PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Orlando Noriega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Noriega has chosen GO TO SLEEP as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Crawford
vs
Noriega

188 cm
27
250 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

195 cm
27
279 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Broken Halo Pride Nutrition
Firebird Designs

Conviction
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paul Crawford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Orlando Noriega!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Noriega on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Crawford. Crawford obviously looking to wear him down.
A big right from Crawford misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Noriega. Crawford does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jab from Crawford.
Crawford misses with a double jab.
A big right from Crawford misses.
Crawford tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Noriega is able to avoid easily.
Crawford misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Crawford throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Crawford ducks under a wild hook from Noriega.
Crawford misses with a wild body shot.
Crawford thows a body shot but no joy.

Crawford shoots in and bounces Noriega off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Noriega looking to hit a scissor sweep but Crawford is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford is stalling in the full guard.
Noriega is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Crawford is controlling him.
Crawford postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Noriega wants to sweep but no luck.
Noriega has Crawford pulled in close to control his posture.
Noriega is trying to control the position but Crawford postures up.

That's two 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Crawford accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Crawford scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Noriega keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Noriega misses with an uppercut.
Crawford connects with a right hand. Noriega shakes it off.

It looks like Orlando Noriega has been cut.
Crawford misses with a head kick.
Crawford throws a jab but it's blocked by Noriega.
Crawford scores with a jab to the head.
Crawford takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Crawford avoids the body shot from Noriega.
Noriega fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Crawford looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Crawford swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noriega swings for the body but Crawford moves out of range.
Noriega scores with a shot to the body.
Noriega misses with a straight right.
Crawford looks for the body kick but Noriega saw that one coming.
Crawford rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Noriega moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Noriega circles away from the clinch attempt.
Noriega misses with an uppercut.
Noriega uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Crawford has time to react.
Crawford misses with a wild body shot.
Crawford throws a body punch but Noriega moves out of range.
Crawford staying out of range there.
Crawford throws a push kick but Noriega slaps the foot to one side.
Crawford throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Decent striking displayed by Noriega there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Noriega slips under a jab.
Noriega throws the left hand but Crawford avoids the punch easily.
Noriega misses with a body shot.
Noriega cracks Crawford with an open hand slap.
Noriega misses with a hook to the body

and Crawford counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Noriega throws a head punch that misses.
A frustrated look appears on Noriega's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Noriega blocking some punches.
Noriega leaning against his opponent.
Crawford throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Noriega prevents a body shot from Crawford.
Crawford tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Crawford doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Crawford prevents a takedown attempt there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Crawford dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Orlando Noriega's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Crawford swings for the body but Noriega moves out of range.

Crawford scores with a takedown into Noriega's guard.
Crawford makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Crawford has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Noriega is controlling Crawford's posture.
Crawford wants to pass the guard but Noriega is keeping the position.
Noriega avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Noriega looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Crawford trying to control the position from guard on top but Noriega is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford landing with the ground and pound.
Noriega trying to keep a closed guard but Crawford is proving a slippery customer.
Crawford works over Noriega with some ground and pound from guard.
Noriega keeping moving, preventing Crawford from controlling successfully.
Noriega is pulling down on Crawford's head to control his posture.
Crawford passes Noriega's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Noriega is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Crawford's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Crawford's back!
Crawford trying to control the action but Noriega just sinks the hooks in.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Crawford here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Crawford tries to escape the position.
Noriega misses with a punch to the head.
Crawford prevents Noriega from getting a body triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford is in bad spot here.
Noriega is trying to stick to Crawford's back but Crawford is turning into Noriega. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Noriega's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Crawford.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Noriega holds on and takes a little breather.
Crawford tries to free his leg and advance position but Noriega is retaining full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Noriega uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Crawford.
Paul Crawford is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Noriega lands with a good body shot.
Crawford looks to score with a jab to the body but Noriega is just out of range.
Crawford throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Noriega to counter with a crisp jab.
Noriega lands with an uppercut that bounces Crawford off the cage and back into rage.
Noriega misses with a looping right.
Noriega just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Noriega finds it's target.
Crawford misses with an uppercut.
Crawford throws a leg kick but Noriega sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Crawford takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Crawford bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Noriega scores with a crisp jab that stopped Crawford in his tracks.
Noriega takes a swing at Crawford's ribcage but misses.
Noriega throws a jab but it's blocked by Crawford.
Noriega dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Noriega tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Crawford was well out of range. Poor timing from Noriega.
Nice cross by Noriega.
Crawford takes a jab right on the kisser.
Noriega has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Crawford throws a hook but Noriega avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orlando Noriega showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Orlando Noriega's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Noriega waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Crawford.
Noriega connects with a nice looking jab.
Noriega ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Crawford wants to clinch up but Noriega keeps it at a distance.
Noriega moves out of range of the leg kick from Crawford.
Crawford throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Noriega lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Noriega scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Noriega lands the left hand.
Crawford swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Noriega counter with a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice defenses there by Crawford.
Noriega looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Noriega works the jab nicely.
Noriega scores with the left hand. Crawford knows he should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noriega lands a nice looking body shot.
Crawford takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Noriega connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Good shot there by Noriega.
Noriega lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Paul Crawford has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Crawford walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Crawford walks into a straight right hand from Noriega.
Noriega lands a really nice looking cross but Crawford seems unphased.
Noriega connects with a good right hand that stumbles Crawford. Crawford circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Crawford throws a looping overhand right but Noriega ducks down to avoid it.
Crawford is looking to clinch but Noriega is avoiding it.
Crawford looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Noriega misses the body punch
and Noriega takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Crawford doesn't manage to clinch there - Noriega circles away.
Noriega misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford thows a body kick. Noriega tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Crawford scores with a crisp jab that stopped Noriega in his tracks.
Noriega smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Crawford with a poor takedown
and Crawford takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Noriega with a jab.
Crawford throws a jab but it's blocked by Noriega.
Jab by Noriega.
Noriega lands with a hook. Crawford tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Crawford ducks under a wild hook from Noriega.
Noriega keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Crawford walks into a straight right hand from Noriega.
Crawford doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Noriega lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Crawford at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noriega bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Noriega scores with a jab.
Noriega lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Noriega connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Noriega lands with a cross.
Noriega throws a series of punches but Crawford moves out of range.
Noriega scores with a jab to the jaw.
Noriega listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Crawford throws a sloppy body shot
and Noriega counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Orlando Noriega seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Crawford takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Noriega's corner calls for a 1-2. Noriega obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Noriega with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Noriega lands a nice looking body shot.
Noriega lands with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Noriega comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Jab from Noriega.
Noriega lands a body shot.
Noriega misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Noriega lands an overhand right.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Noriega, as that shot connected.
Crawford takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Noriega connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Crawford's hands.
Noriega has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Noriega connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A nice combination there by Noriega.
Crawford gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Crawford takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Orlando Noriega comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Noriega has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Orlando Noriega!