PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sho Kitabatake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Skinner Crowe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Crowe's choice of entrance music: Angry Johnny & The Killbillies - A Love More True. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Kitabatake
vs
Crowe

175 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

162 cm
19
151 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Good knees
Good in bed

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

SAVE A FIGHTER

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sho Kitabatake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Skinner Crowe!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crowe swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Crowe swings wildly with an uppercut but Kitabatake uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kitabatake is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kitabatake tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Crowe just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kitabatake is trying to pull guard but Crowe turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sho Kitabatake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kitabatake misses with a knee to the head.
Kitabatake tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Crowe just stands there and leans against the cage.
Crowe throws a head punch that misses.
Kitabatake fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kitabatake changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Crowe fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Crowe throws out a leg kick but Kitabatake moves out of range and Crowe only half commits.
Crowe finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kitabatake keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kitabatake has his takedown stuffed

and Crowe counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kitabatake's guard now.
Crowe throwing strikes from guard but Kitabatake blocks nicely.
Crowe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crowe scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Crowe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crowe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Crowe scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Crowe controls from within his opponent's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Crowe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kitabatake preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kitabatake can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Crowe controls the pace.
Crowe throwing strikes but missing.
Crowe is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Crowe's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Kitabatake fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Crowe, pushing him back against the cage.
Crowe is leaning against Kitabatake and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kitabatake blocking some punches.
Kitabatake blocks an elbow strike from Crowe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kitabatake connects with a nasty looking knee right to Crowe's face.
Crowe misses with a short punch on the inside.
Crowe lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kitabatake backwards.
Kitabatake misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Crowe.
Crowe has a couple of punches blocked by Kitabatake.
Crowe content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Kitabatake prevents a body shot from Crowe.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Crowe.
Crowe misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kitabatake on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kitabatake goes for a takedown attempt but Crowe pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Skinner Crowe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crowe misses the jab.

Crowe gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kitabatake tries to land a knee to the head but Crowe blocks with his arms.
Crowe lands a right hand.
Kitabatake fails to pull guard.
Kitabatake wants a takedown.
Kitabatake goes for a takedown attempt but Crowe pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Crowe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kitabatake manages to avoid it.
Nice takedown defense from Crowe. No joy for Kitabatake on that attempt.

Kitabatake has Crowe up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kitabatake tries to pull guard but Crowe forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kitabatake has Crowe pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Crowe manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kitabatake with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kitabatake blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Crowe works on Kitabatake's body with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Skinner Crowe dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Crowe misses with a hook. Kitabatake ducked under it nicely.
Crowe lands with an uppercut that bounces Kitabatake off the cage and back into range.
Crowe takes a swing at Kitabatake's ribcage but misses.

Kitabatake moves into the clinch.
Kitabatake is looking for a takedown.
Kitabatake tries a knee to the head but Crowe blocks it.
Crowe stops a takedown attempt from Kitabatake.
Kitabatake blocks an uppercut.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Crowe misses with the head strike.
Kitabatake looking to throw knees to the head but Crowe is blocking nicely.
Crowe displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kitabatake up against the cage.
Kitabatake blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kitabatake dodges an elbow strike from Crowe.
Kitabatake is working for takedown but Crowe is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sho Kitabatake. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Crowe has hold of one of Kitabatake's legs. Kitabatake is fighting the takedown attempt but Crowe gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Kitabatake has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Crowe can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Crowe is working Kitabatake over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Crowe landing some decent shots from guard.
Crowe sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kitabatake's guard.

Crowe is trying to work for a kimura but Kitabatake is defending well.

Crowe is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kitabatake taking some punishment here, with Crowe in his half guard.
Crowe content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Crowe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Crowe 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.
Crowe trying to mount his opponent but Kitabatake defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Crowe landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kitabatake tries to get to full guard but Crowe has control of the leg.
Crowe content to control rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Skinner Crowe was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Kitabatake keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crowe throws a chopping leg kick but Kitabatake manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Crowe throws a lazy right hand but Kitabatake sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Kitabatake pushes Crowe up against the cage in a clinch.
Crowe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Skinner Crowe seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Crowe gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Kitabatake regains guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kitabatake can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Crowe controls the pace.
Kitabatake preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Crowe is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Let's hope that Crowe has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Skinner Crowe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Crowe gets tackled into the cage by Kitabatake. Kitabatake maintains the clinch.
Kitabatake jumps guard but Crowe stands there with Kitabatake around his waist. Kitabatake gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kitabatake tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Crowe smiles and moves away.
Crowe thows a body shot but no joy.
Kitabatake gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Crowe decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kitabatake's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sho Kitabatake. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crowe seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Skinner Crowe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Crowe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kitabatake is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crowe throws a big right hand that misses.
Crowe controlling from the top position.
Crowe passes Kitabatake's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Crowe in particular looking to stall.
Crowe scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Crowe is looking to advance position but Kitabatake won't allow it.
Crowe takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Crowe slips a nice elbow through Kitabatake's hands, connecting with Kitabatake's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crowe working the head and body with strikes.
Crowe is taking a breather. Kitabatake says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Crowe lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Crowe in particular looking to stall.
Crowe is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Crowe controlling his opponent.
Crowe pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Crowe controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Crowe.

Kitabatake is rocked!
Crowe controlling his opponent.
Oh Kitabatake is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Crowe is landing with some decent strikes but Kitabatake is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Crowe has hold of Kitabatake's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Kitabatake manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
A big strike lands for Crowe! That's really hurt Kitabatake and he's turned his back - Crowe keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Crowe jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Skinner Crowe!
After the big win, Skinner Crowe made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors SAVE A FIGHTER and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.