PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mac Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Bobson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Crawford
vs
Bobson

167 cm
24
137 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

168 cm
21
144 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mac Crawford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Robert Bobson!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bobson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Crawford misses with a looping left.
Bobson throws a series of punches but Crawford moves out of range.
Crawford circles away from the clinch attempt.
Robert Bobson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bobson lands with a hook. Crawford tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Bobson wants to clinch up but Crawford keeps it at a distance.
Bobson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bobson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Crawford sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Bobson has managed to clinch.
Bobson is pushing Crawford up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Bobson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Bobson manages to end up in side control.
Crawford is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bobson off and has taken his back!
Bobson is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Crawford off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Bobson rolls, trying to escape but Crawford keeps control of the position.
Bobson has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Crawford.

Bobson defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Bobson trying to control the hands but Crawford won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford 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.
Crawford tries to get the hooks in deep but Bobson pushed the leg off.
Bobson breaks Crawford's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Crawford utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Crawford is trying to control the position but Bobson postures up.
Bobson trying to control but Crawford is working from the bottom.
Crawford manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bobson manages to get himself to full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Crawford sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bobson's guard.

Bobson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Crawford wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bobson keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bobson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Crawford.
Bobson is staying active underneath Crawford, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bobson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Crawford wants to take a breather but Bobson is having none of it.
Crawford is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Crawford looking to control but Bobson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Crawford looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Bobson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Crawford tries to control but Bobson wriggling away.
Bobson is trying desperately to improve position.
Crawford seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Bobson is holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crawford working for a submission but Bobson is keeping him at bay.
Crawford avoids the attempt from Bobson to control.
Bobson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Bobson looks gassed!

Crawford is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Bobson is surviving well by controlling Crawford's body position as best he can.
Bobson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Crawford is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Bobson is surviving well by controlling Crawford's body position as best he can.
Bobson regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford wants to free his trapped foot but Bobson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bobson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Crawford is looking to stand up but Bobson won't let him.
Bobson is trying to control the position but Crawford postures up.
Bobson looking for a sweep. Not yet Bobson, not yet.
Bobson striking off his back but it's not causing Crawford any problems.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crawford looking to pass the guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bobson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Crawford manages to avoid it.
Bobson tries to clinch but Crawford moves out of range.
Bobson tries to clinch but Crawford moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mac Crawford will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Crawford scores a takedown into full mount!
Crawford controlling the pace for now.
Crawford is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Bobson is in real trouble.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Crawford seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bobson for as long as he can get away with.

Crawford working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Bobson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Crawford's guard. Nice work there by Bobson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bobson stands and throws Crawford's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Crawford regains half guard.
Bobson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Crawford's head.
Bobson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Crawford wants to improve his position but Bobson is controlling well.
Bobson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Bobson prevents Crawford from improving his position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bobson connects with a nice short shot to Crawford's temple.

That's two 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.
Bobson working Crawford over with strikes.
Bobson trying to control from half guard but Crawford is working away.
Bobson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bobson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Bobson is breathing heavily.
Crawford gets full guard.

Bobson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bobson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Crawford is on top in guard.
Bobson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Bobson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Crawford is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bobson is on top in guard.
Crawford tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Crawford had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bobson defends it easily.

Crawford working for a triangle but Bobson defends it easily.
Crawford trying to control the position.
Bobson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bobson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Crawford keeping full guard, as Bobson tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bobson trying to control but Crawford is working from the bottom.

Bobson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Crawford manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Bobson has Crawford in his guard.
Crawford trying to control the position from guard on top but Bobson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Crawford pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bobson is keeping the position for now.
Bobson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Crawford trying to control but Bobson is working from the bottom.
Crawford pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bobson is keeping the position for now.
Bobson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mac Crawford dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Bobson with a poor takedown

and Crawford counters with a shoot takedown. Bobson fights it but they end up in guard.
Crawford passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bobson wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Crawford wants to control but Bobson is keeping him busy.
Bobson is trying to improve his position.

Crawford looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Crawford avoids the strikes from the bottom by Bobson.

Crawford tries for a kimura but Bobson is defending well.
Bobson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Crawford trying to control the position but Bobson is working away.
Mac Crawford overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bobson is trying to get back to half guard.

Crawford tries for a kimura but Bobson is defending well.
Crawford in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Bobson tries to bench press Crawford off him but Crawford keeps the position.
Crawford trying to control the position but Bobson is working away.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bobson closes the distance but Crawford moves to the side

and Crawford counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bobson's guard now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bobson keeping moving, preventing Crawford from controlling successfully.
Bobson looking for a sweep. Not yet Bobson, not yet.
Bobson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Bobson is thwarting Crawford's attempts to control the position.
Bobson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Crawford's head.
Crawford is trying to control but can't.
Crawford is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Crawford moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Bobson looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford wants to sweep but no luck.
Crawford being controlled here, momentarily.

Crawford looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Bobson is defending well. Crawford quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Bobson has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Crawford celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mac Crawford!