PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dante Ninja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teofilo Crespo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Dante Ninja has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Dante Ninja seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Ninja
vs
Crespo

191 cm
27
205 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

185 cm
24
213 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Determined

[WOT] Inner Beast Nutrition And Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dante Ninja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Teofilo Crespo!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ninja shoots in and gets a takedown into Crespo's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Crespo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Crespo looking to control but Ninja is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Crespo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Crespo thowing shots but they're missing.
Ninja avoids a series of strikes thrown by Crespo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crespo trying to control but Ninja is having none of it.
You get the feeling that Ninja really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Crespo thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Crespo is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ninja has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ninja!
Ninja is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crespo is striking from the bottom but Ninja uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Ninja performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ninja tries to pass to full mount but Crespo defends it.
Crespo gets back to full guard.
Crespo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ninja is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Crespo has his foot on Ninja's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ninja works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crespo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ninja not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ninja pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Crespo is keeping the position for now.
Crespo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ninja is one step ahead there.
Crespo trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ninja trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crespo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ninja is one step ahead there.

Crespo has his foot on Ninja's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ninja works his way back into a safe position though.
Ninja passes Crespo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ninja trying to control the pace.
Crespo trying to control here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ninja in particular looking to stall.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crespo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ninja.
Ninja is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Crespo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ninja paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dante Ninja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ninja lands a jab.
Crespo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ninja sprawls well. Ninja wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Crespo gets slowly back to his feet.

Crespo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ninja to the mat! Ninja manages to get full guard.
Ninja keeping moving, preventing Crespo from controlling successfully.

Crespo is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ninja is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ninja has escaped and now he's on top!
Ninja's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ninja stands up over Crespo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ninja looking to sit in guard and control but Crespo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Crespo wants to control from the top but Ninja keeps moving.
Crespo won't allow Ninja to get back to his feet.
Ninja on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ninja tries to get out of the position.
Crespo postures up in Ninja's guard and throws a big left but Ninja blocks it.
Crespo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crespo trying to control but Ninja is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Teofilo Crespo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Crespo tries for a takedown but Ninja sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ninja shoots in for a double leg but Crespo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ninja stuffs the takedown attempt from Crespo. Crespo gets slowly back to his feet.
Dante Ninja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Teofilo Crespo.

Ninja gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ninja stands up and beckons Crespo to his feet.
Crespo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ninja tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Crespo was well out of range. Poor timing from Ninja.

Crespo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ninja!
Crespo looking to control but Ninja is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ninja squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crespo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Poor strikes thrown by Crespo there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Ninja squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Crespo throws some wild stikes that Ninja manages to avoid easily.

Ninja somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Crespo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ninja is fending him off so far but Crespo persists. Nope, Ninja circles away and we're back to standing.
Ninja closes this distance looking for a takedown but Crespo circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dante Ninja will probably get the nod.
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!

Crespo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Crespo tries to clinch up.
Ninja misses with a takedown attempt - Crespo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Crespo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Ninja looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Well, if Ninja is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Crespo wants to control but Ninja is keeping busy.
Ninja is looking to take a break and control but Crespo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Crespo wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ninja seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

We're going to have a standup here because Dante Ninja wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Ninja shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Crespo pinned against the cage. Crespo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Crespo has his takedown stuffed
and Ninja cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ninja fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Crespo avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dante Ninja. That's going to take a lot out of him.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ninja enables Crespo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ninja manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Crespo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dante Ninja overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crespo wants to stand and escape but instead Ninja has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Ninja slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Crespo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ninja!
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!
Crespo won't let Ninja get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Crespo throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninja tries to buck Crespo off but he can't manage it.
Crespo wants to control but Ninja has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Crespo misses with a head shot. Ninja uses the momentum to regain guard.
Ninja keeping moving, preventing Crespo from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ninja utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Crespo wants to get up but he can't break Ninja's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Crespo passes into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crespo not landing any meaningful shots this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Teofilo Crespo.
I think Ninja has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Dante Ninja!