PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mark Croft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Pilsner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Croft comes to the cage accompanied by Living in the Sunlight. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Croft
vs
Pilsner

183 cm
22
188 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

186 cm
19
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Croft!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Pilsner!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Richard Clark and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Croft comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Pilsner misses with a head kick.
Croft scores with a head kick.

It looks like Mark Pilsner has been cut.
Pilsner throws a lazy body kick
and Croft counters with a two punch combo.

Pilsner moves into the clinch.
Croft tries to break free but Pilsner pushes him back against the cage.
Croft has had enough of the clinch but Pilsner keeps him there for the moment.

Pilsner pulls Croft into guard.
Pilsner seems keen to control Croft's posture.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pilsner can do anything to dispel that myth.
Croft showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Croft trying to control but Pilsner is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Croft postures up.
Croft definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Pilsner working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Croft.

Pilsner looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Croft has picked Pilsner up and slammed him! Pilsner can't keep hold of the triangle and Croft manages to pass to side control!
Pilsner has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Pilsner tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pilsner is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Pilsner pushes Croft off looking to stand but Croft dives back in and keeps control.
Pilsner trying to hold on to Croft's head to control him but Croft postures up.
Pilsner regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pilsner working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Croft doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Croft manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Pilsner avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Croft content to stall in guard here.
Pilsner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Croft trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pilsner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Pilsner scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Croft bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pilsner has closed the distance and engaged Croft in a clinch.
Croft avoiding damage as Pilsner throws knees to the body.
Pilsner fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Croft tries to pull guard but Pilsner forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Pilsner tries to circle away but Croft has him pinned against the cage.

Pilsner wants the takedown. Croft is fighting it off but Pilsner persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Croft's guard against the cage.
Pilsner advances to half guard.
Pilsner is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Croft trying to control but Pilsner postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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. Pilsner connects with a nice short shot to Croft's temple.
Pilsner seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Nice strikes from Pilsner there.
Croft trying to get back to full guard but Pilsner takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pilsner controlling his opponent.
Pilsner lands a big shot there that rocks Croft but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mark Pilsner will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mark Pilsner's cut.
That's time! Croft's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pilsner throws a low kick but it's checked well by Croft.
Pilsner misses with a takedown attempt
and Croft counters with a nice uppercut.
Pilsner fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Croft fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Pilsner moves into the clinch successfully.
Pilsner has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Croft avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Mark Croft has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Pilsner.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Croft breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pilsner takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Croft stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pilsner tries to clinch but Croft moves away
and Croft makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Croft fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Pilsner.
A head kick from Croft lands but Pilsner takes it in his stride.
Croft moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Croft instigates a clinch.
Croft is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Croft tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pilsner just stands there and leans against the cage.
Pilsner wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Croft has him pressed against the cage.
Croft wants to get back to striking at distance but Pilsner won't allow it.

Pilsner drags the fight down to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Croft trying to control but Pilsner is working from the bottom.

Pilsner is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Croft is aware though and is defending well.
Pilsner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pilsner is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Pilsner is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Croft is aware though and is defending well.
Pilsner 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.
Croft is looking to work some ground and pound but Pilsner has wrist control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Pilsner lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

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!
Pilsner throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Croft works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pilsner trying to control but Croft is working from the bottom.
Pilsner throws a big elbow that misses.
Pilsner wants to stand but Croft has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Croft is looking for a triangle but Pilsner pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Croft wants to sweep here but Pilsner controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Croft keeping full guard, as Pilsner tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Croft fails with the takedown

and Pilsner holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Pilsner tries to land knees in the clinch but Croft avoids the damage to the body.

Pilsner has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Croft clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Croft avoids the strikes from Pilsner.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Pilsner has got his arm under Croft's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Croft has spun round into Pilsner's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Pilsner doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Croft dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mark Pilsner's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Pilsner tries for a takedown but Croft circles away easily
and Croft counters with a good low kick that Pilsner was not able to check.
Pilsner stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Croft.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Croft enables Pilsner to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Croft manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Croft is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pilsner is looking to stand up but Croft won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Croft keeping moving, preventing Pilsner from controlling successfully.

Pilsner drops back, looking for a kneebar! Croft looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Croft looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Croft!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pilsner is not content to let Croft control the position.
Pilsner manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Croft won't allow Pilsner to pass to mount.
Croft is not content to let Pilsner control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pilsner stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Croft kicks off Pilsner and gets to his feet.
Mark Pilsner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pilsner.
Pilsner on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Pilsner misses with a takedown
and Croft counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Mark Croft has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Pilsner.
Croft throws a head kick that Pilsner semi-blocks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Croft connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Pilsner moves into the clinch.
Pilsner tries for a takedown but Croft manages to get underhooks.
Pilsner tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Croft gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Croft has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Pilsner uses from the top position.
Pilsner wants to stand but Croft is controlling his posture from full guard.
Croft keeping full guard, as Pilsner tries to pass.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Croft 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.
Croft not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pilsner engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pilsner trying to control but Croft is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Croft showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Croft has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Croft!
Mark Croft thanked the fans post fight for their support.