and throws Ricardo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ricardo is looking to reverse the position.
Ricardo parries the strikes from Cranka easily there. Cranka is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Ricardo to escape.
Sloppy strikes there by Cranka.
Cranka working the ground and pound.
Cranka working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Cranka avoids the strikes from the bottom by Ricardo.
Ricardo defending against the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricardo is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Cranka's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ricardo flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Ricardo wants to control but Cranka is keeping busy.
Ricardo is looking for a sweep. Cranka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cranka has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Cranka scoring with strikes but Ricardo is staying in there.
Cranka blocks Ricardo's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Cranka lands a big shot there that rocks Ricardo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Ricardo is looking to get to half guard.
Cranka unloads with some shots from mount but Ricardo bucks and avoids them well.
Ricardo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cranka lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neck Cranka dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cranka tries a head kick but it misses.
Cranka throws a quick inside leg kick.
Cranka tries for a takedown but Ricardo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Ricardo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Cranka was covering up waiting for the punch and Ricardo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ricardo wants to control from the top but Cranka keeps moving.
Ricardo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cranka 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.
Cranka working a defensive guard here.
Ricardo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cranka is keeping the position for now.
Ricardo is looking to work some ground and pound but Cranka has wrist control.
Ricardo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cranka looking for a sweep. Not yet Cranka, not yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cranka plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cranka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ricardo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cranka.
Cranka ducks under a wild hook from Ricardo.
Ricardo misses with a body shot.
Cranka misses with a takedown attempt - Ricardo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cranka misses with a takedown attempt - Ricardo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neck Cranka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Ricardo with that takedown attempt.

Ricardo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Cranka gets full guard.
Ricardo wants to control from the top but Cranka keeps moving.
Cranka trying to keep a closed guard but Ricardo is proving a slippery customer.
Ricardo stopping the sweep attempt from Cranka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricardo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cranka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cranka manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ricardo manages to get himself to full guard.
Cranka thows a big elbow that misses.
Ricardo is trying to keep Cranka in close.
Ricardo wants to stand but Cranka is controlling the position.
Ricardo wants to hit a switch here but Cranka passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ricardo there!
Neck Cranka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ricardo bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Cranka 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cranka is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Cranka trying to control the pace.
Ricardo lands with a few short shots to the body.
Cranka is trying to control. Ricardo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cranka missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ricardo is in trouble now - Cranka has advanced to mount!
Cranka unloads with some shots from mount but Ricardo bucks and avoids them well.
Ricardo is trying desperately to improve position.

Cranka looking for a guillotine from mount but Ricardo is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ricardo tries to hold on but Cranka pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricardo is desperately trying to improve his position but Cranka has a good base and remains in mount.
Cranka sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Ricardo bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Ricardo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cranka working a defensive guard but Ricardo passes into half guard.
Ricardo prevents Cranka from improving his position.
Ricardo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Cranka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ricardo.
Cranka tries to get to full guard but Ricardo has control of the leg.
Ricardo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Augusto Ricardo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cranka throws a chopping leg kick but Ricardo manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cranka just misses with a punch to the body.
Ricardo thows a body shot but no joy.
Ricardo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cranka.

Ricardo scores with a takedown into Cranka's guard.
Ricardo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Cranka prevents Ricardo from moving into mount.
Cranka is looking to reverse the position.
Ricardo throws a strike aimed at the side of Cranka's head but Cranka avoids it well.
Cranka tries to buck Ricardo off but Ricardo is having none of it.
Cranka gets back to half guard.
Cranka wants to get back to full guard.
Ricardo thows a huge punch but Cranka dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Ricardo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ricardo landing a few strikes.
Cranka wants to control but Ricardo postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cranka is trying to get back to half guard.
Cranka manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Cranka throwing shots but Ricardo is blocking nicely.
Ricardo is looking to improve his position.
Cranka thows a huge punch but Ricardo dodges it nicely.
Ricardo is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Cranka throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Cranka dominating with strikes here.
Ricardo taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricardo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ricardo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cranka lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ricardo hang on?
Cranka blocks Ricardo's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Ricardo is looking to improve his position but Cranka isn't that keen on the idea.
Cranka pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Ricardo working to try and regain half guard.
The referee warns Ricardo that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ricardo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ricardo is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Poor strikes thrown by Cranka there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Ricardo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cranka unloading with bombs!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cranka looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Cranka lands a nice shot to the head.
A nice elbow there by Cranka.
Cranka prevents Ricardo from getting the reversal.
Cranka sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Ricardo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cranka throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Ricardo blocking the ground and pound.
A nice elbow there by Cranka.
Cranka avoids the attempt from Ricardo to control.
Ricardo regains half guard.
Cranka trying to pass the guard but Ricardo defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricardo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cranka.
Ricardo tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Cranka thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ricardo's head.
Ricardo won't allow Cranka to pass to mount.

Cranka is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ricardo is pressing down on Cranka's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ricardo is on top in guard.
Ricardo trying to control the position from guard on top but Cranka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ricardo works over Cranka with some ground and pound from guard.
Ricardo slips nicely into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Augusto Ricardo.
I think Ricardo 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!