PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Khal Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teofilo Crespo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Drago's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, We Steady Mobbin!. 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.

Drago
vs
Crespo

193 cm
34
205 lbs
21 - 23 - 1

185 cm
26
213 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 21 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Khal Drago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Teofilo Crespo!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drago tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Crespo counters by moving into the clinch.
Crespo is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Crespo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Drago gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Drago wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Crespo has him pressed against the cage.
Crespo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Drago is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Crespo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Crespo jumps into guard, dragging Drago to the mat.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Drago loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Drago throwing strikes from guard but Crespo blocks nicely.
Crespo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Crespo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Drago.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Crespo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Crespo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Drago.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drago throws a big right hand that misses.
Crespo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Crespo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Crespo trying to control the position.
Drago is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drago postures up in Crespo's guard and throws a big left but Crespo blocks it.
Drago stopping the sweep attempt from Crespo.

Crespo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Crespo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Drago.
Drago loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Crespo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Drago's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crespo trying to control the position from guard on top but Drago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drago looking for a sweep. Not yet Drago, not yet.
Drago wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Drago not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Drago is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Crespo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Drago is keeping the position for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Crespo is looking to clinch but Drago is avoiding it.
Crespo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Crespo dives in and grabs Drago's left leg, looking for a takedown. Drago pushes down on Crespo's head and hops out.
Crespo throws a head kick that half lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crespo misses with a body shot
and Drago counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A head kick misses from Crespo.
Drago misses with a two punch combination.

Drago clinches with his opponent.
Crespo connects with a knee to the head.
Crespo prevents Drago from breaking the clinch.

Drago escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Crespo misses with a takedown attempt - Drago sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Khal Drago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Teofilo Crespo.
Crespo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Drago counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Drago tries a head kick but it misses.

Crespo closes the distance and clinches.
Crespo scores with a knee to the head.
Crespo wants to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Crespo manages to pull guard.
Drago 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.
Drago is looking to work some ground and pound but Crespo has wrist control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Crespo wants to stand and escape but Drago is having none of it.
Crespo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Drago with a nice head shot there.

Crespo uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Crespo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Drago lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Crespo backs up against the cage.

Crespo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Crespo misses with a knee strike.
Crespo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Drago is trying to force a seperation but Crespo has the dominant position.
Crespo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Drago misses with a hook.
Drago tries to close the distance and clinch but Crespo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Crespo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Drago is fending him off so far but Crespo persists. Nope, Drago circles away and we're back to standing.
Crespo is looking to clinch but Drago is avoiding it.
Crespo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Drago pinned against the cage. Drago gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nice elbow from Crespo.
Crespo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Crespo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Drago's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Crespo jumps into guard, dragging Drago to the mat.
Crespo tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drago decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Crespo, up you get!
Crespo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Khal Drago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Teofilo Crespo.
Drago listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Drago throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Jab from Drago.

Drago has closed the distance and engaged Crespo in a clinch.
Drago wants to break free but Crespo has control.
Drago working hard to break the clinch.
Crespo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Drago tries to circle away but Crespo has him pinned against the cage.
Crespo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Drago's efforts to push away.
Crespo unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Crespo breaks the clinch.
Khal Drago is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Drago closes the distance but Crespo moves to the side

and Crespo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Crespo with a knee to the head.
Drago tries for a takedown but Crespo manages to get underhooks.
Drago tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Crespo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Crespo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Drago keeps the fight on the outside.

Crespo clinches up with Drago and pushes him back against the cage.
Crespo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The referee calls for Crespo to work.
Drago prevents a takedown attempt there.
Crespo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Drago's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Crespo turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Crespo decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Drago avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Crespo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Crespo darts in and clinches Drago up against the cage.
Drago can't break the clinch.
A knee to the head by Crespo.
Drago jumps guard but Crespo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Crespo successfully pulls guard.
Crespo wants to stand and escape but Drago is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago is looking to work some ground and pound but Crespo has wrist control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Drago pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Crespo is keeping the position for now.
Drago keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Crespo's head.

Crespo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Drago gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Crespo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Drago tries to circle away but Crespo has him pinned against the cage.

Crespo has picked Drago up - he's going for a ride! Crespo dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Crespo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Drago is just riding it out for now. Crespo eventually gives up the hold.
Crespo slows the pace down in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teofilo Crespo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're 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.

Drago fails in his attempt to clinch.
Crespo wants to clinch up but Drago keeps it at a distance.
Crespo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Drago paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Crespo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Drago wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Crespo has him pressed against the cage.
Drago wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Crespo tries for a takedown but Drago manages to get underhooks.
Crespo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Drago's efforts to push away.
Crespo trying to control the position but instead, Drago has worked for underhooks and has pushed Crespo into the cage.
Teofilo Crespo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Crespo lands a nice knee to the body.
Crespo lands an elbow inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crespo scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Khal Drago has been cut.
Drago changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Crespo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Crespo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Crespo gets a takedown into half guard.
Drago is staying active underneath Crespo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Teofilo Crespo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Drago is trying to maintain the position but Crespo is very close to passing his half guard.
Crespo prevents Drago from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crespo is taking a breather. Drago 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.
Crespo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Crespo thows a huge punch but Drago dodges it nicely.
Crespo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Drago does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Drago is in trouble now - Crespo has advanced to mount!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Drago tries to lock up and control but Crespo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Crespo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Drago is trying to escape the mount.
Drago flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crespo controlling his opponent.
Drago can't escape the position.
Crespo throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Crespo tries to control but Drago wriggling away.
Crespo throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Drago is desperately trying to improve his position but Crespo has a good base and remains in mount.
Crespo throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Drago because Crespo loaded up on that one.
Crespo sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Crespo throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Khal Drago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drago is working to get back to half guard.
Crespo wants to control but instead Drago manages to regain half guard.
Crespo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Crespo throwing shots but Drago is blocking nicely.

Crespo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Drago looks like he's trying to stand up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Teofilo Crespo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Crespo 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Teofilo Crespo!