PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sang Rich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barry Cragford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rich
vs
Cragford

214 cm
24
216 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

188 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Can Moonwalk

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sang Rich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Barry Cragford!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Micheangelo Fripello and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cragford tries to clinch there but Rich circles away.
Cragford fails to land the takedown.
Cragford changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rich tries to avoid it but Cragford manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rich to the ground. Rich escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cragford doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Cragford closes the distance and pushes Rich back into the cage.
Cragford has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rich avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sang Rich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barry Cragford.
A short right from Cragford on the inside.
Rich on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cragford tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rich smiles and moves away.
Cragford slaps away a takedown attempt from Rich, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cragford fails to land with a series of punches.
Cragford fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rich has a takedown stuffed.
Rich really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rich shoots in for a takedown but Cragford shows good takedown defense.
Rich closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cragford circles away.
Rich fails with a takedown attempt.

Cragford clinches up against the cage.

Rich pulls guard.
Rich keeping full guard, as Cragford tries to pass.
Rich looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cragford wants to control from the top but Rich keeps moving.
Cragford is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Cragford wants to pass the guard but Rich is keeping the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Barry Cragford was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Cragford shoots in but Rich avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cragford shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rich but Rich pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cragford fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cragford closes the distance and pushes Rich back into the cage.
Cragford wants a takedown.
Rich looking for a takedown.
Cragford wants a takedown but no success here.
Cragford looks winded!
Cragford is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Rich drags the fight down to the ground.
Cragford preventing the sweep.
Cragford trying to control the position from guard on top but Rich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cragford being controlled here momentarily.
Rich looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rich is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rich wants to stand up but Cragford is controlling him.
Rich pulls Cragford in close to prevent any damage.

Rich working for a triangle but Cragford defends it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rich is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Barry Cragford will probably get the nod.
That's time! Rich's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cragford throws a push kick but Rich slaps the foot to one side.
Rich keeps the fight on the outside.
Cragford throws a hook to the side of Rich's head but Rich sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rich shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cragford but Cragford pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cragford lands a leg kick that knocks Rich off balance momentarily.
Cragford tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rich sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cragford somewhat.
Rich fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cragford avoids it really well and circles away.
Cragford takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cragford fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rich avoids it really well and circles away.

Cragford clinches with his opponent.

Cragford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Cragford throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rich tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Cragford is in Rich's guard.
Rich wants to stand up but Cragford is controlling him.
Cragford wants to control from the top but Rich keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cragford postures up.
Cragford missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cragford wants to control from the top but Rich keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Barry Cragford.
Cragford dives in and grabs Rich's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rich pushes down on Cragford's head and hops out.
Sang Rich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barry Cragford.
Rich misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A punch combination from Cragford misses.
Rich jabs Cragford to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Sang Rich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cragford is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rich.
Rich is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cragford sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Cragford. No joy for Rich on that attempt.
Cragford shoots in looking for a takedown but Rich manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Cragford's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cragford tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rich paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cragford is defended easily by Rich.
Cragford fails with the takedown.

Cragford tries to keep at a distance but Rich has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cragford tries to pull guard but Rich won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cragford is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rich to keep the fight standing.
Rich is working for takedown but Cragford is calmly controlling the position for now.
Cragford is trying to break the clinch but Rich is controlling him.
Cragford tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rich is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cragford to keep the fight standing.

Cragford pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rich dives in and grabs Cragford's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cragford pushes down on Rich's head and hops out.
Cragford fails with a takedown attempt.
Cragford shoots in but no luck this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rich.
Rich tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cragford defends well and Rich ends up having to push Cragford into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Cragford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Rich shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Cragford pushes Rich up against the cage in a clinch.

Cragford breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cragford dives in and grabs Rich's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rich pushes down on Cragford's head and hops out.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rich.
Rich closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cragford circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sang Rich. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cragford clinches with his opponent.
Rich will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cragford up against the cage.
Cragford stalls.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cragford is trying to drag Rich to the mat but Rich just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Cragford breaks the clinch.
No luck for Rich with that takedown attempt.
Barry Cragford seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rich fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cragford checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Cragford slaps away a takedown attempt from Rich, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cragford fails with a takedown attempt.
Rich fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice sprawl there from Rich as Cragford shoots in.
Rich shoots for a double leg takedown but Cragford sprawls well. He's pushed Rich's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cragford lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rich circles away quickly and effectively.
Rich goes for a double leg but Cragford avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Cragford continues to drive forward.

Cragford breaks the clinch.
Rich pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cragford tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rich swivels and escapes.
Cragford misses with a two punch combination.
Cragford is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rich sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Rich rushes Cragford and presses him up against the cage.
Cragford wants to take the fight to the mat but Rich manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Cragford gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rich.
Cragford can't get the takedown.
Rich can't break the clinch.
Cragford can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rich wants to break free but Cragford has control.
Cragford is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rich pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rich is trying to break free.

Rich pulls guard.
Cragford wants to stand but Rich has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cragford throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rich works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rich is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cragford is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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

Rich is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cragford defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Barry Cragford.
I've got Cragford 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 Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sang Rich!