PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rick Cricket (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucas Davenport (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cricket comes to the cage accompanied by Demons- Imagine Dragons. This should be a great matchup!

Cricket
vs
Davenport

189 cm
25
208 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

177 cm
25
225 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

MMA Hype Apparel

GREEN!160

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 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick Cricket!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lucas Davenport!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Fujiwara and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cricket swings widly with a right hand

and Davenport counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Davenport.
Davenport throws a strike but Cricket rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Cricket trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Davenport wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Davenport keeping moving, preventing Cricket from controlling successfully.
Cricket controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Davenport has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cricket trying to control but Davenport is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cricket showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cricket looking to pass the guard.
Davenport lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cricket holds on and takes a little breather.
Davenport trying to control but Cricket is working from the bottom.
Davenport engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Davenport misses with a takedown
and Cricket counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Davenport is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cricket is looking to clinch but Davenport is avoiding it.
Davenport tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cricket swivels and escapes.
Davenport walks into a stiff left hand from Cricket.

Davenport gets a double leg takedown into Cricket's guard.
Davenport trying to control the position from guard on top but Cricket is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Davenport preventing the sweep.
Davenport pushes down on Cricket's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Davenport seems to be looking for submissions.
Cricket tries to get to full guard but Davenport has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Davenport is working for a submission of some sort.
Davenport is just content to waste time from the top position. Cricket takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Cricket will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Davenport's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Davenport throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cricket works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Davenport is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Davenport shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cricket as he jumps to the side.
Rick Cricket has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Davenport.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cricket fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cricket throws a sloppy head kick and Davenport moves out of range easily.
Davenport takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Davenport walks into a jab.
Cricket throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Davenport drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Cricket defends it well.
Davenport lands with a good body shot.

Cricket fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Davenport, pushing him back against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Davenport is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cricket is defending well.
Cricket misses with a punch to the body.
Cricket holding his opponent close, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Cricket dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Davenport fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cricket throws a big counter combination but Davenport scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Horrible takedown attempt by Davenport or perhaps it was just good defense by Cricket, which made it look bad.
Cricket throws out a leg kick but Davenport moves out of range and Cricket only half commits.
Cricket throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cricket misses with a kick to the body

and Davenport counters with a single leg into guard. Cricket didn't expect that.
Davenport trying to control the position from guard on top but Cricket is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
My spies in Montreal Fighter's Gym (4.5* Sparring) inform me that Davenport has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Davenport throws a big elbow that misses.
Davenport with a nice head shot there.
Cricket keeping moving, preventing Davenport from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cricket seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Davenport throws a big right hand that misses.
Cricket avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Davenport wants to control from the top but Cricket keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cricket lands a body shot.
Davenport shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cricket as he avoids it easily.
Rick Cricket has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Davenport.
Cricket keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Davenport.
Cricket looks to land a left hand but Davenport moved out of range nicely.
Cricket looks to clinch

and Davenport counters with a shoot takedown. Cricket fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cricket trying to control the position.
Davenport throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cricket works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Davenport throws a big elbow that misses.
Davenport keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cricket's head.

Davenport is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cricket is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cricket has escaped and now he's on top!
Davenport keeping moving, preventing Cricket from controlling successfully.
Cricket wants to get up but he can't break Davenport's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Davenport is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cricket is aware though and is defending well.
Cricket wants to control from the top but Davenport keeps moving.
Cricket throws a strike but Davenport rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cricket looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Davenport has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cricket.
Cricket thows a body kick. Davenport tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rick Cricket is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Davenport is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cricket sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Davenport has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Cricket.
Davenport shoots in looking for a takedown. Cricket tries to sprawl out of it but Davenport keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cricket manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rick Cricket is winning the standup battle so far.
Davenport shoots in but Cricket avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cricket lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cricket misses with an uppercut. Davenport saw that one coming.
Davenport tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Cricket dominated that second round.
That's time! Cricket's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Davenport darts in looking for a takedown but Cricket gets double underhooks and turns Davenport into the cage.
Cricket misses with a hook.

Davenport shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Davenport sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cricket defending well though.
Davenport missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Davenport seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Davenport thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cricket's head.
Davenport thows a huge punch but Cricket dodges it nicely.
Davenport missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Davenport is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davenport is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Davenport sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cricket defending well though.
Davenport throwing shots but Cricket is blocking nicely.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Davenport connects with a nice short shot to Cricket's temple.
Cricket tries to get to full guard but Davenport has control of the leg.

Davenport seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two 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.
Davenport working over Cricket with some ground and pound. Cricket looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Cricket wants to improve his position but Davenport is controlling well.
Davenport seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cricket throws a body kick that misses.
And Davenport tries to counter it with a takedown but Cricket pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A head kick from Cricket lands but Davenport takes it in his stride.
Cricket throws a one two combo.
Cricket swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Davenport.
Cricket doesn't manage to clinch there - Davenport circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cricket lands a really nice looking cross but Davenport seems unphased.
Davenport tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cricket defends well and Davenport ends up having to push Cricket into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Cricket fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Davenport on the side of the head.
It looks like Cricket has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Cricket stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cricket wants it to stay on the feet.
Rick Cricket has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Davenport.
Cricket stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cricket wants it to stay on the feet.
Cricket tries to work over Davenport's front leg with a kick but Davenport checks it.
Davenport avoids the head kick by Cricket.
Davenport blocks a head kick by Cricket.
Davenport with the counter takedown but Cricket avoids it easily.
Cricket swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cricket is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Davenport shoots in and drives through. Cricket sprawls well.

Davenport darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davenport missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Cricket is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cricket avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Davenport.
Lucas Davenport has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Davenport is looking for a kimura but Cricket is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Davenport to get the leverage.
Davenport lands strikes from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Davenport wants to advance to full mount but Cricket doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Cricket looking for a sweep. Not yet Cricket, not yet.

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 Rick Cricket.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cricket, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Cricket!
After the fight, Rick Cricket was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.