PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ichabod Crane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodger Crowe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crane kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is ROCK THE NIGHT. 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.

Crane
vs
Crowe

187 cm
27
220 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

225 cm
28
280 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ichabod Crane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rodger Crowe!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Jeff Smith and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crowe tests Crane's chin there with a solid looking shot.

It looks like Ichabod Crane has been cut.
Crowe swats away the attempt to clinch by Crane.
Crowe misses with a two punch combination.
Crane fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Crowe looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Crane moves away from the strike by Crowe.
Crowe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Crowe looks to land a left hand but Crane moved out of range nicely.
Crowe is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Crowe throws a series of punches but Crane avoids them all with ease.
Crowe comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
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!
Crowe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Crowe throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Crane sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Crowe takes a swing at Crane's ribcage but misses.
Crowe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Crane.
Crane wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crane defending well as Crowe loads up on a big left hand.
Crane avoids the body shot from Crowe.
Crane thuds his right hand into Crowe's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Crowe moves out of range as Crane strikes.
Nice uppercut there from Crane.

Crane darts in and clinches Crowe up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Crane.
We've been hearing reports that Crane has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Crane swings wildly with an uppercut but Crowe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Crane lands a hook to the side of the head.
Crane fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Crane misses with a hook to the ribs.

Crowe works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crowe trying to control the position from guard on top but Crane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Crane wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Crowe gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A jab from Crane finds it's way through Crowe's defenses.
Crowe gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Crowe avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Crane misses with a body shot.
Crowe throws out a loose jab but Crane uses good head movement to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Crowe misses the target.
Crane fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rodger Crowe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Crane closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crowe lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Crane.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Crowe.
Crowe wants to get back to striking at distance but Crane won't allow it.
Crowe blocks a body shot from Crane.
Crane lands with a light punch inside.
Crowe working hard to break the clinch.
Crane throws a head punch that misses.
Crowe is trying to break free.
Crowe is trying to break free.
Crane swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Crowe doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Crowe tries to throw a body punch but Crane avoids it by throwing Crowe back against the cage.
Crane swings wildly with an uppercut but Crowe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Crane lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crane misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Crane tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Crowe is trying to push Crane away but Crane has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Crane tries to throw a body punch but Crowe avoids it by throwing Crane back against the cage.
Crane tries a body shot but Crowe blocks it.
Crane pushes Crowe back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
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!
Crane working aggressively here.
Crowe misses with a hook from the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Crane.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Crowe.
A head punch on the inside from Crowe fails to land.
Crowe prevents a body shot from Crane.
Crane makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Crane doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Crane has a couple of punches blocked by Crowe.
Crowe is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Crowe tries to throw a body punch but Crane avoids it by throwing Crowe back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rodger Crowe will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ichabod Crane's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Crowe looks to land a left hand but Crane moved out of range nicely.
Crane misses with a hook.
Rodger Crowe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Crowe swinging wildly here.
Crowe throws a poor cross that misses

and Crane moves into the clinch.
Crowe tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Crane can't find room to land a body shot as Crowe controls the action.
Crowe can't break the clinch.
Crowe wants to break free but Crane has control.
Crane tries to throw a body punch but Crowe avoids it by throwing Crane back against the cage.
Crane digs a right hand into Crowe's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Crowe's gas tank.
Crowe tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Crane's elbow.
Crowe wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Crane lands a hook that snaps the head of Crowe backwards.
Crane swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Crane lands a shot to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Crane goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Crowe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crane tries a body shot but Crowe blocks it.
Crane tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Crowe's elbow.
Crane works on Crowe's body with a couple of short punches.
Crane misses with a punch to the body.
Crane tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Crowe's elbow.
Crane tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Crowe's elbow.
Crane scores with a shot to the side of Crowe's head.

Crowe breaks the clinch.

Crane moves into range and clinches up with Crowe.
A short uppercut from Crane.
Crane misses with a body punch.
A short left from Crane.
Crowe blocks an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Crowe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Crowe wants to break the clinch but can't.
Crowe lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crane misses with a punch to the body.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Crane here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Crowe trying to control the position but instead, Crane has worked for underhooks and has pushed Crowe into the cage.
Crane has a couple of punches blocked by Crowe.
Crowe tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Crane's elbow.
Crane lands a left hand.
Crane works on Crowe's body with a couple of short punches.
Crane lands a body shot.
Crowe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Crowe is trying to break the clinch but Crane has him pressed against the cage.
Crane throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Crowes head.
Crowe is trying to break free.
Crowe can't break the clinch.
Crowe blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Good body shot from Crane.

Crowe manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crowe misses with a wild body shot.
Crowe lands a nice shot that snaps Crane's head back.
Crane changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Crane wants to clinch but Crowe slips to the side
and Crowe connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Crane looks to throw the jab but Crowe is out of range.
Crowe throws a left and a right that both miss

and Crane counters by moving into the clinch.
Crowe tries to break the clinch but Crane is controlling the position.
Crane swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Crowe gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Crane is looking for a sweep. Crowe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Crane trying to hold on to Crowe's head to control him but Crowe postures up.
Crane is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crane moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Crane seems keen to control Crowe's posture.
Crane is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Crowe trying to control but Crane is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichabod Crane dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ichabod Crane's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Crane ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Crowe forces Crane back against the cage and clinches.
Crowe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Crowe tries to break the clinch but Crane is controlling the position.

Crowe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Crane jabs Crowe to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Crane is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A punch combination from Crowe misses.
Crane lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Crowe throws a good cross that connects.
Crane tries to close the distance and clinch but Crowe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Crowe lands with a hook. Crane tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big right from Crowe misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crowe walks into a left hand.
Crowe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Crowe pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Crane back to the cage. Crowe follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Crane tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Crowe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Crowe slaps away a takedown attempt from Crane, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Crane throws a lazy right hand but Crowe sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Crowe fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Crane shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Crowe pinned against the cage. Crowe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Crowe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Crane moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Crowe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Crowe misses with a body shot

and Crane counters by moving into the clinch.
Crowe is trying to force a seperation but Crane has the dominant position.
Crowe wants to get back to striking at distance but Crane won't allow it.
Crane tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Crowe's elbow.
Crowe working aggressively here.
Crowe is looking to break free of the clinch but Crane has double underhooks.
Crowe is trying to break the clinch but Crane has him pressed against the cage.
Crowe swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Crowe.
Crane can't find room to land a body shot as Crowe controls the action.
A short right from Crane on the inside.
Crane scores with a nice hook to the head.
Crane has a couple of punches blocked by Crowe.
Crane misses with a body punch.
Crane misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crowe tries to throw a body punch but Crane avoids it by throwing Crowe back against the cage.
Crowe misses with some punches.
Crane tries to work over Crowe's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Crane tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Crowe's elbow.
Crowe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Crane working aggressively here.
Crowe is trying to break the clinch but Crane is controlling him.
Crane lands a right hand that snaps the head of Crowe backwards.
Crowe has a couple of punches blocked by Crane.
Crowe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ichabod Crane has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Crowe prevents a body shot from Crane.
Crane prevents Crowe from breaking the clinch.
Crowe tries to circle away but Crane has him pinned against the cage.
Crane scores with a shot to the side of Crowe's head.
Crane lands a left hand.
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!
Crowe's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crowe can't break the clinch.
Crane presses Crowe against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Crowe tightens his grip and picks Crane up, before dumping him to the ground. Crane manages to land in guard.
Crowe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Crane has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Crane looking for a sweep. Not yet Crane, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ichabod Crane.
I think Crane has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ichabod Crane!
Post fight, an emotional Ichabod Crane said 'I have one fight left on my current contract and from the sounds of it, this company may not renew in favor of younger fighters. So how about the champ next? Rutger Crax I'm calling you out because I know I can beat you and, hey, free championship belt right?'.