PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shoncey Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crawford is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Smith
vs
Crawford

181 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Shoncey Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, TJ Crawford!
The judges for this bout are , and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Crawford takes the fight into the clinch.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Crawford is blocking nicely.
Smith is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smith can't get the takedown.
Crawford's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Smith is trying to break free.

Crawford manages to break the clinch.

Smith moves into the clinch.
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shoncey Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crawford wants to break the clinch but can't.
Crawford is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Crawford looking to stall.
Smith wants to stall.
Smith manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Crawford breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith looks for a takedown but Crawford sprawls well.
TJ Crawford is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Crawford rushes Smith and presses him up against the cage.
Crawford's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Smith can't get the takedown.

Crawford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Crawford turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Crawford as he jumps to the side.
Crawford tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Crawford fails with an attempt to clinch.
Crawford lands a high kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Crawford connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Smith's hands.
Crawford wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Smith tries to clinch up
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Smith takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Crawford looks to land a combination. Smith sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Crawford pushes Smith away with a front kick.
Crawford tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Crawford moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Nice takedown defense from Crawford. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
Smith is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crawford closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Crawford keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Smith's efforts to push away.
Smith jumps guard but Crawford stands there with Smith around his waist. Smith gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Crawford is blocking nicely.
Crawford keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Stalling in the clinch from Crawford.

Crawford manages to break the clinch.
Crawford fails with an attempt to clinch.
Crawford fails with an attempt to clinch.

Crawford has managed to clinch.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Crawford breaks the clinch.

Crawford has closed the distance and engaged Smith in a clinch.

Crawford escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Crawford lands a head kick!

Crawford moves into the clinch.
Smith can't get the takedown.

Crawford escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Crawford chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Crawford takes the fight into the clinch.
Crawford looking to slow down the pace here.
Smith tries to pull guard but Crawford holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Crawford dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice takedown defense from Crawford. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Crawford lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Smith misses with a takedown attempt
and Crawford counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Smith is lucky that one didn't land flush.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shoncey Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss
and Crawford counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Crawford landing knees to the head.
Crawford lands a good knee to the midsection. Smith won't want to take too many of those.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Crawford landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Crawford breaks from the clinch.
Crawford fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Crawford's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Crawford duly obliges.
Crawford tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Crawford tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Crawford lands a nice hook to Smith's body. Smith takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Crawford tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Crawford wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.

Crawford gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Crawford breaks the clinch.
Smith gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Crawford counters with a series of strikes. Smith will be more careful next time no doubt.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.

Crawford takes the fight into the clinch.

Crawford escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Crawford moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
Crawford tries to clinch up.
Crawford tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Crawford darts in and clinches Smith up against the cage.

Crawford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Crawford feints a jab promting Smith to slip. Crawford then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Smith slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
Shoncey Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Crawford tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Crawford lands a nice hook to Smith's body. Smith takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Crawford drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Crawford leaning against his opponent.
Crawford lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Crawford manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Smith takes a knee to the side of the body.

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.

Crawford manages to break the clinch.
Crawford tries to clinch up.
Smith fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Crawford.
Crawford fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith with a lazy takedown attempt
and Crawford counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Smith thinking.

Smith dives in and scores a takedown into Crawford's guard.
Crawford is trying to keep Smith in close.
Smith pushing down on Crawford's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Crawford manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Crawford 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!

Smith misses with a takedown
and Crawford cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Crawford is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Smith rather than just go for the knockout.
Crawford wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Smith tries to clinch up
and Crawford counters with a good low kick that Smith was not able to check.
Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Crawford swivels and escapes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crawford tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Crawford doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Crawford.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Crawford counters with a good low kick that Smith was not able to check.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shoncey Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crawford lands with a slapping head kick.
Crawford scores with the left hand. Smith knows he should have avoided that one.
Crawford throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Crawford throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Smith stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Decent striking displayed by Crawford there.
Crawford lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Crawford closes the distance and pushes Smith back into the cage.

Crawford breaks from the clinch.

Crawford takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Smith is trying to stall.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Crawford lands a nice knee to the body.

Crawford breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shoncey Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith throws a head kick that misses
and Crawford counters with a nice leg kick.
Crawford lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Crawford.
Crawford doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Crawford tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith scores a takedown into full mount!
Crawford wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Smith.
Crawford tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Crawford is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Smith postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Crawford looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford is trying to escape the mount.
Smith takes Crawford's back.
Smith doesn't have the hooks in and Crawford manages to turn into his guard.
Crawford wants to get up but he can't break Smith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Crawford from controlling successfully.
Shoncey Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
TJ Crawford is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to TJ Crawford.
I've got Crawford 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 Suge Night scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... TJ Crawford!