PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matthew Carroll (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Crews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Carroll
vs
Crews

217 cm
23
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
24
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matthew Carroll!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Andy Crews!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carroll tries to clinch but Crews is having none of it.
Crews shoots in but no luck this time.
Horrible takedown attempt by Crews or perhaps it was just good defense by Carroll, which made it look bad.

Crews has closed the distance and engaged Carroll in a clinch.

Carroll has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Crews regains guard immediately.
Carroll keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Crews's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carroll postures up and lands a big shot to Crews's brow.
Carroll throwing strikes but missing.
Carroll in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Crews working for a triangle but Carroll defends it easily.
Carroll postures up in Crews's guard and throws a big left but Crews blocks it.

Crews working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Carroll doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Carroll manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Carroll keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Crews's head.

Carroll thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Crews not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Carroll throwing strikes but missing.
Carroll scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Crews is trying to control the position but Carroll postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Carroll closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Crews makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Carroll goes for a double leg but Crews avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Crews continues to drive forward.
Crews wants to counter with a clinch but Carroll pushes him away.
Crews will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Matthew Carroll has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andy Crews.

Crews clinches.
Crews gets underhooks to prevent Carroll's takedown attempt.
Carroll really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crews is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Crews is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Carroll pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Crews breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Crews fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Carroll, pushing him back against the cage.
Carroll slows down the pace here.
Carroll is trying to drag Crews to the mat but Crews just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Carroll working hard to break the clinch.
Carroll has Crews pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Crews manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Carroll as Crews tries to tie him up.
Crews can't get the takedown.

Crews successfully pulls guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carroll in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Crews is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Carroll is controlling him.
Crews looks winded!
Carroll stopping the sweep attempt from Crews.
Carroll makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Crews looking for a guillotine here but Carroll defends easily.
Carroll scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andy Crews will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Crews has a takedown stuffed.
Carroll is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Carroll moves into range and clinches up with Crews.
Carroll is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Crews pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Crews jumps guard and drags Carroll to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Carroll passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Crews tries to roll over but Carroll keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carroll has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Crews avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Carroll.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crews is trying to control but can't.
Carroll thows a huge punch but Crews dodges it nicely.
Carroll is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Crews is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The fighters are battling for position here. Crews manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Carroll landing some decent shots from guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Carroll's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

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

Carroll drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Carroll jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Carroll closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crews is trying to improve his position.
Crews is breathing heavily.
Carroll in side control lands a decent elbow.
Carroll happy to just control the position for now.
Matthew Carroll overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Carroll working the ground and pound.
Crews can't do much from the bottom here.
Crews tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Carroll wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Carroll controls the position.
Crews is trying to get back to half guard.

Carroll working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Crews is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Carroll is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Crews moves into the clinch.

Carroll successfully pulls guard.

Carroll had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Crews defends it easily.
Crews looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Carroll looking for a guillotine here but Crews defends easily.
Crews wants to stand but Carroll is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carroll is trying to keep Crews in close.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Carroll has Crews pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Carroll dives in and grabs Crews's left leg, looking for a takedown. Crews pushes down on Carroll's head and hops out.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Carroll.

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.
Carroll shoots for a takedown but Crews saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthew Carroll. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carroll shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Crews as he jumps to the side.
As Carroll backs off Crews throws a huge counter combo but Carroll manages to avoid it all.
Jab from Crews.
Carroll tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Crews paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Carroll shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Crews manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Carroll stopping the sweep attempt from Crews.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crews bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Carroll's guard.

Crews tries to free his leg and advance position but Carroll is retaining full guard.
Crews must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Crews wants to stand but Carroll has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Crews looking to sit in guard and control but Carroll gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Carroll with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Crews is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carroll is looking to work some ground and pound but Crews has wrist control.
Crews is trying to keep Carroll in close.
Carroll won't allow Crews to get back to his feet.
Carroll working some strikes from top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Carroll throwing strikes from guard but Crews blocks nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Crews gets a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andy Crews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Crews 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 William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Andy Crews!