PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rex Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Worner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Crawford
vs
Worner

185 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rex Crawford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kenny Worner!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Franklyn Lucas and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Crawford.
Crawford shoots in for a takedown but Worner shows good takedown defense.
Worner fails with the takedown.
Worner swinging wildly here.

Crawford moves into range and clinches up with Worner.

Crawford decides to pull guard.
Worner lands a couple of digs.
Worner is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Worner wanted to stand there but Crawford had control of the position.
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.

Worner decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Crawford, up you get!
Rex Crawford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Worner looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Crawford is fending him off so far but Worner persists. Nope, Crawford circles away and we're back to standing.
Worner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Crawford closes the distance and clinches.
Worner jumps guard but Crawford turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rex Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenny Worner.
Crawford jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Worner walks away with a smile on his face. Crawford gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Worner shoots in and drives through. Crawford sprawls well.
Crawford throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Worner's waist but Worner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Crawford off to one side.
Crawford pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Worner fails with a takedown attempt.
Worner closes this distance looking for a takedown but Crawford circles away.
Crawford moves into range and connects with a jab.
Worner tries to score a power double leg takedown but Crawford sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Worner somewhat.
Crawford throws a wild body kick that Worner sees coming a mile off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Worner pinned against the cage. Worner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Worner with a poor takedown

and Crawford counters by clinching up.
Crawford is trying to break free.
Crawford can't break the clinch.
Worner has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Crawford is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Worner tries to break the clinch but Crawford is controlling the position.

Worner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Crawford clinches with his opponent.
Crawford is trying to pull guard but Worner turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Crawford can't break the clinch.
Crawford drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Worner gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Crawford has had enough of the clinch but Worner keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worner goes for a takedown in the clinch but Crawford prevents it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Crawford - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Worner manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Crawford stopping the sweep attempt from Worner.

Worner is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Crawford defends well.

Crawford decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Worner tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Crawford manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Worner. No joy for Crawford on that attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Crawford is defended easily by Worner.
Crawford is breathing heavily.
Worner fails with the takedown.

Worner is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Crawford's half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Worner trying to pass the guard but Crawford defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Crawford is not content to let Worner control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kenny Worner will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Crawford shoots in for a takedown but Worner shows good takedown defense.

Worner gets the takedown into side control.
Crawford is looking for a sweep.
Worner working the ground and pound.
Crawford parries the strikes from Worner easily there. Worner is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Crawford to escape.
Crawford is trying to improve his position.
Worner trying to control the position but Crawford is working away.
Crawford is trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Worner is trying to get an arm triangle but Crawford is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Worner tries to advance to mount but Crawford denies him.
Kenny Worner has got the better of the ground game so far.

Worner stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Crawford swinging wildly here.
Worner tries to close the distance and clinch but Crawford swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Crawford is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Crawford shoots in and drives through. Worner sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Worner fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Worner blocks a head kick by Crawford.

Crawford moves into the clinch.
Worner tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Crawford smiles and moves away.
Crawford throws a sloppy head kick and Worner moves out of range easily.
Worner fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rex Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenny Worner.
Worner closes this distance looking for a takedown but Crawford circles away.
Worner shoots in but no luck this time.
Crawford throws a front kick aimed at Worner's knee but Worner avoids it well.

Crawford gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford wants to take the fight to the mat but Worner manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Crawford manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Crawford is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Worner trying to control but Crawford is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Worner distracts Crawford with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Worner lands a couple of elbows.
Worner is stalling in the full guard.
Worner passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Worner wants to control but Crawford is keeping him busy.
Worner has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Crawford!

Worner is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Crawford has managed to escape the submission attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Worner working the ground and pound effectively.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Crawford is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Worner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Worner is trying hard to land a takedown here. Crawford sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Worner fails to land with a series of punches.
Rex Crawford is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Crawford shoots in for a double leg but Worner sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Crawford avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A right-left combo lands from Crawford.
Worner tries a head kick but it misses.
Crawford wants to slow Worner down by chopping away at his legs.
Worner looks for a takedown but Crawford sprawls well.
Worner fails to land the takedown.
Rex Crawford has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenny Worner.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Crawford.
Crawford fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford tries to score a power double leg takedown but Worner sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Crawford somewhat.
Worner looks to land a combination but Crawford avoids it well.
Crawford tries to clinch but Worner moves out of range.
Rex Crawford is winning the standup battle so far.
Worner tries to clinch but Crawford is having none of it.
Worner shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Crawford but Crawford pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Crawford displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Worner.

Worner drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Worner trying to control the position but Crawford is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Crawford might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Crawford is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Worner is controlling him well.

Worner has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Worner tries a head kick but it misses.
Crawford wants to slow Worner down by chopping away at his legs.
Worner tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Worner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Horrible takedown by Worner or perhaps it was just good defense by Crawford which made him look bad.
Worner looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Crawford swats away the attempt to clinch by Worner.
Worner fails with the takedown.
Worner shoots in but Crawford avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Crawford drives through and clinches with Worner against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Worner jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Crawford walks away with a smile on his face. Worner gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A leg kick checked by Worner.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Worner is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Crawford gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A hook to the body from Crawford.
Crawford can't break the clinch.
Crawford is trying to drag Worner to the mat but Worner just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Crawford prevents the takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crawford wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kenny Worner.
I've got Worner 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 Dean Styles scores the fight for Kenny Worner!
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight for Kenny Worner!
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight for Kenny Worner!

Kenny Worner wins by unanimous decision!