PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richie Crawford (ranked 7249 p4p, 0 weight class) and Granger Sternwell (ranked 6463 p4p, 0 weight class). Granger Sternwell will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Crawford
vs
Sternwell

169 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Richie Crawford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Granger Sternwell!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Joseph Jones and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sternwell throws a leg kick but Crawford sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Crawford throws a big counter combination but Sternwell scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Granger Sternwell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crawford misses with the combination.

Sternwell drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Crawford really is a fat lump.

Sternwell stands up from Crawford's guard - Sternwell perhaps looking for a knockout.

Sternwell scores with a takedown into Crawford's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sternwell controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sternwell throws a strike but Crawford rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Crawford 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.

Crawford gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Sternwell is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Sternwell fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Crawford sprawls well initially but Sternwell persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Crawford keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Sternwell prevents Crawford from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sternwell sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Sternwell is trying to control. Crawford wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Sternwell decides to stand up.

Sternwell shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sternwell was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Crawford is looking to get back to his feet here but Sternwell is keeping cool and he's managed to take Crawford's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, with Sternwell on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Crawford is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Crawford prevents Sternwell from getting a body triangle.
Crawford is trying to get back to his feet but Sternwell has full control of the position and if anything, Crawford has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Sternwell wants to control but Crawford is keeping busy.
Crawford is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Sternwell.
Sternwell trying to control momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sternwell is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Crawford knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Crawford for a finish.
Sternwell missing with strikes from the back.
Sternwell is looking to control Crawford but Crawford is wriggling around and keeping busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Granger Sternwell dominated that round.
That's time! Crawford's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sternwell scores with a takedown into Crawford's guard.
Crawford keeping moving, preventing Sternwell from controlling successfully.
Sternwell is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Crawford pushes Sternwell off and gets back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sternwell wants to land a leg kick but Crawford is out of range.
Crawford swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Crawford misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sternwell throws a combination that misses
and Crawford counters with a nice body shot.
Sternwell throws a left and a right that both miss
and Crawford counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Sternwell is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Sternwell closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sternwell is breathing heavily.
Crawford keeping control of the position.

Sternwell escapes and gets back to his feet.

Sternwell shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sternwell showed some decent athleticism there.

Crawford kicks off Sternwell and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Crawford closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Crawford content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
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. Crawford connects with a nice short shot to Sternwell's temple.
Crawford controlling the action here.
Crawford tries to stand but can't do so whilst Sternwell controls his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crawford is controlling the pace.
It looks like Crawford is going to stand back up.
Crawford content to control rather than advance.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Crawford decides to return to a standing position.

Crawford clinches up with Sternwell and pushes him back against the cage.
Crawford wants a takedown.

Crawford has clasped his hands together around Sternwell's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Sternwell explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Crawford lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sternwell's sensitive parts.
Crawford misses with a takedown attempt - Sternwell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sternwell wants to counter the offense by Crawford and move into the clinch position.

Sternwell has closed the distance and engaged Crawford in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Richie Crawford will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Sternwell looks to land a combination but Crawford avoids it well.

Sternwell darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sternwell looks to land a strike but Crawford avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Sternwell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Crawford swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crawford looking to control.
Sternwell wants to control from the top but Crawford keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crawford throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Sternwell passes Crawford's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sternwell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Crawford actively working from the bottom here.
Sternwell stalling away here and it's allowed Crawford to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Crawford keeping moving, preventing Sternwell from controlling successfully.

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.

Sternwell gets to his feet - Crawford follows without any prompting.
Crawford misses with a body kick.
Sternwell is looking to clinch but Crawford is avoiding it.
Crawford swats away the attempt to clinch by Sternwell.
A counter left hand to the body from Crawford misses its target.
Crawford throws a body punch but Sternwell moves out of range.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Crawford enables Sternwell to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Crawford manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Crawford is wriggling around but Sternwell manages to pass to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sternwell wants to work for an arm triangle but Crawford is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sternwell is trying to control the action in half guard but Crawford is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Crawford tries to kick Sternwell off but Sternwell keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sternwell throws a strike but Crawford avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Sternwell stands and steps away. Crawford gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sternwell gets caught napping as Crawford dives in and scores a takedown. Sternwell manages to retain guard.
Crawford trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sternwell's guard.

Sternwell is working an open guard so Crawford takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Sternwell closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Crawford quickly recovers to half guard.

Crawford manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Sternwell keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Crawford tries for a takedown but Sternwell manages to get underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sternwell has hold of one of Crawford's legs. Crawford is fighting the takedown attempt but Sternwell gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Crawford manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Sternwell wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Crawford has him pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richie Crawford showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Crawford 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richie Crawford!