PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ding Dong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Cranium (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ding Dong has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dong
vs
Cranium

188 cm
22
211 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
211 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Alpha-Omega

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ding Dong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Richard Cranium!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dong doesn't manage to clinch there - Cranium circles away.
A combination from Cranium does no damage.
Cranium ducks under a wild hook from Dong.

Dong gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Cranium drops back looking for a leg! Dong is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dong manages to kick Cranium off! Cranium jumps back into Dong's guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Cranium trying to control the position from guard on top but Dong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Dong wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Cranium loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cranium trying to control but Dong is working from the bottom.
Dong working a defensive guard here.
Cranium prevents Dong from getting back to his feet.
Dong looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cranium is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Cranium decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Cranium wants to stand up but Dong has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Dong is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cranium's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cranium's back!

Dong is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Dong looking for the choke but no joy.
Cranium controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Dong is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Cranium's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Dong somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Cranium turns into Dong and is now in his guard.

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

Cranium thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Dong tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cranium swivels and escapes.
Dong is breathing heavily.
Cranium shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Dong with a lazy takedown attempt

and Cranium counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cranium wants to stand up but Dong is controlling the position.

Cranium looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Dong has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cranium is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cranium landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Cranium is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Dong is looking to improve his position.
Cranium is looking to take a break and control but Dong is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Dong looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cranium wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dong keeps working.
Dong trying to control but Cranium postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Dong is not content to let Cranium control the position.
Cranium tries to pass the half guard into mount. Dong knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Cranium drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Dong manages to get back to half guard.

Cranium seems to be working for a kimura but Dong defends the submission attempt.
Dong tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Cranium is looking for a kimura but Dong is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cranium to get the leverage.
Cranium prevents Dong from standing back up.
Dong tries to roll over but Cranium keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Cranium dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Dong shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Dong was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cranium squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

Dong working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Cranium regains half guard.

Cranium is defending against the submission attempts here by Dong.
Cranium has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dong is working away from the top position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cranium is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dong is tying to control. Cranium wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cranium moves into full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Cranium looking for a guillotine here but Dong defends easily.
Richard Cranium has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Cranium is looking for a triangle but Dong pushes his legs off easily.

Cranium escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dong gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Cranium has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dong can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cranium escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dong gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dong stays in close to Cranium's body and controls the position.
Cranium wants to sweep but no luck.
Cranium being controlled here, momentarily.
Cranium wants to sweep here but Dong controlling him for the moment.
Dong passes Cranium's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cranium is staying active underneath Dong, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dong slips a nice elbow through Cranium's hands, connecting with Cranium's forehead.
Cranium avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dong.
Dong prevents Cranium from improving his position.

Cranium looking for submissions off his back.
Cranium is staying active underneath Dong, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Dong wants to stand but Cranium has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Dong trying to control the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Cranium bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dong is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Cranium scoring with punches from side control.
Dong tries to bench press Cranium off him but Cranium keeps the position.
Cranium misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Cranium stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Cranium shoots in and bounces Dong off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Cranium advances position into side control!
Dong tries to bench press Cranium off him but Cranium keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Cranium showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Dong missing with a left hand there. Cranium was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Dong gets caught flat footed, as Cranium shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Cranium stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Cranium shoots in for a takedown but Dong shows good takedown defense.

Dong forces Cranium back against the ropes and clinches.
Dong has Cranium pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Cranium manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dong trying to land knees to the body.
Dong misses with the head strike.
Dong fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Dong pulls guard effortlessly.
Cranium postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Cranium thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Cranium looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cranium postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dong is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dong looking for a sweep. Not yet Dong, not yet.
Cranium scoring with some ground and pound.
Cranium works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Cranium is tying to control. Dong wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Cranium sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dong defending well though.

Cranium is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Dong doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cranium.
Cranium not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cranium trying to mount his opponent but Dong defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dong is looking for a sweep. Cranium is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Cranium seems to be looking for submissions.

Dong is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Cranium pulls his head out easily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Dong throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cranium!

Cranium closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Dong to the mat! Dong manages to get full guard.
Dong trying to keep a closed guard but Cranium is proving a slippery customer.
Dong 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cranium gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Dong shoots in for a double leg but Cranium sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ding Dong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cranium shoots for a takedown but Dong saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dong tries to clinch but Cranium moves out of range.
Ding Dong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Cranium closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Dong is not content to let Cranium control the position.

Dong is defending against the submission attempts here by Cranium.

Cranium is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Richard Cranium is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dong trying to control but Cranium postures up.
Cranium tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Cranium tries to pass the half guard into mount. Dong knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Dong trying to control but Cranium postures up.

Cranium is trying to work for a kimura but Dong is defending well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Cranium gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Cranium comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cranium 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Cranium!