PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Travis Back (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cripz Eire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Back
vs
Eire

185 cm
20
197 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

187 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Travis Back!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Cripz Eire!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Donald Grub and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Eire feints and as Back raises his hands in defense, Eire changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Back looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Eire makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Back keeping moving, preventing Eire from controlling successfully.
Eire seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Back knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Eire on the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Eire accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Eire advances to half guard.
Back avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Eire.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Eire in particular looking to stall.

Eire is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Back has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Eire is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Back doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Eire.
Eire thows a huge punch but Back dodges it nicely.
Eire missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Eire decides to stand and escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Eire looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Eire lands a jab-cross combination.
Eire tries to clinch but Back moves out of range.
Back wants to clinch
and Eire cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A nice combination there by Eire.

Eire gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Eire stalling in the clinch but Back improves position.
Eire wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Back prevents Eire from breaking the clinch.
Eire tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Back smiles and moves away.
Eire thuds his right hand into Back's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Eire darts in and clinches Back up against the cage.

Eire drags the fight down to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Back being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Eire manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Back manages to get himself to full guard.

Eire gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Eire has Back up against the cage in a clinch.
Eire is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Back gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Back working hard to break the clinch.
Eire tries to pull guard but Back won't allow it.
Travis Back has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cripz Eire.
Back is trying to force a seperation but Eire has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eire misses with a knee to the head.

Eire pulls guard.
Back pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Eire is keeping the position for now.
Eire trying to control the position.
Eire looking to hit a scissor sweep but Back is one step ahead there.
Back wants to control from the top but Eire keeps moving.

Eire has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Back can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cripz Eire dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Back instigates a clinch.
Back misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Eire manages to pull guard.
Eire looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Eire bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Back's guard.
Eire slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Back keeping moving, preventing Eire from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Eire gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Eire drives through with a takedown into guard.

Eire gets to his feet - Back follows without any prompting.
Eire steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Back.

Back gets caught flat footed, as Eire shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Back is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Eire postures up in Back's guard and throws a big left but Back blocks it.
Back wants to get back to his feet but Eire is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Back can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Eire controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eire wants to control from the top but Back keeps moving.
Eire prevents Back from getting back to his feet.
Eire with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Eire trying to control but Back is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Back falls off balance throwing a combination
and Eire counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Back thinking.
Eire scores with a jab to the body.
A leg kick checked by Eire.

Eire closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Back is trying to stand back up but Eire is controlling him
Eire works his foot free and advances to mount.
Eire controlling the pace for now.
Eire has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Back's face.
Eire trying to control but Back is having none of it.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Eire cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four 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.
Eire scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Back?
Back wants to control but Eire is having none of it.
Eire dominating with strikes here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A nice elbow there by Eire.
Eire working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Back tries to hold on but Eire pushes him away.
Eire content just to control the position here.
Back in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cripz Eire showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Back fails with a takedown attempt.
Eire lands a head kick!
Travis Back is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Eire is looking to clinch but Back is avoiding it.
Eire smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Eire connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Eire closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Eire lands in his opponent's guard.
Back is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Eire is controlling him.
Back can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Eire controls the pace.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Eire loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Eire stands up and waves to Back to follow him.
Eire tests Back's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Eire cracks Back with a good jab.

Eire throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Back was covering up waiting for the punch and Eire finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Eire lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Back looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eire postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Eire sitting in guard here, content to control.
Eire throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Back works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Back keeping moving, preventing Eire from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Eire accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Eire has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Back being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Eire looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Back is fending him off so far but Eire persists. Nope, Back circles away and we're back to standing.
Eire walks into a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Eire gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Back breaks the clinch.
Eire lands with a nice combination. Back backs away looking to recover.
Back tries to clinch but Eire moves away
and Eire counters with a two punch combo.
Eire works Back's body with a nice hook.
Travis Back seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Eire feints and then cracks Back's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Back down.
Back misses with a hook.
Back wants to clinch up but Eire keeps it at a distance.

Eire closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Back to the mat! Back manages to get full guard.

Eire decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Back, up you get!

Eire drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Back is letting Eire control him for a moment.
Eire throws a strike aimed at the side of Back's head but Back avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eire trying to control the position but Back is working away.

Eire decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Eire shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Back's guard.
Travis Back has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Back has a closed guard, preventing Eire from standing up.
Back is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Eire is controlling him.
Eire looking to sit in guard and control but Back gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cripz Eire comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Eire has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight for Cripz Eire!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Cripz Eire!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Cripz Eire!

Cripz Eire wins by unanimous decision!