PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Basil McCrystal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Violentia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Basil McCrystal has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

McCrystal
vs
Violentia

185 cm
25
190 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

180 cm
25
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid 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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Basil McCrystal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Violentia!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Sandra Marshall and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Violentia fails with the takedown
letting McCrystal counter with a right hand.

Violentia shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. McCrystal is trying to defend but Violentia finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
McCrystal wants to get back to his feet.
Violentia not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Violentia seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Violentia thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Violentia is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Violentia throws a strike but McCrystal avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
McCrystal is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Violentia throwing strikes from guard but McCrystal blocks nicely.
McCrystal is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Violentia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McCrystal scores with a decent looking hook.

McCrystal drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Violentia tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McCrystal wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Violentia can't do much from the bottom here.
Violentia is looking to regain half guard here but McCrystal keeps moving and retains side control.
Violentia keeps trying to improve his position.

McCrystal tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McCrystal in side control lands a decent elbow.
McCrystal tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
McCrystal misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Violentia is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on McCrystal's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCrystal thows a huge punch but Violentia dodges it nicely.
Violentia moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
McCrystal missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

McCrystal avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Violentia is trying to hold McCrystal in close to prevent damage but McCrystal has managed to pass into half guard.
Violentia is refusing to be controlled, as McCrystal sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
McCrystal not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
McCrystal missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
McCrystal looks to land a strike but Violentia avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
McCrystal postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McCrystal is stalling in the full guard.
McCrystal trying to control but Violentia is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Violentia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
McCrystal postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Basil McCrystal dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A jab from McCrystal does it's job there.
McCrystal throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Violentia.
McCrystal throws a series of punches but Violentia avoids them all with ease.
McCrystal looks for a takedown but Violentia sprawls well.
Violentia feints the counter takedown.
McCrystal throws a right and a left that both miss.
Basil McCrystal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McCrystal keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Violentia.
Basil McCrystal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from McCrystal. Violentia does a little dance to reset his feet.
McCrystal throws a nice looking combination but Violentia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Violentia changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
McCrystal catches Violentia with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCrystal moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
McCrystal digs a good body shot into Violentia's ribs.
Violentia avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCrystal jabs Violentia to the body, keeping him at a distance.
McCrystal throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Violentia swings away with a body shot that misses
and McCrystal counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
McCrystal lands a right hook to the body.
A jab from Violentia misses.
McCrystal looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
McCrystal's jab looks to have found its range, popping Violentia under the eye.
Violentia fails with a takedown attempt.
McCrystal digs a good body shot into Violentia's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Violentia takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Violentia tries to move into range but McCrystal moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
McCrystal scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Violentia doesn't seem bothered though.
Violentia on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McCrystal throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McCrystal looks to score with a jab to the body but Violentia is just out of range.
McCrystal misses with a two punch combination.
Violentia walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nice jab there from McCrystal.
McCrystal pivots, looking for a leg kick but Violentia is out of range and McCrystal settles back down.
McCrystal misses with the combination.
Violentia falls off balance throwing a combination
and McCrystal cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as McCrystal lands an impressive looking overhand right. Violentia doesn't seem phased though.
McCrystal tries to clinch but Violentia is having none of it.
Violentia is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Violentia has his takedown stuffed
and McCrystal counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Violentia thinking.
Violentia is breathing heavily.
McCrystal tries to clinch up but Violentia circles away and keeps his distance.
McCrystal takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
McCrystal defending well as Violentia loads up on a big left hand.
McCrystal throws a series of strikes that have Violentia backpedaling.
No joy there for McCrystal, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Violentia tries to clinch up but McCrystal circles away and keeps his distance.
McCrystal tests Violentia's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Violentia doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCrystal misses with a jab, cross combination.
McCrystal throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCrystal lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Violentia shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McCrystal sprawls well. McCrystal wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Violentia gets slowly back to his feet.
Basil McCrystal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Violentia.
McCrystal looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
McCrystal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McCrystal feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Violentias jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Jab by McCrystal.

McCrystal moves into the clinch successfully.
Violentia misses with the head strike.
McCrystal scores with a shot to the side of Violentia's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Basil McCrystal dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McCrystal fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Violentia has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Violentia there as he acknowledges the shot.
McCrystal will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McCrystal throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
McCrystal throws a one two combo.
Violentia misses with a hook
and McCrystal counters with a left and a right that stings Violentia.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Violentia walks into a straight right hand from McCrystal.
McCrystal tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Violentia was well out of range. Poor timing from McCrystal.
Violentia takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Violentia wants to clinch up but McCrystal keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McCrystal moves into the clinch.
Violentia keeps control of McCrystal as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McCrystal misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Violentia tries to work over McCrystal's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Violentia tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McCrystal avoids it.
Violentia misses with a hook to the ribs.
McCrystal taking a breather.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
McCrystal pushes Violentia back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
McCrystal lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
McCrystal trying to stall but Violentia improves his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCrystal lands on the inside with an uppercut.
McCrystal is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
McCrystal lands a left hand that snaps the head of Violentia backwards.
The referee is keeping an eye on McCrystal - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
McCrystal lands a right hand that snaps the head of Violentia backwards.
Violentia is trying to stall.

Violentia breaks the clinch.
Violentia swings away with a body shot that misses
and McCrystal makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Violentia with a poor takedown

and McCrystal counters by moving into the clinch.
Violentia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McCrystal lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Violentia backwards.
McCrystal lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Violentia or not.
Violentia misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCrystal will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Violentia up against the cage.
Violentia trying to stall but McCrystal improves his position.
Basil McCrystal has scored more points in the clinch so far.

McCrystal breaks the clinch.
McCrystal lands a jab-cross combination.
Violentia avoids a punch combination nicely.
Violentia with the counter takedown but McCrystal avoids it easily.
Violentia is on the wrong end of a nice combination from McCrystal.
McCrystal lands with a nice body punch.
Violentia avoids a punch combination nicely.
McCrystal is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Violentia can do to turn this around?
McCrystal scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Basil McCrystal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCrystal pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Violentia back to the cage. McCrystal follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCrystal works Violentia's body with a nice hook.
McCrystal throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
McCrystal swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McCrystal lands with a right hand.
McCrystal changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
McCrystal uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A shot to the liver by McCrystal. Beautiful body shot.
McCrystal connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Violentia momentarily.
McCrystal darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
John Violentia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCrystal throws a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Basil McCrystal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McCrystal has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 30:25
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:25
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:25

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.