PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Mccullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Crawford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Mccullen
vs
Crawford

170 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
169 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jimmy Mccullen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Danny Crawford!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mccullen goes for a double leg but Crawford avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Crawford continues to drive forward.
Crawford misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mccullen prevents a takedown attempt there.

Mccullen manages to break the clinch.
No luck for Mccullen with that takedown attempt.
Crawford looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Mccullen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Crawford sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mccullen somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Mccullen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mccullen tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mccullen shoots in for a takedown but Crawford shows good takedown defense.
Mccullen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Crawford finds it's way round the side to connect with Mccullen's head.
Mccullen walks into a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mccullen gets a clinch.
Crawford is trying to break free.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mccullen.
Crawford drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Crawford has a couple of punches blocked by Mccullen.
Crawford goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mccullen prevents it.
Mccullen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Crawford to keep the fight standing.
Mccullen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Mccullen jumps into guard, dragging Crawford to the mat.
Crawford tries to stand but Mccullen is controlling from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mccullen holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mccullen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Crawford is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mccullen throwing strikes but missing.
Mccullen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mccullen won't allow Crawford to get back to his feet.

Mccullen gets to his feet - Crawford follows without any prompting.
Crawford scores with a jab to the jaw.
Mccullen throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Crawford counter with a right hand.
Mccullen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Crawford sprawls well. Crawford wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mccullen gets slowly back to his feet.
Crawford takes a swing at Mccullen's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mccullen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Crawford swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mccullen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Crawford defends it nicely.
Mccullen shoots in looking for a takedown. Crawford tries to sprawl out of it but Mccullen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Crawford manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mccullen takes one on the chin but seems OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Crawford dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mccullen clinches up against the cage.
Mccullen fails to pull guard.

Mccullen decides to pull guard.
Crawford wants to stand and escape but instead Mccullen has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Crawford wants to stand and escape but Mccullen is having none of it.
Mccullen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mccullen is looking to work some ground and pound but Crawford has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mccullen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Crawford is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mccullen is controlling him.
Mccullen is stalling in the full guard.
Crawford is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mccullen is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mccullen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Crawford counters with a nice uppercut.
Crawford jabs Mccullen right on the nose. Mccullen blinks but takes it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Crawford. No joy for Mccullen on that attempt.

Mccullen closes the distance and clinches.

Mccullen manages to break the clinch.
Mccullen tries to clinch up.
Mccullen fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Mccullen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mccullen tries to clinch up but Crawford circles away and keeps his distance.
Danny Crawford seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A slow jab from Crawford misses its intended target.
Crawford takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Crawford keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mccullen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mccullen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Crawford throws out a loose jab but Mccullen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Crawford has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Crawford fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
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.
Mccullen moves forwards but Crawford connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Crawford catches Mccullen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Mccullen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Mccullen rushes Crawford and presses him up against the cage.
Crawford lands a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford is trying to break the clinch but Mccullen has him pressed against the cage.
Mccullen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Crawford tries to circle away but Mccullen has him pinned against the cage.

Mccullen breaks the clinch.
Mccullen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Mccullen takes the fight into the clinch.
Crawford misses with some punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A head punch on the inside from Crawford fails to land.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mccullen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Crawford to keep the fight standing.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Crawford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Crawford keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Crawford displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mccullen.
Crawford has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mccullen throws a jab but it's blocked by Crawford.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mccullen fails to land with a series of punches.
Crawford bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mccullen's head.
Mccullen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Mccullen shoots in and drives through. Crawford sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Mccullen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mccullen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Crawford circles away quickly and effectively.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mccullen throws a combination that misses
and Crawford counters with a left to the body.
Crawford moves into range and connects with a jab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mccullen.
Crawford displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Jimmy Mccullen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheers as Crawford lands an impressive looking overhand right. Mccullen doesn't seem phased though.
Mccullen has his takedown stuffed
and Crawford makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Mccullen tries to clinch but Crawford is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mccullen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nice cross by Crawford.
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!
Mccullen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Crawford counters with a nice body shot.
Crawford connects with a jab.
A shot to the liver by Crawford. Beautiful body shot.
Danny Crawford is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Horrible takedown attempt by Mccullen or perhaps it was just good defense by Crawford, which made it look bad.
Crawford scores with a nice strike.
Crawford moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Crawford scores with the left hand. Mccullen knows he should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Mccullen's head backwards.
Crawford cracks Mccullen with an open hand slap.
Mccullen walks into a left hand.
Crawford is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mccullen looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Mccullen walks into a jab.
Mccullen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Crawford lands a jab to Mccullen's midsection.
Mccullen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Crawford is fending him off so far but Mccullen persists. Nope, Crawford circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crawford changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Mccullen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Mccullen looks for a takedown but Crawford sprawls well.
Mccullen looks to land a body kick but Crawford moved away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mccullen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mccullen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Mccullen throws a wild body kick that Crawford sees coming a mile off.
Mccullen looks for a takedown but Crawford sprawls well.
Crawford lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 26:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Danny Crawford!
Post fight, Danny Crawford stared into the camera and said 'It's good to be back on winning ways. I'm going to capitalize on this performance and move on with my career.'.