PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between LeBron James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dario Crews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crews has chosen Born on the FM Waves - Against Me as his entrance music. Dario Crews has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with LeBron James's chin.

James
vs
Crews

205 cm
20
250 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

198 cm
25
236 lbs
10 - 6 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 Montreal, LeBron James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Dario Crews!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Alec Ball and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
No luck with that takedown attempt from James.
Nice defenses there by James.
Crews thows a body shot but no joy.
James shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Crews defends it nicely.
Crews throws an overhand right that lands on James's shoulder, as James tries to avoid the shot.

James closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Crews's guard.
James would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
James forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crews wants to control but James is keeping busy.
James controlling the action here.
Crews controlling the position well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with James in particular looking to stall.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
James pivots, looking for a leg kick but Crews is out of range and James settles back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James tries a head kick but it misses.
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Crews manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for LeBron James. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Crews takes the fight into the clinch.
Crews jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as James walks away with a smile on his face. Crews gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
James defending well as Crews loads up on a big left hand.
James wants to clinch
and Crews counters with an inside leg kick.
James shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Crews as he jumps to the side.
James needs to keep his hands up - Crews had a free shot at his head there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crews takes a swing at James's ribcage but misses.

Crews closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
James has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Crews pulls guard successfully.
James tries to stand but Crews is controlling from the bottom.

Crews is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and James defends well.
James stays in close to Crews's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James wants to get up but he can't break Crews's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Crews is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. James is aware though and is defending well.
Crews controls James momentarily but James frees himself.
James controlling from the top position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of LeBron James.
James misses with a few strikes there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James tries to score a power double leg takedown but Crews sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten James somewhat.
James shoots in for a double leg but Crews sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dario Crews will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

James shoots in but no luck this time.
James ducks under a wild hook from Crews.

James closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
James fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Crews tries to pull guard but James holds him up against the cage and eventually Crews drops back down to his feet.

Crews gets control of James's arms and successfully pulls guard. Crews will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

James gets to his feet - Crews follows without any prompting.
James slips a straight right by Crews.
James fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for LeBron James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James ducks under a wild hook from Crews.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crews circles away from the clinch attempt.
Crews throws a jab but it's blocked by James.
James takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
James shoots for a takedown but Crews saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
James tries to land a front kick but Crews steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A looping hook to the body misses from Crews. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
Crews darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

James scores with a takedown into Crews's guard.
Crews trying to control the position.

Crews has his foot on James's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. James works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crews controls James momentarily but James frees himself.
James not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
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!
Crews is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Crews is pulling down on James's head. It's preventing any offense from James, at least for the moment.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
James tries to clinch there but Crews circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Crews manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
James feints a jab promting Crews to slip. James then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Crews slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Crews misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.
Crews throws a head kick that misses.
Sloppy strikes from Crews. Those never looked like landing.
James wants to clinch up but Crews keeps it at a distance.
Crews looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
James tries to clinch up
and Crews counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crews catches James with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Crews as he avoids it easily.
James tries to clinch up.
James shoots in and drives through. Crews sprawls well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Dario Crews is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Crews misses with an uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Crews.
James ducks under a wild hook from Crews.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dario Crews 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! This is the final round!

James is looking to clinch.
James ducks under a wild hook from Crews.
James is trying hard to land a takedown here. Crews sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
James fails with a takedown attempt.
Crews stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for LeBron James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Crews lunges at James with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by James's hand.
James takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Crews buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James looks for a takedown but Crews sprawls well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Crews jabs James right on the nose. James blinks but takes it well.
A slow jab from Crews misses its intended target.
Dario Crews seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A nice inside leg kick there by Crews. That's going to slow James down.
LeBron James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crews defends well against a solid takedown attempt from James.
James slips a straight right by Crews.
James fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James slips a jab from Crews.
That kick from Crews tenderised James's leg. James is trying to keep his angry face on.
A jab from Crews finds it's way through James's defenses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Crews lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Crews jabs James right on the nose. James blinks but takes it well.
LeBron James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James dives in and grabs Crews's left leg, looking for a takedown. Crews pushes down on James's head and hops out.
James tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
James tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crews scores with a body shot.
Crews throws a lazy right hand but James sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Crews waves his right hand out in front of him, looking to distract James. Oh, he's unloaded a beast of a left hand - it worked! He's dropped James to the canvas! Can he finish him!?

James is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Crews sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed James's guard.
Oh James is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Crews is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
James seems to have got his legs back now.
Crews uses his free foot to push down on James's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for James.
James really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Crews tries to control but James wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crews prevents James from getting the reversal.

Crews wants to finish this one by submission but James is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Crews.
Dario Crews is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Crews avoids the attempt from James to control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Crews wants to control the pace but James is squirming around nicely.
LeBron James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Dario Crews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Crews 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dario Crews!