PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between charles smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Crane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

smith
vs
Crane

165 cm
23
149 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

184 cm
21
147 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, charles smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Crane!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crane looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? smith is fending him off so far but Crane persists. Nope, smith circles away and we're back to standing.

smith darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Crane wants to improve his position but smith is controlling well.
Crane is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Crane wants to get back to full guard.
smith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
smith is trying to control the action in half guard but Crane is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
smith is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Crane is squirming around, avoiding smith's attempts to control the action.
Crane is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crane throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
smith prevents Crane from getting the reversal.
smith wants to control the pace but Crane is squirming around nicely.
smith is landing with some decent strikes but Crane is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
smith looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Crane is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Crane is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Crane is looking to improve his position but smith isn't that keen on the idea.
Crane swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Crane throwing hammer fists to the chest of smith. What's that going to do exactly?
smith lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
smith moves to the back.

smith has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Crane fending off the submission attempt from smith.
smith is breathing heavily.
Crane staying busy and making it hard for smith to control.
Crane rolls, trying to escape but smith keeps control of the position.
smith not allowing Crane to control his hands.
smith keeps control of the position as Crane tries to break free.
smith lands punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
smith doesn't have the hooks in and Crane manages to turn into his guard.
smith keeping full guard, as Crane tries to pass.
Crane must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
smith is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Crane.
Crane misses with a takedown attempt

and smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Crane is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. smith is aware though and is defending well.
smith stands and throws Crane's legs to the side, diving into side control.
smith connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Crane some visible discomfort.
smith 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.
Crane is looking for a sweep.

smith is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Crane is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
smith content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Crane's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Crane is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
smith trying to control the action but Crane is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Crane shoots and misses

and smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Crane looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
smith might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

smith drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Crane dives on top into guard.

smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Crane wants to pass the guard but smith is keeping the position.
Crane passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Crane scores with a couple of short elbows.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Crane moves into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crane landing strikes from the mount and smith is in trouble!
Crane raining down shots from the mount!

Crane working for a submission but smith is keeping him at bay.
charles smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
smith is desperately trying to improve his position but Crane has a good base and remains in mount.
Crane is landing with some decent strikes but smith is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Crane wants to control the pace but smith is squirming around nicely.
smith is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Crane lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Crane lands with some vicious ground and pound - can smith hang on?
smith is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Crane gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Crane closes this distance looking for a takedown but smith circles away.
Crane goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

smith shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. smith showed some decent athleticism there.
smith wants to free his trapped foot but Crane is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

smith is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Crane doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time smith.
Crane slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Crane keeping moving, preventing smith from controlling successfully.
smith is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Crane is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
smith won't allow Crane to get back to his feet.
smith preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Crane misses with a takedown

so smith counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
charles smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Crane.
smith won't allow Crane to sweep him here.
smith wants to pass the guard but Crane is keeping the position.
smith slips nicely into half guard.
Crane is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
smith is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Crane!
smith raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

charles smith dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Crane tries for a takedown but smith circles away easily

so smith counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Crane trying to strike off his back.
Crane is trying to control the position from the bottom.

smith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and smith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Crane has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think smith should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Crane has tightened it up now! smith should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). James Crane!