PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joaquim Maria (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ichabod Crane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maria comes to the cage accompanied by Kronos - Bloodtower. Crane comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Broken Bones - Decapitated kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maria
vs
Crane

193 cm
41
237 lbs
42 - 20 - 0

200 cm
27
287 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 42 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joaquim Maria!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ichabod Crane!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Saam Ante and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maria gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Crane connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Crane misses with a wild body shot.
Maria tests Crane's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Maria misses with a head kick.
Maria uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Crane.
A little feinted left hand from Maria on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Crane throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Maria thows a body kick. Crane tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Crane has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Crane scores with a jab to the jaw.
Crane misses with a right hand
and Maria cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maria cracks Crane with an open hand slap.
Crane tries to close the distance and clinch but Maria swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maria is looking to land body kicks.
Crane throws a head kick but Maria moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Crane fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Maria sprawls well initially but Crane persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Crane lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maria keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Crane throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crane stalling away here and it's allowed Maria to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Crane not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Crane has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maria managing to control the position.
Crane working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Crane throwing strikes from guard but Maria blocks nicely.

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.
Crane trying to control the position from guard on top but Maria is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Crane trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Maria manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Maria has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Maria got a little sloppy there for a moment and Crane has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Maria has managed to get both his arms back between Crane's legs - danger averted.

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

Crane is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Crane looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maria controls from within his opponent's guard.

Crane looking for subs off his back but Maria has passed one foot through into half guard.
Crane gets full guard.
Maria wants to stand but Crane has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Crane working for a triangle but Maria defends it easily.

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.
Crane wants to sweep but no luck.
Crane keeps trying to improve his position.

Crane looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Crane throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maria sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ichabod Crane will probably get the nod.
That's time! Maria's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Maria thuds his right hand into Crane's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Maria throws a sloppy head kick and Crane moves out of range easily.

Crane is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Maria's half guard.
Maria on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Crane throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Maria wants to control but Crane is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crane thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Maria's head.
Crane missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Crane throwing shots but Maria is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maria regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Crane.
Crane with a flurry of punches that miss.
Crane throwing strikes but missing.
Crane pushing down on Maria's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Crane winds up and cracks Maria with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Crane lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ichabod Crane has got the better of the ground game so far.
Crane throwing shots but Maria is blocking nicely.

Crane is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maria avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Crane.
Crane thows a huge punch but Maria dodges it nicely.
Maria avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Crane.
Crane throws a strike but Maria avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Crane throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maria works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Crane stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maria swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Crane postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crane throwing strikes but missing.
Maria preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Crane throws an elbow that misses. Maria uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Crane's guard. Nice move by Maria!

Crane manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Maria manages to get himself to full guard.

Crane missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Crane is pushing down on Maria's leg trying to pass to half guard. Maria is fighting to maintain full guard but Crane has managed to sneak the leg through.
Crane is looking to stall here but Maria recovers full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crane postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Crane postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Maria is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Crane, into his guard.

Crane looking for subs off his back but Maria has passed one foot through into half guard.
Crane has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maria looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichabod Crane showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Crane keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maria.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Crane! But no joy.
Crane misses with a jab to the body
and Maria counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Maria pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ichabod Crane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crane has a takedown stuffed.
Crane just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromMaria.
Crane clobbers Maria with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Ichabod Crane is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Crane scores with a takedown into Maria's guard.
Crane throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maria works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crane wants to pass the guard but Maria is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crane trying to control but Maria is working from the bottom.
Crane is looking to work some ground and pound but Maria has wrist control.
Crane loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Crane tries to free his leg and advance position but Maria is retaining full guard.
Crane with a flurry of punches that miss.
Crane works over Maria with some ground and pound from guard.
Crane with a nice head shot there.
Crane stands up over Maria, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maria preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Crane not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Crane throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Crane working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Maria trying to keep a closed guard but Crane is proving a slippery customer.
Maria utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Maria ducks right into an uppercut from Crane.
A jab from Crane does it's job there.
Crane throws a hook to the side of Maria's head but Maria sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've been told by Maria's head coaches at Sanitarium that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Crane.
Joaquim Maria is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Crane shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Maria's guard.
Crane tries to free his leg and advance position but Maria is retaining full guard.
Crane stays in close to Maria's body and controls the position.
Crane throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maria works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Crane working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Crane missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Crane throwing strikes but missing.
Crane postures up and lands a big shot to Maria's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crane throws a big right hand that misses.
Crane lands a couple of digs.
Crane stays in close to Maria's body and controls the position.
Crane trying to control the position from guard on top but Maria is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Crane throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Maria works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maria is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ichabod Crane is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Maria stuffs the takedown attempt from Crane. Crane gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ichabod Crane comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Crane 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ichabod Crane!
A very excited looking Ichabod Crane made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.