PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Josey Wales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Crotch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crotch is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Why Can't We Be Friends? by War. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Wales
vs
Crotch

170 cm
28
146 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

150 cm
26
138 lbs
13 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

5th Round

[CBK] AJFC Smashwear clothing

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 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Josey Wales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Richard Crotch!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Andrew Berry and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crotch throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Wales throws out a loose jab but Crotch uses good head movement to avoid it.
Crotch stuffs the takedown attempt from Wales. Wales gets slowly back to his feet.
Crotch swings for the body but Wales moves out of range.
Nice shot lands for Crotch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Crotch. Wales does a little dance to reset his feet.
Crotch is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Wales.
Wales ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Crotch. Wales does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wales takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Crotch misses the body punch

and Wales decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Crotch's guard.
Crotch being controlled here, momentarily.
Crotch is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Crotch might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Wales kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crotch keeping moving, preventing Wales from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Wales advances to half guard.
Crotch is looking to improve his position.
Wales sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Crotch defending well though.
Crotch works his way to full guard. Good work.
Wales with a nice head shot there.
Crotch looking for a sweep. Not yet Crotch, not yet.
Wales will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Wales got a little sloppy there for a moment and Crotch has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Wales has managed to get both his arms back between Crotch's legs - danger averted.
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.
Crotch wants to sweep but no luck.

Crotch is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Wales is aware though and is defending well.
Crotch tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Wales pushes down on Crotch's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Crotch is staying active underneath Wales, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Wales looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Wales is thwarting Crotch's attempts to control the position.
Wales landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Crotch is staying active underneath Wales, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Crotch works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wales trying to control the position from guard on top but Crotch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wales won't allow Crotch to sweep him here.
Wales is working Crotch over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Crotch looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Wales puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Crotch manages to get to full guard.
Crotch trying to control the position.
Wales 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.
Crotch keeping moving, preventing Wales from controlling successfully.
Crotch wants to sweep but no luck.
Wales is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four 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.

Crotch is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wales tries to free his leg and advance position but Crotch is retaining full guard.
Wales in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Crotch is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Wales stops Crotch from standing up.
Crotch looking to control.
Wales wants to control from the top but Crotch keeps moving.
Wales is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Crotch is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josey Wales dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Crotch lands a nice shot to the body.
Crotch rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Wales moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Crotch throws a body punch but Wales moves out of range.
Wales waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Crotch.
Crotch lands with a nice body punch.
Crotch is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Wales.
Wales walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Crotch uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Wales.
Crotch thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wales checks a leg kick nicely.
Crotch avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Crotch tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wales was well out of range. Poor timing from Crotch.
Good exchange - Wales coming out on top.
Crotch is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Wales rather than just go for the knockout.
Crotch works the jab nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wales staying out of range there.
Crotch will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Wales misses the shot to the body.
A jab from Crotch misses.
Crotch rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Wales moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wales takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Crotch lands a nice hook to Wales's body. Wales takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Crotch misses with a shot to the body
and Wales counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Wales moves away from the strike by Crotch.
Crotch misses with a body punch

and Wales counters with a takedown into side control.
Crotch tries to bench press Wales off him but Wales keeps the position.
Crotch pushes Wales away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Wales gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Wales is looking to take a break and control but Crotch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wales landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crotch tries to buck Wales off but Wales is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crotch is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Wales tries for a kimura but Crotch is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Crotch is pushing Wales's head away, looking to escape. Wales manages to hold on to the position though.
Wales wants to lay and pray for a moment but Crotch keeps working.
Crotch tries to bench press Wales off him but Wales keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wales in the domination position with Crotch hanging on.
Crotch wants to get back to his feet but Wales drags him back down.
Crotch tries to bench press Wales off him but Wales keeps the position.
Crotch is not content to let Wales control the position.
Wales slows the pace down.
Crotch tries to buck Wales off but Wales is having none of it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Wales trying to control the action but Crotch is working from the bottom.
The referee asks Wales politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Wales prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Wales cracks Crotch with a big right hand but Crotch just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Crotch is looking for a sweep.
Crotch dodges the ground and pound from Wales.
Wales taking a breather here.
Wales in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Crotch is looking for a sweep.
Wales throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Crotch is trying to get back to half guard.

Wales working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josey Wales 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!

Crotch ducks right into an uppercut from Wales.
Crotch swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Wales counters with a stiff right hand.
Crotch fails with a takedown attempt.

Wales clinches up with Crotch and pushes him back against the cage.
Wales blocks a body shot from Crotch.
Crotch can't find room to land a body shot as Wales controls the action.
Wales tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Crotch avoids it.
Crotch lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Wales.
Crotch is trying to stall.
A short right from Wales.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A short left from Wales.
Crotch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wales content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wales goes for a takedown attempt but Crotch pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Crotch scores with a crisp jab that stopped Wales in his tracks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wales. Crotch does a little dance to reset his feet.
Crotch loads up on a big right hand but Wales slips the punch.
Crotch shoots in and drives through. Wales sprawls well.
Crotch bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Crotch loads up on a big right hand but Wales slips the punch.
Richard Crotch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crotch scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Wales checks a leg kick nicely.

Crotch shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Wales manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Wales keeping full guard, as Crotch tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crotch won't allow Wales to sweep him here.
Wales is working hard here to advance position.

Crotch drops back, looking for a kneebar! Wales looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Wales looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Wales!
Wales lands a nice forearm strike.
Crotch taking punishment in the form of punches.
Wales is looking to take a break and control but Crotch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Crotch tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Josey Wales overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Crotch wants to control but Wales postures up.
Crotch regains half guard.
Crotch is pressing down on Wales's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Crotch wants to sweep but no luck.
Wales slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Crotch is not content to let Wales control the position.
Crotch is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Josey Wales is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wales connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Crotch some visible discomfort.
Crotch is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Wales off and has taken his back!
Wales looking very determined here, making life difficult for Crotch.
What can Wales do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Crotch throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Crotch wants to control but Wales is keeping busy.
Crotch misses with a punch to the head.
Richard Crotch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Crotch is punishing Wales with strikes - can he finish him?!

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 Josey Wales.
Well Wales has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josey Wales!