PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mornington Crescent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hard Puncher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Puncher is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Let's go dancing. 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.

Crescent
vs
Puncher

180 cm
23
184 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

179 cm
26
181 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mornington Crescent!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hard Puncher!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Leandro Rodrigues and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Puncher avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Puncher lands with a thumping leg kick.
Crescent misses with a looping left.
Crescent fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Puncher manages to avoid it.
Donk. Crescent catches Puncher right on the button with a cross.
Crescent blocks a head kick by Puncher.
Puncher tries a low kick but Crescent avoids it.
Horrible takedown by Crescent or perhaps it was just good defense by Puncher which made him look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crescent tries to close the distance and clinch but Puncher swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Puncher scores with a sloppy right hand. Crescent should have avoided that one.
A leg kick checked by Crescent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Crescent lands an impressive looking overhand right. Puncher doesn't seem phased though.
Crescent takes one to the side of the head.
Nice cross by Crescent.
Crescent looks to score with a jab to the body but Puncher is just out of range.
Crescent looks for a takedown but Puncher sprawls well.
Hard Puncher is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Puncher lands with an uppercut that bounces Crescent off the cage and back into rage.
Puncher misses with a kick to the body.
Puncher throws a wild body kick that Crescent sees coming a mile off.
Puncher lands an overhand right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crescent walks into a straight right hand from Puncher.
Crescent is looking to clinch.
Crescent moves forwards but Puncher connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Crescent fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Puncher avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mornington Crescent. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crescent misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Crescent uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Puncher.
Crescent avoids the body shot from Puncher.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puncher changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheers as Crescent lands an impressive looking overhand right. Puncher doesn't seem phased though.
Crescent slips a jab from Puncher.
Crescent throws out a loose jab but Puncher uses good head movement to avoid it.
Crescent tries to close the distance and clinch but Puncher swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Crescent.
Puncher stuffs the takedown attempt from Crescent. Crescent gets slowly back to his feet.
Crescent moves out of range as Puncher throws a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Crescent checks a low kick from Puncher.
Puncher tries to score with a low kick but Crescent moves his leg out of the way.
Crescent takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Puncher scoring well with a low kick there.
Puncher lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Crescent lands with an overhand left.
No luck for Crescent with that takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Puncher.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hard Puncher dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Crescent keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Puncher lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Crescent circles away quickly and effectively.
Puncher throws out a leg kick but Crescent moves out of range and Puncher only half commits.
Puncher misses with a two punch combination.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Crescent. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Puncher leaves Crescent with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Puncher throws a right and a left that Crescent avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puncher takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Puncher uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Crescent.
Crescent lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puncher misses with the combination.
Puncher lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Crescent misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Puncher makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Crescent avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Good exchange - Crescent coming out on top.
A chopping leg kick lands by Puncher.
Crescent throws a hook but Puncher blocks it.
Puncher takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Crescent checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puncher wants to slow Crescent down by chopping away at his legs.
Puncher uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Crescent.
Crunch! Puncher slams his shin into Crescent's torso.
A jab from Puncher misses.
Puncher throws a jab but it's blocked by Crescent.
Hard Puncher seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Crescent checks a leg kick.
Crescent throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Crescent tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Puncher was well out of range. Poor timing from Crescent.
Puncher getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crescent misses with a looping right.
Crescent misses with a body shot
and Puncher counters with a nice low kick that buckles Crescent's knee momentarily.

Puncher gets caught flat footed, as Crescent shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Puncher looking for a sweep. Not yet Puncher, not yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Puncher is on top in guard.
Crescent keeping full guard, as Puncher tries to pass.
Puncher showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Puncher trying to control but Crescent is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puncher forces his way into half guard.

Crescent actively working from the bottom here.
Crescent is looking for a sweep. Puncher is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Crescent is staying active underneath Puncher, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hard Puncher showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A shot to the body from Crescent misses
and Puncher counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Puncher plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Puncher throws and low kick but Crescent moves out of range easily.
Puncher misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Crescent counters by moving into the clinch.

Puncher breaks from the clinch.
Crescent misses the shot to the body.
Puncher lands a right hook to the body.
Nice defenses there by Crescent.
Crescent takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Puncher scoring well with a low kick there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crescent shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Crescent throws a sloppy body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Puncher throws a nice outside leg kick.
Puncher throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Crescent tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Puncher paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Crescent slips a straight right by Puncher.
A head kick misses from Puncher.
Puncher tries to land a front kick but Crescent steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Crescent is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The crowd cheers as Crescent lands an impressive looking overhand right. Puncher doesn't seem phased though.
Crescent takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Mornington Crescent has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puncher throws a leg kick that is checked
and Crescent counters with a left to the body.
Crescent takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Crescent pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Puncher connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Puncher tries to land a front kick but Crescent steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Crescent closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Puncher is trying to control Crescent's posture but Crescent avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crescent looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Puncher is avoiding damage well.
Puncher is trying to get back to half guard.
Puncher takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Puncher tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Crescent goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Puncher has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Crescent but great work by Puncher.
Puncher moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's four 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.
Puncher trying to control the position but Crescent is working away.
Hard Puncher is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Crescent is looking for a sweep.
Crescent manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Puncher sitting and controlling from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hard Puncher comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Puncher winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hard Puncher!