PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fredric Brannon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Basil McCrystal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Fredric Brannon has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Brannon
vs
McCrystal

185 cm
25
187 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Fredric Brannon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Basil McCrystal!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Winston Alpacca and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brannon throws a lazy right hand but McCrystal sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

McCrystal has managed to clinch.
McCrystal lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Brannon lands a shoulder strike.
Brannon has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by McCrystal after a bit of a struggle.
Brannon is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Good body shot from McCrystal.
McCrystal is working for takedown but Brannon is calmly controlling the position for now.

McCrystal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McCrystal smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

McCrystal darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Brannon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McCrystal sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCrystal sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Brannon defending well though.
McCrystal seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
McCrystal missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Brannon is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McCrystal throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
McCrystal content to control rather than advance.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Brannon keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
McCrystal lunges at Brannon with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Brannon's hand.
Brannon throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
McCrystal needs to keep his hands up - Brannon had a free shot at his head there.

It looks like Basil McCrystal has been cut.
Brannon misses with a wild combination.
McCrystal shoots in and drives through. Brannon sprawls well.
Fredric Brannon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Basil McCrystal.
McCrystal pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Brannon back to the cage. McCrystal follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
McCrystal looks to land a combination but Brannon avoids it well.
McCrystal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Brannon moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brannon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McCrystal.
Brannon darts in looking for a takedown but McCrystal gets double underhooks and turns Brannon into the cage.
McCrystal uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Brannon.
McCrystal doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
McCrystal swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Brannon.
McCrystal uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Brannon.
McCrystal doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Brannon lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McCrystal circles away quickly and effectively.
McCrystal defending well as Brannon loads up on a big left hand.
We've been informed that McCrystal has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Nice sprawl there from Brannon as McCrystal shoots in.
The fight stays on the outside here - Brannon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McCrystal throws a right hand that Brannon ducks under and follows up with a left that Brannon also avoids with ease.
McCrystal lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
McCrystal is looking to score with low kicks.
Brannon swinging wildly here.
Brannon swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McCrystal throws a nice looking combination but Brannon bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCrystal has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Brannon finds it's way round the side to connect with McCrystal's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brannon swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McCrystal looks like he wants to counter punch here.

McCrystal drives through and clinches with Brannon against the cage.
A short right from Brannon on the inside.
McCrystal looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

McCrystal jumps guard.

McCrystal has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Brannon has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Brannon throws a punch but it's blocked by McCrystal.
Brannon softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Brannon wants a takedown but no success here.
Brannon lands with a short punch from the clinch.
McCrystal is looking to take this one to the mat.
McCrystal is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Brannon throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McCrystal.
Brannon fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Brannon is working for takedown but McCrystal is calmly controlling the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Brannon lands a jab to the head.
Brannon shoots in but no luck this time.
McCrystal feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Brannons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
McCrystal swings for the body but Brannon moves out of range.
Brannon takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Brannon has been working on his balance at All Time Wrestling - 12 ELITE COACHES, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by McCrystal.
McCrystal misses with a body shot.
Basil McCrystal seems to be getting the better of the standup.

McCrystal gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McCrystal goes for a takedown in the clinch but Brannon prevents it.

McCrystal has Brannon pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. McCrystal pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Brannon tumbling to the mat - McCrystal dives into Brannon's guard.
McCrystal wants to control from the top but Brannon keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCrystal loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Brannon bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McCrystal's guard.

Brannon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Brannon wants to control from the top but McCrystal keeps moving.
Brannon postures up in McCrystal's guard and throws a big left but McCrystal blocks it.
Brannon stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McCrystal swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Brannon drops back, looking for a kneebar! McCrystal looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. McCrystal looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from McCrystal!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McCrystal swings around for an armbar but Brannon sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into McCrystal's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Brannon wants to control from the top but McCrystal keeps moving.
Brannon throws an elbow that misses. McCrystal uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Brannon's guard. Nice move by McCrystal!
Brannon trying to control the position.
Brannon being controlled here, momentarily.
Brannon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Brannon swings widly with a right hand
and McCrystal counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Brannon gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brannon thows a left - swing and a miss!
McCrystal changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from Brannon misses the target.
Brannon takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Brannon misses with a double jab.
McCrystal gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Brannon misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Brannon looks to land a right hand but McCrystal moved out of range.

McCrystal moves into the clinch successfully.
Brannon working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Brannon.
Brannon gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from McCrystal.
A nice left hand lands by McCrystal.
McCrystal drops down looking for an ankle pick but Brannon pulls his leg out and moves away.
Fredric Brannon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Basil McCrystal.
Brannon tries for a takedown but McCrystal circles away easily
and McCrystal counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brannon swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and McCrystal moves into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCrystal works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
McCrystal gets underhooks to prevent Brannon's takedown attempt.
Brannon tries for a takedown but McCrystal manages to get underhooks.
Brannon tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Brannon is trying to break the clinch but McCrystal is controlling him.
Brannon working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
McCrystal stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Brannon takes a shot to the head.
Brannon stalling in the clinch but McCrystal improves position.
McCrystal makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
McCrystal lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Brannon doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McCrystal looking for a takedown.
McCrystal is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
McCrystal lands with a right to the head.
A short left from Brannon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Basil McCrystal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Basil McCrystal's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

McCrystal looks to land a combination. Brannon sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Brannon misses with a right hand
and McCrystal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Brannon throws a shot to the body.
McCrystal moves out of range as Brannon strikes.
Fredric Brannon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Brannon dives in for a single leg takedown but McCrystal sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Brannon tries to score a power double leg takedown but McCrystal sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Brannon somewhat.
Brannon throws an overhand right that lands on McCrystal's shoulder, as McCrystal tries to avoid the shot.
McCrystal doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Danga de danga de dang - McCrystal scores with a four punch combination!
Brannon takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Brannon ducks right into an uppercut from McCrystal.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McCrystal misses with a takedown
and Brannon counters with a stiff right hand.
McCrystal fails to land the takedown.
McCrystal has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCrystal lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Brannon circles away quickly and effectively.
McCrystal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McCrystal uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Brannon.
McCrystal throws a counter combo.
Brannon lands a two punch combo.
McCrystal looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McCrystal jabs Brannon to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Brannon throws a shot from downtown. McCrystal moves away and avoids it.
McCrystal misses with the combination.
Brannon is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Brannon throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McCrystal moves in looking to clinch but Brannon pushes him off.
Brannon pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Brannon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Brannon misses with a wild combination.
McCrystal changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Brannon is looking to clinch but McCrystal is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCrystal will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Brannon throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McCrystal.
McCrystal feints the counter takedown.
Brannon lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Brannon misses with a series of wild punches.
McCrystal throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
McCrystal takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Brannon scores with a jab to the head.
McCrystal avoids a punch combination nicely.
Brannon throws a lazy right hand but McCrystal sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McCrystal misses the shot to the body.
Brannon tries to clinch there but McCrystal circles away.
No joy there for McCrystal, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by McCrystal.
Brannon is trying to buck McCrystal off.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
McCrystal sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Brannon is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
McCrystal slows the pace down.
Brannon parries the strikes from McCrystal easily there. McCrystal is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Brannon to escape.
McCrystal sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Brannon is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Brannon gets back to half guard.
McCrystal with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Fredric Brannon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Basil McCrystal is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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.
Brannon keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
McCrystal avoids a punch combination nicely.
McCrystal moves into range and connects with a jab.
Brannon looks to land a right hand but McCrystal moved out of range.
Brannon throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

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 Fredric Brannon.
I think McCrystal 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Basil McCrystal!
After winning the bout, Basil McCrystal thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.