PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jeffrey Rathbone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dale Cranswick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jeffrey Rathbone could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Dale Cranswick's chin.

Rathbone
vs
Cranswick

175 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jeffrey Rathbone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dale Cranswick!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Bruno Hogan and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rathbone lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cranswick looks to land a combination but Rathbone avoids it well.
Rathbone scores with a three punch combo!
Rathbone tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rathbone will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rathbone shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cranswick sprawls well. Cranswick wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rathbone gets slowly back to his feet.
Rathbone tries to clinch up.
No joy there for Cranswick, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cranswick throws a nice looking combination but Rathbone bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cranswick swings for the body but Rathbone moves out of range.

Cranswick gets tackled into the cage by Rathbone. Rathbone maintains the clinch.
Rathbone trying to land knees to the body.
Cranswick wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rathbone has him pressed against the cage.
Rathbone tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cranswick smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeffrey Rathbone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cranswick misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rathbone changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cranswick tries to avoid it but Rathbone manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cranswick to the ground. Cranswick escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Rathbone moves into the clinch successfully.
Cranswick is trying to break the clinch but Rathbone has him pressed against the cage.

Rathbone breaks the clinch.
No joy there for Cranswick, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rathbone takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cranswick will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cranswick throws a series of punches but Rathbone avoids them all with ease.
Rathbone wants to clinch.
Rathbone tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cranswick paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cranswick scores with a nice strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rathbone moves in looking to clinch but Cranswick pushes him off.
Rathbone is looking to clinch.
Rathbone doesn't manage to clinch there - Cranswick circles away.
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!
Cranswick swats away the attempt to clinch by Rathbone.
Cranswick looks to land a combination but Rathbone avoids it well.
Cranswick throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cranswick misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jeffrey Rathbone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cranswick throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rathbone.
Rathbone lands a jab-cross combination.
Cranswick throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rathbone's waist but Rathbone gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cranswick off to one side.

Rathbone gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cranswick to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cranswick looks winded!

Cranswick 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cranswick throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cranswick drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cranswick jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rathbone wants to stand and escape but Cranswick is having none of it.
Cranswick postures up in Rathbone's guard and throws a big left but Rathbone blocks it.

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

Cranswick closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rathbone is not content to let Cranswick control the position.
Rathbone managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Cranswick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cranswick decides to stand back up.
Cranswick misses with a few strikes there.

Cranswick shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
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!

Cranswick seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Rathbone is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Dale Cranswick!