PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fabricio Werdum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rex Crawford (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.

Werdum
vs
Crawford

225 cm
20
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fabricio Werdum!
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, Rex Crawford!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Alyssa Summers and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Werdum is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Crawford.
Werdum takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Crawford drives through and clinches with Werdum against the cage.
Werdum drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Werdum goes for a takedown in the clinch but Crawford prevents it.
Werdum is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fabricio Werdum. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Werdum wants to take the fight to the mat but Crawford manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Crawford misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Werdum.
Crawford throws an elbow that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Werdum is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Crawford is defending well.
Crawford is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Werdum is looking for a takedown.
Crawford is trying to break the clinch but Werdum is controlling him.
Werdum is looking for a takedown.
Crawford is trying to break free.

Crawford works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Crawford trying to move into half guard but instead Werdum has managed to sweep!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Crawford has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Werdum can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Werdum avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Werdum trying to control but Crawford is working from the bottom.
Crawford trying to control the position here.

Werdum thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Werdum connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Werdum thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Crawford pulls Werdum in to control the position.

Werdum thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Werdum really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Crawford is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Crawford has momentary wrist control but Werdum slips an elbow through the middle.
Werdum is looking to work some ground and pound but Crawford has wrist control.

Werdum is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Werdum is breathing heavily.
Werdum with a nice head shot there.
Werdum trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Werdum drops back looking for a leg! Crawford is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Crawford manages to kick Werdum off! Werdum jumps back into Crawford's guard.
Werdum would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Werdum 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.
Crawford controls Werdum momentarily but Werdum frees himself.
Werdum throws a big elbow that misses.
Crawford looking for a sweep. Not yet Crawford, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Werdum trying to control the position from guard on top but Crawford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Crawford throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford wants to stand and escape but Werdum is having none of it.

Werdum drops back looking for a leg! Crawford is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Crawford manages to kick Werdum off! Werdum jumps back into Crawford's guard.
Crawford 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.
Crawford is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Werdum drops back looking for a leg! Crawford is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Crawford manages to kick Werdum off! Werdum jumps back into Crawford's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Werdum throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Crawford works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Werdum tries for a takedown but Crawford sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Werdum fails with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Crawford.

Werdum gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Crawford postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Werdum looking for a sweep. Not yet Werdum, not yet.
Werdum wants to get back to his feet but Crawford is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Crawford trying to control the position from guard on top but Werdum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Crawford looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Werdum looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Werdum has managed to clinch.
Werdum tries for a takedown but Crawford manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fabricio Werdum. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Werdum changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Crawford fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Crawford looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Werdum!
Werdum wants to get back to his feet.
Crawford really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Werdum. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Crawford trying to control but Werdum is having none of it.
Poor strikes thrown by Crawford there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werdum flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Poor strikes thrown by Crawford there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Crawford trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Werdum is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Werdum is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Crawford sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Werdum really wants to buck Crawford off and get back to his feet.
Crawford content just to control the position here.
Werdum tries to hold on but Crawford postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werdum wants to get back to his feet.
Crawford sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Werdum swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Werdum really wants to buck Crawford off and get back to his feet.

Crawford has control of Werdum's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Werdum regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Crawford throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Crawford tries to control but Werdum wriggling away.
Crawford with the ground and pound from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford won't let Werdum get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Crawford punishing his opponent with strikes.
Crawford sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Crawford lands with some strikes.
Crawford tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Crawford throws some wild stikes that Werdum manages to avoid easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Crawford thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Werdum is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Crawford thowing shots but they're missing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Werdum bucks up and throws Crawford to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

Crawford pushes Werdum up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rex Crawford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Werdum's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Werdum shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Crawford tries a head kick but it misses.
Werdum takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Crawford closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Crawford tries to stand but can't do so whilst Werdum controls his leg.
Crawford trying to control the action but Werdum is working from the bottom.
Crawford blocks the strikes from Werdum.

Werdum makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Crawford throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Werdum.

Crawford tries to keep at a distance but Werdum has taken the fight into the clinch.
Crawford prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werdum keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Crawford's efforts to push away.
Crawford gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Werdum.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fabricio Werdum. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crawford lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Werdum backwards.
Werdum is looking for a takedown.
Crawford wants to stall.
Crawford looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Werdum has Crawford pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Werdum pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Crawford tumbling to the mat - Werdum dives into Crawford's guard.
Crawford is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Crawford kicks Werdum off and gets to his feet.
Werdum throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Crawford's waist but Crawford gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Werdum off to one side.
Crawford misses with a series of wild punches.

Crawford scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Crawford throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Crawford is trying to control. Werdum wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Crawford wants to stand up but Werdum is controlling the position.

Werdum looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werdum wants to get back to his feet.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Crawford in particular looking to stall.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Crawford throwing shots but Werdum is blocking nicely.
Werdum is trying to stand.

Werdum looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Crawford sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Crawford trying to control the action but Werdum is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford wants to pass the guard but Werdum is defending well.

Werdum has one foot on Crawford's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Rex Crawford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Werdum wants to clinch up but Crawford keeps it at a distance.
Werdum shoots in for a takedown but Crawford shows good takedown defense.
Crawford fails to land with a series of punches.

Crawford instigates a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Werdum wants the takedown. Crawford is fighting it off but Werdum persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Crawford's guard against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Crawford keeping moving, preventing Werdum from controlling successfully.

Werdum is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rex Crawford comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Crawford 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 David Schapiro scores the fight for Rex Crawford!
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight for Rex Crawford!
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight for Rex Crawford!

Rex Crawford wins by unanimous decision!