PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Starr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ken Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crawford comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Henry Rollins Band "Your number is one" kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Starr
vs
Crawford

175 cm
20
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

164 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Starr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ken Crawford!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Dean Styles and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crawford swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A nice combination there by Starr.

It looks like Ken Crawford has been cut.

Crawford drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Starr struggling a bit here.
Starr dodges the ground and pound from Crawford.

Crawford decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Starr fails to land with a series of punches.
Starr scores with a head kick.
Crawford swinging wilding here.
Starr shoots for a double leg takedown but Crawford sprawls well. He's pushed Starr's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Starr looks to land a combination but Crawford avoids it well.
Starr lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Crawford is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Crawford lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Crawford.
Crawford throws a right and a left that Starr avoids nicely.
Starr misses with a takedown attempt - Crawford sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Crawford looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starr lands with a thumping leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Starr.
Crawford dodges the punch combination from Starr.
Starr is breathing heavily.
Starr fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Starr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crawford throws a nice looking combination but Starr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Starr looks for a takedown but Crawford sprawls well.

Crawford has managed to clinch.
Starr tries to pull guard but Crawford won't allow it.
A short right from Crawford.

Crawford breaks the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Starr.

Crawford gets the takedown into side control.
Starr is letting Crawford control him for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford lands a decent elbow from side control.
Crawford working the ground and pound from side control.
Crawford wants to control but Starr is keeping him busy.

Crawford stands up.
Starr throws a right hand that Crawford ducks under and follows up with a left that Crawford also avoids with ease.

Crawford fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Starr sprawls well initially but Crawford persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Crawford working over Starr with some ground and pound. Starr looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Crawford decides to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starr fails with the takedown.
Starr looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Crawford is fending him off so far but Starr persists. Nope, Crawford circles away and we're back to standing.
Crawford doesn't manage to clinch there - Starr circles away.
Crawford throws a one two combo.

Crawford takes the fight into the clinch.
Crawford goes for a takedown in the clinch but Starr prevents it.
Crawford is trying to break free.
Starr misses with a knee strike.
Starr tries to land a knee to the head but Crawford blocks with his arms.

Crawford decides to pull guard.

Crawford looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Crawford has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Crawford wants to sweep here but Starr controlling him for the moment.
Starr wants to control from the top but Crawford keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford looking to hit a scissor sweep but Starr is one step ahead there.

Starr avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Crawford lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Starr!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Starr really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Crawford dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ken Crawford's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Crawford. No joy for Starr on that attempt.
Crawford avoids a punch combination nicely.

Crawford looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Crawford trying to control the pace.
Crawford is nestled in close to Starr, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Crawford wants to free his trapped foot but Starr is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Crawford stands up and beckons Starr to join him on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Crawford tries to clinch but Starr is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Starr shoots for a takedown but Crawford saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Starr closes this distance looking for a takedown but Crawford circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Starr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crawford throws a right and a left that both miss.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Crawford stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Crawford wants to break the clinch but can't.
Crawford has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Starr avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Crawford tightens his grip and picks Starr up, before dumping him to the ground. Starr manages to land in guard.
Crawford trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Crawford loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Starr is trying to keep Crawford in close.
Starr wants to stand and escape but Crawford is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starr keeping moving, preventing Crawford from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crawford is stalling in the full guard.
Crawford with a nice head shot there.
Crawford won't allow Starr to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Crawford fails with the takedown.
Starr throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Crawford closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Starr to the mat! Starr manages to get full guard.

Starr kicks Crawford off and gets to his feet.
Crawford wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starr tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Crawford paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Crawford as Starr shoots in.
Starr throws a one two combo.
Ken Crawford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Crawford darts in and clinches Starr up against the cage.
Crawford wants to get back to striking at distance but Starr won't allow it.
Crawford wants to break free but Starr has control.
Crawford lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Starr backwards.
Starr changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Crawford fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Crawford scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Crawford passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Starr!
Starr tries to buck Crawford off but he can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford cracks Starr with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Crawford lands a nice shot to the head.
Ken Crawford has got the better of the ground game so far.
Crawford landing strikes from the mount and Starr is in trouble!
Starr gets back to half guard.
Crawford wants to take a breather but Starr is having none of it.
Crawford might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Starr kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Crawford takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Starr is trying to stand back up but Crawford is controlling him
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Starr is trying to control but can't.
Starr is pressing down on Crawford's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Crawford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ken Crawford's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Starr or perhaps it was just good defense by Crawford which made him look bad.
Crawford tries to clinch but Starr moves away
and Starr counters with a three punch combo that has Crawford backing up. Crawford nods at Starr to acknowledge the strikes.
Starr pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Crawford scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Starr is not content to let Crawford control the position.
Starr wants to improve his position but Crawford is controlling well.
Crawford is keen to just control but Starr is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Crawford stands up from half guard.
Crawford misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Starr moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford circles away from the clinch attempt.
Starr tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Crawford closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Crawford lands in his opponent's guard.
Starr trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Crawford connects with a couple of short punches.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Crawford accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Crawford looking to pass the guard.
Crawford trying to control but Starr is working from the bottom.
Crawford stops Starr from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Starr doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Crawford passes Starr's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Crawford is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Starr!
Crawford scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Starr?
Crawford breaks from Starr's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Crawford scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Crawford lands a heavy elbow.
Crawford raining down shots from the mount!
Starr takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starr is desperately trying to improve his position but Crawford has a good base and remains in mount.
Crawford putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Well,Starr is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Crawford looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Starr is in all sorts of trouble here.
Crawford putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Crawford lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Crawford unloading with bombs!
Starr is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Crawford avoids the attempt from Starr to control.
Starr is trying to stand up.
Starr is looking to improve his position but Crawford isn't that keen on the idea.
Crawford with a couple of short strikes.

Crawford is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Starr is surviving well by controlling Crawford's body position as best he can.
Starr is desperately trying to improve his position but Crawford has a good base and remains in mount.
Mike Starr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Crawford cracks Starr with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ken Crawford comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Crawford 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight for Ken Crawford!
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight for Ken Crawford!
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight for Ken Crawford!

Ken Crawford wins by unanimous decision!