PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Russell Wallace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ichabod Crane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Crane has chosen Broken Bones - Decapitated as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Wallace
vs
Crane

187 cm
31
261 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

200 cm
28
287 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Russell Wallace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ichabod Crane!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Albert Achterberg and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crane is looking to clinch.
The crowd cheers as Wallace lands an impressive looking overhand right. Crane doesn't seem phased though.
Wallace connects with a body shot.
Wallace fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Crane.
Wallace misses with a wild body shot.
Crane goes for a double leg but Wallace avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Wallace continues to drive forward.
Wallace thinks about countering with a head kick.
Wallace keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Crane.
A little feinted left hand from Wallace on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
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.
A jab from Crane misses.
Wallace throws a leg kick but Crane moved away.
Wallace turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wallace. Crane does a little dance to reset his feet.

Crane dives in and scores a takedown into Wallace's guard.
Wallace might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Crane is looking to work some ground and pound but Wallace has wrist control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Crane in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Crane working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Wallace's head.
Crane slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wallace is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wallace keeping moving, preventing Crane from controlling successfully.
Wallace tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Wallace had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Crane defends it easily.
Crane working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Wallace controls Crane momentarily but Crane frees himself.

That's two 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.

Wallace throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Wallace is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Crane content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Crane is looking to work some ground and pound but Wallace has wrist control.
Crane stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wallace swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Wallace is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Crane is aware though and is defending well.
Crane stopping the sweep attempt from Wallace.

Wallace working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Crane doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Crane manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crane throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wallace works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wallace can't keep his opponent in guard - Crane advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Wallace actively working from the bottom here.

Crane is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Wallace sees it coming and defends easily.
Wallace is not content to let Crane control the position.
Crane throws a strike but Wallace avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

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.
Crane preventing the sweep.
Crane loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Crane working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Wallace is looking for a triangle but Crane pushes his legs off easily.
Wallace has momentary wrist control but Crane slips an elbow through the middle.
Wallace looking to control.
Crane postures up in Wallace's guard and throws a big left but Wallace blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crane working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Wallace's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Crane wants to control from the top but Wallace keeps moving.
Crane wants to pass the guard but Wallace is keeping the position.
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.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Wallace motions for Crane to come forward. Wallace throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Wallace misses the shot to the body.
Crane with the counter takedown but Wallace avoids it easily.
Wallace avoids the body shot from Crane.
Crane lands a nice shot that snaps Wallace's head back.
Crane jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Wallace slips a jab and a cross from Crane.
A decent looking cross lands there for Wallace.
Crane works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Crane takes one to the chin there.
Crane scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Wallace takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Crane is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Wallace's half guard.
Crane has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wallace is trying to get back to full guard.
Wallace is controlling Crane's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crane working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Crane with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Wallace looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Wallace keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Crane working over Wallace with some ground and pound. Wallace looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Crane is just content to waste time from the top position. Wallace takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Crane advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wallace avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Crane.
Wallace gets full guard.
Crane missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wallace keeping moving, preventing Crane from controlling successfully.

Wallace looking for a guillotine here but Crane defends easily.
Crane postures up.
Crane throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Wallace looking for a guillotine here but Crane defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wallace has momentary wrist control but Crane slips an elbow through the middle.
Crane chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Wallace manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Crane manages to get himself to full guard.

Crane has an active guard here but Wallace has managed to pass into half guard.
Crane manages to get to full guard.
Crane is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wallace wants to control from the top but Crane keeps moving.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Wallace scores with a hook to the body. Crane takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Crane ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wallace moves away.
Wallace is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
We've been told by Wallace's head coaches at Nelson Fight Camp that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Crane misses with a double jab
and Wallace counters with a right hand to the body.
Crane throws a body shot but no joy.
Crane on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Wallace. Wallace obviously looking to wear him down.
Wallace fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Crane has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Crane throws a lazy right hand but Wallace sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wallace thinks about countering with a head kick.
Wallace lands with a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crane on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Crane on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Wallace keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wallace thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ichabod Crane is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wallace tries a head kick but it misses.
Wallace throws a leg kick but Crane moved away.
Wallace getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Wallace wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Crane moves out of range of the body kick from Wallace.
Wallace tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Crane paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Crane chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Wallace can pounce on him.
Wallace connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Crane connects with a crisp jab.
Crane throws a series of punches but Wallace moves out of range.
Wallace appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Crane shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Wallace pinned against the cage. Wallace gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Crane moves out of range as Wallace throws a body kick.
Crane misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crane takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Wallace attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Wallace throws a body kick that misses.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Wallace misses with a series of wild punches.
Crane loads up on a big right hand but Wallace slips the punch.
Wallace displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Crane throws out the jab.
Wallace swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Crane.
Russell Wallace has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wallace will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Wallace takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Wallace throws a body punch but Crane moves out of range.
Wallace throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crane fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Russell Wallace is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Crane connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Wallace's hands.
Crane fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Russell Wallace has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ichabod Crane.

Crane shoots in and bounces Wallace off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Wallace looking to control.
Wallace is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Crane working some strikes from top position.
Crane throws a strike but Wallace rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Wallace stands up over Crane, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crane is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Wallace keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Crane's head.
Crane is trying to keep Wallace in close.
Wallace throws a big elbow that misses.
Crane looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wallace is one step ahead there.
Ichabod Crane is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Wallace throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Crane works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Russell Wallace showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Crane 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ichabod Crane!
Our winner, Ichabod Crane, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.