PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Maricue Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harley Crowe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crowe has chosen The Dead Brothers - Old Pine Box as his entrance music. Harley Crowe will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Russel
vs
Crowe

190 cm
21
200 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

179 cm
20
198 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

5th Round Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Maricue Russel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Harley Crowe!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Chad Campbell and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Russel fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Crowe avoids it really well and circles away.
No luck for Russel with that takedown attempt.

Russel clinches.
Russel jumps guard but Crowe stands there with Russel around his waist. Russel gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maricue Russel. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Russel gets control of Crowe's arms and successfully pulls guard. Russel will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Russel seems keen to control Crowe's posture.
Crowe trying to stand up but can't free himself from Russel's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel pulls Crowe in to control the position.
Crowe trying to control the position from guard on top but Russel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Crowe stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Crowe tries to work over Russel's front leg with a kick but Russel checks it.
Crowe ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Russel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Crowe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Russel shoots in for a takedown but Crowe shows good takedown defense.
Crowe misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Russel closes the distance and clinches.
Crowe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Crowe lands a body shot.
Crowe misses with a body punch.
Crowe lands with a left to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Russel goes for a takedown in the clinch but Crowe prevents it.
Russel is looking for a takedown.
Russel stalling against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Crowe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Crowe.
A left hand lands to the body for Crowe.
Russel tries for a takedown. No joy.

Russel pulls guard effortlessly.
Crowe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Russel has a closed guard, preventing Crowe from standing up.
Russel keeping moving, preventing Crowe from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russel has a closed guard, preventing Crowe from standing up.
Russel can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Crowe controls the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Harley Crowe wasn't active enough on the ground.
Crowe punishes Russel's body with a nice straight punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Crowe ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Russel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Crowe circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harley Crowe dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Russel takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Crowe moves into range and connects with a jab.
Crowe will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A right-left combo lands from Crowe.
Crowe throws a leg kick but Russel moved away.
Crowe ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Crowe is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Russel rather than just go for the knockout.
Crowe looks to score with a jab to the body but Russel is just out of range.
Crowe scores with a sloppy right hand. Russel should have avoided that one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Crowe ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel walks into a jab.
Crowe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Crowe scores with a hook to the body. Russel takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Crowe pivots, looking for a leg kick but Russel is out of range and Crowe settles back down.
Maricue Russel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Russel fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Russel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Crowe but Crowe pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Russel tries to move into range but Crowe moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Russel is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel avoids the body shot from Crowe.
Russel takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Crowe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Russel takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Crowe throws out a powerful jab.
Crowe scores with a leg kick.
Crowe fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Russel.
Crowe buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Crowe, right into the meat.
Crowe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Russel tries to close the distance and clinch but Crowe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Harley Crowe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Crowe lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Russel shoots for a double leg takedown but Crowe sprawls well. He's pushed Russel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maricue Russel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Russel shoots in looking for a takedown. Crowe tries to sprawl out of it but Russel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Crowe manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Crowe lands a nice shot to the body.
Harley Crowe seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russel takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Crowe thumps Russel with a low kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Crowe bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Russel's head.
Harley Crowe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crowe lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Russel dives in and grabs Crowe's left leg, looking for a takedown. Crowe pushes down on Russel's head and hops out.
A looping hook to the body misses from Crowe. Russel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Crowe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Crowe throws a leg kick but Russel moved away.
Horrible takedown by Russel or perhaps it was just good defense by Crowe which made him look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harley Crowe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Russel fails with a takedown attempt.

Russel scores with a takedown into Crowe's guard.
Crowe trying to keep a closed guard but Russel is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Russel trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Russel throwing strikes from guard but Crowe blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Russel 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.
Russel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Crowe controlling Russel's posture.
Crowe working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Harley Crowe was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Russel closes the distance but Crowe moves to the side
and Russel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Russel drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Crowe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Russel.
Crowe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Russel is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Russel postures up in Crowe's guard and throws a big left but Crowe blocks it.
Russel throws a big elbow that misses.
Russel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Crowe looking for a sweep. Not yet Crowe, not yet.
Russel wants to control from the top but Crowe keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Russel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Russel throws a big right hand that misses.
Russel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Russel trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Russel wants to control from the top but Crowe keeps moving.
Russel looking to sit in guard and control but Crowe gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Crowe postures up.
Maricue Russel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crowe wants to control from the top but Russel keeps moving.
Russel 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.
Crowe tries to stand but Russel is controlling from the bottom.
Harley Crowe is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Crowe is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Crowe lands a lovely overhand right.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crowe is looking to score with low kicks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maricue Russel showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Crowe has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 27:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harley Crowe!
A very excited looking Harley Crowe rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.