PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Azar Yunus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Yunus
vs
Crawford

183 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
19
169 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Azar Yunus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Danny Crawford!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Atkins and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yunus swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
It seemed like Crawford was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A shot to the body from Yunus misses
and Crawford counters with a stiff right hand.
Yunus throws a jab but it's blocked by Crawford.
Yunus misses with a looping right.
Yunus misses with a leg kick
and Crawford counters with a nice uppercut.
Crawford tries to clinch but Yunus is having none of it.
Yunus throws a low kick but Crawford avoids it.
Yunus throws an off balance right hand
and Crawford connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yunus misses with a left hand
and Crawford counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yunus keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Crawford.
Yunus ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Crawford moves away.
Crawford throws out a counter right but Yunus avoids it with no problem.
Yunus ducks right into an uppercut from Crawford.
Crawford paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yunus tries to bum rush Crawford with a series of wild strikes but Crawford uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Yunus staying out of range there.
Yunus with a jab.
Yunus throws a right hand that misses
and Crawford connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yunus throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice defenses there by Yunus.
Crawford catches Yunus with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Crawford connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Yunus's hands.
Crawford takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Yunus swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Crawford connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yunus throws a lazy uppercut
and Yunus takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Crawford fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yunus throws a right hand that Crawford ducks under and follows up with a left that Crawford also avoids with ease.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Crawford! But no joy.
Yunus throws a hook to the side of Crawford's head but Crawford sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Azar Yunus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yunus throws a leg kick
enabling Crawford to counter with a crisp jab.
Yunus swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Crawford counter with a right hand.
Yunus finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Crawford scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Yunus doesn't seem bothered though.
Crawford connects with the punch.
No joy there for Yunus, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Crawford uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yunus.
Yunus throws a right hand that misses
and Crawford connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Crawford might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Yunus throws an ugly left hook that misses
enabling Crawford to counter with a crisp jab.
Crawford uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yunus.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yunus throws a right and a left that both miss.
Despite the aggression on Crawford's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Jab by Crawford.
Crawford is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Yunus avoids the body shot from Crawford.

Yunus pushes Crawford up against the cage in a clinch.
Yunus lands a left hand that snaps the head of Crawford backwards.

Yunus breaks the clinch.
Crawford slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Yunus misses with a jab, cross combination.
Crawford lands a head shot.
Yunus misses with a hook.
Yunus takes one to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yunus throws a lazy uppercut
and Crawford connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yunus takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Crawford looks to land a left hand but Yunus moved out of range nicely.
Crawford swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Yunus.
Crawford misses with a hook. Yunus ducked under it nicely.
Yunus misses with a wild combination.
It seemed like Crawford was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Crawford throws out a loose jab but Yunus uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yunus seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Yunus misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Crawford.
A punch lands to the side of Yunus 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Yunus swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Crawford counter with a right hand.
Crawford moves out of range as Yunus strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Crawford dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Crawford lands a nice hook to Yunus's body. Yunus takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Crawford keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Crawford scores with a nice right hand.
Yunus throws a big shot that misses.
Crawford doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Yunus throws a left and a right that both miss
and Crawford counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Crawford misses with a hook.
Crawford loads up on a big right hand but Yunus slips the punch.
Crawford cracks a nice hook into Yunus's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Yunus has taken the fight to the clinch.
Yunus has Crawford pressed against the cage, preventing Crawford from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Yunus will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Crawford up against the cage.
Crawford can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yunus taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Crawford wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Yunus has him pressed against the cage.
Yunus has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Crawford fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Yunus lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Crawford wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Crawford scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Crawford wants to break the clinch but can't.
Crawford is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Yunus blocks an uppercut.
Yunus misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yunus has Crawford pressed against the cage, preventing Crawford from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Crawford misses with the head strike.
A short uppercut from Yunus.
Yunus with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Crawford misses with a hook from the clinch.
Crawford has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Crawford wants to take the fight to the mat but Yunus manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Yunus is leaning against Crawford and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crawford is looking to take this one to the mat.
A frustrated look appears on Crawford's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Yunus lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Yunus breaks the clinch.
Yunus throws a series of punches but Crawford avoids them all with ease.

Yunus closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A knee to the head by Yunus.
Yunus lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Crawford tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Crawford wants a takedown but no success here.
Azar Yunus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Crawford.
Yunus lands with a right to the head.
Yunus taking a breather.
Yunus tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Crawford wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford can't break the clinch.
Crawford misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yunus slowing the pace effectively.
Yunus misses with a body punch.
A body shot lands from Yunus.
Crawford wants to get back to striking at distance but Yunus won't allow it.
Crawford misses with a hook from the clinch.
Yunus with a knee to the head.

It looks like Danny Crawford has been cut.
Crawford tries to break free but Yunus pushes him back against the cage.

Yunus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Crawford throws a big shot that misses.
Yunus swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Crawford counters with a stiff right hand.
Yunus swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Yunus misses with a low kick as Crawford jumps back.
Crawford let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford throws a hook but Yunus avoids it easily.
Yunus swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Crawford takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Yunus is looking to score with low kicks.
Yunus lunges at Crawford with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Crawford's hand.
Yunus throws a hook but Crawford blocks it.
A countering left hand to the body from Crawford misses.
Yunus on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Yunus shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Crawford connects with a looping right hand.
Crawford sizes up Yunus with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Yunus throws a combination that misses
and Crawford cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Crawford looks to throw the jab but Yunus is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Azar Yunus will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Danny Crawford's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Yunus misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Crawford swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Crawford lands with a cross.
Yunus throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Crawford counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Yunus displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Crawford throws out the jab.
Crawford throws the left hand but Yunus avoids the punch easily.
Crawford slips a jab from Yunus.
Yunus looks to land a left hand but Crawford moved out of range nicely.
Yunus goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yunus misses with a looping left.
Crawford doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Yunus takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Azar Yunus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Crawford swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Crawford scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Crawford misses its intended target.
Crawford misses with a looping left.
Yunus throws a right and a left that Crawford avoids nicely.
Danny Crawford seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yunus throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Crawford connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Crawford looks to land a right hand but Yunus moved out of range.
Yunus lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Crawford circles away quickly and effectively.
Crawford throws an overhand right that lands on Yunus's shoulder, as Yunus tries to avoid the shot.
Yunus tries to clinch
and Crawford makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Yunus tries to clinch up but Crawford circles away and keeps his distance.
It seemed like Crawford was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Decent striking displayed by Crawford there.
Crawford lands with a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yunus pivots, looking for a leg kick but Crawford is out of range and Yunus settles back down.
Yunus throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Crawford.
Crawford takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Yunus throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Yunus takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
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!
Yunus throws a lazy uppercut
and Crawford connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Crawford staying out of range there.
Crawford looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Crawford moves out of range of the strikes.
Crawford ducks under a wild hook from Yunus.
Crawford punishes Yunus's body with a nice straight punch.
Yunus keeps the fight on the outside.
Yunus throws a poor cross that misses
and Crawford cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yunus throws a poor cross that misses
and Crawford cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Yunus moves out of range of the strikes.
Crawford misses with a hook.
Yunus throws a shot from downtown. Crawford moves away and avoids it.
Yunus looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Crawford throws a hook but Yunus blocks it.
Yunus takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A shot to the liver by Crawford. Beautiful body shot.
Yunus takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Yunus wants to land a leg kick but Crawford is out of range.
A low kick from Yunus misses
and Crawford counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Yunus thinking.
Good shot there by Crawford.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yunus swings for the body but Crawford moves out of range.
Yunus takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Yunus bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Crawford lands a nice shot that snaps Yunus's head back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Crawford scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Yunus lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Crawford moves out of range of the strikes.
Crawford appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Crawford jabs Yunus right on the nose. Yunus blinks but takes it well.
Yunus falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Crawford to counter with a crisp jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Yunus misses with an uppercut
and Crawford counters with a nice body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny Crawford comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Crawford has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Crawford!
As Danny Crawford got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: It's good to be back on winning ways. I'm going to capitalize on this performance and move on with my career.'.