PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Skull Crash (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Gans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Crash
vs
Gans

166 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Skull Crash!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Gans!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Jorge Garcia and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crash lands a leg kick that knocks Gans off balance momentarily.
Gans fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Gans closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Crash to the mat! Crash manages to get full guard.
Gans must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Crash trying to control the position.
Gans really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Crash. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Crash working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gans doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gans manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Crash trying to control the position.
Gans with a flurry of punches that miss.

Crash had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gans defends it easily.
Gans throws a big elbow that misses.
Gans throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Crash works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Crash utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gans wants to control from the top but Crash keeps moving.
Gans throwing strikes but missing.
Gans is looking to stand up but Crash won't let him.
Gans lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gans would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Crash isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Gans stacks Crash on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Gans!
Gans creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Crash sneaks back into half guard.
Crash is breathing heavily.
Crash tries to roll over but Gans keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gans is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Gans wants to pass to mount but Crash is defending the position.
Gans missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Crash is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gans lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gans is looking to stall here but Crash recovers full guard.
Gans lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gans trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gans wanted to stand there but Crash had control of the position.
Crash is trying to keep Gans in close.
Crash looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gans is looking to stand up but Crash won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crash has momentary wrist control but Gans slips an elbow through the middle.
Gans trying to stand up but can't free himself from Crash's guard.
Gans postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Crash looking for a sweep. Not yet Crash, not yet.
Gans working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crash utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gans gets to his feet. Crash looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Crash takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gans.
Gans working the head with strikes.
Gans cracks Crash with a big right hand but Crash just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Gans scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Crash to see if he's OK.
Check out the look on Gans's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Gans controlling the position from side mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Gans has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Gans looks to land a combination but Crash avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Gans dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Some wild striking there from Gans.

Gans fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Crash, pushing him back against the cage.
Crash looking for a takedown.
Gans tries to circle away but Crash has him pinned against the cage.
Gans working hard to break the clinch.
Gans wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Crash has him pressed against the cage.
Gans lands with a left to the head.
Gans is trying to force a seperation but Crash has the dominant position.
Crash prevents Gans from breaking the clinch.
A short uppercut from Gans.
Crash is trying to pull guard but Gans turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Gans manages to pull guard.
Gans has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gans is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Crash is controlling him.
Gans has control of Crash's left arm, preventing Crash from doing any damage.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Joe Gans hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Gans has closed the distance and engaged Crash in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Gans's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Gans lands a takedown into guard.
Crash is trying to keep Gans in close.
Gans throws a strike but Crash rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Crash tries to stand but Gans is controlling from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gans pulls Crash in close to prevent any damage.
Crash wants to get up but he can't break Gans's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crash wants to control from the top but Gans keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Gans is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Gans moves into range and clinches up with Crash.
Gans can't break the clinch.
Gans has Crash pushed against the cage.

Gans breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gans closes the distance and clinches.
Crash prevents Gans from breaking the clinch.
Crash tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gans has had enough of the clinch but Crash keeps him there for the moment.

Crash decides to pull guard.
Crash looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Gans gets to his feet. Crash looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Gans drives through with a takedown into Crash's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gans sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gans landing with the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gans scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Gans showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Crash's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gans changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Crash looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gans trying to control the position but Crash is working away.
Gans landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Crash manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Gans looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Crash with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Gans wants to stand up but Crash has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gans lands a nice short elbow.
Gans working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Gans takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Crash pushes Gans off looking to stand but Gans dives back in and keeps control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Crash is looking to improve his position.
Gans is nestled in close to Crash, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gans performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gans is looking to take a break and control but Crash is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gans looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Crash with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Gans is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Gans decides to stand up.

Gans gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Gans manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Gans is pulling down on Crash's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gans can do anything to dispel that myth.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Skull Crash.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Crash checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gans throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Crash is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Crash fails to pull guard.

Gans manages to pull guard.
Gans wants to sweep but no luck.
Gans pulls Crash in close to his closed guard and prevents Crash from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gans's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Skull Crash just wasn't active enough.

Gans shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Gans decides to return to a standing position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gans throws a chopping leg kick but Crash manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Skull Crash has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Gans is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Crash gets caught napping as Gans dives in and scores a takedown. Crash manages to retain guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Gans comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gans has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Gans!