PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ramzes Crut (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Raffoul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Crut
vs
Raffoul

187 cm
22
213 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
202 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ramzes Crut!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, David Raffoul!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Hugh Johnson and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Crut decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Raffoul wants to improve his position but Crut is controlling well.

Crut is working for a submission of some sort.

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

Raffoul pushes Crut off and gets back to his feet.
Ramzes Crut seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crut looks for a takedown but Raffoul sprawls well.

Crut drives through with a takedown into guard.

Raffoul looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Crut knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Raffoul on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Crut drops back, looking for a kneebar! Raffoul looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Raffoul looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Raffoul!
Crut is looking to reverse the position.
Raffoul is looking to take a break and control but Crut is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Raffoul sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Crut is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Crut prevents Raffoul from improving position.
Crut tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Crut is not content to let Raffoul control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raffoul looking to control but instead Crut has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Crut looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raffoul lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Crut!
Raffoul lands a big shot there that rocks Crut but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Raffoul takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Crut is bucking up trying to escape but Raffoul cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Raffoul wants to control the pace but Crut is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crut keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Raffoul trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Raffoul sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
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 Ramzes Crut will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Raffoul fails with the takedown

and Crut counters with a single leg into guard. Raffoul didn't expect that.
Raffoul controls Crut momentarily but Crut frees himself.
Raffoul working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Crut.
Crut trying to control but Raffoul is working from the bottom.

Crut drops back, looking for a kneebar! Raffoul looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Raffoul looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Raffoul!
Raffoul is looking to take a break and control but Crut is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, David Raffoul just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Raffoul is looking to clinch.
Crut doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Raffoul counters with a nice double leg into guard.
David Raffoul has got the better of the ground game so far.
Raffoul wants to control from the top but Crut keeps moving.
Raffoul's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Raffoul won't allow Crut to sweep him here.
Raffoul's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raffoul wants to control from the top but Crut keeps moving.

Crut looking for a guillotine here but Raffoul defends easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Raffoul trying to control the position from guard on top but Crut is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raffoul tries to stand but Crut is controlling from the bottom.
Raffoul controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Raffoul looking to sit in guard and control but Crut gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Despite being in the dominant position, David Raffoul just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Crut clinches up against the cage.
Raffoul wants to break the clinch but can't.
Crut tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Raffoul avoids it.
Crut goes for a takedown in the clinch but Raffoul prevents it.
Raffoul prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ramzes Crut. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crut gets underhooks to prevent Raffoul's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Raffoul breaks from the clinch.
Raffoul shoots in and drives through. Crut sprawls well.

Raffoul throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Crut was covering up waiting for the punch and Raffoul finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Crut is looking for a triangle but Raffoul pushes his legs off easily.
Raffoul stays in close to Crut's body and controls the position.
Raffoul is looking to work some ground and pound but Crut has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Raffoul showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Raffoul shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Crut pinned against the cage. Crut gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
David Raffoul is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Crut closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Raffoul did well to prevent Crut getting side control.
Raffoul is trying to maintain the position but Crut is very close to passing his half guard.

Crut is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Crut is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Raffoul pushes Crut off looking to stand but Crut dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Crut prevents Raffoul from improving his position.
Crut throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Crut looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Raffoul with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Crut trying to control the action but Raffoul is working from the bottom.

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

Crut shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Raffoul is trying to defend but Crut finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Crut trying to control from Raffoul's half guard. Raffoul has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crut wants to control from the top but Raffoul keeps moving.

Raffoul is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Crut defends well.
Crut prevents Raffoul from getting back to his feet.

Crut has gone for a leg lock! Raffoul slips out almost immediately though and dives into Crut's guard.
Raffoul is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crut is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Raffoul postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Raffoul trying to control the position from guard on top but Crut is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Crut had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Raffoul defends it easily.
Raffoul is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Raffoul's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ramzes Crut.
I think Crut 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Raffoul!