PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Stafford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kirk Crusher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kirk Crusher will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Stafford
vs
Crusher

152 cm
19
278 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

220 cm
24
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pedro Stafford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kirk Crusher!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Seu Braga and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Crusher gets the takedown into side control.

Crusher goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Stafford rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Crusher's guard! Nice work there by Stafford!
Stafford stopping the sweep attempt from Crusher.
Stafford is fighting to break Crusher's control of his arms but Crusher is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Crusher escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stafford gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Crusher wants to stand but Stafford is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crusher wants to get back to his feet but Stafford passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stafford thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Crusher is trying to stand.
Crusher manages to get to full guard.
Stafford is looking to work some ground and pound but Crusher has wrist control.
Crusher has Stafford pulled in close to control his posture.
Stafford trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Crusher keeping moving, preventing Stafford from controlling successfully.

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.
Crusher has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Stafford has passed into side control.
Crusher tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stafford throws a strike aimed at the side of Crusher's head but Crusher avoids it well.
Crusher is looking for a sweep.
Crusher manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Crusher wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crusher is trying to stand up here but Stafford is controlling him well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Crusher feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Crusher throws a big right hand that misses.
Stafford not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Crusher loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stafford working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Crusher.
Stafford working a defensive guard here.
Crusher is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Crusher lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Crusher throws a strike but Stafford rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Crusher is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crusher working a defensive guard here.
Crusher is looking to stand up but Stafford isn't so interested in that idea.
Stafford could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Stafford throwing strikes from guard but Crusher blocks nicely.

Crusher is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stafford defends well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Crusher working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stafford doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stafford manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pedro Stafford 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.

Crusher drives through and clinches with Stafford against the cage.
Crusher is pressed up against the cage. Stafford has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Crusher down to the mat. Crusher avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Crusher clinches with his opponent.

Crusher has clasped his hands together around Stafford's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Crusher looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Stafford struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Crusher is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Stafford has escaped the position, nice work there.

Crusher tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Crusher postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Stafford managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Crusher.
Stafford is trying to control Crusher's posture but Crusher avoids it.
Stafford taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Crusher tries for a kimura but Stafford is defending well.

Crusher swings around for an armbar but Stafford sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Crusher's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Crusher can do anything to dispel that myth.
Stafford wants to control from the top but Crusher keeps moving.
Crusher seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Crusher wants to stand and escape but Stafford is having none of it.
Stafford throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Crusher works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crusher is adopting a defensive guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crusher trying to strike off his back.
Crusher bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stafford's guard.

Crusher stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stafford swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stafford might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Crusher loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Crusher trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stafford not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Crusher lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crusher stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stafford swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stafford trying to keep a closed guard but Crusher is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Crusher advances position into side control!
Crusher throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Crusher working the body and head with strikes.
Crusher working the head and body with strikes.

Crusher is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Stafford is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Crusher tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Crusher has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirk Crusher showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Crusher fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Stafford to the ground. Crusher is now in Stafford's guard.

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

Crusher is looking for a triangle here but Stafford uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crusher is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crusher regains half guard.
Crusher is trying to maintain the position but Stafford is very close to passing his half guard.
Kirk Crusher has got the better of the ground game so far.
Crusher slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Stafford wants to control from the top but Crusher keeps moving.

Crusher throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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.
Crusher looking for a sweep. Not yet Crusher, not yet.
Crusher is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Crusher works his foot free and advances to mount.

Crusher is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Stafford has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Stafford!
Crusher is looking to stand up but Stafford isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crusher throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Stafford stopping the sweep attempt from Crusher.
Stafford lands a couple of digs.
Crusher looking for a sweep. Not yet Crusher, not yet.

Crusher is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Crusher takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

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.

Crusher looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Stafford passes into side control.
Crusher has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stafford has control of an arm but Crusher manages to advance to Stafford's back!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stafford trying to control the hands but Crusher breaks the grip.
Stafford covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Stafford manages to reverse the position and now he's in Crusher's guard. Nice work there by Stafford.
Crusher controlling Stafford's posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kirk Crusher.
Well Crusher has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kirk Crusher!